Archer's Quest

by Linda Sue Park

  Huh?

  "A metal tiger!" Archie shook his head in wonder. "I can almost feel its magic working already I would never have thought of it myself, but you—your thoughts go beyond the obvious, into the realm of mystery, where magic resides!"

  They do?

  "Tell me," Archie said, his voice still hushed. "How did you arrive at this revelation?"

  "Um, it was the gong," Kevin said and nodded at the other table. "I thought—well, the sound made me think of—of metal stuff."

  "And from there you made the connection to our earlier conversation. How quickly you learn!"

  Our earlier conversation?

  Archie slid his chair away from the table. "Let us go to this metal tiger, then. I am quite sure that a ride on its back will return me to my own time." He bowed his head again. "Such wisdom at a young age!"

  It was the second time Archie had given him credit for something he didn't know he'd done. Kevin felt pride and confusion battling inside him.

  Confusion won.

  He sighed. "Archer, I'm not really wise at all," he said. "I mean, I have no idea what you're talking about."

  Archie chuckled. "Modesty as well as wisdom. But it is sheer brilliance to have arrived at the conclusion that because in my time it is a Metal-tiger year, I would have to ride a metal tiger to return!"

  A Metal-tiger year?

  That cycle-of-elements thing! Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood. Archie had been born during a Fire cycle and he was—how old? Twenty-four. And each cycle lasted twelve years, so back in his time in Korea it was two element cycles later—

  A Metal cycle, just as Archie had said.

  Kevin felt a little uncomfortable, knowing that Archie thought he was a genius when he wasn't. Still, he had thought of the statue, and then Archie had sort of finished the thought.

  I guess maybe geniuses always get help from somewhere else.

  ***

  Kevin paid for the meal by leaving the five-dollar bill on the table. As they left the restaurant, he noticed a jar of chopsticks on the counter for take-out customers. On impulse he took a couple pairs and held them out to Archie.

  "For me?"

  Kevin grinned. "Yeah. A souvenir. Genuine Chinese chopsticks from the United States."

  Archie bowed his head but did not take the chopsticks. He was silent for a moment, his brow furrowed. "Young Friend, what I am about to do may seem a great insult to you, but before you take offense, please allow me to explain."

  Whoa—he's gonna insult me? What's up with that?

  Archie hesitated again. "I beg you to understand, but I cannot accept your gift."

  So he doesn't want the chopsticks—that's the big insult? "Um, it's okay, Archer. No problem."

  "Of course it is a problem!" Archie snapped. "My friend offers a gift, and I am so rude as to refuse? But as I said, I will explain." He gestured toward the outer vestibule of the restaurant.

  They walked into the vestibule, where Archie turned to face Kevin. Archie spoke slowly. "The purpose of my visit here has never been clear to either of us, I think it is fair to say. But I know from the lessons of my past that the future is a perilous realm. Whatever the reason for this adventure, I cannot believe that I am meant to carry back with me any certainty about the future. A man who thinks he knows what the future holds is the greatest of fools—and a dangerous one if he is the leader of an entire people.

  "So in my heart I feel that if I am fortunate enough to return to my own time, I must not take anything back with me—perhaps not even the memory of my visit here."

  Kevin pocketed the chopsticks, thinking hard. That makes sense—I mean, in all those books and movies, whenever there's time travel, everybody's really careful not to mess things up in the past. Because it might change the future in some bad way. Even something as small as chopsticks.

  Archie went on, his face solemn. "I hope to retain something of this adventure," he said, "even if it is not a conscious memory. I have learned that a person need not be a scholar, or an official, or even fully grown"—he nodded at Kevin—"to contribute to a great mission. The most ordinary among us have it within ourselves to be extraordinary, should we so choose."

  Kevin frowned a little. I think he just called me ordinary. Well, I guess he's right about that.

  Suddenly, he remembered something the professor had said about Archie's kingship. "Wherever he went he talked to ordinary people"—something like that, wasn't it?

  A thought lit up inside his brain. Maybe that's because some ordinary kid helped him, and even if he doesn't have any real memory of it, something sort of stays inside him and he goes home and talks to ordinary people from now on—because of me helping him. Wow!

  For a moment, Kevin wished that Archie would remember him. That way he'd be part of one of Archie's great stories. Too bad. I guess that's the way it has to be, for him and his time. But what about me?

  He looked up. "Archer, I get it. Really I do. And I'm not insulted. I understand why you don't want to take the chopsticks. But if you think you might not even remember being here when you get back, do you think the same thing will happen to me? I mean, do you think I won't have any memory of you, either?"

  That would be awful. The coolest thing that had ever happened to him—and he might not even remember it?

  "Ah!" Archie raised his chin and looked much more cheerful. "No, my friend, exploring the past is of utmost importance. Two pasts, in fact—that of your family and that of the world around you. They are a large part of what makes a man who he is." He clapped Kevin on the shoulder. "I cannot know for certain, of course, but I believe you will indeed remember. Perhaps in your question you have even discovered the purpose for my visit."

  Archie smiled and continued, "Beyond that, we have just now shared both a meal and laughter. When two people have eaten together and laughed at the same things, they can forge a bond that rivals iron in strength."

  The image of the school cafeteria popped into Kevin's head—him and Jason and some of the other guys eating pizza and messing around and laughing.

  On impulse, Kevin bowed. A little bow, just sort of leaning his head forward, but it felt like the right thing to do.

  Archie nodded and bowed in return. Together they walked out the restaurant door.

  They headed back in the direction of the zoo. They'd have to cross the street to the zoo's entrance, walk all the way down to the pedestrian bridge over the highway, and then come back up the other side to the university.

  Archie walked quickly, a kind of bounce in his step. Kevin started to feel a tiny bit of the hope that seemed to radiate from Archie. Was it possible—could riding the metal tiger get him back to Korea?

  They'd find out soon enough.

  On the street that led to the zoo, cars were lined up waiting to turn onto the highway. The traffic signal stayed green for the highway traffic much longer than for the zoo road; only two or three cars at a time pulled out before the light turned red again.

  Kevin and Archie stopped at the corner of the zoo street. They crossed with the light, and as they reached the opposite side, Kevin heard his name.

  "Kevin! Kevin, over here!"

  Kevin looked back. He saw someone waving out of a car window.

  It was Professor Lee, in the fourth car down.

  Surprised, Kevin stopped walking. What is the professor doing here?

  An image passed through his mind, like a really fast slide show. That man walking through the grounds of Westland House—

  He's been following us!

  Kevin's thoughts whirled in confusion. No, that can't be right. I left him at the museum.... But it's too much of a coincidence! He turns up here at the zoo, today of all days? He followed us—but why? I didn't give anything away when I talked to him, did I? And now Archie's with me, and I'll have to introduce him.

  Kevin made a quick decision. Pretend I didn't hear him—keep going—

  But Archie had stopped, too. "Young Friend, did you not hear? Someone is calling y
ou."

  "Archer, we don't want to talk to that guy. Come on, let's go."

  Archie frowned at him. "The gentleman clearly knows you. He is your elder! You would show him such disrespect?"

  Kevin groaned. "Archer, you don't understand. I'll explain it to you, but please, let's keep going."

  Archie crossed his arms stubbornly and didn't move.

  By now the professor had pulled his car out of the line and off to the side of the street.

  "Kevin!" he shouted. "Would you and your friend like a ride?"

  Kevin smiled the fakest smile of his life. "No—no, thanks, we—we wouldn't want you to go out of your way. Thanks anyway!" He waved and started walking. "Come on, Archer," he muttered.

  Mr. Lee got out of the car. "Kevin! Really, it wouldn't be any trouble."

  Archie stared at Kevin sternly. "I will not walk until you have addressed this man properly," he growled.

  "But, Archer!"

  It was too late. Mr. Lee had crossed the street and was holding out his hand.

  There was nothing else to do. Kevin shook the professor's hand for the third time that day.

  Mr. Lee turned to Archie. "Hello," he said. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Professor Lee, a friend of Kevin's family." He bowed the way Kevin's grandparents did.

  Archie bowed back. "Greetings to you, Mr. Lee. I am most pleased to make the acquaintance of a friend of Keh-bin. I am Koh Chu—"

  "Mr. Lee," Kevin broke in frantically, "this is my friend Archie—um, I mean Archi ... Archibald, and I call him Archer."

  But the professor was too sharp. "Archibald," he said, looking thoughtful. "Would that be Archibald Koh? I thought I heard you say 'Koh.'"

  "No, not 'Koh'—cold," Kevin babbled. "I think he was going to say it was cold today, isn't that right, Archer?" He looked desperately at Archie, sending thought waves as hard as he could: Say yes, Archer—just go along with it, come on....

  Archie stood very straight and said, "My name is Koh Chu-mong. However, as I am well known for my skill with a bow, I deemed it proper for my young friend here to call me 'Archer.'"

  Hopeless! What an idiot! Kevin wanted to stamp his foot and yell.

  Meanwhile, Mr. Lee was staring at Archie with a strange look on his face. "Your fame with bow and arrow is indeed great," he said carefully. "I am sure your people are grateful for the use of your skill on their behalf."

  Archie nodded gravely. "It has always been my honor to use the gifts I have been given in the name of my people," he said.

  Mr. Lee didn't seem to know quite how to respond to this. He turned to Kevin. "May I speak with you for a moment?" Then he nodded at Archie. "Please excuse us."

  Oh, no. Here it comes. How the heck am I going to explain all this to him?

  Mr. Lee took Kevin by the arm and walked back toward his car. He began to speak in a low urgent voice.

  "Young man, I haven't been entirely honest with you," he said. "You were acting a little strangely in my office, and you have that black eye. I thought perhaps you might be in some kind of trouble. So I followed you after you left."

  I was right! He was following us!

  Mr. Lee went on, "I saw you walking with this man, and I overheard you say that you were going to the zoo. I followed you as far as Westland House. You seemed all right then, and I decided to mind my own business and go back to my office. But your companion was so ... so strange, I couldn't stop thinking about him. I drove here to make sure you were okay."

  Kevin tried a fake smile again. "Thanks, Mr. Lee. I'm fine. He's just—I mean, it's perfectly safe, you don't have to worry."

  Mr. Lee drew a little closer. "I was there," he whispered. "I saw what he did with the tiger."

  Kevin's mind went blank with shock while his stomach did flip-flops.

  "I tried to find you afterward," Mr. Lee said. "I looked for you everywhere—I stayed at the zoo until closing time. It is sheer luck that I found you again."

  Now the professor put his hand on Kevin's arm. Kevin wanted to jerk away, but held himself as still as he could.

  "We are dealing with one of two possibilities here," the professor said. "It is clear from what this man says and does that he truly believes himself to be the great Chu-mong. If that is the case, he needs help. Professional help. I appreciate that you want to help him yourself, but really, if he is delusional, you could be putting yourself and others in danger. He shouldn't be wandering around like this. He should be in a place where he can get the kind of care he needs."

  "Mr. Lee, the thing is—" Kevin stopped, realizing that he'd started to speak before he had any idea what to say.

  The professor continued as if Kevin hadn't spoken. "The other possibility..." He paused and shook his head. "I should not have used the word 'possibility' because it simply cannot be—it's impossible."

  He was looking at Kevin awfully hard. He spoke again, slowly. "Kevin. I saw that man use his bow and arrow in a way that, that couldn't be imagined. I saw him with the tiger. Impossible, yes." He paused as if he could barely bring himself to say what he was about to say. "But suppose ... just suppose that by some wild stretch of the imagination, it is indeed Chu-mong standing over there. Do you realize what an opportunity this would be?"

  Mr. Lee's eyes glittered intently. "To interview him. To study and observe him. To learn about ancient Korea in a way never before experienced in history! The things we could learn—the questions he could answer..."

  He paused for a moment, then blinked and shook his head. "But of course that's ridiculous. Just wishful thinking on my part. No, the man is obviously not well, and he needs medical help. Kevin, as his friend, you must convince him...."

  Mr. Lee kept talking, but Kevin was in "ignore mode" now. Maybe ... maybe the professor is right. Maybe Archie is just a lunatic who thinks he's an ancient Korean king. No other explanation really makes sense!

  For a few moments that felt like an eternity, Kevin was so confused that he thought he might start to cry. He took a deep breath and tried to focus.

  Come on. Get things in order here.

  He's says he's Chu-mong, from B.C. Korea. That's impossible.

  But after everything I've seen and heard today, I know it's true.

  He's not a lunatic. But they'll treat him like one, and they might make him take drugs he doesn't need, and he'll probably end up in a hospital. Or an institution.

  Kevin shuddered at the thought of Archie in one of those steel-sided hospital beds, probably with all sorts of wires and tubes connected to him and high-tech electronics everywhere. He'd go nuts in there.

  He's not a—a history project, either. Even if the professor does end up believing him—believing us—he'll treat Archie like some kind of museum exhibit. Archie would have to spend the rest of his life answering questions. He'd hate that. They'd watch over him so he wouldn't try to escape. He'd probably never get back to his people. And jeez, what would that do to Korean history—maybe something really terrible!

  Mr. Lee's voice was still droning on."...he could end up hurting someone! Kevin, I know you are young, but you're old enough to understand this. You have to do the right thing!"

  The right thing? What is the right thing?

  He's just a guy who wants to be where he belongs.

  And Kevin knew what he had to do.

  He whirled around and darted back toward Archie.

  "Archer! Run!" he yelled.

  Archie reacted instantly. With Kevin a few steps behind, he ran halfway up the block and ducked behind a utility box, then reached out to grab Kevin's hand and yanked him down. Behind them, Mr. Lee was shouting, "Kevin! Come back!"

  In the next second, Archie was nocking an arrow onto his bow.

  "Archer! Don't shoot! Please, it's—it's okay. He's not really an enemy."

  "But you ran from him. Is he not going to harm you?"

  "No, no, it's not like that." Kevin inhaled and held his breath for a moment, trying to calm down. "You mustn't shoot at him because he—because he's old.
And unarmed. It wouldn't be fair."

  "My advantage may seem too great for an honorable battle," Archie replied, "but war is seldom a fair enterprise."

  "Archer, please! This isn't war! It's just that he wants to talk to us right now, and it would be a—a very long conversation, and we don't really have time because we have to get to that tiger! That's why I ran away from him!"

  Archie looked up at the sky. The fierce expression emptied out of his eyes and was replaced by concern. "The day's light is fading," he whispered. "The year of the Tiger is coming to a close." He lowered the bow. "You are right, Young Friend. We have no time for a confrontation—we must go to the metal tiger!"

  Together they peered around the side of the utility box.

  Mr. Lee couldn't seem to decide what to do. He ran a few steps, stopped, turned back toward his car, then looked over his shoulder at them. Finally, he returned to his car and got in.

  But he's going to drive this way, and then he'll catch us.... Sure enough, Kevin could see the left-turn signal light blinking on Mr. Lee's car.

  "We have to get to the bridge, Archer." Kevin clenched his jaw in frustration. The Dorchester State campus was practically right across the highway from them, but they'd still have to go all the way down to the pedestrian bridge and back up the other side of the road. The professor could turn onto the highway and pull over ahead of them—he'd catch them for sure....

  Kevin surveyed the highway. The traffic was still zooming along. Mr. Lee's car was third in line now, waiting to make the turn.

  "It is like a river," Archie said, his eyes on the moving traffic, "a river of dragon-fire carts."

  Maybe if we're really careful, we could sort of dodge between the cars. They're probably only going, like, fifty-five miles per hour.

  Kevin shook his head angrily. Yeah, right. No way we could make it across.

  He looked back toward Mr. Lee's car—and saw the beginning of a miracle.