you are now from.”
Mei Lien opened her mouth to ask a question, but Nuwa’s eyes had narrowed. How had Mei Lien thought Nuwa was a sweet, pleasant woman? The woman staring at her now looked like she could strangle an entire nest of snakes. Mei Lien lowered her gaze and nodded.
“Stay near the bunk, and don’t talk to anyone,” Nuwa hissed.
After the woman left, the bunks slowly filled with other passengers, including a few women and girls. Mei Lien opened the trunk and pulled out the papers that Nuwa had slipped inside. They were sewn together along one edge, like a bound pamphlet.
Slowly, Mei Lien turned the pages. She couldn’t read, but she thought over what Uncle had told her. Her new identity placed her at age eighteen and called her the youngest daughter of a man named Wang Foo, who lived in a valley near San Francisco. Mei Lien had memorized the siblings’ names and ages. She was traveling with her auntie and uncle and would be working in her father’s clothing shop. Nothing was mentioned about marriage.
Judging by the sounds and movements of the ship, Mei Lien was sure they’d left port.
Mei Lien tried to think of her future instead of what she’d left behind. Tears tracked along her cheeks despite her resolve. She could pretend she was someone else for a short while; then surely her life would become wonderful with her new husband.
She still hadn’t seen Nuwa or Uncle, so Mei Lien placed the papers back in her trunk, slid it under the bunk, then headed up the stairs. Sure enough, the ship was in open water.
Mei Lien joined the people standing at the rail and watched the city of Hong Kong grow smaller and smaller. The air was brisk, almost cold, and the salty breeze stung her eyes.
“You must get below,” Nuwa’s voice sounded sharply in her ear. “You are not safe up here.”
Mei Lien flinched, and Uncle appeared on her other side. She wanted to ask why it was unsafe, but she didn’t. She went with Nuwa below deck again. This time, Uncle followed. They sat next to her on the bunk and, in low tones, questioned her about what they had already drilled her on.
She answered what she had learned so far, then mentioned, “Do I not tell them about my marriage?”
“The immigration officers do not like Chinese, and they don’t like our customs,” Uncle said. “If they think you are coming into the country to marry and have Chinese babies, they might turn you away. They will only let you come if your father already lives there and you are going to work.”
Mei Lien supposed that made sense. “But I will marry, right?”
Nuwa glanced at Uncle, then said, “Perhaps. If you can pay off your contract.”
Mei Lien tried not to look surprised. After all, Nuwa had given Mei Lien’s mother the contract, and she had approved. Mei Lien had signed it, trusting that it was about marriage. “What do I have to pay off?” she asked, her heart fluttering like a bird with a broken wing.
“Discuss the contract later,” Nuwa snapped. “Time to practice now.”
Uncle’s voice was far calmer. “I will quiz you again now on your new family. You must know every detail and date better than your natural family.”
Mei Lien nodded, but she had one more question. “Can I go above deck tomorrow?”
“No,” Nuwa said immediately. “Others will see you, and we can’t protect you up there.”
“Protect me from what?” Mei Lien asked, even as the shouts and jeers of the men at the dock returned to her mind.
Nuwa’s gaze shifted to Uncle. “From those who have not paid for you,” he said. “You must assume your new identity without error. If you make a mistake, you will be deported, and there will be nothing we can do. Your mother will have to pay back the money we gave her. Do you want that to happen?”
“No,” Mei Lien whispered. The amount her mother had received could never be paid back on laborer’s wages in their village even if they both worked their entire lives.
Nuwa leaned close, clamped a strong hand on the girl’s wrist, and twisted. “No mistakes, Mei Lien. This is your last warning. Your very life depends on your obedience.”
“Aug. 15/92. With the assistance of two police officers and Ah Cheng we went to Bartlett Alley and rescued the girl of above name. She is very small stature—looks like a midget—has an old and peculiar face—give her age