find the beads along the quake fault

Lu took it as a positive attitude and somehow a nod. ‘So, where are they?’

‘You just brought up the underworld. Have you found any clue?’

‘There was a place famous for beads. Should I go there?’

‘Is it along the fault torn open by the quake?’ I asked.

Lu mapped the geography in his mind before answering, ‘Sort of.’

‘Then go and ask about them, and pay attention to lotus.’

‘Lotus?’ Lu looked round and pointed at the pond, ‘like this one?’

‘Not every lotus pond is the place. You have to be alert.’

‘Okay, lotus with the fault.’ Then he asked, ‘Would I finish the doll before the Games?’

‘Well, even during the Games, the world knows of your achievement.’

‘Yeah,’ he smiled.

This rural man came for a confirmative message. Anyone told him one and he would be happy to go on his way. Well, perhaps not everyone, it’s only me. Why me? Am I looking for something like this rustic man does? An idea, and he came along. From his words I have borne an idea, maybe the best idea I ever have. In return I gave him hope... Or, have I done wrong in pretending to be the man he spoke of? If I aren’t, then I have a problem for what I did. But then I may be the man... provided the being were really the future me.

I am or I am not the being ?