The Living Reed: A Novel of Korea Read Online Free PDF

could acquire benefits. Fifteen hundred years ago, and more, we married three daughters into the eighth monarchy, Honjong. Through three reigns, one after the other, our daughters were married into the truebone royal house. We fed upon the nation, both land and people. The best posts in government went to my ancestors and for that matter to my grandfather, and even my father until he refused to oppose the Regent and retired to live under his grass roof. How else could we live in such houses as these? Palaces! And how else could I be the heir to vast lands in this small country? At one time we even aspired to rule the Throne. You know very well that one of my ancestors so aspired and was crushed—as he deserved to be!”
    He spoke with a passion restrained but profound and the young tutor was shocked at this self-humiliation. “These are affairs long past, sir,” he murmured. “They are forgotten.”
    Il-han insisted upon his ruthless survey. “They are not forgotten. Millions of people have suffered and do suffer because of the name Kim. We are well named!”
    He traced upon the palm of his left hand with the forefinger of his right hand the Chinese letter for Gold , which was indeed the meaning of the name Kim.
    “That is what we have lived for—gold in the shape of lands and houses and high position! We have gained the power and even over the royal house. Ah, you must teach my son what your father did not teach me! Teach him the truth!”
    He broke off abruptly, his handsome face furious and dark.
    Before the tutor could answer, the door slid open. The midwife entered, carrying in her arms the newborn child, laid upon a red satin cushion. She was followed by Il-han’s two sisters-in-law and they by their maids.
    His elder sister-in-law came forward. “Brother, behold your second son.”
    Il-han rose. Again his family duty claimed him and with a nod he dismissed the tutor. He walked toward the procession and stretched out his arms. The midwife laid the cushion across them with the sleeping child, and he looked down into the small perfect face of his new son.
    “Little Golden Frog,” he murmured.
    The women looked at one another astonished and then they laughed and clapped their hands. It was a lucky greeting, for the Golden Frog had become a prince.
    “What did he say when he saw our child?” Sunia asked.
    She had already recovered some of her natural clear color, and her large dark eyes were lively. Childbirth was easy for her and with a second son she was triumphant. Three or four sons from now she could wish for a daughter. A woman needed daughters in the house.
    “He smiled and called him little Golden Frog,” her elder sister said. She was a tall slender woman in early middle age married to a scholar who lived in a northern city. Since Sunia’s mother was dead, and Il-han’s also, she came to fulfill the maternal duties for Sunia, and with her came her younger sister, who would not marry but wished to become a Buddhist nun, to which Il-han, in absence of father or brother, could not agree. No woman today, he declared, should bury herself in a nunnery. The day of the Buddhists was over. Without his permission, Sunia’s sister could only wait.
    Sunia received her child tenderly and hugged him to her bosom. “He thinks of clever things to say about everything. He is too clever for me. I hope this child will be like him.”
    She gazed into the sleeping face and touched the firm small chin with a teasing finger. “Look at him sleep! He is hiding himself from me. I have not seen his eyes.”
    “Put him to your breast,” the midwife told her. “He will not suckle yet, but he should feel the nipple ready at his lips.”
    The young mother uncovered her round full breast.
    “Put him first to the left where the heart is,” the midwife said.
    Sunia shook her head willfully. “I put the first son to the left. This one I will put to the right.”
    The child stirred when the nipple touched his lips but he did