Kung Fu Kellie and Sonam's Prophecy

by A. H. Shinn

  Sarna was taking inventory of their tools and speaking to a few of the men. She pointed at some of the blades. One of the men picked them up and started sharpening the edges.

  Lia came back with a stack of paper and a box of colored pencils. But before drafting her letter, the enthusiastic girl insisted that she braid Kellie’s ponytail. She wanted Kellie to look pretty when she arrived home.

  With a beaming smile, Sarna approached as Lia finished the braid. “Great news!” she said. “You will be taken to the road today. The Gatokto monks will give you a ride to Damphu. From there, they will help you get in touch with your family and get your travel in order.”

  Tears flooded down Kellie’s cheeks. She hated crying in front of others, but she couldn’t control her emotions. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she got up and threw her arms around Sarna.

  Then a small pair of arms wrapped around Kellie’s waist. The three of them were locked in a big bear hug.

  “It was a pleasure meeting you,” said Sarna. “You’re an amazing young lady, and when you meet your parents one day, they will be proud of the person you are.”

  Kellie wiped her cheeks. “If you’re ever in California—”

  “We will look you up.”

  The next hour went by both quickly and slowly. Every minute was another delay in getting home, but she wanted to say good-bye and thank the virtuous people who’d readily taken her in. Sarna translated her words of gratitude and the kind responses back.

  Finally, under the midmorning sun, Kellie set out behind two guides, saving her final wave for Sarna and Lia. Kellie swallowed back her tears, then turned to go.

  She was a stride behind a young man who appeared about eighteen years old. He resembled the older man who was ahead on the path, which she assumed to be his father. The men spoke a few words to each other as they pointed, but for most of the trek, they were silent.

  Kellie didn’t make any small talk. She hadn’t heard anyone besides Sarna and Lia speak English and she didn’t make any attempts to communicate. Once in a while her guides would glance behind them. All she could do was give them a grateful smile.

  It was a humid day. They had each been given water, and Kellie had already drank half her bottle. It took about an hour to get to the side of the mountain, where a narrow road led to the towns.

  Kellie assumed this was where they’d wait for the monks. The father stood in the shade while his son sat on a rock. Kellie waited by the edge of the road, listening for an engine and staring down a blind curve.

  After about twenty minutes, someone asked, “You like some?”

  Caught by surprise, Kellie turned and saw the younger man holding up an apple.

  “No, thank you. You speak English?” Kellie felt rude for not saying anything to them the entire time.

  “Not too good. Sarna teach us.”

  “Is he your father?” Kellie asked as she glanced at the older gentleman.

  “Yes.”

  “Please, tell him thank you for bringing me here.”

  The son translated her words to his father, and the man nodded.

  “So, how long have you lived here?” Kellie asked.

  The young man’s forehead wrinkled and he shrugged his shoulders.

  That was a stupid question. “You lived here long?” Kellie asked louder and slower, feeling even more idiotic.

  “Yes, we live here,” he said.

  “Oh, okay,” she replied. Kellie shifted her weight from her toes to her heels as she continued to wait for her ride.

  After a few minutes, she attempted at more conversation. “Are you going to do some building today? Or fixing?”

  “Beading?” he repeated.

  “Building,” she said with more enunciation. “I saw all the tools. Hammers? Sticks?” Kellie described the items with her hands, motioning in the air as if she was hammering.

  A knife in a sheath hung from the side of the young man’s pants. She pointed to the knife and repeated her description of the tools that had been laid on display before they had left.

  He scratched his head as he watched her try to explain with her hands.

  “Ah!” he said, nodding his head. “Fighting.”

  Now Kellie didn’t understand him. She thought she heard him say “fighting.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t understand.”

  “Fighting!” he said loudly. He put up his fists and punched like a boxer. His feet shifted side to side as he focused on his invisible opponent.

  “Fighting?” Kellie repeated, confused.

  “Yes! Fighting!” He took out his blade and swiped in front of him. He seemed to enjoy his dramatization of being in a brawl.

  “I don’t understand,” Kellie said. “Who are you fighting?”

  “Bhikkhunı−s!”

  His father reacted vehemently upon hearing that word. He shouted in his native tongue and shook his fist in the air. His son said something to him, which settled him down.

  Kellie wished she knew what they were saying.

  “We fighting bhikkhunı−s,” said the son. “They coming back.”

  “What?” yelled Kellie. “When?”

  He shrugged his shoulders.

  The nuns must still be searching for her. But what were they going to do to the villagers? What did they expect from the good people?

  Kellie felt like a heel standing there, waiting for a ride that would take her away, while the folks who’d sheltered her, fed her, and protected her were going to be confronted by the cold-blooded nuns.

  She stepped onto the road and heard nothing. This was a sign. Kellie turned to them and said, “I’m going back with you.”

  Both father and son looked at her with wrinkled foreheads. They either didn’t understand or didn’t know how to respond.

  Kellie tapped her chest with her fingers. “I am going”—she shook her fist in the air—“to fight! Let’s go!”

  The men looked at each other and shook their heads. “No! No!” they said.

  “I cannot let anything happen to you,” she said. “To any of you. They want me.” Kellie shivered at the thought of what the nuns would do to them, specifically the men, in a battle. “If I can’t stop them, then I will go with them. Then you can alert my family to where I am, and they will come get me. The Taiping monks will be no match for them!” Though, she wasn’t sure if they would be prepared for the Druk nuns’ viciousness.

  “Come on,” she said, waving her arm. “Let’s go!”

  Her two guides just stared at Kellie. Then the father jumped up and pointed behind her.

  A brightly painted van with a picture of a dragon pulled up next to them, and the side door slid open. Two monks in red-and-gold robes came out and greeted them.

  The father spoke to the men, and they nodded as they glanced at Kellie. One of the monks gestured to her to get inside.

  “Thank you, but I’m going to stay,” she said. She looked inside the vehicle, her heart yearning to make the journey home.

  “Please, please,” said the monk, “we take you to town. We help you go to airport. Have seat.”

  Kellie bit her lip. “I appreciate it, but I can’t…” She turned her head and saw that her guides were gone.

  “Please, have seat,” he said again, nudging her arm gently.

  Hesitantly, Kellie crouched inside. The door remained open with the engine turned off.

  “We wait for two more,” the monk said as he and the other monk climbed back inside.

  The monks in the driver and passenger seats glanced back at her, smiling and nodding. Kellie stared out of the van, her stomach churning. She found herself chewing on a fingernail. No one said a word as they waited for the other travelers.

  About twenty minutes passed before she heard a woman’s voice. The two men sitting in the back with Kellie
got out of the van to escort in the new arrivals. A little girl about five years old hopped in, clutching a doll. Her mother came in after her, holding a suitcase.

  The girl gave Kellie a shy smile.

  Lia immediately came to mind. Kellie worried that the Druk nuns would scare her as well as the other children.

  After the two monks got back into the vehicle, one of them began to pull the door handle.

  “Wait!” shouted Kellie, surprising everyone. “I can’t go!”

  The men in front said something in their language, and the one who had his hand on the door replied. They seemed confused and in a hurry to leave.

  The one who spoke English said, “Please, we must go.”

  Kellie scrambled toward the door and yanked it open. Once outside, she said, “I’m really sorry, but I have to stay.”

  She turned and ran back toward the mountain.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Kidnapped

  Kellie followed the same route back. She hoped to catch up to the father and son, but they had a twenty- to thirty-minute lead on her. The path didn’t seem difficult to follow, though, and she allowed her instincts and senses to serve as her guide. She sniffed familiar scents, which led her closer to the village.

  She thought about Master Chen as she made her way along a stream. It would be another who-knows-how-long until she would be able to make it to town and get into contact with him. Although it was going to be extra sleepless nights for him, he would understand. Returning to the village was a difficult decision, but the right one to make.

  Almost at her destination, Kellie began running. She had an uneasy feeling in her stomach and she took long strides.

  She spotted the stable and the animals. She darted toward the tents and saw a huge crowd formed in a circle. All the people of this small community were gathered tightly together.

  Looking around for Sarna and Lia, Kellie walked around the circle. No one seemed to notice that she was back; they were too focused on whatever was happening in the center.

  Someone was crying hysterically, and those around her were shouting forcefully. They were speaking in their native tongue, so Kellie couldn’t figure out what was going on.

  The place appeared as if it hadn’t been disturbed. The weapons were still lying on the ground where she’d seen them last. It seemed as if the nuns had not yet returned.

  Pushing her way through the crowd, Kellie said, “Excuse me. Sorry.” The father who’d led her to the road did a double take when Kellie moved past him.

  When she got to the middle, she saw several women consoling a woman who was sitting and weeping into her hands. When she moved her hands away from her face, Kellie saw that it was Sarna. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her brow was creased.

  “What happened?” cried Kellie, frantic as she dropped in front of her.

  Gasps came from the villagers, seeing that Kellie had returned.

  “What—what are you doing here?” Sarna asked.

  “I came to help,” said Kellie. “I found out that the nuns were coming back and you were preparing for a fight. I know you sent me away so I wouldn’t be here when they came, but I couldn’t let any of you get hurt because of me.”

  “You shouldn’t have come back,” said Sarna.

  “What happened? Why are you crying? Where’s Lia?”

  Sarna started bawling again, even louder.

  “Where is Lia?” Kellie asked again. Her stomach tightened up. “Is she hurt?”

  “They took her,” said Sarna. “The nuns.”

  Kellie jumped to her feet. “WHAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY TOOK HER?” She clenched her fists, struggling to catch her breath. “How—how did this happen?”

  “She went off into the forest alone…I’ve told her so many times not to do that…but she gets caught up following the ravens. They took her and left a note tacked to a tree.” Sarna had a crumpled piece of paper in her hand. She then stared up at Kellie, her cheeks smeared with tears. “They want you. The nuns want an exchange. The note says that we’ll get Lia back, but only if you return alone.”

  The people all around them fell silent. Although most of them didn’t know any English, they understood what was being conveyed.

  “I’ll go to the monastery,” Kellie said.

  Sarna shook her head. “I can’t let you do that.”

  “I have to,” said Kellie, her shoulders slumped in despair. “I never thought they would kidnap one of you…especially Lia. I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault that this happened. I’m leaving right now.”

  Kellie turned to go, but a hand firmly grasped her wrist.

  “You can’t go like this,” said Sarna.

  “You’re right,” said Kellie. “I’m not sure how to get there and how long it’ll take. If you can point me in the right direction and—”

  “No, that’s not what I meant.” Sarna wiped her face. “You can’t give in to them. We can’t give in to them.” She took a deep breath and stood up. “You reminded me how to have courage. And sitting here crying won’t bring her back. Lia is my life and I broke down when I discovered she was missing. We were planning for a fight, and that’s what we’ll give them.”

  She began speaking to the people in Dzongkha. She spoke loudly and angrily. Someone shouted something and others roared in excitement. Fists were raised and shook in the air. A couple of the men picked up the weapons that were lying on the dirt and started packing them.

  “Sarna,” Kellie called, but it was so loud she didn’t hear. “Sarna!” she yelled.

  Sarna turned to Kellie.

  “What is happening?” Kellie asked.

  “We’re going to the monastery and getting Lia back. And you’re staying here. We’re not letting the Druk nuns tell us what to do.”

  “You can’t do this,” said Kellie. “They will hurt you.” She looked around at the people as they began to disperse. The villagers were so courageous. Even after the attack by the nuns, they were willing to stand up to them. “You have to tell them not to do this. The nuns are very well trained. They held back the last time they were here, but if you go charging up to them, I’m afraid of what they might do.”

  Sarna didn’t say anything as she listened.

  “I watched them spar with each other,” Kellie continued. “They are vicious. These men will get hurt, Sarna. Please, you have to stop them…They have an archer, and she shot arrows at me!”

  Sarna’s eyebrows rose and her mouth fell open.

  “You have to listen to me. Do not let these people go to the monastery.”

  Sarna looked around as some of the men sheathed their knives and as others gripped wooden spears.

  “What—what do you suggest we do?” she asked.

  “I’ll go back.”

  “No,” she said quickly.

  “It’s the only way,” said Kellie. “If you let these people face the nuns, it’ll be much worse.”

  Sarna looked at the villagers, and then she looked at Kellie. Her mouth was tight.

  “I know my way mostly around the monastery,” said Kellie. “I’ll find Lia. If I don’t come back with her, contact Master Chen and tell him where I am. He’ll come for me. And I’ll make sure Lia is returned safely.”

  “How could I let you do this?” asked Sarna.

  “It’s my choice,” said Kellie. “And you have to protect these people.”

  “I don’t like this at all,” said Sarna. “…if I don’t hear anything by sundown—”

  “Give me until tomorrow,” said Kellie. She wasn’t sure if she was going to attempt to sneak Lia out or if she would surrender herself. Nevertheless, she needed time to carry out a plan, and didn’t want the villagers to act hastily. They would surely get hurt.

  Sarna hesitantly looked away from Kellie and cleared her throat. She had to call out to the people a couple
of times to get their attention. Everyone stopped to listen as Sarna spoke in their native tongue. Confused expressions spread across their faces, and heads were shaking. Kellie guessed that they didn’t like the new plan.

  The men began to toss down the weapons. The women looked at Kellie with sympathy as they nodded. They seemed to understand what needed to be done.

  “You’re sure about this?” Sarna asked Kellie.

  “It’s the best way,” said Kellie. “I’m going to change my clothes and I’ll be leaving right away.”

  In Sarna’s tent, Kellie put on her cleaned beige shirt and pants. The material was much more durable than the colorful outfit she was wearing, and would be better for the trek. As she was putting on her slippers, Kellie noticed a drawing on the floor.

  She picked it up and saw a picture of a little girl holding hands with two people. One of them had black, shoulder-length hair and it was pinned to the side. She wore a long, red skirt and pink shirt. That was Sarna. The other person had two long braids that fell in front of her shoulders and wore a plain, beige outfit.

  It was clear that Lia was the girl in the middle, but the drawing wasn’t complete. She hadn’t drawn in her hair and the picture was half colored.

  Visions of Lia alone in one of the confining rooms gripped Kellie’s soul. She couldn’t let the vulnerable child be alone at the monastery and away from her mother a minute longer.

  She rushed out of the tent and saw the villagers gathered together waiting for her. Sarna stood in front with a satchel in her hand.

  “They wanted me to tell you how brave you are,” said Sarna. “And here”—she handed Kellie the bag—“there’s food and water for you, and one of the men will guide you to the monastery.”

  Kellie shook her head. “The note said for me to go alone. It’ll be unsafe for him.”

  Sarna sighed, and then spoke to the man standing next to her in Dzongkha. He mumbled something, and Sarna nodded her head.