The Red Apricot
Li watched as a discarded cigarette carton floated past her high in the stream at the bottom of her garden
As normal her husband was away
His diary noted that he was at another party conference but she knew that he was probably entertaining another woman
She had found messages on his phone and revealing photographs on his computer
The apricot tree was leaning over the old stone wall that separated her house from the street below
At the height of its season it would drop fruit which was greedily stolen by the poor children of the town
This did not bother Li as she felt a sorrow for the wretched urchins that hung around the busy streets begging for alms
Occasionally she would spot a handsome young man and for a moment in her thoughts would hold him in her arms
How she needed a lover
But all the men she came into contact with only wanted to exploit her
They wanted to meet her husband
She looked at the cigarette carton again which was fast disappearing from view
How she envied its freedom
The day was hot and Li decided to bathe
It was as she dried herself that she saw a young man probably no older than a student in the garden of their near neighbours
He was trimming the borders of a path with a pair of shears
As she watched his graceful cat like movements she realised that the young man had spotted her
She smiled faintly and withdrew from the window
A week later Li was again in the garden
She was smoking a Russian cigarette and looking at her bare feet
It was she was contemplating her long toes that she again became aware that she was being watched
It was the young man
He was holding a large net which he was using to retrieve the debris that was clogging the stream which by its geography ran through both gardens
What are you doing?
I am collecting rubbish from this stream
An interesting occupation
Perhaps
Would you please remove your shirt
Why?
Because I prefer to see you working without a shirt
When I spotted you from my wet room window you were not wearing a shirt
The young man pulled his flimsy cotton shirt from his broad shoulders and hung it casually from a nearby branch
Happy
Yes
Are you alone?
Yes my husband is away
He is always away
Do you not get bored?
Frequently
I can work for you as well as the Chens if you wish
Perhaps
Their garden needs little maintenance
I already employ boys to look after my garden
Indeed I am expecting one this afternoon
Oh
But I would be glad if you shook the branches of the apricot tree so the fruit falls into the street as I feel so worried for the poor children
I will be free quite soon
Then please enter my garden by the small gate which is to your left
It will save you crossing the stream
As she washed at her decorated enamel sink Li watched the young man as he shook the branches of the apricot tree
The ripe fruits fell with ease and were soon collected by the desperate children
She knew that the young man could not see her at the wet room window as he had done before
But he knew that she was there
I suppose that you think I am a spider luring you into my bed
No when I saw you bathing I knew that you were not just another bored wife
You are different
Am I?
Yes
Please explain
When I first spotted you at the window I knew that you were unaware of me
I watched you as you delicately washed your arms and your shoulders and your beautiful breasts
When you spotted my gaze you made no attempt to cover yourself
You watched me for a while and withdrew slowly
I knew that you were different
What would you do if my husband walked through that door and caught us naked on this bed?
I do not know
My husband has many lovers
But he does not touch me
Once we were passionate
But her grew bored of me and wanted other women
I am also tired of my husband as he is a corrupt man
What would you do if my husband walked through that door and caught us naked on this bed?
You have not answered my question
I would slay him for treating you so badly
How would you kill him?
With my bare hands
That would be brutal and you would be punished by the authorities
You would not see or touch my milk white body again
Thoughts of it would torment you in your cell in the hours leading up to your execution
Li stood up and walked towards her ornate wardrobe
She probed a pocket on an elegant suit and pulled out a small brown bottle
What is that?
Poison
What poison
A very clever poison
It kills without trace
It is a mask
Mask?
A very clever poison
If I gave it to you now then within an hour you would be dead
But your autopsy would show no trace of its invasion
It would be supposed that you died of a trauma of the heart
And that would be that
Do you want me to kill your husband?
Yes
With the poison?
With the poison
Do you remember the small request I made before you became my lover
Yes you asked me to retain a few of the apricots that I was shaking from the tree
My husband adores apricots and grows angry when I distribute them to the street children
You want me to poison an apricot?
Yes
Behind me is a hypodermic needle
I want you to inject poison into these apricots
That is your task nothing more
I want you to kill my husband
2018