Saving Fish from Drowning - Heal Burma

AMY TAN
fertility. The grotto symbolizes fertility, and fertility is fervently wor­
shipped in China, for to lack fertility is to lose one’s family line, and
a family without heirs is consigned to oblivion, darkness, and the
permanence of death.”
No, sad to say, my queasy friends did not read this, although their
imaginations had become quite fertile. The Grotto of Female Geni­
talia: What could such a curiously named place look like? Collec­
tively, the women envisioned a primordial cave emanating warmth,
mystery, comfort, safety, and innate beauty. The men pictured a cleft
in the mountain with overgrown bushes behind which was a tiny en­
trance that led into a moist cave, and Bennie’s imagination further
embellished it as dark, slimy, and filled with screeching bats.
Before they reached their destination, however, the travelers saw
large domed ovens on the left side of the road, smoke spewing from
their vents. What were they baking? Miss Rong made rectangular
shapes with her hands, and pointed to homes and walls. Loaves of
bread? Oh, bricks and tiles! Marlena suggested a photo stop, Wendy
agreed, and Vera, ignoring the groans of the men, who believed a
shopping spree was about to take place, raised her palm to order the
bus driver to pull over.
Esmé was the first to see the water buffalo on the right side of the
road. It appeared to be stuck, with mud up to its belly. Why was it
blindfolded? And why were those men whipping it? Wendy began
scribbling madly in her journal. Bennie sketched a quick impression.
Miss Rong happily explained that this was how the mud was
“smashed” so it would be soft enough to place in the molds. And the
buffalo’s eyes were covered so the beast did not know it was going in
circles. All twelve travelers were now transfixed as the buffalo plowed
its wretched Sisyphean route. ’Round and ’round he stumbled and
lurched, haphazardly and endlessly, his great body heaving to take
another breath, his nostrils flaring with fright as the whip came
down across his hindquarters.
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