XLI
THE OLD MAN IN THE DREAM
Kwon Jai was a man high in rank and well advanced in years. He was, however, much given to sport and various kinds of pleasure. One night he had a dream, when an old man came to him, who bowed low, and in tears said, “Sir, Minister Hong wishes to kill off me and all my posterity. Please save me, won’t you?”
Kwon asked, “How can I save you?” The old man replied, “Hong will assuredly ask Your Excellency to help him. Desist from it, please, for if you do, Hong will give it up and I shall live and all mine.”
A little later there came a rap at the door, when Kwon awakened and asked, “Who is there?” It was Hong, who that day had planned an excursion to Lotus Lake to fish for turtles, and now had come specially to invite Kwon to go with him.
Then Kwon knew that the turtle had appeared to him in a dream in the form of an old man, so he declined, saying he was ill. I learned later that Hong also did not go.