by Crane
Hok decided to move on. She made Seh do one-legged squats next, with his raised leg held parallel to the ground. This Seh found more challenging, especially when Hok dared him to squat all the way down until his butt touched the ground. However, Seh quickly got the hang of this demanding exercise, too. Even better was the fact that Seh said his dizziness was beginning to subside.
Another nice side effect of the training was that Seh's snake seemed to be getting used to Hok being near it. When she would grab Seh now, if he lost his balance or needed a hand, the snake didn't appear to notice. Seh told her that snakes often grew accustomed to their handler's scent. While Hok wouldn't go so far as to touch the snake, she certainly felt less uneasy reaching out to Seh now.
Hok was feeling very good about Seh's rapid progress. She decided to keep pushing him.
Hok found an old board behind PawPaw's house and placed it over several small, flat rocks. The board formed a narrow walking platform that was twice as long as Seh was tall and rested only a few finger-widths off the ground. Hok held one of Seh's arms and made him walk across the board. This exercise was designed to both improve balance and teach a person to walk in a perfectly straight line. Hok knew how much this training had helped her, improving her skills to the point that she could easily walk blindfolded across a board spanning the distance between two Cangzhen rooftops. Fortunately, Seh didn't need to get to that level. By that evening, Hok was confident Seh had gotten all he needed out of this exercise.
After their evening meal, Seh said that he wanted to continue his training. PawPaw took over and showed Seh a few practical exercises that she had developed. Hok thought the most ingenious one was when PawPaw had Seh pour water and leave a single finger inside an empty cup so that he could feel how full it was.
Over the next three days, Hok taught Seh basic hand- and foot-juggling techniques. She used to practice these blindfolded, too, in order to help improve her reaction skills and timing. Hok thought that if Seh's hands and feet could react quickly enough to keep an object in the air, he could react fast enough to stationary objects while walking that he could avoid knocking them over. Seh had always had exceptionally fast hands thanks to his snake-style kung fu training, and he turned out to be an outstanding juggler.
On the fifth day Hok had run out of things to teach Seh, so she took him into the forest and made him walk unassisted. Seh did remarkably well. Each time his foot met a rock or his outstretched hands touched a tree, he compensated and changed course in mid-stride, continuing forward without tripping or bumping into anything. He seemed to have developed a sixth sense almost overnight.
As strange as it sounded, Hok also thought that Seh's snake might be helping him in some way, too. On more than one occasion, Hok had seen the snake's head poke out of Seh's sleeve, tightening its body whenever Seh was dangerously close to bumping into something.
Whatever it was that led to Seh's new skills, the overall effect was that Seh's mood improved dramatically. He wasn't quite back to his old self, but he was definitely in much better spirits. PawPaw noticed, too. She took Hok aside at the end of the day.
“You've done well with Seh, Hok,” PawPaw said. “You should be proud of yourself.”
Hok shrugged. “I was only trying to help.”
“Don't be so modest,” PawPaw said. “You know you've done an excellent job. In fact, I'd venture to say that you've done all you can here.”
Hok stared at PawPaw. “What are you saying?”
PawPaw smiled. “As much as I enjoy your company, you and Seh should be getting on your way. It is time for you to spread your wings again.”
Hok nodded slowly. “I was thinking the same thing. I'm going to miss you.”
“I'll miss you, too,” PawPaw said. “But you can always come back and visit. I'll welcome you with open arms, as will the villagers.”
“That's right,” Hok said. “The villagers. I'll have to make a point to go say goodbye to them.”
PawPaw shook her head. “I wouldn't do that if I were you. The villagers will never forget what you've done, so a formal goodbye will serve no purpose other than to raise questions about where you are headed, and possibly where you've been. You were fortunate that they were too self-absorbed during their time of need to have questioned you. I don't think you should press your luck. Besides, it would add an air of mystery about you if you were to simply disappear after helping them.”
“I understand,” Hok said. “When do you think we should leave? In a couple of days?”
“Actually,” PawPaw said, glancing at the evening sun, “I was thinking more like a couple of hours.”
AnGangseh sat in the bow of the dragon boat, holding the stolen dragon scroll map up to the setting sun.
“Sssomething's not right,” she said. “I sssuspect a sssnake in the grass.”
Tonglong set his long push pole down and leaned toward his mother. “What do you mean?”
“Over the past month we've traveled the entire length of the Yellow River between Kaifeng and the Yellow Sssea,” AnGangseh said. “We've explored every inlet, every outlet, and everything in between, yet we don't ssseem to be any closer to the treasure.”
“Are you sure the map depicts the Yellow River?” Tonglong asked. “We're quite far north.”
“Yesss,” AnGangseh hissed. “I am sure. Your father told me the details himself, right before he died. That was fifteen years ago, but I doubt the shorelines have changed drastically sssince. This dragon ssscroll map originated in the sssouth in our beloved Canton, but it is sssupposed to show the way to a treasure by ssstarting here in the north. The map does indeed include the Yellow River because many of the lines depicted match the shores we've ssseen. However, vast sssections appear disjointed.” She rolled up the scroll and threw it to the floor of the boat. “I'm beginning to think sssomeone has tampered with it. If you look closely, in a few places it appears as though extra lines might have been sssketched in.”
“What should we do?” Tonglong asked.
“We'll keep at it a few more days,” AnGangseh said. “If we can't sssort it out, we'll hunt down those troublesome young monks and get to the bottom of this. I refuse to be made a fool of!”
Hok stood on the riverbank between PawPaw and Seh as the sun slowly dipped behind the western tree-tops upstream. Seh held on to Hok's right forearm, which she was thankful had completely healed. She had a feeling she would need both arms soon. On the shore beside her was a boat.
Hok glanced at it. It was a skiff similar to the one Cheen and Sum had left in, only smaller and in much better condition. This one was just big enough to carry two people, plus a few extra items. The skiff contained a large covered basket and a pile of what appeared to be clothes. Hok scratched her bald head and looked at PawPaw.
“Where did this boat come from?” Hok asked.
“It is my personal skiff,” PawPaw said. “It's nearly as old as I am, but you can see that it is in fine condition. I dragged it out of its hiding place while you were working with Seh earlier today. It will serve you well.”
Hok shook her head. “We can't take your boat, PawPaw. We'll walk.”
“No, no,” PawPaw said. “I haven't used this boat in years. I've been keeping it in working order for a time such as this. Besides, at this point you'd be doing me a favor. If you take it, I won't have to maintain it anymore. I'm getting too old for that kind of work.”
Seh cleared his throat. “Couldn't we just walk? I'd like to put some of my new training to good use.”
Hok half smiled and looked at PawPaw. “Seh doesn't like boats. Personally, I enjoy them, and I think a boat is the best method of transportation because I'd like to travel downstream. But I've never steered one before. Is it difficult?”
“Heavens, no,” PawPaw said. “It's only tricky if you encounter rough water. However, I don't anticipate you'll find any. There will be plenty of easy, steady current. All you'll have to do is pole the skiff out to the center of the river and let it take you as far
as you'd like to travel—all the way to the Yellow Sea, if you wish.”
“That's it?” Hok asked.
“More or less,” PawPaw said. “It's quite easy when the weather is calm like it is now. The skiff also has a small rudder at the rear that will allow you to steer. It's not that difficult to use. The main thing to remember is that when you push the rudder arm hard in one direction, it turns the boat in the opposite direction. That will take a little getting used to. Most of the time, you'll simply hold it in a fixed position. The farther you get downstream, the wider the river will be, which will make your job even easier because there is more room to navigate around obstacles. At some points, the river is more than half a It wide.”
“What about other boats?” Hok asked.
“There aren't many other boats to worry about around here,” PawPaw said. “Especially this late in the day. Jinan has a tremendous amount of boat traffic, but by the time you get there you should be accomplished enough to get by without too much trouble.”
“Are you sure we shouldn't walk?” Seh asked. “Darkness is approaching after all, right?”
Hok watched PawPaw look up into the cloudless sky. “There will be plenty of moonlight to see by,” PawPaw said. “It is better if you pass by the village at night. Someone might recognize my boat and chase you down. They might think you stole it.”
“Are there many thieves around?” Hok asked. “I mean, should we keep an eye out for them?”
“There may be river pirates, I suppose,” PawPaw said.
Hok's eyes widened. “River pirates?”
PawPaw nodded. “They are a rare breed in this region, but they are a threat nonetheless. You don't have anything of significant value, though, so even if you do bump into some, they shouldn't give you too much trouble.”
“Are they tough?” Seh asked.
“They're not worth fighting, if that's what you're asking,” PawPaw said. “It's best to give them what they want and be on your way. River pirates fight dirty, and they carry qiangs. I've heard rumors of a group that occasionally operates out of the Jinan City waterfront that is so ruthless, the local government is afraid to try and stop them and lets them have the run of the wharf. I have a feeling that that particular group won't bother you, though.”
“What about the basket?” Hok said. “What's in it?”
“Just some provisions,” PawPaw said. “There are also a couple of large hats to keep the sun off your heads. The river water reflects sunlight and magnifies it. You can burn very easily.”
“Oh,” Hok said. She didn't know what else she could say. PawPaw was too kind.
PawPaw walked past Hok, over to the side of the skiff. “Aren't you going to ask me about these, too?” PawPaw asked as she bent over and picked up the pile of clothes. Hok saw that it was a long, pale blue silk dress and an elegant matching turban. Beneath the clothes, still on the floor of the immaculate skiff, was PawPaw's straight razor.
PawPaw glanced first at the clothes, then at the razor. “Pick one,” she said to Hok.
Hok understood. She was going to have to decide if she wanted to continue being a boy, or try being a girl again. Hok glanced down at her gray robes and ran her hand over her bald head. She found her decision surprisingly simple. She pointed to the dress and turban.
PawPaw smiled and handed the clothes to Hok. “A wise choice,” she said, picking up the razor. “While you might be able to evade the Emperor's soldiers better as a boy, hiding your true self will take its toll over time. Embrace who you are and explore the new freedoms I'm sure it will bring. I suggest you keep the turban over your brown hair at all times, though. There's no need to be reckless. As far as we know, the Emperor's soldiers are still looking for you.”
Hok nodded, then lowered her head. “I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you.”
“Stop that ‘thank you’ nonsense and go change,” PawPaw said. “I want to see you in that dress!”
Hok ran up the hill to PawPaw's house. She put on the dress and turban, and ran back toward the river-bank with a huge smile on her face. The short-sleeve dress fit her better than she could have imagined. It covered her completely but still provided a full range of motion for her arms and legs. The cool silk felt wonderful against her skin, and she knew it looked nice against her pale features. It was perfect.
PawPaw's face brightened as Hok approached. “How lovely! You definitely made the right choice. You were born to be a girl!”
Hok blushed. She looked at Seh and saw that he was pouting. She wished Seh could see her now, too.
PawPaw snapped her fingers. “No pouting, Seh. This is a happy time. Where will the two of you be heading?”
Seh didn't answer.
Hok decided to answer for him. “We're not exactly sure. I thought traveling downstream made the most sense because there might still be soldiers upstream in Kaifeng looking for us. I haven't given it much more thought than that.”
“I see,” PawPaw said. “Can I make a suggestion?”
“Please,” Hok said.
“If you don't mind, then,” PawPaw said, “I'd like to take a peek at that map of yours, Seh. I overheard you talking with Hok about it last week, and I've been meaning to ask to see it ever since. I've spent my entire life in this region. Perhaps I can make some sense of it.”
Hok was worried that Seh might decline, but he nodded and pulled the scroll from the small of his back. Hok saw his snake slither up his arm and over his shoulder.
“Here,” Seh said, holding out the map.
PawPaw took it and unrolled it, holding the map up to the waning sunlight as she had undoubtedly heard Seh tell Hok to do. After a few moments, PawPaw whistled.
“Very, very clever,” PawPaw said. “Look here, Hok. The main lines in the chi meridian sketch represent rivers, while the other lines represent tributaries and, possibly, landmarks. Pure genius.”
“Is any of it familiar?” Hok asked.
“Yes,” PawPaw said excitedly. “See this main meridian running across the chest of the figure from shoulder to shoulder? It represents the Yellow River. And see this main line that runs up and down the figure, from the head all the way to the feet? I believe it is the Grand Canal.”
“What is the Grand Canal?” Seh asked.
PawPaw's eyebrows raised up. “You've never heard of the Grand Canal?”
Hok and Seh both shook their heads.
“Why, it is quite possibly the greatest engineering marvel of all time,” PawPaw said. “It's a canal that extends from the capital city of Peking in the north, all the way to the city of Hangzhou in the south. It was dug entirely by hand. Most of China's rivers run west to east, so this canal is very, very important for north-south transportation of goods. If I had to guess, I'd say the head of this figure in your map represents the Emperor's palace in the Forbidden City inside Peking, which is the map's northernmost point. The feet represent something far to the south, but I'm not sure what. Perhaps Hangzhou, or some place even farther south like Canton. I've never traveled very far down the Grand Canal. I'm sorry I'm not much help.”
“Don't be sorry,” Hok said. “You've already been a really big help.”
“Yes,” Seh said. “We never would have figured that out. Or, at least I wouldn't have. Not in my condition.”
PawPaw laid a hand on Seh's shoulder. “You're doing extraordinarily well, Seh. You should be happy with your progress. I don't want you to depart on a depressing note, okay?”
Seh nodded.
“Good,” PawPaw said. “Do you happen to know what this map is supposed to lead to? A secret temple, perhaps?”
“We don't know,” Hok replied. “But it seems to be very valuable. Seh is blind because—” Hok stopped herself in mid-sentence.
Seh cleared his throat. “It's okay, Hok. I'll tell her.” He turned in PawPaw's general direction. “I was poisoned because AnGangseh wanted the original map. She stole it from me, but it won't do her any good. I changed it.”
“You wh
at?” Hok said. “You never told me you changed it!”
A crooked smile slithered up one side of Seh's face. “Sorry. I guess I forgot to mention it. I carefully drew several new lines that connected previously unconnected meridians on the original scroll. I also traced over all the other lines on the dragon scroll with new ink so that the ink would match everywhere.”
“Dragon scroll?” PawPaw said. “You mean this is a copy of a dragon scroll map?”
Seh nodded. “Yes, why?”
“Well, this is only a legend, but it may be worth sharing,” PawPaw said. “NgGung once told me a story about a secret dragon scroll map brought to Cangzhen by your Grandmaster. Supposedly, it leads to a treasure vault. NgGung thinks there might be some truth to it because your Grandmaster comes from a long line of bodyguards. His family has been protecting wealthy families for countless generations.”
“You know,” Seh said, “Grandmaster was constantly doing secret things and always seemed to have plenty of money. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a mountain of treasure hidden someplace.”
“This certainly is exciting,” PawPaw said. “Tell me, then, are the two of you going to head up the canal to the Forbidden City, or down into the southern regions?”
Hok paused, glancing at Seh. “We don't know,” she said. “I'd like to try and find our brothers Fu and Malao before we go treasure hunting.”
“Do you know where they've gone?” PawPaw asked.
“No,” Hok replied. “They were abducted.”
“Abducted?” PawPaw said, straightening up. “How come you never told me this?”
“I … I guess I didn't think there was anything you could do about it,” Hok stammered. “I suppose I should have known better.”
PawPaw took a deep breath and sighed. “No, you're probably right. There is no point in fretting about it now. There isn't much I could have done except tell NgGung to spread the word through his network to keep an eye out for them. I haven't seen NgGung since you've been here, though, so it doesn't matter. I'll be sure to tell him when I see him. Do you happen to know who took your brothers?”
