Cornwall: 1849
Strange exotic music blared from the window of a typical English farmhouse, and a dark-skinned woman sat cross-legged on the carpet, playing a strange piano. In front of her, her master was dancing to the music.
Samet looked at Bess's outstanding dancing skills, with admiration in her eyes at times. The English girl was a born dancer, and no matter what she taught, she always learned and danced better. Her dance was like poetry on the water, and her eyes wrote the dreams and desires of youth. For the first time, Samet felt that she had grown up.
And she grew into a beautiful woman. When she stopped, Samet stared at her long round legs, her slender waist, and the gentle undulation of her chest, and her heart filled with wonder pride.
"You danced so well that even your mother couldn't. If you were in the Sultan's Palace, you would be his favorite concubine and perhaps his queen."
Bess gasped and smiled. "Am I really that good, Samet?"
"You're a genius among geniuses."
Bess sat down next to her, took off the bracelet and handed it to her. "I love to dance, but never as much as Mother. She's the best."
Bess's mother, Fran, was born in the French countryside. Her father was a dancer, and her daughter took over the dance. But she etook Paris by storm, and the city was mesmerized by her dancing. At that time, she was known as Jordana, and everywhere she went, princes and nobles wanted to marry her. She was known as the greatest dancer that Europe had ever seen, and her reputation was unrivaled.
However, at the height of her career, she suddenly disappeared, taking her maid with her. Many people searched for her in vain, and she disappeared. There are many theories as to her whereabouts, but the fact is that Fran fell in love with a handsome and knowledgeable Englishman named Bedward. He took Fran north across the English Channel and married and settled in England. Bess was the fruit of their love.
"You can dance better than your mother," said Samet. "She dances because her father wants her to, but you dance because you love it. When your mother only dances ballet, you learn a lot more."
Bess looked at her chaperone and only friend, not believing her. She feels this way because Samet favors her too much. Speaking of Shamei's story, it is also a sad history with twists and turns. She was born in Turkish harem and her mother was the Sultan's favorite concubine. However, when the old king died and the new king came to the throne, he sold all of his father's wives and concubines to slave traders, including Samet, when she was only 14 years old.
Bess's grandfather, who was in Arabia at the time, occasionally saw a girl about his daughter's age standing in a slave stall, took pity on her bought her, and sent her back to his daughter Fran as a companion. Samet learned to read with Fran, and because of her genius, she learned many languages. When Fran married Bayward, she went with her to Bayward's house. When Bess came into the world, Samet was the best babysitter she could have.
Bess's father was a traveler. He came from a wealthy family, but he was a wanderer by nature, and when Fran married him, she willingly traveled with him. After Bess was born, they traveled around with their little girl and Samet, still splashing about.
When Bess was twelve years old, she went home to England with her father to visit her grandmother. When they left, Bess's grandmother insisted that her daughter stay behind for formal education. The Baywards had no choice but to agree.
From then on, Bess was allowed to see her parents only at Christmas. If Samet hadn't been there for her, her growing-up years would have suffocated her. It was her favorite pastime to talk to Samet and tell her about the places they had traveled. Both she and Samet hoped to travel around the world with her father again one day.
While living in Sultan's harem, Samet learned the dances of many countries and taught Bess all of them, while Fran taught ballet to her daughter. When they got to Cornwall, where the world was so isolated, Samet had to dress up in different kinds of dance clothes and teach Bess to wear them so that she could dance happily. But Bess's grandmother did not approve of her fancy dancing, and usually, she had to wait until she had finished her other lessons before she could learn to dance. As the years went on, Bess became better and better at dancing, and all the things Samet said about her were true.
Ever since her grandmother died last spring, Bess has been in a bad mood. Especially when she was alone with Samet in the lonely village, the loneliness was like the pain of eating bones, which made her worse depressed and unhappy.
Bess now got up and walked across the room. "I'm going to change and wait for the mail train. Maybe I'll hear from Mom and Dad today."
Samet looked at Bess, her heart filled with love. She knew that Bess's parents loved her, but they were like children chasing rainbows, forgetting their duties in England.
Bess waited for the mail truck to come back. Samet knew without asking that she had not received the letter. The face of the lovely child was lonely and disappointed.
Samet followed her into the kitchen and watched as she took off her cloak and hung it from a hook on the wall. "I've made some hot soup for you, Bess. You'll feel better when you've had enough."
Bess shakes her head. "I'm not hungry."
The young girl looked out the window. Clouds were low and it was clear it was going to snow again. For a whole month, the sun had not shown its face, and even the blazing fire in the furnace seemed unable to drive away the cold shadow in one room.
Samet took Bess by the hand and forced her into a chair. "You've got to keep your chin up or you won't be able to travel when your Mum and Dad come to pick you up, and that's no laughing matter."
Bess nodded meekly but left the hot food on the table and strolled over to the window with a cup of tea. She wished someone would come to see her, anyone. It had been three months since she and Samet had seen anyone but the mail truck.
"Don't stand by the window too much, you'll catch a cold," Samet warned her.
"What does it matter? Who cares?" Bess's tone is full of self-pitying sentimentality. Normally she was full of smiles, but today she was in such a bad mood.
"Self-pity won't do you any good, Bess, you should think more of happy things. In my father's harem, there is a woman who can imagine herself anywhere she wants to go. If she wanted to climb, she would close her eyes and describe it to us in detail, as if she had experienced it. She taught me how to do it. I can teach you."
"No! I don't want to live in a fantasy world. I want to live. I want to stand in a field of green grass and feel the sun on my face."
"I think you're right," Samet agreed. " I'm sure that soon you'll be really happy, and not just dreaming."
Bess's eyes darted. "Tell my fortune, Samet. Tell me what will happen to me in the future." 'she begged. Samet could sometimes predict the future, but she always refused to tell Bess's fortune.
It was the same this time. "No! I've told you many times, that I'm not going to tell your fortune. If your fate is bad, I don't want to know."
"Why not? "Insisted Bess. "Maybe you'll see good luck!"
"You know my rule. I never tell the fortunes of those close to me." Samet still wouldn't.
Bess deflates. She doesn't nod when Samet doesn't say yes. "What could be worse than this?" Samet could not bear to see Bess's disappointed look, so she reluctantly pulled her down.
"All right! But if I see something I don't like, I won't say anything. " Samet took Bess's thin hand and held it tightly. Bess thought she was going to read the palm lines, but instead, she squeezed harder and harder and then looked up at Bess.
"I see you're going out on a boat in a short time," Samet began. "The way I don't know, but you will enter a golden land... That's not clear either."
Bess stared at her focused face, trying to see through her thoughts. "Is there such a place in the world, Samet?"
"It's a country far away, it's a new world, and you go looking for what you've lost." Samet's voice sounded as if it came from afar.
"I don't understand. What new world?"
"I see sorrow..." Samet didn't finish. "This passage is unclear..." she squeezed Bess's hand again. "I see fame, worship. Many men will pursue you, but you will love only one. This man will love both of your characters and reject them at the same time."
Samet's face turned white, as if exhausted. She let go of Bess's hand and leaned back in her chair.
"What does this mean, Samet? What golden country? And who will worship me? Will I marry the man I love? What do you mean when you say he'll fall in love with the two characters I play?"
"No comment." Samet looked at her with sudden concentration again. "Tomorrow you will receive a letter, and then you will begin your journey."
Bess's eyes widened, and there was uncontrollable excitement in her voice. "Will you come with me? I won't go without you. "
"Of course, I'll go with you."
"Can't you tell me what these prophecies mean?'"Bess was still not giving up.
"No! I can't say more. It won't do you any good to know too much about the future. ' Samet suddenly smiled and took her into her arms. "You are just like my own daughter. Even if there is any difficulty, I will stand by you through it." And despite all Bess's entreaties, she wouldn't talk about it.
Samet's prediction was confirmed. The next afternoon, Bess had washed her hair and was drying it by the fire when Samet came in. She asked at once, "Have you got any letters?"
Laughing, Samet took a letter from her apron pocket. "Didn't I tell you?"
Bess took the letter, instantly recognizing her mother's elegant handwriting. She carefully opened the flap and glanced at Samet. "I thought you were just saying that yesterday!"
"I never make jokes like that," replied Samet. "I say what I see."
Bess could not wait to pull out her mother's letter and read out her voice.
Dear Bess,
Your father and I have received letters in California, America. We were all very sad to learn of Grandmother's death. I know this must be a very lonely time for you. Your father has written a letter to our solicitor instructing him to remit the money for the passage. You and Samet can sail on the Bull, which sails on the first of March. The captain is our good friend. He has promised to take care of you along the way, and your father and I will meet you then. It's been a long time since we saw each other, my dear. I'm sure you're well-established. I hope you will get here soon. It is a new country, quite different from other places. When you see this golden land, you will understand what I mean.
Bess gave Samet a quick look. "How do you know about the golden land? How can you --"
'What else does the letter say? "Samet asked, with some understatement.
Bess, however, stared for half a day before she could read further.
Bess, your father and I own half a gold mine, and we hope to make a fortune. There is so much gold here that there are so many people looking for it. Our partner Sam Wu is sure we will find something. Take care, my dear. I hope to see you soon.
Bess, her eyes shining, jumped up and made a big circle, then flew around the field clutching Samet. "Our family is going to be reunited soon, Samet. Who knew our new adventure would be in California!"
Bess stood on the deck, leaning against the railings, enjoying the cool breeze. They had been at sea for a month. She loved the open air. Captain Ma took good care of her and Samet. She felt as if the old days of sailing around the world had returned.
When she heard footsteps, Bess knew who they were without turning her head. Sure enough, she saw a grinning Captain Ma. He was a tall, stocky young captain with blond hair and blue eyes, but he was very calm and kind. From the time she had boarded, he would come and chat with her whenever he could. Because of his knowledge, Bess could not help hearing some useful common sense or interesting anecdote from him.
"Don't look at the calm sea here, Miss Bess,'"she said. Captain Ma warned her with a smile." We are approaching the deep waters of the Cape of Good Hope."
Bess smiled and watched him. "Don't worry, I'm a trained traveler, Captain. Before I was six years old, I had passed the pyramids of Egypt and the ruins of Rome. Although I have not gone round the Cape of Good Hope, I have encountered typhoons in the East.""'I know you have traveled a great deal, and your father has often told me about you."
'How long have you known your parents, Captain?"
"Not very long, but I feel a connection. And by coincidence, your father and my uncle went to school together! "
Captain Ma gazed at the face bathing in the sunset and marveled at the perfection of her temperament. Bess was every man's dream woman, beautiful and cultured, and her every move was light and pleasing to the eye.
"In another time, your father would have been a great explorer, Miss Bess. The breadth of his experience is truly breathtaking. It's not easy to surprise a captain, you know. "His words were excellent, both flattering and self-serving.
Bess smiled charmingly. "I know what you mean, Captain. My father is a born traveler, and he and my mother have made several trips around the world. When I was young, I traveled with them. It wasn't until I was 12 that my grandmother decided I should learn to be a young lady that she let me stay. My father thought the world would be the best classroom for me, but my grandmother saw things differently."
Captain Ma was fascinated as he listened to Bess's soft voice. 'Do you still like the end of travel?'
"No! My needlework is very bad and I let Grandma down. She often said it was hard to teach me well, and after a few years, she wasn't sure if all her hard work had been wasted."
The captain looked at her with interest. 'Don't you think you're a pretty lady?
She smiled back at him. "I'll leave you grades on that, Captain."
That beaming smile made his heart beat faster. "Oh, Miss Bess,
You are the most perfect young lady I have ever met." He found that his tone was too warm, and hastened to change the subject to a safer one. 'Tell me, Miss Bess, are you afraid to cross the sea alone?"
"I'm not alone, Captain. My chaperone is with me. "
"Oh, yes, your chaperone. She is Oriental, I suppose! Perhaps she is Indian. "
"Almost. Samet is Turkish, but then my grandfather found her in Arabia, and she's my closest friend."
"Surely you cannot wait to be reunited with your father?"
"Yes," said Bess, lowering her eyes. "My grandmother is dead, and I must go back to my parents."
"I see. California is a new land, and all the gold miners are men.
There are very few women there. You will be very noticeable."
'Will you tell me the history of California, Captain? I don't know anything about that place. "
The Captain turned his head to look out to sea. "California is some people's golden dream and others' nightmare. Ever since gold was discovered in 1848, people from all over the world have been flocking to California. It seemed to me that they were spoiling the greatest treasure, though they did not know it. I believe that it is a land flowing with milk and honey and that if one sows a seed, it blossoms and produces a good harvest."
"You sound like a man who loves the land, Captain. I thought you loved the sea! "
He laughs. 'Do you know why I got on the boat? Because my family has three boats and three sons. You see, I can't help it. If I could start over, I'd rather buy land in California and farm than pan for gold. I like to plant and watch the crops grow. The Spanish have a better idea."
"The Spaniards have had a great influence on California, haven't they?"
"That's right. It was Spanish, and then it belonged to Mexico, and a lot of Spaniards still live there, like Kings. Some of them were noblemen, of very high birth, and they spoke only Spanish. If there's anything California can boast about, it's the Spanish grand princes."
Just then, a great wave came in, and it seemed that they had entered the danger zone. Bess pulled her cloak close, not knowing what was going to happen.
"You'd better go down, Miss Bess. The closer we get to the headland, the more dangerous the waves will be. "Captain Ma was too reluctant to end the conversation. He was completely charmed by Bess's grace. But he could not be distracted by the task at hand.
Bess looked up at the untoward waves. The sun had gone behind the clouds and the sky was black. "How long will it take us to get around, Captain?"
"With any luck, a week will be enough. The fear is that the weather is bad, and I'm afraid it will take longer. According to the old sailors, if the Cape hears your voice, it won't let you pass."
Bess smiled and nodded when she saw that Captain Ma could still talk and laugh. "Then I'll leave you now, Captain," she said.