Jeff Stone_Five Ancestors 04

by Crane

Bing shook her head. “Have you noticed the number of people walking around with open sores? A veil will actually help keep people away from you. They will be afraid to catch whatever it is you are trying to hide.”

  “I guess,” Hok said. She thought about the conditions she'd seen when they first entered the city. “I've been wondering, why is everything so dirty and dilapidated here? This is the capital, right?”

  “What did Grandmaster teach you about the politics of this region?” Bing asked.

  “Politics?” Hok said. “We weren't allowed to discuss that at Cangzhen.”

  Bing shook her head. “That sounds like Grandmaster. What do you know about the new Emperor?”

  “Nothing, really. I know that Ying was working for him when he attacked Cangzhen, so I had been assuming that the Emperor was bad. However, there is another posting by the bridge that announces that the Emperor has imprisoned Ying for ‘crimes against the state.’ “ She paused. “I guess I don't know what to think now.”

  “You cannot label most people as good or bad,” Bing said. “Especially people like the current Emperor. He is an opportunist, and his agendas change as often as the wind changes direction. Do you know why we are in Kaifeng now?”

  Hok shook her head. “Not exactly.”

  “Your father and I are part of a loose group of different organizations sometimes referred to as the Resistance. Our goal is to create lasting peace and prosperity in this region, and throughout China. Things need to change, and we're trying to make those changes happen. We're trying to change the Emperor.”

  “Is he responsible for the conditions here in Kaifeng?” Hok asked.

  “Partially, yes,” Bing said. “He has taxed the people beyond all reason, leaving most of them wondering if they'll be able to afford their next meal. However, we recognize that the current Emperor is no worse nor better than the previous Emperor, or the Emperor before that. Our primary goal is to get this Emperor's attention in order to establish an open dialogue with him. Only through logical discussions can we begin to make a difference. Do you understand?”

  “I think so,” Hok said. “How do you plan to get his attention?”

  “The old-fashioned way,” Bing replied. “With war.”

  Hok blinked. “War?”

  “More like strategic battles. Small battles where only the Emperor's soldiers will be involved.”

  “Why don't the people just stand up for themselves?” Hok asked. “There are far more people than soldiers, right?”

  “That will never happen. The average person doesn't know how to defend himself or herself.”

  “You could teach them,” Hok said.

  Bing shook her head. “That would be a waste of time. One of my former brothers tried it and failed miserably. I warned him it wouldn't work, and in the end it cost the life of someone close to him.”

  “Really?” Hok asked.

  Bing nodded. “My former brother opened a school right here in Kaifeng. He taught kung fu. Most of his students were reckless young men, and instead of using their training to protect themselves, they used it for unethical purposes. I witnessed it firsthand and confronted my brother, along with his number one student. The student took offense to my accusations and challenged me to a fight. It was an unfortunate situation.”

  “What happened?” Hok asked.

  “I killed him.”

  “You what!”

  “Hush!” Bing said. “Keep your voice down. I had no choice. He was a threat.”

  “What was he doing that was so unethical?”

  “Stealing,” Bing replied. “The students had formed a band of thieves and the number one student was their leader. They were quite dangerous.”

  “They were bandits?” Hok asked.

  “No, thieves,” Bing said. “Bandits take action against the powerful in order to help the weak. Thieves simply steal for themselves.”

  “I see,” Hok said. “What ever happened to your brother?”

  “He ran off after the incident. I've been looking for him ever since.”

  “Do you think he is a thief, too?”

  “I don't know,” Bing replied. “Perhaps he is, or maybe he is simply ashamed. Either way, I hope to find out someday. This was several years ago, and no one I know has seen him since. There have been rumors that he still lives in this region. People claim to see him occasionally, sitting in trees with a snow-white monkey. They refer to him as the Monkey King.” Bing paused. “There is something else I should probably tell you. He is your brother Malao's father.”

  Hok's thin eyebrows raised.

  “If you ever see your little brother again,” Bing said, “tell him I am sorry it worked out this way for his father.”

  Hok nodded. She couldn't help but think about her own father, and wonder what kind of situation he might be in. She cleared her throat.

  “Could you tell me about … Father?” Hok asked. “I'd like to know where he is now.”

  “I don't know where he is,” Bing replied. “He doesn't stay in any one place very long.”

  Hok wasn't satisfied. She didn't know why she was feeling so bold, but she decided to press further. She took a deep breath. “If you did know where Father was, would you … tell me?”

  “Of course,” Bing replied. “Do you feel like I am withholding information from you?”

  Hok shrugged.

  Bing looked Hok in the eye. “I am sorry if you feel that way. It is not my nature to talk much. And for your own protection, it is best if you don't know too much about what your father and I do. However, I feel you deserve to know at least a few things about your father.”

  Hok felt her cheeks flush. “I would really like to see him someday.”

  “I am certain he will welcome you with open arms. He still owns the ship you grew up on, you know. Do you remember it?”

  Hok grinned. “Yes, I remember. What is he using it for now? Or is that something you can't tell me?”

  Bing glanced around and lowered her voice. “He still uses it to transport large quantities of goods. Before you were born, it was a merchant vessel moving goods between China and his homeland. Now he uses it exclusively for the Resistance. Most recently, his cargo has been qiangs.”

  Hok frowned. She wasn't expecting to hear that, although it made sense if the Resistance was going to wage war at some point. She couldn't help but think about all the death and destruction caused by qiangs at Cangzhen and Shaolin.

  “They are terrible weapons, I know,” Bing said. “But they are essential for the future of our cause. The Emperor has used them extensively this past year, and no one can argue with the results. Explosive powder was invented in China hundreds of years ago. We have been using it since in fireworks and other forms of entertainment, but men from your father's side of the world recently figured out a way to harness the powder's power for destructive purposes. They invented qiangs, and brought them here. Your father is well versed with these weapons.”

  Hok remembered bumping her arm against a round tube hidden under Charles’ robe. “Does Charles carry a qiang?” she asked.

  Bing nodded. “Two, in fact. The only time he doesn't carry them is when he performs, because they are rather volatile. He is deadly accurate with them. I've never seen him miss.”

  Hok wanted to ask what it was that Bing had seen Charles shoot at, but then she thought better of it. Maybe it really was better if she didn't know too much.

  Bing turned the wanted poster over in her hands and leaned forward. A tiny jade crane popped out of the folds of her robe.

  Hok felt her spirits sink. She ran her hand across the side of her neck and swallowed hard.

  “Are you okay?” Bing asked.

  “Do you remember the present you gave me when I was a child?” Hok asked. “Before you took me to Cangzhen?”

  “The little crane?” Bing said. “Of course. You remember it, too?”

  Hok looked away. “Yes. I never took it off. I kept it hidden beneath my robes until … I lost it.
It was torn loose when I fought Tsung at Shaolin Temple, but I didn't realize it until later. I'm sorry. I miss it.”

  “Don't be sorry,” Bing said. “I am flattered and honored that you wore it all that time. I will make you another.”

  “You will?” Hok said. “Thank you.”

  Bing nodded and cleared her throat. “Well, too much talk! It is time we wake up the others. We have a lot of preparations to make before our first performance this afternoon. I've been thinking that you, GongJee, and I should not perform today. Let's let the men do their show, and we'll save ours for tomorrow. How does that sound?”

  “Fine,” Hok said. “But I don't even know what it is the men do.”

  “I'm sure you'll enjoy it,” Bing said, rolling up the wanted poster. “Do you mind if I keep this? I want to show it to a few people.”

  “Sure,” Hok said. “You mean the acrobats?”

  “No. While they are part of the Resistance, their role is limited. They are information gatherers more than anything else. I plan to meet with several of my former brothers after our performance today. They are the true leaders of the Resistance. I want to show it to them in case they haven't seen it yet. I also plan to introduce you to them. Or perhaps I should say reintroduce. Some of them haven't seen you since you were one or two years old.”

  Hok adjusted the turban on her head. “Do you think I will remember any of them?”

  “I don't know,” Bing replied. “Do you happen to remember any men with names like Python, Bear, Centipede, Dog, or Mountain Tiger?”

  That afternoon, Hok stood along the riverbank with her mother and GongJee. Charles and the four acrobat brothers were still inside one of the tents getting ready. Hok was anxious to see what they had planned.

  Hok was about a hundred paces downstream from the camp, and both Bing and GongJee held large empty baskets. The baskets would be used to collect donations during the performance. Hok held a smaller empty basket draped over one arm—her other arm was back in the sling to help keep it safer in the crowds, which were rather unruly. One man had stepped on her foot so hard, she was limping.

  Hok couldn't believe how many people were now packed along the waterfront. It seemed the population of Kaifeng had grown tenfold overnight. The sights and sounds rivaled what she'd experienced when she first stepped through the city gates.

  Hok turned to the river and stared at the fifty or so dragon boats already out there. Their brightly colored heads and tails glistened with fresh paint. The air was filled with the sound of drums as teams of twenty men rowed boats in practice sessions to a steady beat provided by a man with a drum sitting at the front of each boat. The drummer and rowers on each team were dressed in festive, brightly colored robes and black silk hats. Hok had never seen so much color.

  The crowd began to get restless, and Hok turned toward the camp. She heard a single large drum begin to beat an infectious rhythm. People began to cheer.

  BOOM-BOOM-BOOM, BOOM!

  BOOM-BOOM-BOOM, BOOM!

  BOOM-BOOM-BOOM, BOOM!

  The crowd started to slowly part, and Hok saw one of the acrobat brothers approaching from their camp, pounding a very large drum with a short, thick stick. Behind him was another brother dressed in elaborate robes, wearing a gigantic mask that covered his entire head. The brother in the mask was swinging a long, stylized whip made of ribbon.

  Bringing up the rear were two of the most elaborate creatures Hok had ever seen. They were four-legged and very large, with long orange hair covering their legs and bodies as well as their huge colorful heads. They looked like oversized lions.

  Hok grinned. Charles’ skill was lion dancing! The first lion was noticeably smaller than the other and was decorated as a lion cub. Hok assumed Charles was inside it by himself. His arms were serving as the front two legs, which would help explain why Charles was skilled at handstands.

  The second, adult lion was composed of two people—one standing up who served as the front legs and controlled the head, and the other person bent over acting as the spine and back end of the animal. Hok realized that the brother with the huge mask and whip was supposed to be a lion tamer.

  The excited crowd began to form a large circle, and the lions trotted into the center. People flowed in their direction in droves. Hok felt her pulse quicken as the energy level around her rose to a fever pitch. The drummer began to beat harder and louder, and the lions started to shimmer and shake. The larger lion had enormous, expressive eyes that blinked and a huge mouth that opened and closed. Even the ears wiggled.

  Without warning, the lion cub leaped straight into the air onto the back of the larger lion and began to spin around and around in fast, tight circles. The crowd roared with approval. The cub leaped to the ground and rolled sideways, then popped to its four feet and began to shimmer and shake again, bobbing its head up and down. The crowd roared again.

  “Here,” GongJee said, and Hok felt something poke her in the side. It was a large empty basket. Bing had disappeared.

  “Take MaMa's basket,” GongJee said. “She'll be right back.” She pointed to one end of the circle. “You walk that way, and I'll go the other way. If you fill up the basket, take it to MaMa right away. She'll give you another one. If you don't see her, the best way to find her is to whistle like a crane. Do you know how to do that?”

  Hok nodded, and the veil over her face fluttered.

  GongJee hurried off and began collecting coins from the crowd. Hok watched her for a moment, noticing how GongJee offered a huge smile to everyone she approached and followed each donation with a quick bow. She had obviously done this before.

  Hok began to walk slowly in the opposite direction, keeping one eye on Charles’ fantastic dancing and the other on the crowd. Charles really was good.

  Hok had no sooner received her first coin when she sensed someone staring at her. She glanced up and nearly tripped over her own feet.

  “HOK!” a squeaky little voice shrieked. It was Malao. Even more surprising, Seh and Fu were with him. All three were wearing tattered gray peasant's robes and looked different because they all had hair. Seh's was particularly thick and unruly.

  Hok was glad she was wearing the veil. It hid her enormous smile. Still, she felt she had to turn away to help hide her excitement. She took a few steps.

  “Hey!” Malao called out. “Why did Hok— mmmpfl“

  Hok didn't have to look back to know what had just happened. Seh had wrapped a snake-head fist around Malao's mouth. Seh was obviously trying to not draw any attention to her, or them. Seh had always been good about things like that. Hok thought it was best to do the same. As casually as possible, she began to limp toward the camp, certain her brothers would follow.

  “There they are,” Tonglong said, pointing from the rear of his elaborate dragon boat.

  “Yesss,” AnGangseh replied from the bow. “I sssee.”

  HaMo shifted in his seat behind AnGangseh at the front of the boat. “What should we do?”

  “Wait for my command,” Tonglong said. He adjusted the large black hat on his head and stood, causing the long, narrow boat to wobble in the water. He cleared his throat, and twenty soldiers—ten to a side—turned to look at him.

  Tonglong pointed to a circle of people on the southern shore, near the main bridge. “Our targets are there. Remember, while most of them are young, they are far from children when it comes to fighting. Their skills are superior to yours, so be sure to keep your distance. Rely on your weapons. The young monks appear to be separating themselves from the masses and heading for the camp. That is where we shall go ashore. It is time.”

  The men put their paddles back into the water and Tonglong glanced over his shoulder. He waved one arm, signaling to five additional dragon boats trailing close behind.

  Tonglong pointed toward the camp and sat down. All six boats heaved forward collectively. The five trailing boats soon passed Tonglong's vessel and ran themselves aground about two hundred paces from the camp. One hundred soldiers
disguised in festive costumes quickly stepped out of the dragon boats onto the shore and formed ranks, while Tonglong and his twenty boatmen, plus AnGangseh and HaMo, stopped their dragon boat short of the riverbank, remaining afloat.

  AnGangseh pulled a large black hood over her head and slithered off her seat, sinking down to the floor at the very front of the boat. HaMo sat up straight and stared at the crowd, puffing out his sizable chest.

  People on shore and on the bridge began to notice something was wrong. It wasn't normal for dragon boat teams to go ashore in a single group like that and line up like soldiers, and it was unheard of for them to be armed with spears and broadswords. The crowd began to panic. They pointed first to the soldiers, then to Tonglong's dragon boat.

  Tonglong looked over at the camp and saw his half brother, Seh, standing near a fire pit, next to the young Cangzhen monks Malao and Fu. Also standing there were a woman and a teenage girl, both wearing turbans; a very young girl with long brown hair; and a white teenage boy. It was an odd-looking bunch, so engrossed in each other that they failed to see what was happening around them. Tonglong decided to give them a sporting chance. He stood, removing his hat. His long, thick ponytail braid spilled out and he adjusted it over his front shoulder.

  Tonglong stared at his half brother, Seh, and shouted, “Remember me?”

  Seh didn't respond. However, Fu, the aggressive boy tiger, shouted, “Tonglong!”

  Tonglong smirked. “Very good, Pussycat. Now it's the serpent's turn to talk. You have something that I want. Give it to me, and we'll be on our way. Deny me, and—”

  Tonglong snapped his fingers and each soldier in his boat raised a qiang.

  The crowd lost control. Hundreds of bystanders scattered, stumbling and tripping over one another. A panic-induced tension filled the atmosphere, and Tonglong breathed it in deeply, savoring it.

  Tonglong saw Seh turn away from the shore, and he followed Seh's gaze. A group of five adults was pushing toward the camp. Tonglong recognized all of them from the bandit stronghold.

  In the lead was Mong, the enormous, bald, pale mountain of muscle who was AnGangseh's second husband and Seh's father. Mong meant Python in Cantonese. He was the bandit leader.