March 21st, 2013

Dear Master Jack:

Let me tell you what happened after I saw the human through the temple window.

I lay on the ground shaking with fright. Though I was three years old and already knew three languages and had learned much about my world, I had never met a human before. I had been told that humans not only seem to enjoy harming one another, but they are likely to harm a dragon if they encounter one. I heard strange sounds coming from inside the temple and my curiosity overcame my inclination to flee. Slowly, I got back to my feet and peered into the window once more. The human, on the other side of the wall, was doing the same thing and once again we found ourselves face to face. This time though we did not react so abruptly. Instead, we stood there staring at one another. I marveled at how vulnerable the human looked. Why, it had no scales to protect its body, not horns, and no teeth of any consequence. How could such a weak looking creature be dangerous?

“Greetings dragon,” the human said in a quavering voice. “I am Li.” I could not help smiling when I heard this. It was strange that such a frightened creature should be given such a name. Li means power or strength, and this poor human did not look as if it had either. There again, the human was speaking to me, which I had to admit showed that it had courage.

“I am Lian, daughter of the Huangshan Clan,” I said.

“You are a female?” Li asked.

“That I am. And you?”

“I am a male of course. Do I look female?” Li said, getting red-faced and looking annoyed.

“Forgive me Master Li, but I have never met a human before and do not know how males and females of your kind differ.”

“Humph” Li said, the annoyed expression on his face fading. “I suppose under such circumstances such a mistake is acceptable,” he said. “You are the first dragon I have ever seen.” He gazed at me with great interest. “You are not very big. I thought dragons were supposed to be large creatures.”

I felt myself get stiff with indignation. “I will have you know that I am only three years old,” I said, trying not to lose my temper, “and that when I am full grown I will probably get four times as big as I am today,” I added, smoke starting to drift from my nostrils.

“Ah. Then you will be a very grand looking creature when you are older,” the boy said nervously. I realized then that my anger had frightened him. It was wrong of me to lose my temper in such a way. After all, the human did not know about dragons and our ways.

“Perhaps you could join me behind these rocks and tell me something of yourself,” I said, trying to be gracious. My parents always told me that it is the job of those who are bigger and stronger to show extra consideration for those who are smaller and weaker. Though I was only three, I was still a fair bit taller and longer than the human.

Li, surprised by my invitation, left the window and soon the two of us were seated behind a large rock that hid us from view. Our cause was helped by the fact that fog had drifted around the temple. People walking up the many steps to the temple would have no idea that we were so close.

The first thing Li did was to offer me some food. Cautiously I took one of the round cake-like things and when I nibbled on it I found that it was a kind of fried bread, and a tasty treat. In whispers we talked and I learned about the boy’s life, his family, and his hopes and dreams. I found some of what he said hard to understand. It seemed that humans greatly valued possessions not because they were beautiful or useful, but because owning such things made them look important in the eyes of other humans. We dragons do not feel the need to seem more than we are.

When I told Li that there is no ranking system or leadership in dragon clans he was astonished. “Who makes all the decisions and maintains order?” he asked. “Who makes sure that laws and rules are obeyed?”

“We make decisions together, and we do not have any interest in breaking our clan rules,” I explained, somewhat mystified by his attitude. “We are equals,” I added, “though we do ask the Elders to advise us on occasion.”

“Do you mean that you, a female, is the equal of your brothers?” he said in astonishment.

“But of course. I am as strong and as intelligent as they are. I can think and reason as they do.”

“But females are weak and cannot learn as males do,” he said.

“Perhaps with humans this is the case, but not with us.” I spoke very forcefully bringing that conversation to a close.

Li and I spoke for some time longer and then he said that it was time for him to head back to the town. “I came to pray for my father, who is very ill,” he said sadly, “to ask that he be healed.”

“What is wrong with him?” I asked, and when Li described his father’s symptoms I knew at once that the man had caught a disease that was common in human settlements. We dragons had heard of it and my great-grandmother had a mixture of herbs that she used to treat the illness, which dragons sometimes caught when they went to trade with humans.

“We dragons know how to treat this illness,” I said, and I offered to bring some of the herb mixture to him.

“Truly? Do you really know the cure?” Li asked, his eyes wide, hope shining in his eyes. “Will you really share it with me?”

“Truly we do know the cure, and of course I will share it with you. Wait here and I will bring the herb mixture to you,” I said.

“You must be quick. I must be back home before it grows dark,” Li said. “Otherwise I will not be able to find my way home.”

“I will be back as soon as I can,” I said, and I flew away at speed, flying just above the trees into the fog.