Yang was very nervous. Earlier that day, a communist official and two armed guards had come to her parent's home and demanded to know where she was. She was brought out and whisked away without another word, except that she was going to 'serve her country' as one guard said with a smirk.
She was put on a wagon and lead out of town. The Great Chairman Mao, the official told her, is staying nearby and is looking for the company of a beautiful young woman. It would be her supreme honor to be allowed to spend the night with him.
Only now did it occur to her what the official was meant. She shuddered slightly and felt her eyes water slightly but fought back the tears. It would do no good to cry, she knew. It would only cause trouble for her or her family. Or both.
She was taken to the palatial-large structure that was the Chairman's home. Everywhere she looked were items of opulence and splendor. she was taken to a large bathroom and told to take a bath and be done in 5 minutes. As she was exiting the tub, a woman in full party gear marched into the room carrying a package. She thrust it at her and barked at her to put it on quickly. It was a beautiful silk patterned dress. Once she had put it on she was sat down in front of a mirror and had her hair combed back harshly as the woman told Yang sternly to 'always smile and be sweet and gentle for the chairman and do immediately whatever he asks' or 'there will be trouble for you'.
When she was done with the hair she sprayed Yang head to toe with a strong lilac perfume that practically made her dizzy it was so strong and whisked away.
After passing through two rooms in which armed guards were posted at the doors they finally entered an empty dining room. She was ushered into one of the seats and as she sat the woman guard hissed "stand at attention when the Chairman enters!" before closing and locking the thick wooden doors.
Yang sat alone for several minutes, trying to keep herself calm by humming to herself, but her heart was beating so fast she couldn't help but be frightened. Finally, Mao entered the room and she stood at once. He was escorted by 4 guards who took up position in the four corners of the room. they were large and thuggish and leered at her from behind the chairman. He came over to her directly and kissed her hand. He was horrible. He was smaller than she thought he would be and much fatter. He seemed kind of greasy and stank as though he hadn't bathed in a long time. Worst of all were his teeth. They clearly had not been cleaned for some time and were black and shiny.
"My dear," he began. "Welcome to my home. I am happy you are here."
"Th-the honor is mine, Chairman. I am happy to serve you in anyway you need."
"Don't be frightened, child. The guards are simply here for protection. There are many anti-Bolshevik and right-wing spies out to destroy all we have built. These saboteurs would like nothing better than to eliminate myself for my courageous stand on the people's behalf."
Yang had no idea what he was talking about, so she simply said: "Yes, great Chairman."
He smiled at her then; it was a sickly, ghastly thing behind those awful teeth.
"Come; sit. We will begin to eat momentarily. I am ready."
They both took their seats and one of the guards rushed out to tell them to get the meal. Within a few moments, the food was before them. The dish was Mao's favorite, braised pork belly and steamed bread. As the food as placed before them, a woman entered and tasted the meal before Mao would allow them to eat. She gave the go ahead and they began to eat.
The food was delicious, more rich and flavorful than anything Yang had ever eaten. As a peasant, she was used to rice with the rare piece of meat served alongside. They ate mostly in silence, the Chairman mostly wolfing down his food like a pig in a trough.
As they finished eating and the dishes were cleared away, Yang felt a knot in her stomach form and get tighter and tighter. Mao stood as soon as his plate was removed and made his way to the door he had come from.
"Come with me," he said brusquely, all traces of warmth in his voice gone.
Yang stood, a little shakily, and made her way across the room to the opposite door. Before she was allowed to enter, the two guards patted her down for weapons, taking extra care on her breasts and sex. The one behind her whispered in her ear
"We will see you later," as he rubbed his crotch against her buttocks. Then he shoved her into the room.
It was a fairly large room that felt much smaller than it was as a result of a huge dominating bed. There were chairs gathered around the bed in a semi circle. The bed itself was large enough for several people but was littered with so many books that it would barely fit two. Mao sat on the edge of it.
"Sit beside me," he ordered. She did.
"You may wonder why you have been brought here. Some foreign agents condemn me as a perverted sexual predator. The truth is sometimes I need the comfort of a kindly woman to keep my demons at bay. All of my wives have are simply afraid of me and think me as a creature of simple baser urges. I have married several times to for the sake of the party and my image. But I am lonely."
Yang was confused.
"What-what do you want me to do?"
"Hold me. Tenderly, as my mother used to do. She was very dear to me, but she died long before I led our nation into the socialist paradise it is today. My pig of a father never understood me or my vision. He felt I was weak and openly derisive of my misery at the death of my mother. I never forgave him, even as he lay on his deathbed calling out to me I never again saw him."
"I'm....so sorry.."
"Don't be! He was a cruel, harsh man! I laughed when I heard of his death! But my mother...I could never save my mother...."
He started to cry, very gently. She reached out and embraced him and he began to sob loudly into her shoulder, gripping her very tightly. This went on for a long while. Eventually, the crying stopped, and he shut his eyes and leaned into her. Yang, frightened of disturbing him, barely moved an inch.
Finally, her arm slumped down slightly and Mao jerked awake and pushed her away before standing up. His eyes were red and watery but his face was otherwise inscrutable.
"Thank you for your service to the nation," he said. "It has been much appreciated by the people. However, we must never show weakness, to our enemies or to ourselves."
Mao knocked on the door and the two guards entered the room and dragged Yang out. She started to scream but was hit in the mouth with the butt of a rifle to silence her and was dragged off. Within two minutes she was up against the garden wall and shot.
As she was dragged out, Mao turned away. He didn't want the guards or the girl to see the tears that had begun to form in his eyes once again.
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