Page 64 - beyond-hate

53.

He lifts her up and then guides her to the small road. He puts his arm
around her shoulders, and she wraps hers around his waist. Both walk
slowly and quietly toward the hill behind her home.

The hill on which the grass grows unevenly because the earth there is

not fertile takes on a mysterious sheen under the faint moonlight. A
massive black mountain faraway stands out against the night sky. The
two keep walking. Now and then they stumble on a mound that
causes them to falter and grab each other even tighter. The girl laughs
heartily as if having fun in a childish game.

Suddenly, screams from behind are heard.

THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE
Stop! You, the Amerasian, stop!

Startled, the girl and the Amerasian stop dead in their tracks and turn
around to look. Three or four people rush out from the back of the girl's

house to pursue them. The Amerasian sees some policemen's hats.
He takes the girl's hand and pulls her to run away.

THE AMERASIAN
We have to run. The police are
chasing me.

The two run swiftly down the hill in the direction of the mountain. They
stumble and nearly fall several times, but keep running. Their pursuers

also keep up with the chase. Now and then, their call to "stop"
reverberates in the air.
Suddenly a shot rings out like a thunderclap in the dark and empty
night.

The girl lets out a scream and collapses. The Amerasian turns to pick
up the girl but sees blood on her back. In a panic,
he lifts her and keeps running, while attempting to speak to her
between heavy breaths.