Dead Man's Gold and Other Stories Read Free Page A

miners calmly continued working. He wanted to scream, to break free and out of the belly of this beast.
    That night, an exhausted Chung dreamed of the cage dropping into the mine. But this time, he didn’t tremble or clutch at the bars. To his surprise, he threw out his chest and sucked in gulps of air like the winner of a long race.
    A miner with a bushy mustache clapped his shoulder.
    â€œDo I know you?” Chung asked.
    The other man smiled. “Friend, you called for me today. Earlier, you offered to give anything for courage. So I am removing your fear.”
    â€œBut who are you?” Chung asked.
    â€œMe? I am all the miners who have died here. I am their courage and humor, the spirit that defied all danger and all greedy bosses.”
    â€œDo you help all miners?”
    â€œNo.” He laughed bitterly. “They find my price too high.”
    â€œWhat do you charge?”
    â€œI require your body to replace mine, which is rotting away under a fallen tunnel. I need a strong new resting place for my soul and all the memories I carry. Is this agreeable to you?”
    â€œHow long do I have?”
    â€œUntil you take a bride.”
    Chung thought for a moment. If he didn’t steel himself to earn some money here, he would never get a bride anyway. So he shouted, “Agreed!”
    After that, Chung marched eagerly to work each day. He never floundered or lost his way underground. He tracked seams of coal deep into the earth and sniffed for rock gas that could easily explode. Each day, he ripped out cartfuls of coal and sent them up as roving packs of rats nudged his tools and meal bucket.
    In the meantime, Chung sent his wages home. After each remittance, a letter would arrive from his parents, saying they were proud and the other villagers were jealous. For the first time in his life, Chung walked with his head held high.
    He also acquired a reputation for being lucky. When water flooded a tunnel and drowned two miners, Chung escaped through an adjacent passage. When a roof collapsed and crushed several men, a beam fell over Chung and saved him. When a laden cart suddenly broke loose and hurtled toward his group, only Chung squeezed out of the way. Soon all the miners clamored to work near him, thinking the gods had blessed him. But he knew the mustached spirit was protecting him only to ensure his body would remain intact and healthy.
    In the bunkhouse, the miners played cards and gambled between shifts. One night, after a late session of dominoes, Chung dozed and dreamed of the miner with the bushy mustache.
    â€œYoung man, you’ve done well all these years,” the ghost said. “Haven’t you saved enough money for a fancy wedding? Isn’t it time to do your family duty?”
    â€œNo!” Chung bolted upright. He looked around the crowded bunkhouse and heard the sounds of men sleeping.
    These are my friends, he thought. They trust me and follow me through the tunnels. In this country, I am a man among men.
    Later that day, he received a letter from his mother: “Son, you have sent us much money and we are very grateful. Now send yourself home to get married.”
    Chung dispatched a letter saying he could not abandon his workmates.
    Months later, his mother sent word and ordered his return. “The longer you wait,” she stated, “the less choice of brides you will have.”
    He crumpled the letter and threw it away.
    That very night, the miner with the bushy mustache interrupted his dreams and said, “Listen to your mother. It is time to get married. You cannot defy your destiny, nor can you escape our agreement.”
    Chung groaned loudly, and his bunkmates woke him to break the nightmare.
    His mother’s words grew sterner. “You are our only child,” said one letter. “We raised you with love and attention. All we ask in return is respect for tradition. Can we depend on you to do the right thing?”
    Another letter