by Dan Lee
Olivier went straight for his man. Off-balance, the man swung his fists wildly. Moving his body, maintaining the centre line, Olivier evaded the blows and neatly caught the man’s wrist. He turned it. The man howled in pain. He had to move his arm in the direction Olivier was twisting it, or his wrist would be snapped. Olivier forced him to bend right over the side of the boat and, with a final twist of the arm, flipped him into the water.
Matt’s opponent had grabbed the stun gun again – but as he attempted to raise it, Matt hit it with an unexpected reverse kick and it flew out of his hands. The man hissed and came for Matt. Matt met him straight-on. He visualized his centre line, directly in front of him, exactly where his opponent stood. Despite the rocking of the boat, Matt was able to hold his balance, keeping his weight on the back foot. Chang’s training had paid off!
The man aimed a roundhouse punch, which Matt blocked, double-handed, with all the weight of his body behind it. The force of the counter sent the man reeling back. Matt still came forward. A spear-hand thrust to the belly doubled the man up; a high, straight kick to the jaw sent him flying over the side of the boat to join his fellows in the freezing water.
‘Tigers rule!’ cried Catarina.
All their enemies had been pitched overboard – except for Sang, who’d stood at the back of the boat away from the fighting. His face was grim. But he made no move to attack.
His men were struggling in the water. They cried out as they tried to grab on to the sides of the boat – but in the heaving water they couldn’t get a grip. They fell back, their heads disappearing beneath the waves, to reappear further away from the boat, panic etched on their faces.
With a shock, Matt realized they couldn’t swim.
‘They are drowning!’ said Sang, looking directly at Matt.
‘We have to get them out,’ said Matt to the other Tigers. ‘Otherwise –’
‘They tried to zap us with a stun gun!’ said Catarina.
‘But we can’t let them drown,’ said Matt.
‘Seems a bit severe,’ agreed Olivier, as he came to stand beside Matt.
Matt turned to look at Sang. ‘I don’t trust him or his men, but we can’t stand back and watch people drown. Right now they need us more than we need them, they’d be stupid to fight.’
Sang gave an insincere smile. ‘I won’t move a muscle,’ he promised. Matt had no idea if he could trust Sang, but what choice did he have?
‘You guys help the men,’ Matt said to the Tangshan Tigers; ‘I’d better stay with Sang.’
‘Let’s do it!’ said Shawn.
The men were now too far from the boat to be hauled in – the friends would have to dive in and get them. The Tigers slipped their shoes off.
‘We’re coming to get you!’ Catarina called out. ‘But don’t give us no trouble or you gonna regret it!’
She dived in and the other Tigers followed suit. Just as Matt saw Catarina reach the first man, he felt a tap on the shoulder.
He turned to see the squat, thickset figure of Sang behind him. Sang grinned, revealing filthy yellow, crooked teeth.
‘I lied,’ he said, shrugging. Then he aimed a karate chop at the side of Matt’s neck.
Sang was fast.
But Matt’s reactions were faster.
Instinctively, he turned his body – he felt the wind of the blow pass over his head. Carried on by his own momentum, Sang plunged forward and crashed into Matt.
Matt grasped Sang round his thick waist. If he could throw him… but Sang was too big, too heavy, too strong. He stood firm. His fist crashed into Matt’s stomach, making him cry out in pain.
Matt knew he couldn’t take many more hits like that. At the same time, he felt a slight shift in Sang’s stance – aiming that blow had altered his centre of gravity. He pushed hard and felt Sang give ground – he could not fully regain his balance. Matt hooked his leg behind Sang’s, just as he’d seen Chang do to Ryan earlier, at the same time driving his weight forward.
Sang bellowed in rage as he felt himself going over. He clutched despairingly at Matt, trying to take him down with him – but Matt slipped neatly from his grasp.
Sang hit the deck. Matt placed his foot on the man’s neck.
‘Don’t move,’ he said. ‘Or I’ll break your neck.’
‘You would not do such a thing!’ said Sang between gritted teeth.
‘Wouldn’t I?’ said Matt quietly. ‘Want to put it to the test?’
Sang lay very still. Of course, Matt would never have been able to break a man’s neck in cold blood. But Sang didn’t know that.
The other Tangshan Tigers were climbing aboard again, pulling the bedraggled men with them. All the fight had gone out of the men. Once aboard the boat they sat shivering on the wooden seats, teeth chattering. Matt and his friends weren’t going to take any more chances; Catarina found a coil of rope and they tied them together, pulling the rope tight.
The Tangshan Tigers were in much better spirits.
‘Hey, you sorted out Sang!’ Shawn said to Matt. ‘Way to go, dude!’
‘Well, someone had to…’ said Matt.
‘Now what?’ said Catarina. ‘Anyone know how to steer this boat?’
‘Moi,’ said Olivier. ‘I’ve been sailing with my dad loads of times.’
He took the wheel and steered the boat back towards the shore.
‘Look,’ said Catarina, pointing. ‘The cops have arrived.’
Matt saw several police officers waiting on the jetty. They must have come in response to Shawn’s call and been directed here by Li-Lian.
‘Hello!’ said Olivier in his most charming manner as the boat nosed into the jetty. ‘I wonder if you could help us? We have some gentlemen here for you to take care of – they tried to shoot us with an electric stun gun. Look, it’s here in the boat.’
‘We saw,’ said the chief officer, a tall man in a peaked cap. ‘We will take care of this now.’ Then he spoke in Mandarin to the men in black. They sullenly climbed up on to the jetty.
Matt took his foot from Sang’s neck and stepped back. Sang got stiffly to his feet. As he climbed out of the boat, he turned and directed a look of such hatred at Matt that he felt a shiver run down his spine.
‘I do not forget,’ Sang said.
Matt did his best to look unconcerned. He and the other Tigers also climbed ashore.
‘Hey, where’d the others go?’ said Catarina suddenly. ‘Look – there’s no one on the bridge!’
Matt saw the bridge was empty.
‘They are safe,’ said the chief officer, who appeared to be the only one who spoke English. ‘They have been taken to Kunming District Hospital. It is not far.’
‘Is it OK if we go there?’ Matt asked. ‘If you want to speak to us as witnesses later, you can easily find us – we’re students at the Beijing International Academy.’
‘I know,’ said the chief officer. ‘Chang Sifu told us.’
It was evident from the way he said the name that he knew who Chang was and had a great respect for him.
Two policemen took Sang by an arm each and led him towards the palace. His dripping henchmen were also escorted away.
Matt felt a throb of relief at seeing Sang removed from the scene. The authorities would deal with him – and hopefully he would never have to see the man again. Sang wasn’t important any more. The really important thing was that Chang Sifu was safe.
‘Come on,’ he said. ‘It’s not over yet. Let’s go and see how Chang is.’
AFTERMATH
Chang was in a private room at the hospital. A nurse showed them to the room and tapped on the door.
‘Come in,’ came Chang’s voice, sounding lively and alert.
Chang was sitting up in bed, wearing a green hospital gown. A surgical patch covered his right eye. A single lotus flower in a bowl of water stood on the bedside table.
Li-Lian sat beside him, holding his hand.
The Tigers lined up by the side of the bed, paying Chang the traditiona
l sign of respect, placing their right fists into open left hands in front of their chests.
‘How are you feeling?’ asked Matt.
‘Being hit by that bolt of electricity – that had to hurt!’ said Shawn.
‘It has left me weak. And fight took its toll as well. But these things will pass.’ He smiled. “All things must pass,” as the great Lao-Tze said.’
‘I have told you, how foolish to get into a fight at your age!’ Li-Lian scolded him affectionately.
‘And the eye?’ asked Catarina.
‘Only a scratch. It will heal.’
‘We’re glad you’re OK, Sifu,’ said Matt. ‘You know it was Sang behind the attack.’
Chang nodded.
‘He’s been arrested now,’ said Matt.
Chang looked at Matt shrewdly. ‘Am I to guess that Tangshan Tigers had something to do with this outcome?’
‘Er, yeah, we were kind of involved…’
‘You have done well. Today you faced a dangerous enemy. I did not want you to run this risk. But, as always, Tangshan Tigers make me proud! There should be no more trouble from Sang. He will go to prison for long time.’
Matt hoped so. He found himself remembering Sang’s last words to him, spoken with a deadly seriousness: I do not forget.
There was another knock on the door. Matt turned to see Sensei Ryan enter. Immediately Matt felt hostile. He clenched his fists and moved to stand between Chang and Ryan. So did the other Tigers.
‘What’s he doing here?’ said Catarina.
But Ryan did not appear to have come looking for trouble. He moved stiffly. His eyes were downcast and he looked humble, chastened.
Chang motioned the Tangshan Tigers to one side.
‘Sifu,’ said Ryan. ‘I have come to apologize.’
He bowed awkwardly. Matt saw his hands were handcuffed behind his back.
‘You are under arrest?’ asked Chang.
‘Yes. The police found out I was paid by Sang to attack you. But I wanted to let you know – I didn’t really do it for the money. I just had to know who was better.’
‘I understand,’ said Chang.
‘I did it for the honour of saying I had fought the greatest living master. My reasons were not pure, and I am sorry I accepted money when I had no quarrel with you. But still, I am proud to say we fought. And though I lost, even to lose to such a master is an honour.’
He bowed.
To Matt’s surprise, Chang got stiffly out of bed. Li-Lian ran to take his arm. He faced Ryan; then he too bowed.
‘It was an honour to fight you too,’ he said.
‘You have great spirit and ability. You will put them to better use in time.’
‘Thanks,’ said Ryan, almost in a whisper.
A uniformed police officer, who had been waiting discreetly at the door, stepped into the room and tapped Ryan on the arm. Ryan followed him out.
‘We should go too, Grandfather,’ said Li-Lian. ‘Let you rest.’
Chang eased himself back on to the bed. ‘Li-Lian, stay and talk with me awhile. You others – thank you for all you have done. Truly, it is appreciated. But you should go back to Academy now.’
‘I guess we’d better,’ said Matt. ‘And find out what sort of trouble we’re in!’
They caught a bus back to the Academy. On the way, Matt said: ‘I wish we could do something about Master Chang and Li-Lian – I mean, it doesn’t seem right that they have to go back and live in that shack on the hillside.’
‘We’ll have to see what we can do,’ said Olivier thoughtfully.
As they entered the Beijing Academy the electronic wind-chimes tinkled to announce their arrival. Two security guards pounced on them.
‘So there you are! Mr Wu will see you in his office. Immediately!’
Mr Wu sat behind his enormous, highly polished desk, regarding them sternly through his glittering spectacles.
‘Stand there – in a line – on the carpet. Hands behind backs!’ he barked. ‘You four have been absent from school without leave, you have broken bounds, you have told lies about non-existent Outreach Programme! What have you to say for yourselves?’
‘About the Outreach Programme,’ said Olivier, ‘we were thinking that was a really good idea, and maybe in future the Academy could –’
Mr Wu banged a fist on the desk. ‘Do not add insolence to your crimes! What you have done is punishable by expulsion! I must consider the options – but rest assured you will not simply get away with disobedience on this scale. What would my fellow principals say if they learned that students in my Academy made holiday whenever they wished, without my permission?’
‘May I ask a question, sir?’ asked Matt softly.
Mr Wu stared at him. A bright-red spot appeared on each of his cheeks.
‘I am not here to answer your questions –’ he began.
But Matt continued: ‘What would your fellow principals say if they learned that this school doesn’t have a single martial arts teacher on the staff? I mean, this Academy prides itself on martial arts…’
‘What do you mean?’ said Mr Wu. ‘We have Sensei Ryan, a first-rate instructor –’
‘Not any more,’ said Shawn. He pulled his BlackBerry from his pocket and clicked for the latest headlines on the Internet. ‘You see here, sir, where it says Ryan has been arrested –’
‘What?’ Mr Wu snatched the BlackBerry from Shawn. ‘Martial arts teacher arrested,’ he read aloud in a wondering tone, ‘for his part in a revenge plot to beat up his predecessor?’
The colour drained from Mr Wu’s cheeks. Without a word, he handed the BlackBerry back to Shawn. He went and stood by the window, looking out.
‘It won’t look too good if we don’t have a martial arts teacher,’ said Catarina. ‘If we don’t give Chang his job back it might even look like we’re kind of on Ryan’s side, you know?’
Mr Wu was silent for a moment. Then he cleared his throat and turned to face the Tangshan Tigers.
‘Of course, it goes without saying that I should be only too glad to have Master Chang back after his, er –’ he gave a small cough – ‘after his vacation. I thought that too obvious to mention.’
‘And he has a granddaughter to support, you know,’ said Matt. He could see that Mr Wu would do anything to keep this scandal as low-key as possible; it was worth risking one more bit of cheek. ‘Perhaps his salary…?’
‘Yes, yes,’ said Mr Wu testily. ‘It will be increased, naturally. Doubled.’
‘And about the Outreach Programme,’ said Olivier. ‘Helping local schools in the community, you know –’
‘I will consider it,’ said Mr Wu. ‘Er…’ He cleared his throat. ‘In the circumstances… since you have alerted me to this situation, we will say no more about punishment. You may go!’
Outside in the corridor, Catarina turned a celebratory cartwheel.
‘Mission accomplished!’ grinned Shawn.
The Tangshan Tigers high-fived one another, laughing.
‘Wait a minute!’ said Shawn. ‘I’m going to go get something.’
He hurried away and returned a few moments later with the Electro-Hound.
‘What’s that for?’ asked Matt.
Shawn led them to a nearby changing room where a number of training tops were hanging from a row of hooks. He riffled through them, then activated the Electro-Hound and let it sniff at one of the tops.
‘What are you doing?’ said Catarina.
‘We’re going to track down Carl! Don’t you think he’ll be delighted to learn Ryan’s gone and Chang Sifu’s coming back?’
‘I bet he will!’ said Matt.
The Electro-Hound emitted a whirring noise. Its eyes glowed red. Shawn put it on the ground and it immediately began to race away, snuffling as it went.
The Tangshan Tigers ran along behind it, laughing and whooping.
Just round the corner they met Andrei Drago, who stared at them in surprise.
‘Hey, what’s going on? What are you
all so excited about?’
‘Nothing!’ said Matt. ‘I mean, everything! Just pleased, pleased about the way things are turning out – pleased you’re on the team, mate! Everyone deserves a chance.’
He slapped Drago on the back and ran on after the others.
Drago and his father didn’t seem such a big deal any more. OK, so Old Man Drago must have pulled a few strings to get his son into the school, and probably had exerted a bit of influence to get him into the martial arts team. But the Tangshan Tigers had faced much bigger crooks than that. Compared to Sang and his gang, the Dragos weren’t even on the starting line.
Matt leapt and punched the air as he caught up with the Electro-Hound and the Tigers.
‘We’ve done it again!’ he said. ‘Another adventure for the Tangshan Tigers!’
‘All we got to do now is get you back in the team,’ said Catarina.
‘Do you think I’ll get back in?’ Matt would have to wait a bit longer for his injury to heal, but after that…?
‘Sure to!’ said Catarina.
‘Bound to!’ said Shawn.
‘Certain to!’ said Olivier.
Things are looking good, thought Matt. And they were only going to get better.
