Mrs.Chutoldmeaswelefttheairport,"Thisisanuglycity,buttheminuteyougetoutoftownitisbeautiful."
Theylodgedmeinamountaininn.IgottheGeneral'sSuite,wherethegeneralsstaywhentheycomeuphilltoreporttotheGeneralissimo,wholivesafewstepsawayacrosstheroad.Thesuitewasreachedthroughaseriesofdesertedlittlecourtyards,withitsownrockgardenandlotuspond.Inthesilencetherewasjustthesoundoftheeveningdrizzleonthebananapalmandinthebathroomatapofsulphurwaterconstantlyrunningoutofastonelionmouthandsplashingovertherimofthecementtank.Therewererattanfurnitureonthetatamiflooringandawardrobeandbedwithstainedsheets.Itoldmyselfnottobefastidious.Buttherewerebedbugs.FinallyIhadtogetupneardawntosleepontheledgeofthehonorrecess,whereinJapaneselivingroomsthebestvaseandpicturescrollaredisplayed.Themaidwasfrightenedwhenshecomeinthemorningandcouldnotfindme.
ItwasplainthatthegeneralshadfemininecompanionshipwhilespendingthenightawaitingaudiencewiththeGeneralissimo.IwonderedattheeaseofprocuringgirlsalmostnextdoortothatChristianandConfucianfounderoftheNewLifeMovement.Surelyitwasunseemlywith"Heaven'scountenanceonlyafootaway,"asweusedtodescribeanaudiencewiththeemperor.AfterIleftTaipeiforthecountryside,Irealizedthatprostitutionwasmoreopenonthislandthanperhapsanywhereelseintheworld.Inasmall-townnewspaperfiveorsixadvertisementsofthistypeappearedinoneday:"JoyandHappinessProstitutes'Domicile,1stclass.124ShinMingRoad.Swarmsofprettygirlslikeclouds,offeringthebestservices."
InthecountrysideFormosapeelsback,showingolderstrata.ThereweremorenativeFormosansthanrefugees.Themixedemotionsofmyhomecomingofsortsgavewaytopuretouristenthusiasm.
FromtimetotimeMrs.Chu,sittingnexttomeinthebus,whisperedurgently,"shandi,shandi!"Ijustcaughtaglimpseofashandi,ormountaindweller,agraylittlewraithwithwhiskerstattooedonhercheekscarryingababyonherbackandloiteringoutsideashopalongthehighway."Shandi,shandi!"Againthebreathlesslittlecryandanudge.Isawgypsylikechildr