I can’t say precisely when the Emperor developed the cough. I can say that it happened suddenly, gathering out of sight—the way clouds do—and then appearing fully formed in his lungs. The first noise came like a dog’s bark, followed by a hissing wheeze. It was customary that when the Emperor coughed, all those in his presence must cough as well. Thus it was a single bark followed by a chorus of barks, and then we bowed our heads, as if in prayer, and wheezed together. The cough rippled from the throne to the court and out into the yards and women’s rooms, and I could not fight the sense that it was not just the Emperor dying but all of China as well.
The Emperor and I were raised together in Linzi, framed by the Yellow River to the west and the Yellow Sea to the east. I remember our first trip to the coast, the way the Emperor tore into the shallow water, his fat legs kicking at the waves. I was a commoner, then; he the young prince and I the young servant.
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About Us:
One Story is a non-profit literary magazine that features one great short story mailed to subscribers every three weeks. Our mission is to save the short story by publishing in a friendly format that allows readers to experience each story as a stand-alone work of art and a simple form of entertainment. One Story is designed to fit into your purse or pocket, and into your life.
Because we like a challenge we will publish each writer one time only. This prevents us from relying on a stable of writers and helps us find new and exciting voices. Between September and June, all writers can submit their work.
Since launching in 2002 we have grown to have over 10000 subscribers. Many of the stories we have published have won awards, and many One Story writers have gone on to publish their first (or third, or tenth) books. But what keeps us going is the community we have created. Please join us: subscribe, come to an event, or chat on our blog.
Our new issue, “The History of Living Forever” by Jake Wolff, was pulled from our slush-pile by Sam Katz—one of our eagle-eyed readers here atOne Story. As soon as Sam shared this piece with me, I knew that it belonged in our pages. Set in China in 210 BCE, this compelling tale follows Xu Fu, fangshi to the Emperor, as he sets sail in search of the fountain of youth. Based on actual myths from China & Japan, this short story reads like an epic novel. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. And now here is Sam Katz, issue editor for “History of Living Forever,” who will give a proper introduction to this wonderful historical adventure. -HT
On the surface, “The History of Living Forever,” is a story of epic and ancient scope. There are giant man-eating sharks and a mythical mountain island guarded by gods. There is unrequited love and feats of loyalty and that most primal of quests: the search for immortality. It is a story fit to be read aloud to an audience. But like any great story, it is ultimately carried by the actions of individual characters—in this case, the decisions of two men. A man in the hull of a wayward ship must choose between his friend’s life and his own happiness. Another, at the other end of the world, decides the fate of a thousand virgins. Narrated in concise prose, Jake Wolff mixes myth and fiction in a tale of exploration that takes us on a journey from the docks of Warring States China to the open sea to the white sand beaches of the mythic Mount Penglai. We are thrilled to welcome him into the One Story family. To find out more about “The History of Living Forever”—including what Jake would do with eternal life—please check out our Q&A with the author.
A customizable version of our online submission management system is available to publishers through the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (
One Story is now available on your Amazon Kindle, iOS and Android devices. Stories are auto-delivered wirelessly through the Amazon Kindle app. Electronic subscribers get a new story delivered directly to their eReader device as soon as the physical issue is published. Like the print edition, you can try it for free—all Kindle subscriptions start with a 14-day free trial, and you can cancel at any time during the free trial period. Sign up to receive One Story at the 
One Story is a non-profit literary magazine that features one great short story mailed to subscribers every three weeks. Our mission is to save the short story by publishing in a friendly format that allows readers to experience each story as a stand-alone work of art and a simple form of entertainment. One Story is designed to fit into your purse or pocket, and into your life.