Punky Fu

Fire Dreams

In the hours before the dawn, Shao Chi tossed and turned fitfully in her sleep, disturbed by fevered dreams of destruction. In her dreams, Shao had become a fire breathing dragon, flying high above the Guang Zhou province, roaring in anger, striking terror in the hearts of those around her, and setting ablaze many places and people from her troubled past. In her dreams, she was rage incarnate - releasing a deathly inferno upon all who suffered her gaze. Tonight was not the only time s he had these dreams, and she awakened as she always did, sweating, troubled, and palms hot as if burned.

Thunderer, sleeping nearby, heard the restless mutterings of Shao Chi, and upon reaching her bedside, found the young apprentice in a state of alarm. “What troubles you, Little Spirit?”

Shao Chi did not want to tell Thunderer; her immediate reaction was of shame. How could she tell that in her dreams she had brought people and places to their fiery doom? “It… it is nothing, Master,” said Shao Chi.

“Shao, perhaps it is not best to keep your broken arm inside your sleeve,” admonished Lei Kung gently. Shao considered and then told Thunderer about th dreams, growing in vivid detail with each passing moment. In the end, Shao Chi hung her head in dishonor and self-reproach. “Why do you hang your head, Shao Chi?” asked Thunderer.

“Because, Sifu (“master”),” explained Shao, “in my dreams, I have hurt people. I have caused pain and suffering. I have destroyed things.”

“And did you do those things in waking as well?” asked Lei Kung.

“No,” said Shao Chi, “but isn’t this worse?”

“Dreaming and waking are two different worlds, Little Spirit,” said Lei Kung. “What we do in our waking moments has an effect on those around us. What we do in our dreams does not.”

“But what of the man who dreamt he was a butterfly?” asked Shao. “Why was he uncertain if he was not a butterfly who dreamt he was a man?”

“That is because in the dream world, what we do has more spiritual significance,” explained Lei Kung.

“I do not understand, Sifu,” confessed Shao.

“In dreams, things are not meant to be literal, so much as what they represent,” said Lei Kung. “For example, in your dream, you set things on fire, yes?”

“Yes,” said Shao.

“And what does fire do?” asked Lei Kung.

“It burns things,” said Shao.

“Does it not serve other purposes?” asked Lei Kung.

“Like what, Sifu?” asked Shao.

“Does fire not also serve to warm us? Does it not cook our food? Does it not provide light?” asked Thunderer.

“Yes, of course, Sifu,” said Shao.

“Fire also serves to purify,” said Lei. “And in your dreams, what does the fire serve to rid you of?”

“Of the people of my past and different places,” said Shao.

“Were these people, places and things that have hurt you?” asked Lei Kung. Shao nodded. “And do you still carry those wounds?”

“Yes,” said Shao. “I do…”

“Then perhaps it is these wounds that need to be cleansed, so they might heal,” said Lei Kung.

“I don’t understand, Sifu,” confessed Shao.

“Little Spirit, a child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark,” said Lei Kung. “Some marks are helpful and support the child. Other marks are destructive and for the survival of the paper, must be erased like the mistakes they were. I supply to you the eraser. Your training teaches you how to use it.”

Shao considered, but tears began welling in her eyes. “But, in erasing these marks, why must it be so violent?”

“There are two reasons,” said Lei Kung. “First, some marks are harder to erase. They have been marked so deeply as to wear an indentation on the paper. Second, it is because your martial arts training has given you power. You know now how to hurt, maim or even kill someone. You also know how to heal someone.”