03 The Fate Of The Muse - Marina's Tales Read Online Free PDF

returned I looked at him with blazing eyes.
    “They can’t do this!” I seethed, “We have to
fight them!”
    Ethan looked dejected, shaking his head
mournfully, “Lue already talked to a lawyer. We can’t afford to
fight the government and the developer… They got a lot of power,
and even more money.”
    “Evie has lots of lawyers– she can help us!”
I suddenly had a newfound appreciation of Evie’s deep pockets, and
the way her money could be used for a good cause.
    Ethan looked at me reproachfully, “Even Evie
can’t fix everything. This is the government we’re talking about,”
he said glumly, setting his jaw stubbornly, “Besides, I don’t want
to owe her anything. I won’t start out that way.”
    “But–”
    He came closer and inspected my face, “What
did she have to say last night?”
    I had forgotten about my problems for a
minute, and I looked down. I didn’t want to burden him with any
more troubles.
    “Tell me,” he demanded, his voice tense.
    “I have to meet with them in two weeks,” I
said quietly.
    “Where?” he asked. He knew exactly what I was
talking about.
    “Paris,” I looked up to meet his worried
eyes, “We’re going to say Evie’s taking me for the fashion
shows.”
    He exhaled loudly, taking me in his arms
again, “How long will you be gone?”
    “A few days… She said a week at the
most.”
    “What’s gonna happen?” he asked, pressing his
forehead to mine.
    “Aunt Evie says they’ll only ask me some
questions... We worked out what to say– It’ll be okay.”
    When another customer arrived we broke apart
reluctantly. I watched as Ethan patiently listened and gave a man
advice about how to prune fruit trees. Both of our worlds had just
been turned upside down, and yet, he was as constant and steady as
ever. The unfairness of the situation was staggering, and I had the
strangest sensation that it was somehow my fault.
    I took a seat in the back of the booth and
quietly observed Ethan as he worked, my heart swelling with love. I
could see his gentleness and grace, his persistence, and the
protective way he kept looking back to check on me.
    “What?” he asked, when he glanced over to
meet my gaze.
    “Nevermind,” I said, getting up to give him a
quick peck on the lips, “I’m going to go check on Lue.”
    I walked around the back of the farm stands
until I came across Lue Khang, sitting alone, staring pensively
into his teacup.
    “Hey Lue,” I said softly, announcing my
presence.
    He smiled weakly, “Hello water girl.”
    “I can’t believe it,” I said sympathetically,
biting my lip.
    There was pain in his eyes when they met
mine, “How can this happen?” he shook his head sadly, “This is
America… People are free in America…”
    I slipped into a seat next to him, “Exactly
what did they tell you?”
    “Congressman Hill won’t meet me, and a lawyer
says there’s nothing to do.”
    “We have to fight them,” I said
defiantly.
    He looked defeated, his hooded eyes clouded
with sorrow, “My fighting days are over.”
    “It’s not right,” I said indignantly, feeling
my anger strengthen, rising up like the tide. “There has to be a
way to stop them.”
    “It is my fate,” he shrugged with
resignation, suddenly looking as old and tired as a worn out
shoe.
    Now I was seething. Lue had given up
everything for this country, fighting in the hills of Laos for
American interests in a secret war that ended decades ago. He’d
suffered unimaginable hardships to emigrate here, and to reunite
his family. Despite everything he’d endured, I’d never seen Lue
without a twinkle in his eye.
    “It’s not possible– It can’t be,” I said
vehemently, my voice harsh. I’d seen the future, and Ethan’s house
standing on that piece of land. It was Ethan’s land. It was his
destiny.
    I jumped to my feet, lips tight, fists
clenched.
    “Marina,” Lue’s sad eyes looked up at me with
a warning, “Don’t give in to anger. Anger is