My Longkang

I know this story sounds bizarre. But I beg you to keep an open mind.

Before that I had a recurring dream. It recurs every few months when I am sick or physically very tired or weak. I would see a couple having a drink under a wooden house on four pillars. The dream always got me nowhere. I could not make head or tail about it but I sensed it was an important dream. I could not interpret it.

Until one day I met a guy. This guy who for convenience sake I shall call So Lye. The minute I met him, I felt like I had known him forever. His face was unfamiliar and when I checked our backgrounds, I couldn’t have known him. I asked for his family name and it rang no bells.

But I observed him. I could second-guess what he would say and do. I even knew his likes and dislikes. I knew i would do anything for this man. I checked myself.

He is a man and a total stranger.
He is neither my son nor my father.

This feeling of uneasiness persisted. Who is this guy? It kept bugging me.

That night I had a dream. If it can be called a dream. Because when I was dreaming i was awake. So can it be called a dream?

I couldn’t sleep. I read a book to pass the time. Then there was a rush in my ear. From somewhere near, I could hear sounds. Sounds that were very pleasant, sound of bells with a clear rhythmic chime.

I looked around and saw that the place was transformed. There was a wooden house on four stilts. Under the house there was a wooden table with a long bench on both sides of the long table.

I saw a couple. They were happy and chatting with a girl who was serving them some water. This time I could see the faces of the man and woman. His face was So Lye’s. Then they left the place and walked through a dense jungle. As they walked the situation changed. There was a sense of fear. I could see them sweating. I then heard furtive sounds of people moving through the underbrush.

They began to run. I suddenly realized I was the one behind. From where this realization came, I have no idea. The one in front of me was better clothed and had a more authoritative manner. I realized I loved him in a manner of a slave and a good master. I would die for this man.

We both ran faster and faster.

There were lights on flaming torches. The lights were coming nearer and nearer. He tried to take care of me as i was slackening but it was useless. My limited physical strength couldn’t take it any more.

I could smell fear from my master’s body. I could see the hairs on his legs glisten with sweat. I looked at my master with adoration in my eyes. From somewhere it registered to me I had wet myself because of fear.

The end was near, I knew that. I looked at my master in fear and trepidation. Let me die and not him. Suddenly blows rained down upon us. It broke my heart to see my master beaten again and again. His shouts of pain were unbearable to me. I felt cold all over.

Then it stopped. The people who had beaten him were just as anciently dressed as us. They were not really interested in me. It was him they were after. My master was breathing no more.

I looked around me as the dawn began to light the day. I saw that we were beside a river. There was an old wooden house which had never been painted. If you are from Sibu, I would tell you it looks like one of the old houses in Sungai Merah. In front of me there was a river.

Reincarnation? Karma that we would meet again after being so close in a past life?