The Infinity Sign That Takes Longer to Draw 2

by Zohar Neiger

  I started feeling nauseous. How could I sleep with Diana?

  "…Akhet?"

  "Yeah?"

  I changed my mind and zipped up my aching, numb lips. I resisted the urge to scuff them.

  "Uh, never mind, uh, you know how you keep searching for shooting stars all the time?" I said instead.

  "Well, you'd think I'd know, yes."

  "Doesn’t that get boring after a while?"

  She gawked at me.

  "Kind of like… I don't know, uh… watching paint dry?"

  "Navy blue paint dry," Akhet smirked. "Ever tried that? How do you know that's not far more exciting than white paint?"

  I guess I haven't.

  "Well." I huffed. "How are we getting to Urumqi?"

  "We'll camp it out. Shouldn't take that long."

  40

  Deity's Research

  We found Diana's teacher in a most peculiar way, a few weeks later.

  Earlier the same day, Alioth's dark eyes lit up at the sight of Arabic letters.

  "No, Alioth," I chuckled, "that's local Uyghur, not Arabic."

  The Urumqi-based restaurant's sign was made of wood and had calligraphy both in Arabic and Chinese letters.

  Akhet had their pipe between their lips, the swiveling wooden snakes breathing smoke. Their human disguise draped their body gracefully. "Weren't creative enough to come up with their own script, were they? Let's get some food."

  Among the brown skinned, almond eyed population, Alioth and I, though not exactly within this mold, fit in much better than the pale and blonde Akhet.

  "In Ancient Egypt I'd dye my hair dark with animal fat and henna. That was how people hid white hair back in my day." – She said after I pointed this out.

  "Akhet, oh my god, we're about to eat!" I hissed.

  "Sorry, you brought it upon yourself."

  Alioth shrugged. "Well, you shrunk our appetites, that'll save us some money."

  We shuffled into the restaurant, the rounded tables scattered across the dimly lit dining hall, the floor made of stone and the tables mostly empty.

  "How are we gonna pay today, Shaman Fang?" asked Alioth.

  I informed the man in the apron who greeted us that we don't have Chinese money and asked if he's willing to trade.

  His darting eyes scoured the three of us, then walked to stand behind me. "That daf on your back could work, traded for a good meal."

  I turned my head, seeing Diana's drum strapped to my back. I had forgotten it was there, after carrying it for so long.

  "Oh," I blurted.

  "Give it to him, Houyi," Akhet garbled over the pipe lip in her mouth.

  "It's Diana's teacher's drum, not mine!" I scowled.

  "Very interesting embroidery work," said the man, "and this script…"

  "You can read it?" I asked.

  He looked at me. "It can be read multiple ways. 'Deity's Research' seems the most likely. It's in Oracle Bone Script. What is the meaning of this image?"

  I smiled, scratching my neck. "Uh, I… don't know. It's my friend's drum. Uhm – Oracle Bone Script?"

  "Yes, it's an ancient script that was used for divination with fire, the oldest form of Chinese writing," the man slung a towel over his shoulder and a proud smile widened his face, "The library next to my restaurant hosted a seminar about it. What would you like for it?"

  I shook my head, "I need to return it to my friend."

  "Does your friend live here?" the man asked.

  "Uh – yes."

  "If they too are interested in Oracle Bone Script, I would love to share a drink with them, on the house."

  I shot a pleading look to Alioth, which was pointless, because she didn't know what we were saying.

  "Well, what have you got to offer to trade?" Seems the man caught on to my distress and changed the subject. I let go of a labored breath.

  I dug around in my satchel, looking for something I'm willing to part with.

  "Houyi," Akhet puffed out some smoke. "I can entertain."

  "What?" I asked. "You don't speak their language."

  "Music is a universal language, darling," they grinned toothily. "Music."

  I sighed, offering Akhet's services to the restaurant owner. Before I knew it, Alioth and I were sitting sipping expensive drinks whilst Akhet was singing Hawaiian folk songs in the middle of the diner. Under our table was a yellow carpet with embroidered blue flowers and icy green leaves.

  Their voice was high and airy, and the song was happy. They were playing some kind of banjo or oud which the owner gave them.

  The owner was outside, announcing the foreign performer he has inside, which filled up the tables gradually, and I saw Akhet smile more and more. People took pictures of her.

  The windows had a view to the tall buildings which lay in the horizon. The orange tower of the Grand Bazaar was also visible from afar.

  The view might explain the price.

  "How are you feeling, Alioth?" I asked. She was drinking a deep-yellow honey liquid, the only non-alcoholic, non-fizzy drink on the menu other than water. I had some wine, and we were munching on a small slice of nut cake.

  "Fine, I suppose," she said. "Why?"

  "Oh," I responded, "I just want to know."

  She smiled, dimples showing. "This teacher of Diana's, how do we find him?"

  "Maybe we can use your sniffing out skills again," I joked.

  She returned another smile – "seriously, we need to find him somehow so we can get back on track."

  "We are on track."

  Her smile wiped off and she glared at me. "No, we're not. The track is the way to the Northern Lights."

  "This is part of the track," I said, sipping my wine.

  "No. It's a detour to please your girlfriend," Alioth glowered.

  "My girl – she's not my girlfriend!"

  "You don't just go halfway across the world for someone you don't care about," Alioth said.

  "I do care," I huffed.

  "And you slept with her. So, she's your girlfriend."

  The anger zapping at my nerves was used to power my arm, cracking off a piece of the nut cake with my fork and chewing on it. "Detour or not, Alioth, we'll find a way to get to her teacher."

  "Yeah, how? That's what I'm asking."

  I babbled a little bit before managing to put my thoughts into words. "Uh, well, Akhet can scour from the sky, I can ask around, there can't be that many shamans in this city."

  She broke off a piece of the cake too. "I hope you're right."

  The patrons started clapping, and Akhet's voice disappeared from the air. They got up and bowed, their translucent dress crinkling as they strutted their way to us. "Did you guys see that? Who knew they'd like Hawaiian music here!?"

  "Great job, Akhet."

  They sat down, shaking hands with the owner as I ordered beer for them. "I heard quite a bit about Xinjiang beer," they beamed.

  "Yes, it's famous," I said.

  "A well-deserved drink, after you basically made this man's business day," Alioth added.

  "Oh, oh thank you." Akhet smiled to themselves. "I used to perform quite a lot, around the world," they spoke over their glass of beer, "nostalgic, that is."

  Akhet has lived for so long, they have done so many things. I wonder what I will do in my eternity. Hopefully Akhet will be there with me.

  A pit in my stomach told me Alioth won't be.

  Maybe deep in China, somewhere, there is another vial of Kaguya's Potion?

  I wanted to hit myself over that thought. For someone who is so unhappy with their immortality, why would I subject anyone to that, let alone someone I love?

  We bid farewell to the owner and walked out into the street.

  Then I froze, and Alioth screamed.

  41

  "I Think the First Word was 'Wispy'."

  My dagger was in my hand, somehow. I don't remember taking it out. I don't even think it was on my belt.

  Alioth's white flowered arm was wrapped around mine,
hiding behind my back. A large beast, spindly fur dangling from its stomach and smattering its four legs, supported a head with blinking eyes and front teeth which sucked in its lip. It was thin and bony.

  It was facing us, across the street, eyeing us down. People who meant to cross the street drew back, some running away.

  "It's a Hinn Jinni…" Alioth whispered, "let me try and talk to it."

  "It's not a Hinn," Akhet said with a blank expression. "And it's not a Kuri dog either. Both are extinct."

  "A wolf," I choked. "It's like a wolf."

  "Oh, there's no rain. Relax," Akhet said. I would have been annoyed with them if I had the strength to look away from the animal.

  It got to its feet, patting the ground and approaching me. My fingers shook as my dagger nearly touched the space between its eyes. It was wider than me, though its head was thin and narrow, and if it got on its hind legs, it would be taller than me. With sharp, very subtly yellow teeth, and light grey eyes. Light gray like the stone of a grave. As it lay its eyes on me, it licked its lips, nipping at the air.

  I saw it had a belt with a bag on it around its rump.

  Then it sat down.

  I heard Alioth inhaling sharply as its tail touched the ground.

  My dagger still steadily pointed to its head, even as it started wagging its tail.

  "Is everything alright, you three?" I heard the voice of the restaurant owner behind me. "Oh, dammit, this thing will scare my customers away! Stay here, okay?" He ran back inside.

  The dog's flaring nostrils connected to a wet nose. Its smothering smell was thick, and it wouldn't stop staring at me. It only broke eye contact when the owner offered up a piece of meat, throwing it as far as he could, the dog in pursuit.

  "Stray animals," he heaved. "Sorry about that, friends. You can leave, I'll call up someone to get rid of the dog."

  "Thanks…" I smiled, feeling tingles pouncing around my chest.

  "Let's get out of here, Shaman Fang."

  I put my dagger away, walking quickly into the crowd. The more we walked; the more people cleared the way for us in fear.

  The dog came running in front of us. I yelped, tripping back, getting caught by Akhet, their green arm scales scratching my shoulders.

  As they stationed me to my feet, the dog ran behind us, stopping. Waiting. "What does she want?" Alioth shivered. I noticed its hind legs were vibrating.

  I looked around. "Through that alley, follow me!"

  I started running, Alioth's hand in mine. "Don't go so… fast, Shaman… Fang!"

  "We're not losing her, guys, she's after us." Akhet pushed us both, the palms of her hands on our backs.

  "You're not helping, Akhet!"

  I wondered where Alioth's incredible speed went, but with her hand in mine I hoped she wouldn't use it.

  "We need to stop! We… wait!" Alioth sprinted into a corner, sinking against the wall. My eyes widened, and I ran to grab her by the legs and carry her, but she kicked me off. "Wait. Stop."

  Alioth and I panted, Akhet's eyes darting around and eyebrows creased in concern. I felt my heart pounding in anxiety. The dog emerged from the corner, and I held Alioth, hiding behind Akhet.

  It sat down and wagged its tail.

  We were in some abandoned alley, white graffiti lining the bricks of the walls.

  "Look," Alioth wheezed, "she's herding us."

  "What?" I coughed.

  "The demon's right," Akhet said. "We're being herded. Like sheep."

  "Wh-where to?" I asked.

  I didn't get an answer. Instead of running, now, we started walking. The dog blocked off the wrong directions when necessary.

  I felt the pressure on my veins ease a little, like the aftermath of a dam flood creating a steady river.

  Goat: check.

  Jinn Camel: check.

  Wolf-thing: check.

  It allowed us breaks in between, to drink water and even snack. We sat on a bench and it curled on the ground, exposing its belly, which was rosy white. "Hey, Houyi, you should pet her," Akhet said.

  "What!"

  "Yeah, you know, pat her belly."

  "I don't… don't be ridiculous. I'm not doing that."

  "Well, are you ever going to get over your fear of dogs? C'mon, look how cute she is."

  "Cute? She's huge! She just chased us across half the city!"

  "But look at that face!" Akhet baby-talked, pointing at the dog's long and pointy snout. "Pat the belly."

  "She's not cute, Akhet," I said miserably.

  "Pat the belly. Pat the belly." Akhet started chanting, Alioth bursting into laughter.

  "Pat the belly –" "– I can't believe you're laughing about this—" " –Pat the belly."

  "This is embarrassing," I felt red sneak into my cheeks, putting my face in my palms.

  "I think Akhet has a point," Alioth said. "You need to get over your fear eventually, right?"

  "Not with a giant hound who…!"

  "Who what?" Akhet finally stopped their stupid chant.

  Who reminds me of the forest monster.

  "Just…" I felt my forearm muscle grow weak as I reached out and lightly touched the dog's stomach.

  "Yeah, come on. Easy does it," Akhet whispered.

  The dog took out its tongue, its stomach bouncing on my palm as it breathed. It was soft and woolly. I withdrew in a sharp motion. "I did it. Happy?"

  "Immensely," Akhet giggled, leaning down to the dog. "Did you see that, girl? He'll make an owner for you yet."

  Alioth looked at Akhet weirdly.

  "I think we rested enough. Let's finish whatever this is." Akhet stretched, yawning wide. "This disguise form is wearing me out, man."

  It took nearly the entire day before we were out of the city, deep into a large green field, and as we went deeper, I realized that the dog was taking us to the mountain in the horizon, fog obscuring its top as the sky turned grey.

  "A mountain," Akhet commented.

  "This is…" I murmured, "these are the Tian Shan mountains."

  A tense silence followed my pause.

  I covered myself with my fur coat, gazing up as we stood on the trails of one of the mountains, cold air sweeping my hair. The sky was yellow now, the sun a deep red with a golden halo. "The Heavenly Mountains."

  "Heavenly…?" Akhet squinted, looking around with their fists on their hips.

  I hear something.

  "Don’t find this place too heavenly, myself. If anything, Mt. Sinai would be more—"

  "Wait, Akhet, be quiet."

  I felt their eyes on me. "Rude," they muttered.

  I know I hear it. The melody: Mi, Sol, Fa Diesis, Mi, Mi, Sol, Fa Diesis, Mi. I know I hear it, resounding off the snowy walls.

  Only now did I notice an old white car parked next to the edge of the mountain.

  "We," I shivered in excitement, "we found her teacher."

  "How do you know, Shaman Fang?"

  I breathed deeply, the cold seizing my throat. I shut my eyes, listening to the melody. As I focused, I could hear that they were singing the words, too. They were:

  "Wispy wailing waters going down…"

  Almost in an instant, the memories flooded back into my head. All the words, and flashes of events, the training camp. My sister. Like videos.

  "For all the fallen soldiers I won't drown…"

  I couldn't cry, the tears would just form icicles on my lashes. I started climbing.

  "Houyi, where're ya going!?"

  "You guys, just wait up for me!" I replied, feeling the snow freeze my fingers.

  "Mighty moody waters moving down…"

  I didn't know what I was shaking from anymore, but I was going faster. I started hearing the trickling of water, too, like a giant shower, and soon realized it was a small waterfall, right next to where I was climbing. It carried little blobs of snow with it on the way down into a lake. I avoided the wet stones, by now not feeling my fingers at all.

  "See my son the land that they fought for…"
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