Saboteur (short story)

"Saboteur" is a short story written by Ha Jin.^[1][2] It was first published in The Antioch Review in 1996, selected for 1997 edition of The Best American Short Stories anthology series, and included in the 2000 short story collection The Bridegroom.

Plot

Set after the Cultural Revolution when the Communist Party was advocated the idea that all citizens were equal, Mr. Chiu is a recently married man from Harbin. For his honeymoon, he chose to go to Muji City, located three hundred miles away. The story opens with Mr. Chiu eating lunch with his bride in the square near Muji Train Station, just as his two-week honeymoon is ending. Mr. Chiu is concerned about his acute hepatitis that he had suffered from three months earlier and is afraid of a relapse. A policeman throws tea in their direction while they eat. Their feet get wet and an altercation begins and Mr. Chiu is unjustly arrested. He asks his wife to catch their train and have someone get him if he does not return by tomorrow.

Mr. Chiu is arrested for sabotage, but the police are prejudiced against him for being a Communist Party member. Mr. Chiu refuses to acknowledge guilt and proclaims his innocence. While in jail, he asks a guard to provide him with medical attention for fear that his hepatitis has flared up again. He warns them that they will be responsible if anything were to happen to him. The guard does not heed his warnings or his concerns. Mr. Chiu is terrified of the bugs, but is amazed to find that he doesn't miss his wife a lot. He made up his mind that when he got out he would write about his experience and expose the police force.

He remains in jail throughout the entire weekend. On Monday morning, Mr. Chiu spots Fenjin tied in the courtyard of the jail. Mr. Chiu realizes that Fenjin was the rescuer sent by his bride and because he had called the chief a bad name, Fenjin was subjected to a punishment. In return for the release of Fenjin and himself, Mr. Chiu signed a statement acknowledging his "crime" and promises to never do it again.

When the two men were released, Mr. Chiu and Fenjin eat at several restaurants near the police station, eating no more than two bowls at any of them. Mr. Chiu keeps wishing he could kill all of his punishers. "Within a month, over 800 people contracted acute hepatitis," six died, including two children.

Characters

• Chiu Maguang

Mr. Chiu, as he is referred to, is a thirty-four-year-old Chinese male visiting Muji City, China for his honeymoon. He lives and works in Harbin, China. He is a lecturer at Harbin University and is a Communist Party member.

• Mr. Chiu's Bride

Described to be pale with wire glasses. A recent college graduate of the fine arts. Recently married to Mr. Chiu and just back from their honeymoon. Has never seen an arrest before and so stands terrified. She sends Fenjin, a lawyer, to help Mr. Chiu out of jail.

• Chief of Bureau

Described as a "thin, bald man, who looked serene and intelligent".^[3] The Chief is prejudicial against Communist Party members. He unjustly imprisons Mr. Chiu and Fenjin. He cares little that his "punishments" become public because he is confident that when he denies such claims that the public opinion will turn in his favor.

• Fenjin

A recent graduate from the Harbin University's Law Department. Two years ago, Fenjin had enrolled in Mr. Chiu's course about Marxist materialism. He had come to the jail at the request of Mr. Chiu's bride to help Mr. Chiu out of jail. He had called the Chief a "bandit" and was punished for it by being tied to a pine at the jail.

References