《拉薩情書》

第十七章、湯懷民遇見伯樂：霍爾
01
公園角落裡，街頭藝人專區，幾組街頭藝人擺設攤位。有動態熱鬧的小型樂團、活力四射的街舞、特技雜耍和魔術表演、舞台劇；也有靜態的人像畫攤、單人默劇。
湯懷民的漫畫人像畫攤前，圍著一堵人牆。觀眾紛紛指著掛出來的公眾人物：歐巴馬、小布希、瑪丹娜、希拉蕊、川普等評頭論足。一對白人情侶坐在椅子上，給懷民做畫。
人牆側面站著一個白髮白鬍鬚，拄著柺杖，穿一襲水藍色西裝打個小領帶，外型就像麥當勞爺爺，他目光炯炯有神，正盯著湯懷民做畫的側影。
懷民完成情侶的畫作，遞出畫作，鞠躬收下鈔票。這老人家跨步走到懷民面前，以帶著英格蘭腔的美語，語調優雅說：「年輕人，我請你把我的各種表情、動作，畫成素描連環畫。」
面對如此奇怪的要求，懷民心想：「這老先生，不會是故意來捉弄我的吧？」轉念一想：「我跟他素昧平生，他幹嘛故意捉弄我呢？如果他的動機真是要捉弄我，當成一時的娛樂，我就盡力滿足他吧？」
「好的，先生請坐。」懷民面帶微笑問：「連續的表情動作嗎？」
老人家坐下來說：「是的！每個表情動作，我給你一分鐘畫底稿，動作完成後我就起身離開，明天這時候跟你取件。」
圍觀的觀眾開始騷動，有人覺得這老人家存心來找碴的，一個中年男人說：「年輕人，你別理會他！」；有人抱著看好戲的心情說：「你就秀出漫畫本事，畫出來看看啊！」
懷民鎮定心情說：「老人家，可以開始了！」
老人家拉來一張桌子，擺出第一個姿勢是右手撐著下巴，兩眼望著遠方，想心事的表情。懷民定神凝望了幾秒鐘，抓住老人的神韻後，飛快地左右手同時動作，不到一分鐘就畫出底稿。觀眾見他兩手同時做畫，都瞪大眼睛盯著。
懷民微笑說：「Next！」
老人家雙手握拳，重擊桌面，握拳的雙手定格在桌面上。臉上橫眉豎目狀似憤怒。
懷民換了張畫紙，同樣凝望了幾秒鐘，接著飛快地畫出底稿。
如此，老人或坐或站，或者起身負手踱步，臉上表情依序出現冷漠、鄙視、厭惡、懷疑、同情、疲備、害怕、傷心、驚訝、高興、祥和等，懷民逐一完成底稿，對老人家的用意，已了然於胸。
老人家起身，推了一下鏡框說：「年輕人，明天跟你取件喔！我叫安德森‧霍爾。」老人揮揮手，一派瀟灑轉身離開。觀眾望著老人背影，議論紛紛。
一個灰頭髮老婦人，取出一張照片說：「這是我孫女，兒子死後被我媳婦帶去法國，我很思念她，年輕人，你能不能把她十年後的樣子，跟我畫在一起？」接過那張照片，懷民說：「我盡力！」
懷民換上一張新的畫紙，端詳著照片，腦海裡想像小女孩長大後的模樣，開始做畫……。

02
傍晚，房車回到家門口，懷民下車，打開後車箱蓋，扛起畫架和一袋畫具穿過庭院，看見角落裡的青稞和小米已經抽出綠色的穗子，心情跟著快活不少。
安妮來開門，懷民穿過客廳，把畫架和畫具擱在畫室長桌上，轉身回到客廳。
「喝咖啡嗎？親愛的。」
「給我杯濃茶，安妮。」懷民伸個懶腰，一臉疲憊癱坐到太師椅上，表情呆滯地望著安妮。
安妮靠過來，蹲著關切地問：「你累了？」
懷民輕描淡寫說：「還好！今天遇到一個奇怪的老人家。」
安妮問：「怎樣奇怪？」
懷民把經過約略說了。
安妮評論說：「聽你這麼說，那個叫安德森‧霍爾的老先生，感覺好像在捉弄人！」
「剛開始我也是這麼想，因為以往從來沒有客人提出這樣奇特的要求。」
「我去沖杯茶來。」安妮起身，走進廚房。
懷民兩手揉著太陽穴，安妮端來一只保溫杯。
「你家的阿里山茶！」安妮把保溫杯遞給懷民，接著問：「後來呢？」
「我轉念一想，老先生跟我素昧平生，沒理由捉弄我，於是我前後畫了十三幅底稿，發現他每個姿態和表情，其實都有個主題，感覺他似乎在考察我的本事。」
安妮推測說：「這老先生，說不定有什麼來頭。」
懷民微笑說：「我沒想到這層，當時想的，就是不能被他的挑戰擊倒而已！」
「你先休息一下，晚餐很快就弄好了。」安妮說：「我進廚房忙去。」
廚房裡，安妮把包好的獵人飯包放入蒸籠，接著煎鮭魚片。突然一陣胃酸上沖，安妮趴在水槽上嘔出幾口酸水，直覺想到自己可能懷孕了。安妮熄掉爐火，回房裡找出胃乳片，含了兩片，再回到廚房。
餐廳裡，小倆口吃著晚餐。懷民拿了一只高腳杯，要倒紅酒給安妮。
「你喝吧！我最近胃酸多，剛嘔吐過。」
懷民關切問：「妳不要緊吧？親愛的。」
安妮微笑說：「可能懷孕了，明天去給婦產科檢查。」
懷民喜出望外說：「真的？明天我陪妳去。」
「不用啦，你忙正事去。檢查結果回來告訴你。」

04
次日上午，安德森‧霍爾出現在湯懷民的畫攤前，慈靄的臉上堆著笑容：「年輕人，我來取件喔！」
正在幫客人做畫的湯懷民起身，拿起一只牛皮紙袋。
「老紳士，你的連環畫。」懷民遞給他一只牛皮紙袋。
「我看看。」霍爾就近坐在花檯上，取出漫畫本，逐張檢視，他頻頻點頭。
翻閱完這本人像漫畫，安德森走到湯懷民面前說：「年輕人，你很有本事，能夠精準抓住每個情緒，你是我要找的人。」霍爾隨即掏出一本支票，簽寫一張支票連同名片遞給懷民：「這張小額的是漫畫的稿費，我是華德‧狄士尼執行長安德森‧霍爾‧華德，歡迎你加入狄士尼動畫集團。」
湯懷民收下那張支票，致歉說：「霍爾先生，我還想回學校進修，短期內還不能接受你的邀請。」
面對委婉拒絕，霍爾不但沒有怒色，反而主動跟懷民握手說：「你有進修的計劃，這主意相當難得，你可以考慮利用課餘時段，來我的公司見習，我等你的回音。」
圍觀的觀眾見狀，紛紛向湯懷民表達恭喜，有觀眾要求跟霍爾‧華德和湯懷民合照，霍爾來者不拒相當親民，懷民也不好拒絕。
同一時間，安妮帶著一冊裝定好的新博論大綱，來到藝術學院李建華的研究室。
「叔叔，我的博論大綱決定換題目。」安妮雙手遞出那本大綱。
「我看看。」李建華接過大綱，看了一眼標題。
「《情僧倉央‧嘉措情詩裡的修辭美》，這題目比較好發揮。」建華翻閱內頁，快速瀏覽一下說：「論文架構大致上OK，這兩天我找時間細看後，給妳意見，然後妳就可以重新提出這份大綱。」
安妮微笑說：「謝謝Uncle！」。
李建華翻到一頁插圖，好奇問：「這張圖是妳自己拍攝的？」
「是啊！在家裡用數位相機翻拍的。」
「這份《倉央‧嘉措情詩手稿》是真跡嗎？」
「是真跡啊！現在由我夫家保管著。」
李建華欣慰說：「我的老師卓瑪，生前曾經跟我提到過這份手稿，說她很遺憾離開中國時，沒來得及從拉薩家裡帶出來。好樣的，安妮，妳完成卓瑪生前遺願。」
「我這趟回去中國，陪我父親札希找了幾個月，意外發現這份手稿，一直保存在我先生在台灣阿里山的老家。」
李建華好奇問：「喔？那真是神奇！一直想問妳，妳先生外表看起來，也有藏族人的特徵，他是藏族人嗎？」
安妮微笑說：「我先生跟我一樣，一半藏族血統。」
「可妳先生來自台灣，不是嗎？」
「他的祖父49年跟著國民政府去台灣，跟我祖父母一樣遭遇。」
李建華嘖嘖稱奇說：「哈！古人說：姻緣天注定，看來是真有其事。」

05
安妮從醫院婦產科走出來，陽光溫煦，安妮走到公車候車亭等車。
有個綁著馬尾、穿洋裝短裙，有著華人臉孔的大女孩朝她走來。
「嗨！安妮，我是徐君薇啊！」
安妮立馬想起說：「君薇啊！好幾年沒見，畢業後就沒妳的消息。」
「我去上海發展啊！聽同學說妳一路讀上去，在讀博士班吧？」
「嗯，正在寫博士論文，妳結婚沒？」
「還在拍拖哩！我男友是個白人，他工作調回來加州狄士尼總部，我就跟著他一起回來囉！」
安妮想起那位老先生，好奇問：「妳男友在狄士尼總部？」
君薇微笑說：「是啊！他是三D動畫工程師，相當高階喔。」
安妮問：「真巧！妳聽過霍爾‧華德嗎？」
君薇好奇問：「霍爾‧華德？我男友的頂頭上司啊！怎麼？妳認識他？」
「前幾天，我先生在公園裡做畫時，霍爾‧華德主動找上他。」
君薇驚訝問：「妳先生？妳幾時結婚的？怎麼我事前都沒聽說？」
「兩個月前剛登記註冊，沒驚動任何同學。」
「這樣啊！霍爾‧華德怎麼找上妳先生的？」
安妮娓娓道來：「我先生在公園的街頭藝人專區擺設人像畫攤，剛巧霍爾經過那裡，說找他畫了一冊連環畫，然後，霍爾對我老公的人像漫畫很感興趣，隔天來取件時，當面主動邀他加入狄士尼集團。」
君薇讚嘆說：「你老公不簡單喔！能夠讓老霍爾看上，簡直就像彗星撞地球！」
「可我老公想繼續進修，讀柏克萊美術研究所，所以當時他沒答應。」
君薇驚呼說：「阿呆喔！有機會進到狄士尼，成為專業動畫師，你老公還在猶豫啊？我男友當初可是考了三次，才考進狄士尼的！三次喔…」
「喔！那回頭我跟他好好討論一下！」安妮說：「妳記得我家和電話吧？」
「當然記得啊！妳家位置很好找。」
安妮微笑說：「改天約妳男友一起來，如果須要，就請你們幫我當說客囉！」
君薇說：「沒問題！保持聯絡囉。」
一部公車駛近，安妮向君薇揮手，走上公車。

Chapter 17: Tang Huai-min Meets a Mentor: Hall
01
In a corner of the park, the street performer area was set up. Several performers had stalls: lively small bands, energetic street dancers, acrobatics and magic shows, and stage performances. There were also static portrait stalls and solo mime acts.
In front of Huai-min’s manga portrait stall, a crowd gathered. The audience pointed at public figures he had drawn: Obama, George W. Bush, Madonna, Hillary, Trump, commenting on each. A white couple sat for portraits.
To the side, an elderly man with white hair and beard, leaning on a cane, wearing a sky-blue suit with a small tie, resembling Ronald McDonald’s grandpa, watched Huai-min’s side profile intently.
After completing the couple’s portraits, Huai-min handed them over and bowed to receive payment. The elderly man approached and said in elegant English with an English accent: “Young man, I want you to draw a sketch comic of all my expressions and movements.”
Huai-min thought, “Is this old man trying to prank me?” Then reconsidered: “We don’t know each other. If it’s just entertainment, I’ll do my best.”
“Please sit, sir,” Huai-min said with a smile. “Do you want a series of expressions and movements?”
“Yes. I’ll give you a minute for each pose to draw the base sketch. After each, I’ll leave, and pick it up tomorrow at this time.”
The crowd murmured—some thought the old man was deliberately difficult; one middle-aged man said: “Ignore him, young man!” Others were curious: “Show your skills and draw it!”
Huai-min calmed himself: “Sir, you may begin.”
The old man pulled a chair and struck his first pose: right hand supporting his chin, eyes looking into the distance, thoughtful. Huai-min observed for a few seconds, captured the essence, and quickly drew the sketch with both hands in under a minute. The audience was amazed.
Huai-min smiled: “Next!”
The old man clenched fists, pounding the table, looking angry. Huai-min switched to a new sheet, observed, and quickly drew the sketch.
The old man alternated between sitting, standing, and pacing, expressing coldness, contempt, disgust, suspicion, sympathy, fatigue, fear, sadness, surprise, happiness, serenity. Huai-min completed each base sketch, understanding the purpose.
The man stood and nudged a framed sketch: “Young man, I’ll pick this up tomorrow. My name is Anderson Hall.” He waved and walked away. The audience whispered among themselves.
An elderly gray-haired woman approached with a photo: “This is my granddaughter. After my son died, she was taken to France by my daughter-in-law. I miss her dearly. Can you draw what she will look like ten years from now?”
Huai-min took the photo: “I’ll do my best.”
He took a new sheet, studied the photo, imagined the girl grown up, and began drawing.
02
In the evening, the RV returned home. Huai-min got out, opened the rear trunk, and carried his easel and a bag of art supplies across the yard. He noticed the barley and millet in the corner had sprouted green ears, which lifted his mood considerably.
Annie came to open the door. Huai-min carried the easel and supplies into the studio and placed them on the long table, then returned to the living room.
“Coffee, dear?” Annie asked.
“Strong tea for me, Annie.” Huai-min stretched, exhausted, and slumped into the armchair, staring blankly at Annie.
Annie crouched down and asked with concern, “Tired?”
“Not really. I met a strange old man today,” Huai-min said casually.
“Strange how?” Annie asked.
Huai-min briefly recounted the encounter.
Annie commented, “From what you describe, this Mr. Anderson Hall seems like he was trying to play a trick on you!”
“At first, I thought the same. I’d never had a client make such a bizarre request before.”
“I’ll go make some tea.” Annie got up and walked to the kitchen.
Huai-min rubbed his temples as Annie brought him a thermos.
“Your Alishan tea!” she said, handing it to him. “Then what happened?”
“I reconsidered. The gentleman and I are strangers; there’s no reason for him to prank me. So I drew thirteen base sketches in total. I realized that each pose and expression had a theme—it felt like he was testing my skills.”
Annie speculated, “Perhaps this old gentleman has some background or influence.”
Huai-min smiled, “I hadn’t thought that far. At the time, I was only focused on not being defeated by his challenge!”
“Rest a bit. Dinner will be ready soon,” Annie said. “I’ll get busy in the kitchen.”
In the kitchen, Annie placed the wrapped hunter’s lunch into the steamer and started pan-frying salmon. Suddenly, a wave of acid reflux hit her. She leaned over the sink and vomited a few sips of sour liquid, instinctively suspecting she might be pregnant. She turned off the stove, went to the bedroom for antacid tablets, took two, and returned to the kitchen.
At the dining table, the couple had dinner. Huai-min picked up a wine glass, intending to pour red wine for Annie.
“You drink. I’ve had some acid reflux and just vomited.”
Huai-min asked with concern, “Are you okay, dear?”
Annie smiled, “I might be pregnant. I’ll see the OB-GYN tomorrow.”
Huai-min was overjoyed, “Really? I’ll go with you tomorrow.”
“No need. You focus on your work. I’ll tell you the results afterward.”
________________________________________
04
The next morning, Anderson Hall appeared at Huai-min’s art stall, a kindly smile on his face. “Young man, I’m here to pick up the sketches!”
Huai-min, busy with a client, stood up and grabbed a kraft paper bag.
“Sir, your comic sketches,” he said, handing over the bag.
Hall sat nearby on a flower stand, examining each page, nodding repeatedly.
After reviewing the comic portraits, Hall said to Huai-min, “Young man, you’re very talented. You capture each emotion precisely. You’re exactly the person I’m looking for.” He then took out a check, signed it, and handed it to Huai-min with a business card: “This small amount is your comic fee. I am Anderson Hall Ward, CEO of Walt Disney. Welcome to the Disney Animation Group.”
Huai-min accepted the check and apologized: “Mr. Hall, I still want to continue my studies. I can’t accept your offer right now.”
Hall, undeterred by the polite refusal, extended his hand and said, “You have plans to further your education. That’s admirable. You can consider interning at my company during your spare time. I’ll await your reply.”
The onlookers congratulated Huai-min. Some requested photos with Hall and Huai-min. Hall, approachable and friendly, agreed, and Huai-min couldn’t refuse.
At the same time, Annie arrived at the art department, carrying a bound draft of her new dissertation outline to Li Jianhua’s office.
“Uncle, I’ve decided to change my dissertation topic,” Annie said, handing over the draft.
“Let’s see.” Li Jianhua glanced at the title.
“‘Rhetorical Art in the Love Poems of Milarepa,’ this topic gives me more room to develop.” He flipped through the pages. “The structure is generally okay. I’ll review it in detail in the next few days and give you feedback. Then you can formally submit this outline.”
“Thank you, Uncle!” Annie smiled.
Li Jianhua stopped at an illustration: “Did you take this photo yourself?”
“Yes! I digitized it at home with a camera.”
“Is this manuscript of Milarepa’s love poems authentic?”
“Yes, it’s authentic. My husband keeps it now.”
Li Jianhua, pleased, said: “My teacher Zhuoma once mentioned this manuscript. She regretted not bringing it from her home in Lhasa when leaving China. Well done, Annie. You’ve fulfilled her last wish.”
“I went back to China with my father Zaxi for several months and unexpectedly found this manuscript, safely kept at my husband’s family home in Alishan, Taiwan.”
Li Jianhua, amazed, asked, “Oh? That’s incredible. I’ve always wondered—your husband looks Tibetan. Is he Tibetan?”
Annie smiled, “Like me, he’s half Tibetan.”
“But he’s from Taiwan, right?”
“His grandfather moved to Taiwan with the Nationalist government in 1949, the same fate as my grandparents.”
Li Jianhua chuckled, “As the ancients said, marriage is destined by heaven. Seems true in your case!”
________________________________________
05
Annie walked out of the hospital’s OB-GYN department. The sun was warm as she waited at a bus stop.
A tall girl with a ponytail, wearing a dress and skirt, approached. She had a Chinese face.
“Hi, Annie! I’m Xu Junwei!”
Annie immediately recognized her. “Junwei! It’s been years since graduation—I hadn’t heard from you.”
“I went to Shanghai for work. Heard you’ve been studying up to your PhD?”
“Yes, I’m writing my dissertation. Are you married?”
“Still dating! My boyfriend is white. He got transferred back to Disney’s headquarters in California, so I followed him.”
Curious, Annie asked, “Your boyfriend works at Disney headquarters?”
Junwei smiled, “Yes! He’s a senior 3D animation engineer.”
“Coincidentally, have you heard of Hall Ward?”
Junwei asked, surprised, “Hall Ward? My boyfriend’s boss! You know him?”
“My husband met him at the park while drawing.”
Junwei gasped, “Your husband? When did you get married? Why didn’t I know?”
“Two months ago, registered quietly—didn’t alert classmates.”
“Then how did Hall find your husband?”
Annie explained: “My husband had a portrait stall in the park’s street performer area. Hall happened to pass by, asked him to draw a comic, and was impressed. The next day, he invited my husband to join Disney in person.”
Junwei admired, “Your husband is amazing! To catch Hall’s attention is like a comet hitting the earth!”
“But my husband wants to continue at Berkeley’s art school, so he didn’t accept then.”
Junwei exclaimed, “Silly! He could have become a professional animator at Disney! My boyfriend tried three times to get in!”
“Oh! I’ll discuss it with him,” Annie said, smiling. “You remember my house and phone, right?”
“Of course! Easy to find.”
Annie smiled, “Next time, we’ll invite your boyfriend over. If needed, you can help persuade him.”
“No problem! Keep in touch.”
A bus arrived. Annie waved to Junwei and boarded.