Lincoln Death Train

I'd been transferred to the Hudson Division of the New York Central system, and was working the rails on the main line between New York and Albany. I was on the late shift to start with, since I was a bit of a night owl. After six weeks of stomping the tracks and mending the rails, I was feeling right at home in my new job.
Then, just before midnight on a clear spring night in late April, we got a report of some brush on the track near our station. I was sent out immediately to clear it away before the next train came. I had nearly an hour before the next train, and so I did not hurry as I walked along the rails. It was surprisingly pleasant and rather warm. Overhead, the clouds were obscuring the moon, but the light from my lantern made a cheerful glow in the night.
Suddenly, a chilly wind swept over the rails with a whoosh, like a wind just before a thunderstorm. It was so strong that it nearly knocked me over. I staggered backward, swearing and wind-milling my arms to try to keep my balance. I almost dropped the lantern, but managed to get my balance just before it slipped out of my hand.

Lincoln Death Train

Henry Hudson and the Catskill Gnomes

On September 3rd of 1609, Henry Hudson sailed the Half Moon into the mouth of the great New York river that later bore his name. The explorer and his crew journeyed north for several days, trading with the native residents and searching for the fabled northwest passage to the Orient. By the time he reached the area that would become present-day Albany, Hudson knew that he had not found the passage for which he sought. Reluctantly, he turned the Half Moon and sailed back down the river.
That night, Henry Hudson and his crew anchored the Half Moon in the shadow of the Catskill Mountains. Around midnight, Hudson heard the sound of music floating across the mountains and down to the river. Taking a few members of his crew, he went ashore and followed the sound up and up into the Catskills. The sound of the music grew louder as Hudson and his men marched up to the edge of a precipice. To their astonishment, a group of pygmies with long, bushy beards and eyes like pigs were dancing and singing and capering about in the firelight.

Henry Hudson and the Catskill Gnomes

Soul move

Very long ago, there lived a young man named Truong Ba who was very good at Chinese chess. Truong Ba's fame as a chess player spread far and wide, throughout Vietnam and even China.

At that time, the Chinese chess champion was a man named Ky Nhu. When he heard of Truong Ba, Ky Nhu set off to Vietnam to challenge his rival to a game. They played two games, each of which ended in a draw. During the third game, Ky Nhu got into trouble. Seeing that his opponent was trapped, Truong Ba said haughtily: "Even the Chess Deity De Thich could not find a way out of my moves."

Upon hearing Truong Ea's words, the Chess Deity decided to teach the young man a lesson. As Truong Ba and Ky Nhu sat hunched over the chessboard, an old man came to sit nearby. This old fellow made a suggestion to Ky Nhu, who followed his advice and won a dazzling victory.

Truong Ba was furious but, seeing the old man's glowing white beard, it occurred to him that he might be a god. To play it safe, Truong Ba sank down on one knee before the old man and said: "You must be De Thich. I am terribly sorry."

Soul move

First Day of School

She was brand-new history teacher to the school and had been preparing her first lesson in her mind for weeks.  This was her very first teaching job, and she wanted it to go well.  The night before classes began, she couldn't eat and tossed and turned restlessly all night.  Up early, she was in her new classroom, sweeping the floor, tidying the desks, and putting up welcome signs just after dawn. 
Finally -- FINALLY -- the first bell rang and her very first class came rushing in through the door.  They were eager and lively and full of high spirits.  She felt her heart lift at the sight of their fresh faces, and soon a lively dialogue between teacher and new students was established.  They liked her, she could tell.  And they were smart too.  She tossed review questions lightly at them to see how much information they'd retained from the previous grade, and they were prompt to answer.  And most of the answers were correct. 
One particular lad, sitting in one of the front desks, was particularly knowledgable about history.  She was impressed by his answers, and more impressed by the fact that he did not push himself forward as the class "know it all".  He answered quickly and quietly, and let others take their turns.  He had bright blue eyes and curly dark hair, and his smile was impish.  He smiled alot, soaking in information like a sponge.  The teacher smiled at him and tossed out another history question, seemingly at random, which he answered promptly after a pause indicated no one else knew how to respond.

First Day of School

The Gecko's tale

Everyone in Vietnam has heard the gecko's call but few remember how the tiny lizard got its voice.

Long ago, there lived a man named Gecko, who, together with his wife, survived by begging. They were a frugal pair and, despite their poverty, managed to put aside a tiny portion of the food or money they were given. Eventually, their savings added up and Gecko took great pleasure in courting his hidden nest-egg.

One evening, on his way home, Gecko saw two water buffaloes fighting: "This is a sign," he told his wife, "A terrible storm is approaching. Can't you feel it in your bones?" Following his hunch, Gecko took their savings and bought bags of rice.

Sure enough, a typhoon hit the next day. The river overflowed its banks and still the rain continued. Crops, livestock, houses and even a few unlucky villagers were swept away by the flood's fury. When the skies finally cleaned, the fields were in ruins; there would be no harvest that autumn.

The village, normally so prosperous, had a new resident: Hunger had moved in, and only Gecko welcomed his arrival. Finally, when the price of rice had climbed to ten times its usual value, he brought out his hidden bags of grain. "We are rich," he laughed, clapping his wife on the back. "I'll lend you money to rebuild your houses," he told his neighbours, and then proceeded to charge outrageous interest rates.

As Gecko's wealth increased, so did his greed. He opened a pawn shop, befriended pirates and thieves, and took to reselling stolen property.

The Gecko's tale

Van Lich's coins

Once upon a time, there lived a merchant named Van Lich. One of the richest men of his generation, Van Lich owned nearly one hundred trading ships, all of which were laden with furniture crafted from solid silver and gold.

Despite Van Lich's wealth, he was unhappy. His business forced him to travel a great deal and, during these trips, he suspected that his wife, the young and beautiful Mai Thi, was unfaithful.

One day, Van Lich's ship cast anchor in a lonely river. A fisherman approached Mai Thi, who was sitting on the prow, and asked her for a quid of betel. Feeling sorry for this poor fisherman, Mai Thi gladly gave him some betel.

Seeing this, Van Lich flew into a jealous rage. When the fisherman had gone, he ordered his wife to leave. Carrying the one bar of gold and one bar of silver given to her by her enraged husband, Mai Thi set off down the shore. She had not gone far when she met the fisherman. Mai Thi sobbed as she told her story to the astonished fisherman.

"My husband thought that I was in love with you," cried Mai Thi.

Van Lich's coins

Senawang Ghosts

Our convoy was making its way down from Malaysia back to Singapore. I looked at my watch, it was 4:30pm. I was in my brother's car with my mother and he was driving.

Suddenly, unexpectingly, smoke came oozing out of the corners of the car's bonnet - the car’s engine was heating up. We had to pull over to the road shoulder.
Our friends in the other cars proceeded on. They couldn't afford to be delayed, for their children had to go to school early the next morning.

There we were, the three of us stranded somewhere in Senawang.
While waiting for the car to cool down, some of the locals, looking to make a quick buck, came by and offered help. Of course, there was nothing they could do, for ours was a continental car - only our mechanic in Singapore would know what to do. I called him on my mobile phone and relayed to him our predicament. He said, regretfully, he could only come there not earlier than 1am.

If it wasn't for our old and sick mother, we would have walked some two kilometers to the guest house we saw earlier. Hence, we remained where we were. The day was slowly dusking and we were cold, tired, hungry and I was bursting to go to the toilet. At that time, the locals have returned home and there were hardly cars driving by. We were very alone.

Senawang Ghosts