by A. H. Shinn
Let them spy on me. It’s not the first time.
She lay back on the thick bed of grass and thought about her friends. Certain that Master Chen had told Jake and Jory about her disappearance, she expected they would be frantic, too. Kellie was lucky to have them in her life. They’d put themselves at risk the year before to help her on her quest to China, and here she was again in another country. She really wished they were by her side.
Thinking about them brought her some comfort. She imagined them starting school. They would be juniors, purportedly the toughest year of high school. Jake was involved with almost every sport, and Jory hoped to become president of the Chess Club. Kellie wasn’t involved in any activities, and her friends inspired her to change that.
The Science Club. If I make it back, I’m going to join the Science Club.
Mr. Patel, the chemistry teacher, was the advisor, and he seemed pretty nice. Science was her favorite subject and she thought about majoring in biochemistry or molecular biology in college.
Kellie gazed at the gray-blue sky, allowing her mind to fall into a meditative state. At that moment, she felt one with nature. She smelled the moisture in the air, felt the breeze tickle her skin, and heard insects buzzing above. As her eyes drifted shut, she heard someone call her.
“Kellie, are you all right?”
She recognized the Indian accent and said with her eyes closed, “I want to be left alone.”
“Choden heard about your conversation with Kabita,” said Simi.
Oh, is that her real name? Kellie clenched her fists in fury, and gave Simi the cold shoulder.
“She’s not pleased with her, and she wanted me to check on you…”
Kellie continued to ignore her.
“They’re going to start training, but I’ll be close by if you need anything…”
“Say again?” asked Kellie, now interested. Kellie’s daily kung fu workout had been disrupted, and she had an itch to spar. Not to mention that there were a few women here she wanted to come face-to-face with.
“If you need anything—”
“No. Before that.”
“They are about to begin their daily training,” said Simi.
Kellie shot up onto her feet. “I want to be there!”
“Oh,” said Simi, startled by the outburst. “Let’s go then.”
The battle cries were loud and deep. The hard exhalations accompanied rapid motions slicing the air. There was no doubt that these nuns were tough. Even the kinder women Kellie had worked with on the farm moved fiercely.
They executed a form as if they were in a real battle. Their movements snapped with immense power. What impressed Kellie most was that they were in perfect alignment with each other, turning and stepping at the same angle. These women were well practiced.
But were the Taiping monks were better?
Tsering led the instruction and yelled out if she saw someone a hair out of place. She seemed to be in a worse mood than during their last encounter, if that was possible.
She shouted something Kellie didn’t understand.
“What did she say?” Kellie asked Simi.
“She said to clear the area. Since we are from all over the world, we usually speak English, but when we train, it’s in Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan. I’m still learning it.”
The women cleared the cement square and stood around it. Tsering called out a name, and a hefty nun appeared in the center. If Kellie didn’t know she was a nun, she would have assumed her to be a male. Her square jaw and overbearing brow bone didn’t help any with her femininity. She had broad shoulders and biceps that most wouldn’t think was possible in a woman.
Kellie feared for the woman’s opponent when another name was shouted. A much smaller nun sprang out of the crowd; it was Lin. She wasn’t much bigger than Kellie, and the matchup didn’t seem quite fair. Though Lin did have a firm expression and walked up to the hefty woman fearlessly.
The two nuns faced each other. With their hands at their sides, they bowed at the waist. At Tsering’s holler, they began to spar.
Lin struck first. She was fast, and it was clear that speed was her strength. The blows didn’t cause her challenger to falter, but her cringes showed that they still stung.
When the larger nun blocked strikes, her body was solid and she didn’t budge. A couple of times, she flung Lin around like a rag doll, but Lin rolled onto her feet with spryness.
Both their punches and kicks were meaningful, and neither of them held back. At first, Kellie shuddered at their viciousness and looked away, but then she remembered what Mulin had told her at the Bamboo Forest: “You should have watched for my weaknesses.”
Their strengths were obvious, but what were their weaknesses?
The large one was a tad slow and her beefiness prevented her from being as fluid as Lin. Lin was swift, but she didn’t allow her movements to follow through all the way. She wasted energy with too many punches when fewer, more effective ones would have done the trick.
It looked as if Lin was getting tired; she took quick breaths and her movements slowed. Her opponent must’ve been waiting for this because her intensity exploded. The large nun stopped one of Lin’s fist punches with an outer chop block, grabbed her arm, and pulled her face into the heel of her palm. The nun held Lin in place as she struck her repeatedly.
Kellie looked around at the nuns observing. No one said a thing. How long was Lin going to take this beating? Lin was desperately trying to get out of the hold, and she looked as if she wanted to cry.
Even though Lin was one of her least favorites here, Kellie couldn’t bear to see her being battered this way. Just as Kellie put a foot forward, Tsering shouted, and the sparring ceased. Blood dripped from Lin’s nose as she stepped off the hard floor. Her opponent walked away without much injury.
Another name was called, and Kellie recognized the person who stepped onto the floor. It was the archer who’d tried to kill her.
In Dzongkha, Tsering said something, and a hush fell over the crowd.
“What’s happening?” Kellie asked.
“She asked for a volunteer,” said Simi. “Tashi is good. She’s really good.”
Kellie rubbed her left arm. The laceration was healed, but the attack was still fresh in her memory.
“I will!” shouted Kellie as she waved her hand.
Simi gasped and pulled down Kellie’s arm. “Didn’t you hear me? She’s really good!”
“Yeah? Let’s see how good…”
As Kellie marched to the front, the nuns moved aside. Some looked curious, while others shook their heads.
Tsering asked, “Are you certain you are ready to challenge Tashi?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? I am the Teacher, aren’t I?”
Raising an eyebrow, Tsering glared at Kellie. “As you wish.”
Tsering stepped back and said in English, for Kellie’s sake, “Face your opponent.” The two turned to each other. “Bow.” Kellie gave a kung fu salute by putting her right fist in her left hand and bowing her head, while Tashi bent at the waist.
As Kellie’s arms relaxed, Tashi kicked her in the gut. She flew back and fell on her rear. She heard an exaggerated gasp, and guessed it had come from Simi. The wind was knocked out of her, but she scrambled back onto her feet. All eyes fell on Kellie, waiting for her move as she sucked in air.
Tsering yelled out, “If you’re not ready—”
“I can do this!” Kellie barked.
The kick had thrust and power. Tashi wasn’t holding back and didn’t seem to be following any rules of sparring.
Taking a few breaths, Kellie put up her hands as she circled her foe. Not only had she been trained by the Taiping monks since she was a toddler, but she had also learned from Zurich and Mulin. I bet you weren’t taught by the mystical animals, she thought as she eyed the
archer.
Tashi seemed to be calculating a strategy. She sized Kellie up and down, contracted her forehead muscles, and then rushed forward, throwing a combination of punches and kicks.
Kellie barely glided out of the way, feeling more than a graze on her skin. Her opponent came in deep and wasn’t afraid to come in close. Her swiftness prevented Kellie from following her evasion with a strike.
Kellie retreated with her hands still up, thinking that she should have watched the archer fight before she had hastily jumped in. But it was too late. She was out on the floor and being observed by women who thought she was gifted with a power.
Keeping her opponent in her center, Kellie cross-stepped around her. Defeating Tashi would be gratifying, but it could mean strengthening the Druk nuns’ beliefs that she was skilled and had something to teach them. If she lost, they might have second thoughts about her. But she couldn’t throw a fight. She couldn’t disgrace the Taiping monks by losing intentionally. That would be dishonorable to the sacred knowledge of kung fu.
While she had an inner debate with herself, the long and lean nun threw a series of kicks, and Kellie almost got hit. Counteracting kicks at full force was painful and risky, but Kellie had to react quickly. With hard downward blocks, she managed to escape a few of them, but her arms felt the impacts. She would surely bruise.
Tashi charged with depth and force as her brow twitched. Her kicks were high and low, and Kellie barely deflected the one aimed at her throat.
Kellie glared at her. The last strike could have killed her!
The unapologetic nun simply glared back.
Kellie was used to a degree of restraint while sparring with the Taiping monks to prevent serious injury to the other…or death. It was different with these women. They weren’t afraid to harm and they showed no mercy when it came to physical combat.
Kellie’s heart thumped in her chest. What had she gotten herself into? The only other one who had ever gone after her with brutality was Hagos, but at the time, she’d had his Emotive Chi to use against him. It was what defeated him. What could she do now?
She still had the opportunity to look for a weakness. As her challenger started a kick, the signal on her mouth gave it away. Tashi telegraphed, and it was like a bright, neon sign flashing. Her facial muscles jerked before an attack.
Kellie dove in and snapped down on her shin. Then just as fast, she brought up a crane’s beak hand strike under her chin.
The backward force of Tashi’s neck stunned her, and she stumbled. Without wasting a second, Kellie threw a roundhouse kick to the back of her legs, bringing the archer to her knees. A second kick, targeted between Tashi’s shoulder blades, flung her body facedown to the ground.
Unlike her rival, Kellie was merciful and didn’t strike anywhere that could have been seriously damaging. She’d stepped onto the floor with vengeance in her heart, but her morals stopped her from seeking revenge. Taiping Monastery advocated honor during fighting. That was the code she would follow.
Tashi pushed herself up onto her hands and knees. Her right arm buckled, and she fell to her side. When she lifted her head, Kellie noticed a blood smear on her cheek.
Kellie put out her hand to help Tashi. The nun slowly reached up, but instead of taking the outstretched palm, she gripped Kellie’s wrist and yanked her forward. Kellie went flying over Tashi’s head and skidded across the cement. She quickly rolled over and saw the nun stomping toward her.
To create distance, Kellie extended her foot, aiming it at Tashi’s knee. This locked the archer’s leg back, but she was still able to take hold of Kellie’s shirt and pull her up. Tashi twisted Kellie’s arms behind her back and started punching her in the face. Unable to break free, Kellie lifted her knee, but Tashi blocked it down between hits.
To avoid the strikes, Kellie thrashed her upper body, but continued to get hit on the head. She couldn’t evade with the crane technique because her opponent was restraining her. Blood splattered from her nose down onto her shirt and the cement, and Kellie became dizzy at the sight.
“That’s enough,” said Tsering.
The archer didn’t stop. Or she was ignoring the command.
“Enough!” the instructor shouted.
Kellie’s hands were freed, and she fell to the ground. Her head was spinning, and there was a ringing in her right ear. She closed her eyes and felt two pairs of hands lift her. She was guided off the floor, and a cool cloth was dabbed under her nose.
“Why did you hold back?” asked Tsering with bleakness in her voice. “You had the chance to get your revenge.”
Kellie opened her eyes and saw disappointment on Tsering’s face. “Kung fu should not be used for revenge. That was what I was taught.”
“What should it be used for then?” Tsering asked in a cynical tone.
“Self-defense and inner peace.”
Tsering’s head fell back as she laughed. “You were misled for far too long.”
“You’re wrong!” said Kellie. “Learning kung fu is an honor, and its teachings should be used with respect, even against the enemy. You train with brutality. You hurt each other here.”
Tsering sniffed and walked away.
The women applying the healing white paste to Kellie’s hands and face listened quietly but looked down when Kellie tried to meet their eyes.
“Would you like me to bring lunch to your room?” asked a soft voice.
Kellie didn’t look up. “That would be great, Simi.”
“I told you she is good. You should have listened—”
“She’s not good! She fights dirty.” Kellie got up and almost tipped over from dizziness. Simi tried to catch her, but Kellie shoved her away. “I’m fine.”
Even though she was barely able to stay upright, Kellie somehow managed to get to her room. She pulled the door open, and the thin mattress on her bed never seemed more appealing than at that moment.
Kellie lowered her sore body down and pulled the blanket over her. Stretching out her legs, she felt around the bottom of the bed with her feet.
Something was missing. She threw the blanket aside.
Her stash of food was gone!
CHAPTER TWELVE
Into the Woods
Kellie’s head turned to all corners of the simple room. Nothing was hidden from sight. There were no drawers or cabinets, and every object was out in the open. Her food was nowhere to be seen.
The area at the foot of the bed was completely clean. Not even a crumb from the bread was left. What must they have thought about her stashed food?
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Kellie expected it to be Simi with her meal, and this gave her an idea. Kellie was going to ask for her dinners to be delivered to her room and ask that her leftovers not be cleared in case she became hungry later. By the time she was ready for her getaway, she would have accumulated enough food.
Simi was at the door, holding a tray of food. Once inside, she set it on the table and removed the tops of the bowls.
Kellie’s shoulders sank. Nothing was going her way. Simi brought a bowl of green soup and rice: two items she could not take on a journey.
Only if I had the plastic food containers that Jory’s mother sells…
“The soup will make you feel better,” Simi said cheerfully, as she waved one of the lids around. “It was made with a plant with healing properties. It should prevent bruises from developing and it’ll help you sleep. Rest is the best medicine.” She smiled warmly. “Can I get anything else for you?”
“Yes! Do you have any more of that delicious bread from yesterday?”
The lid fell out of Simi’s hand and bounced off the edge of the soup bowl and onto the floor. She stopped the soup from tilting over, but some of it splattered onto her shirt. After she picked up the lid, there was a shade of pink on her cheeks. “Oh, goodness. I cracked it.”
Simi must have known about the food that was discovered under the blanket.
“About the bread?” Kellie asked again.
“I didn’t see any left. Bread is a treat for us and often goes fast. If I find some, I’ll save it for you.”
Kellie sighed. Sure you will. She took a seat on the floor pillow, her back to Simi as she sipped the soup. It tasted like boiled plants, much like their teas.
“Would—would you like me to keep you company?” asked Simi.
“No, thanks.”
Kellie heard the door slowly creak open.
“How often do they clean my room?” Kellie asked quickly.
“Daily. Why? Do you need—”
“Nope. Actually, do you think I can have my dinners in my room every night?”
“Uh…It is preferred that we eat together in the hall, but I’ll see what I can do,” said Simi, sounding uncertain. Before she closed the door, she said, “You are right. Tashi doesn’t fight fairly.”
The last thing Kellie remembered was drinking the last bitter drop of the soup. When she opened her eyes, the light from the lamp flickered, and she wondered what time of day it was. She fell asleep after lunch and guessed it was close to dinnertime.
Turning her stiff neck on the pillow, Kellie noticed that her empty bowls were gone and new dishes sat at the table.
She wasn’t hungry, but her mouth was dry as the white paste that cracked off her face. When she got up, most of the medication was on her pillow, resembling crumbled drywall.
Kellie poured herself some tea. It was lukewarm. She drank it anyway, then poured and drank another.
Her muscles were tight, but she didn’t feel like she expected she would after a beating. Kellie pushed on her face with her fingertips. There wasn’t any swelling or pain. She examined her arms, abdomen, and legs. Besides minor redness, there was no bruising. The soup’s healing properties had worked.
She crept to the door and put her ear to the wood. She heard nothing, but then again there were many layers of plank.
