Ishihara pointed to a large tree growing near the street between two small shops. One sold glazed pottery, while the other held cotton and silk clothing. “That spot should be relatively cool. It is not in anyone’s way.”
“Yeah.” Wayne walked over to the tree and sat down, leaning his back against it. His legs and feet hurt, and he would have a long walk back to that village, too, unless they were lucky enough to find MC 5 today. That seemed unlikely, but so far, he was optimistic about their overall chances here. For the first time, he had a team of people helping him to compete with Hunter’s team.
Ishihara stood next to him under the tree, looking at the people on the street.
A child’s excited shouts got their attention. Wayne looked down the street and saw Xiao Li running toward them with a big grin, waving and yelling as he dodged around other pedestrians. Wayne started to stand, then decided to rest his legs just a moment longer.
The boy stopped in front of them, talking quickly. Ishihara listened, nodding. When Xiao Li finished, he grabbed Ishihara’s hand and started pulling him.
“I suggest we go,” said Ishihara. “He reports that friends of his have seen Hunter and his team on the next block. In fact, Hunter has widely offered rewards to anyone who can bring them in contact with MC 5.”
“Oh, yeah?” Wayne got to his feet. “Well, let’s take a look. We still have to stay out of sight, though.”
As they started to walk, Ishihara spoke briefly to Xiao Li. The boy nodded and let go of his hand. He led them at a brisk pace, however.
“What did you say?” Wayne asked.
“I told him that running would draw attention to us,” said Ishihara. “I reiterated the importance of Hunter’s not seeing us until we were ready.”
“Good.”
Wayne could tell when they were nearing Hunter because Xiao Li slowed down and moved to one side of the street, furtively glancing ahead to the opposite side. Wayne lowered his head slightly so the broad brim of his hat would cover more of his face. Ishihara did the same. The crowd of people and carts on the street gave them plenty of cover.
Finally Xiao Li moved behind the corner of a small noodle shop and pointed diagonally across the street to an area that was shaded with trees. Wayne and Ishihara slipped behind him. Xiao Li spoke eagerly to Ishihara.
“Hunter and his team are drinking tea at a table in the shade,” said Ishihara. “I can see Hunter, facing slightly away from us.”
“Yeah?” Wayne looked around the corner carefully. He spotted Hunter easily, because of his height and blond hair. Jane sat next to him, blowing on her teacup. Steve sat across from her, next to a woman Wayne did not recognize. She would be the team’s historian for this trip, of course.
“See them?” Ishihara asked.
“Yeah.” Wayne grinned and gave Xiao Li a quick pat on the shoulder. “Tell him that he will have good luck for doing such a fine job.”
Ishihara spoke to the boy, who smiled broadly.
“Now what shall we do?” Ishihara asked. “We do not have any funds with which to match Hunter’s reward.”
“That’s right,” said Wayne. “That reward means real trouble for us. Now Hunter has a lot of people—an uncountable number—working for him now.”
“Your plan of distracting him in some way could still work,” said Ishihara.
“That’s true, I guess,” said Wayne slowly.
“I believe so,” said Ishihara. “If Hunter is busy and therefore difficult to locate, then his efficiency will still be lowered, even with many people helping in his search. We might increase our chance of finding MC 5 first.”
“Let’s make sure the story on the street is true,” said Wayne. “Tell Xiao Li to approach Hunter and ask about this reward.”
Ishihara spoke to Xiao Li, who looked startled. Wayne could see that he was not eager to go near Hunter. The boy turned and studied Hunter for a moment before answering Ishihara.
“He is frightened,” said Ishihara. “He is afraid of the bad spirit.”
“Remind him that Hunter is not an evil spirit. He’s just a good one who is misguided—he should not be doing what he is doing. Give Xiao Li our absolute guarantee that he won’t be hurt. Then see if he will talk to Hunter and report back without revealing us.”
Xiao Li listened carefully to Ishihara and nodded. Then he took another cautious look at Hunter and slowly walked forward. In the shade across the street, Wayne saw Steve pouring tea again for everyone.
Once Xiao Li reached the tea garden, the traffic on the street blocked Wayne’s view of him. After only a moment, however, the boy came hurrying back with a big smile of relief. He dodged the people moving up and down the street and trotted up to Ishihara, reporting breathlessly.
Wayne drew back around the comer of the shop, out of Hunter’s sight. “What’s he saying?”
“He says it’s true,” said Ishihara. “Hunter has offered a stepped system of rewards based on how much help he gets. Even the top reward will not make anyone rich, but it is attractive enough to have started many people talking about it on the street. They are searching for both MC 5 and the Polo family.”
“Polo family. You mean Marco Polo?”
“Apparently he is here with his father and an uncle, as well,” said Ishihara.
“Oh. Well, I don’t know much about Marco Polo. Just that he came here in Kublai Khan’s time from Italy and went back home to write a book about it.”
“I know no more about this than you do,” said Ishihara.
“This is the chance we wanted, though,” Wayne said suddenly. “Will you tell him to report to Hunter that the Polos have left town? Today, so Hunter thinks he has a chance to catch them. I don’t think you should have an objection under the Laws. Hunter will protect his own team.”
“Yes, I can tell him to do this,” said Ishihara. “However, Hunter will ask which direction they took. Do you wish to develop your ruse further? We have an opportunity to distract him.”
“Well, sure. But I don’t know exactly what to say. Where is there to send him around here? Someplace convincing that will take him out of way.”
“I am not certain. As I told you, I have little knowledge of this society.”
“Yeah...me, too.” Wayne thought a moment. “What do we know about this time? Marco Polo, Kublai Khan, printing, gunpowder...” He looked up suddenly. “Say—what about the Great Wall of China?”
“What about it?”
“Uh, where is it?”
“Perhaps Xiao Li knows.” Ishihara turned to the boy and exchanged a few words. “He says it is north of Khanbaliq.”
“How far? We want Hunter to go on a long diversion, not just a quick side trip.”
Ishihara spoke to Xiao Li again.
“He has heard that the trip takes a couple of days on horseback. Since he has never been there, he does not know for sure how far the Great Wall is.”
“That’s far enough to get Hunter out of our way for a while. Let’s send Hunter there if we can.”
“I will tell Xiao Li,” said Ishihara.
7
Hunter waited patiently while his companions rested in the shade. Since he regenerated his energy by converting sunlight through the microscopic solar cells on his skin, he had benefited from the walk in the direct sunlight. Certainly this climate, in the summer, was easier on him and his human team members than the Russian winter had been during their last mission.
The little boy who had asked him questions a few minutes earlier walked back, looking at Hunter shyly. He stopped several meters away. Hunter waited for him to speak, but he remained silent.
“May I help you?” Hunter asked.
“I have information for you,” said the boy with a polite bow.
Steve looked up from his teacup. “What is it?”
“I have heard that the Polo family went north this morning to the Great Wall.”
“Yeah?” Steve grinned. “Hunter, that’s great. We know where to find them. And MC 5 probably
hasn’t had time to reach them yet.”
“Are you certain of this?” Hunter asked.
“This is what I have been told,” the boy said carefully.
“Who told you?” Steve asked.
He hesitated. “Two men.”
“I see,” said Hunter. “What is your name?”
“Xiao Li.”
“Give him a tip,” said Steve.
“A tip is appropriate at this time? What if his information is inaccurate?”
“We’ll have to take some risk. Don’t give him the whole reward yet. If he’s right, we’ll pay him the rest.”
“Is this acceptable?” Hunter asked Xiao Li.
“Yes, sir.”
Hunter reached into his gown and gave Xiao Li a couple of small copper coins.
“Thank you.” With another bow, the boy turned away.
“Wait a minute,” said Steve. “You might be able to help us with more information.”
Xiao Li paused, looking at them all.
“You have more questions for him?” Hunter asked.
“Not yet,” said Steve. “But exactly what are we going to do? If we need to change our plans, he might know where we should go to find other people.”
“Agreed,” said Hunter.
“What is our plan now?” Marcia asked.
“I would like to hear all of your opinions,” said Hunter. “I am not certain what to do now.”
“This is a stroke of luck,” said Jane. She paused to sip her tea. “We could have spent hours trying to find the Polo family and they aren’t even here.”
“If MC 5 can’t find them, then why do we need them?” Marcia asked.
“Good question,” said Jane. “But at least we won’t waste time looking for them here in the city.”
“I think we should go after them,” said Steve. “They only left today—probably just a few hours ago. Maybe MC 5 is even with them or following them, too. In order to get some kind of introduction through them to the government, he will have to establish some kind of friendship with them.”
“Well, Hunter?” Jane shrugged. “What if MC 5 is here in town, instead?”
“That is a point to consider,” said Hunter. “MC 5 is our quarry, not Marco Polo.”
“I hate to repeat the obvious,” Steve said with a grin. “Especially when I know you don’t like it. But this is a stable town and we have no enemies here. Why not split up? Maybe, to reduce your worries, we three should stay here and you can go north to look for the Polos.”
“I accepted such logic on earlier missions,” said Hunter. “In most cases, I came to regret it. This time, we will stay together.”
“Okay.” Steve shrugged. “So what’s it going to be? Are we staying here to look for MC 5?”
“I remain undecided,” said Hunter. “Marcia, how far is the Great Wall from here?”
“About sixty-five kilometers. The road goes north from Khanbaliq through some mountains to a major gate in the wall.”
“We would need horses to make the trip efficiently,” said Hunter. “On horseback, that is a two-day ride each way, I estimate.”
“That’s right,” said Steve. “At least, depending on how rugged the road is.”
Marcia eyed him skeptically. “Oh, you know all about horses, do you?”
“No,” Steve said stiffly. “But I have some experience with them. I’ve owned a couple in the past and used to ride them out in the desert. I can take care of them and I know how far they can travel in a day.”
“We rode horseback in Roman Germany,” said Jane. “As long as the horses are calm and well trained, we’ll be fine.”
Hunter was studying Marcia. “Have you ridden horseback before?”
“No,” said Marcia uncomfortably..
“Jane is right that safety is largely a matter of matching the horse to the rider,” said Hunter. “I will not allow us to go unless we can find one you can ride.”
“We wouldn’t have to make the whole trip to the Great Wall,” said Jane. “If we leave soon enough, we’ll catch up to them when they stop for the night.”
“That’s right,” said Steve. “We’ll take the rest of today to reach them, talk to them tonight or tomorrow morning, and then return tomorrow.”
“This is acceptable,” said Hunter. “Spending two days is not extravagant.”
“What about Wayne?” Jane asked, “What if MC 5 is still in town?”
“This is a reasonable point,” said Hunter. “We could be leaving Wayne and Ishihara two days to find MC 5 here without competition from us.”
“The most logical move is to separate, Hunter,” said Steve, “no matter how you figure it.”
“My interpretation of the First Law at this time does not accept that logic,” said Hunter. “My need to protect you overrides the distant possibility that we will find MC 5 by splitting up at this time.”
“If the chance of getting MC 5 was clear and immediate, you would allow us to split up?” Jane asked.
“Yes,” said Hunter. “The First Law imperative to catch him is stronger than unclear risks to you three.”
Steve sighed and finished his tea. “All right. So what are we going to do, then?”
“We must choose between two risks,” said Hunter. “If we stay here, we have no current lead to find MC 5. If we follow the lead we have, we may leave Wayne and Ishihara a free hand here to find him first.”
“Doing something is probably better than nothing,” said Marcia. “I suggest we follow the lead we have to find the Polos.”
“Yeah, I agree,” Steve said grudgingly, with an annoyed glance at Marcia. “For this reason, Hunter. We’ve told everybody around here that we’re offering a reward. These people, as a group, have a better chance of grabbing MC 5 than Wayne and Ishihara.”
“Yes,” said Hunter. “We are leaving some help for ourselves behind.”
“Good!” Steve got up. “Let’s stop wasting time talking about it.” He turned to Xiao Li. “Where can we get some horses—four, to be exact?”
“Nowhere in this neighborhood,” said Xiao Li. “But I can take you to some stables several blocks from here near the north gate.”
“I do not want to take you away from your home neighborhood,” said Hunter. “Please give me directions. We will find the location.”
Within an hour, Steve rode out of the north gate of Khanbaliq on a small mare, leading the rest of the team. Following Xiao Li’s directions,’ they had found a number of commercial stables in business just inside the north gate. As before, the bargaining fell to Steve. Since no one would lease horses to be ridden out of the city, they’d had to buy them, and of course saddles and bridles, as well.
Hunter had enough money to do so, and the man who sold the horses also told them where to find inns along the way where they could spend the night. Steve had mounted each horse they’d considered buying, to make sure that it was well trained and calm enough for the less experienced riders.
When Hunter’s concern for everyone’s safety had been satisfied, Steve had found a shop that sold water skins and meat buns they could take with them. Another shop had sold them each long leather coats trimmed with fur for the cold nights in the mountains.
Immediately outside the north gate of the city, the road was deserted in the middle of the day. Steve could see that it wound up into the forested mountains ahead. He turned to look back over his shoulder.
Marcia sat stiffly upright on a seven-year-old gelding, holding the reins gingerly. Hunter rode next to her, giving her instructions. Jane kicked her mount and, came up next to Steve at a trot.
“I just thought of a problem I hadn’t considered before,” said Jane.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“The man who sold us the horses said we could find inns along the way to spend night, right?”
“Sure. What’s the matter with that?”
“Well, the idea was to catch up to the Polos when they stop for the night. But if this road has a lot of inns, we’l
l have to look for them at every single one.”
“I guess we can do that.”
“I guess.” Jane shrugged. “I just hope we don’t find too many inns tonight.”
“We’ll have lunch in the saddle,” said Steve. “The Polos will probably stop by the side of the road to eat, like anyone ordinarily would. If we’re lucky, we might even get close enough this evening to see them up ahead. Then we’ll see where they stop.”
“I guess we can hope.”
Steve looked behind them again. Marcia remained tense but said nothing. He considered teasing her about her nervousness, but then decided that he preferred having her quiet. The last thing he wanted was to start her talking again.
The road grew more rugged less than an hour out of Khanbaliq. Tall trees shaded the road as it began to wind up the slope of the foothills. Two riders passed them on the way south, as did one large wagon full of firewood, but traffic was light.
On the road itself, the ground was dry and dusty. Many hooves, wheels, and feet had left their imprints, but to Steve’s eye, a few fresh tracks of horses and wheels overlaid the older ones. They had been left by the people who had most recently preceded them. He assumed that some of the tracks had been made by the Polos; he hoped that at least one set were MC 5’s. If the team was on the track of MC 5 already, this mission could be really short.
At intervals, Steve offered the buns and a quick drink of water to the others. In order to close the gap between themselves and the people ahead of them, they stayed in the saddle and kept moving.
The air grew cooler as they rode higher into the mountains. Late in the afternoon, Steve paused to put on the long coat he had bought; Marcia and Jane decided to wear theirs, too. The shade of either the trees or the mountains covered them most of the time at this hour.
Finally they rounded a bend and came to an inn. Steve dismounted and asked if any foreigners had stopped for the night; in exchange for a coin, the innkeeper told him that none had. The team rode on.
A much larger inn lay a short distance up the road from the first one. Steve decided that the two inns had been been positioned about a day’s ride from both Khanbaliq and the Great Wall. Night was falling quickly now, and the air at this altitude was chilly. He reined in and turned to Hunter.
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