Prerokba zvezdnega dečka

Besedilo

Prerokba zvezdnega dečka

Wu was a newly founded state, and loyalties were not yet secure. The wives and children of commanders stationed along its borders were therefore held as hostages, the children being known as “boys held in pledge.” Every day, a dozen or more of these youngsters would gather to play. In the second month of the third year of Sun Xiu’s Yong’an reign, a strange boy suddenly appeared and joined their games. He was a little over four feet tall, seemed about six or seven years old, and wore blue-green clothes. None of the children knew him, and they all asked, “Whose little boy are you? Why have you suddenly come here today?” He replied, “I saw how happily you were all playing, so I came, that is all!” Looking closely, they saw that his eyes shone with a dazzling light that streamed out from them. Frightened, they questioned him again. The boy answered, “Are you afraid of me? I am no human being, but the star Yinghuo, Mars. I have something to tell you: the three lords shall yield to the Sima clan.” The children were greatly alarmed, and some ran to tell the adults, who hurried over to see him. The boy said, “Shall I leave you now?” He sprang into the air and at once changed form. Looking up, they saw what seemed a length of white silk trailing into the sky. The adults who came still arrived in time to witness it. It floated higher and higher, then vanished after a little while. At the time, Wu’s rule was harsh and oppressive, and no one dared make the incident known. Four years later, Shu fell; six years later, Wei was deposed; and twenty-one years later, Wu was conquered. Thus they all passed to the Sima clan.