by Shea Meadows
Bonta pulled the green sack with Houzi, the monkey, out of the diaper bag. David then put on the baby sling, and Ricky handed Nory to him. Bonta stuffed Houzi’s sack in with the child.
“Okay, is everyone ready?” David asked.
“I’d rather be teenaged Nory,” his daughter complained.
“You’d look too much like how Norton Reston wants you to look. Let’s see how things go once we’re in the temple. It might be possible for you to change depending on how things go. Remember what we talked about last night?”
The baby sighed and nodded.
“I sense others besides Reston,” Wang Mang said. He turned to Luan Du. “Can you feel Ta Yi’s energy?”
Luan Du looked toward the temple with a frown. “Yes, he is definitely there.”
Moon looked startled. “He left the Bi Mo Chu? I can’t imagine there’s anyone there that he’d trust with leadership in his absence. But if it’s him, that gives us a distinct advantage.”
“Maybe not,” David said. “We might be in the Bi Mo Chu and haven’t realized it.”
Wang Mang shook his head. “I lived in that cursed place for hundreds of years; we aren’t there. Somehow he convinced Ta Yi to help him.”
As they were talking, they moved slowly toward the temple. Ho went ahead of the group. He looked at all sides of the building then returned. “It’s how the Ancestral Temple was traditionally described, with three doors on each side. The upper level is slightly recessed. I think I saw movement in there.”
“Did you touch the Temple?” George asked.
“Not that brave,” Ho said with a shudder. “I keep thinking of what happened at the Red Pagoda in Shibaozhai. I didn’t want to be drawn in without the rest of you.”
Susan had been quiet. “This is how it looked when I lived in the royal compound. It was a combination palace and temple. Jingdi, his wife, children, special male friend and palace servants lived here. The concubines had a separate structure, and so did the administrators. The army lived in several large caves or camped in the woods. The witches and shamans were in a stone fortress near the army. It was a sign of privilege to even visit this building.”
Ho smiled at her. “Did you have sleepovers sometimes?”
Susan punched him in the arm and let out a slightly hysterical laugh. “When I was the empress, I was here all the time, but before that… Well, you know because you-” She stopped midsentence.
Someone was waiting at the door. It was a tall figure with a tasseled, wide brimmed-black hat and long robes of purple silk with intricate Chinese characters woven into the placards on the front. His face wore a sinister smile.
“Must I send courtiers with sedan chairs to greet all of you at the door? We have been waiting for centuries.”
The ghost looked at Susan and snorted. “What kind of clothing is that for an empress? Have you fallen that far from the throne?” He flicked an energy bolt toward her which caused her to spin around once to the right. She was then dressed in a flat hat decorated in peacock feathers and a purple silk tunic with gold inlays. “This was your favorite dress when we were friends, before you murdered me,” Ta Yi said with a smirk.
“In that life but not in my present one.” She twirled around once in the opposite direction and again was wearing slacks, a long white sweater and a baseball cap over her hennaed hair. The scarab pendent on her chest had enlarged ten times in size.
“You dare defy me?” Ta Yi expanded to twice his height. “It is my turn to be the murderer.”
“Yes, she dares,” a strong voice roared from a figure moving toward the scene. “She was my empress after she did the most important service anyone could do for their sovereign emperor. She did not hesitate when she saw how important it was to remove you from our domain.”
Ho was no longer there but had allowed a former incarnation to take over. He was now a tall, husky man with a receding hairline and a flat headpiece with a golden fringe. He wore golden sandals and a purple tunic with jade edges. The jade and gold pendent that Ricky had given Ho was now gracing the end of a gold and jade scepter.
“It was you. I thought maybe…” Susan said eyes wide with amazement. “When did you know for sure?”
Emperor Jingdi smiled and kissed her hand. “When Lee Gee came to visit my home, the memory returned.”
Ta Yi’s face had turned a brilliant red that matched the Temple tiles. “Yes, come in and bring your friends, your majesty. The White Emperor is waiting within.”
Emperor Jingdi shook his head. “Neither he nor you have the right to welcome me into my palace. This place radiates energy that has fueled my necropolis for two thousand years. I command Norton Reston, who has also been known as Zhuanxu, to come forth and bow before me.”
A rustling sound could be heard inside the door, and a tall man with a long white beard, wild eyes and white disheveled hair, stepped out of the entrance. He wore a white robe decorated in gold dragons of every size and description. He levitated slightly above the ground to where the group had gathered and looked at everyone but the unexpected emperor.
His wild eyes stopped at Nory’s face, and he started to move toward her. The others stood in a protective circle and blocked him. “Move out of the way,” he screamed, “I must talk to my little Nellie. She has earned a place in my dynasty. She understood then, so she understands now.”
“She is an infant, and she is now our daughter,” David said with the features of a male lion glowing on his face. “She is the one who brought us to China. She is your adversary not your progeny. Why do you think she’ll believe anything you say?”
Jingdi put his hand on Norton’s shoulder. “You will follow protocol. You have not been introduced. People in my court must play by my rules.”
Norton smirked at Jingdi. “You are no longer him. You are a gay man who works for the government. You are most likely their spy. I have seen you following these people around, driving them in a car and jumping to their every whim. You are no longer royalty.”
Jingdi enlarged to twice his size. “And I have seen you stealing the souls from my replicas and trapping them in the Bi Mo Chu. I saw you usurp it and send it to a foreign land where it killed most of your family. I saw you blown up with self-importance. You pretend you are still an emperor two times over, even though you were insignificant in both incarnations. What makes you think you can lead a ghost army? Why do you deserve to be the emperor of the Bi Mo Chu Dynasty?”
Ta Yi looked at Norton Reston, his eyes sending balls of fire. “You promised I would remain the emperor of the Bi Mo Chu. Was that a lie? You were deceitful when you were my grandson, taking away my throne from those truly qualified. You would do it again?”
“That is between the two of us,” Reston said with a wave of his hand. “Right now, I must speak with Eleanor Reston; once my child, always my child.” He again attempted to move toward Nory, reaching as if to pull her out of the sling on her father’s back. The others blocked his energetic grab.
“I don’t want to be with you. We had a very short, interesting time together in this place. You showed a small spark of love, but that was cancelled out by your willingness to poison your family. You kill those who stand beside you, and right now you are trying to end my current incarnation,” Nory said.
Norton raised his eyebrows. “I thought you were too young to understand, but considering your ability to speak your opinion, I will reveal the truth to you. My plan is what you see before you: the rebirth of the Ancestral Temple. It is the command center for the new ghost dynasty. It is populated by the souls of warriors, sorcerers and witches who have been residing in the Bi Mo Chu, safe in another country, far from the greedy hands of those hired by the government.
“This country has lost its way. It has set aside the long tradition of dynasties ruled by warrior emperors. Our task will be to interfere with the government and inspire people to revolt so the old system is reinstated. Then, when the time is right, I will be in charge of a new China.”
&n
bsp; He looked at all of them. “All of you have skills that could further my quest; you are expected to work with me as I take command.” He pointed to Moon and Ricky. “You are the twin witches that Ta Yi has told me about, so you are valuable. I need at least one member of my family to make this magic work. You are needed, Nellie. Do not resist me.”
He sighed, lost his power of levitation and fell to the ground. “I have worked toward this for many lives. I will not be stopped by the refusal of an infant. I will need awhile to rest and regain my strength, but then we will start our campaign.”
Norton looked down at the ground, his etheric body trembling with either frustration or weariness. “Perhaps we can go in the Temple and discuss this with dignity. Master Jingdi, I have prepared this place for you and your friends.”
Jingdi nodded, taking on the look of a man who was seriously considering an offer. “Perhaps we should, but Sung Fon Chi will be disappointed if you do not hear what he has prepared. He was once your friend when you were in the physical. He has practiced the flute you gave him when he was a child. Now he is old and has waited years to play for you. Could we hear him before we negotiate the terms of our surrender?”
Norton looked up and saw Chew. “He hasn’t aged? He looks the same as he did when he dug ghost statues out of the earth.”
“I am his grandson, Sun Hi Chew. He has taught me the flute as well. We would like to play “Answer to the Clouds”. Our friend, Bonta, has learned it from us,” Chew said.
“What is this nonsense? They are stalling,” Ta Yi growled, raising his arms. “I will compel them to come in.”
Jingdi pointed his scepter at the sorcerer. “Without my putting you in the Bi Mo Chu, you would never have had a taste of being emperor. If you want compulsion, I can show you what it feels like.”
Norton Reston glared at Ta Yi. “I would love to hear the song once again. Let them play. It won’t take long.”
Chi, Bonta and Chew moved forward in a row with Chi in the middle. Jingdi and Susan stepped back so the musicians stood in front of Norton Reston and Ta Yi. Chi brought the jade flute to his lips and played “Answer to the Clouds”. The music vibrated around them, a beautiful, soulful melody that seemed to echo in and out of the temple doors.
When Chi started the second round, Bonta and Chew raised their flutes to their lips and stood facing Chi so that the ends of their flutes pointed toward Reston and Ta Yi. With the first puff of air, the gemstone pellets, filled with the energy of both scorpion venom and ground centipede, flew through the air. The etheric poisons were absorbed into the ghostly ethers of the would-be emperors. The ghosts crumpled to the ground and melted into pools of bubbling, putrid energy.
Luan Du came forward with two copper urns covered with glass stoppers. He knelt by the puddles, removed the stoppers, and performed an incantation, causing the liquefied ghost remains to leap into the urns. When the stoppers were replaced, he brought the vessels to Wang Mang who disappeared with the containers.
Ho, still in the form of Emperor Jingdi, smiled at the group. “It is complete, but this temple construct hasn’t disappeared. What is the solution?”
Moon peered into the middle temple door. “There are spirits moving around in there. This is a direct portal to the Bi Mo Chu, and all the ghosts who were stored within it are now inside the temple. If we stepped one foot in there we’d be part of it. I doubt it is disarmed.”
“I know what to do,” Nory said, telepathically. “I’m changing into teenage Nory; let me out of the sling.”
“Only if you promise not to go in that temple on your own,” David said.
“I may be little, but I’m not stupid. Trust me, Daddy,” Nory answered.
David reluctantly placed his daughter on the ground.
Nory quickly shapeshifted then removed the monkey from its bag. When she did, the etheric version of Houzi sprung out and kissed her nose.
“Houzi, are you ready to save the day?” Nory asked.
Houzi jumped up and down with excitement, letting out a high-pitched screech.
“Please call in Du Yuesheng and his gang, and don’t take no for an answer. Explain it’s his chance for redemption,” Nory instructed.
Houzi crinkled his snub-nose, shrugged and disappeared, returning in a few seconds. A whole army of ghostly thugs that had populated the etheric restaurant in Shanghai popped into the scene, led by Du Yuesheng.
“Miss Nory, how can we serve? Houzi tells me this is urgent. I forsake my mansion in order to help you,” the gangster ghost said.
Nory gave him a hug then explained what happened. “You said you were getting bored in your mansion reality but were afraid spirit world would judge you harshly. If you do this all will be forgiven. This is what I’m asking,” Nory said and she told Du what she thought would work.
Du asked several questions and the rest of the group silently listened as Nory laid out her plan. Moon, Ricky and David smiled with pride.
When all was settled, they watched as Houzi increased in size and changed his features into the ancient being known as “The Monkey King.” The mythical creature, well known by all the dynasties in China for the last thousand years, stood in the doorway of the temple. He screeched several times loudly then put Chi’s jade flute to his lips and played a traditional marching song as he strode into the temple. Du Yuesheng, followed by his motley gang, marched in like an army, ending with Du standing next to Houzi. The group gathered around the many doors of the temple to observe what happened within.
A crowd of ghosts surrounded the monkey at a respectful distance, looking entertained but confused. They were without their leader, and no one had been named second-in-command. Some of the higher ranked peons mumbled to each other, and a stout functionary was pushed forward as their spokesman.
He kneeled on the floor in front of Houzi and Du, looking up at them hesitantly. “The Emperor Ta Yi is presently engaged elsewhere. I am unsure when he will be available. Are you seeking admittance to the Bi Mo Chu Dynasty?”
Du laughed, and a long, sharp, silver sword manifested in his hand. “Hum. This would be the perfect opportunity to cut off your head. Your emperor is no more. He has been turned into a puddle of stagnant energy at the command of the Emperor Jingdi. I am second-in-command to The Monkey King, who also bows before Jingdi.”
Houzi let out a scream that vibrated throughout the construct then gestured to Du to hand over the sword.
Du relinquished it with a bow. “The Monkey King enjoys lopping off heads. He requests you stay where you are and invites all witches and servants who worked with Ta Yi to kneel in front of us as well. Any that refuse will be compelled by my army.”
The man on the floor attempted to crawl away but was herded back. Du Yuesheng’s thugs pulled forward the more well-dressed spectators and forced them to their knees. One of Ta Yi’s witches had the nerve to look Du in the eye.
“So you chop off our heads? We are ghosts. They will grow back. We will be us once again, and Ta Yi will be in charge. All this will be a faint memory with maybe a twinge in our necks for a few hundred years.”
The Monkey King chortled and screeched then bent over and muttered in Du’s ear. Du nodded and turned to the group. “No, Ta Yi will never be back. We have seen to that. Do you really want to remain in this servitude? I am calling Sima Qian to speak to you.”
Du summoned his bartender with the sliding head and whispered in his ear. The man pushed his head into position, and went to the door, gesturing to Sima Qian.
The historian’s reputation preceded him. Some bowed others looked confused, but his calm presence won them over.
Sima Qian smiled benevolently at them. “The Monkey King is not serious with his threat. We are reminding you what life has been like in the Bi Mo Chu. The time for this reality is at an end. Those that wanted it to be a dynasty are no longer in power. They have no need for slaves. It is time for you to go to the Celestial Kingdom.”
“Don’t you think we’ve tried?” the Han witch wh
o had been waiting for her beheading stood up and looked Sima Qian in the eyes. “Give us a way to get there, and we will be gone. This temple is a change of scenery from the dreary landscape of the cube, but there’s not enough room for the ten thousand ghosts that would exist here.”
Sima Qian bowed to her. “We understand. The White Emperor has revealed he shifted you to Xian, where he planned to create a ghost government that would confuse and overcome the current Chinese system. But the effort to create the population, move them back to China, and kidnap others that he wanted in his court weakened him significantly.
“All you have to do is walk out the doors. On the other side are several people with the ability to send you to spirit world and your Celestial Kingdom. If you do as we ask without resisting, you will again be in control of your incarnations,” Sima Qian explained.
There was muttering for a time among the captive ghosts, then the stout functionary stood before Sima Qian. “What if we don’t want to go?”
“Then don’t let us help you. The temple will dissolve when the energy of the group decreases to a certain level. You will then be left to wander around the Yangling Mausoleum in unending boredom,” Sima Qian said with a shrug.
The witch piped up again. “You’re an ancient ghost. You lived in the Han Dynasty and wrote a famous history. Why are you still sticking around in that persona? Shouldn’t you have incarnated again?”
Sima Qian shrugged. “But I wouldn’t have been here to do this service. It is possible to work in spirit world, depending on your situation. You will figure that out with the help of your advisors.”
Several more ghosts challenged Sima Qian, but he patiently answered their questions. “We have people here that are incarnated in the physical at present. They will serve you but do not want to stay separated from their bodies for long.
“Du Yuesheng, The Monkey King and their followers will divide you into groups so you can leave in an orderly fashion. Come if you wish, or stay and haunt the Yangling Mausoleum. It is up to you.” With that, Sima Qian bowed and left.
