Saving Fish from Drowning - Heal Burma

AMY TAN
“The Younger White Brother has recognized who he is,” she said.
“All the creatures on earth know it. The dog bowed whenever the
Lord of Nats cried out who he was. At last, the Lord is ready to make
us strong.”
B LACK S POT SAT DOWN on the log bench next to Marlena. He
sensed that this American was kind. With her Chinese face, she
looked more like them and thus might be more sympathetic. “Miss,”
he began shyly. “I am asking you question?”
“Sure. Go ahead,” Marlena said, giving her friendliest look.
“Miss, the boy Rupee, he can help us?”
Thinking that he meant that Rupert should help them with chores,
she answered, “Yes, of course. I’m sure he would be glad to.” And if
he wasn’t, Marlena said to herself, she would persuade his father to
exert some pressure. “What would you like him to do?”
“Saving us,” Black Spot said.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Marlena said, and thought, Why
would they think Rupert could get them out of No Name Place any
better than the rest of them?
“Saving us from SLORC soldiers,” Black Spot said. “For many,
many years, we are waiting for our Younger White Brother to come.
Now he is here, he is bringing our book.”
Marlena was baffled. It took ten minutes of intensive questioning
before she understood the gist of what Black Spot was saying. This
was their Christmas surprise! They had been kidnapped by a crazy
tribe, who believed some mumbo jumbo about a savior who could
make them invisible. Dwight had said they might have paranoiac
delusions, and it was true.
But no, that couldn’t be right, she told herself. After all, they
weren’t being held captive. They had not been tied up with ropes or
blindfolds. No ransom demands had been made, as far as she knew.
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