Crane (Page 57)

The crowd began to chant, “SCAR! SCAR! SCAR!”

Hok stood. Enough was enough. She didn’t care about Tonglong or AnGangseh or Tsung or anyone else. She needed to help Malao. “STOP!” Hok cried.

But no one listened. Scar continued forward.

Seh grabbed at Hok’s arms, but she shrugged him off. She adjusted the bag strap across her neck and over one shoulder and jumped onto the table, grabbing one of the drinking bowls. She hurled it at Scar, striking him on the crown of his head.

“LEAVE HIM ALONE!” Hok shouted, but the words and the bowl had no impact. Scar was unstoppable. He positioned himself over Malao’s quivering body.

The crowd continued to chant, “SCAR! SCAR! SCAR!”

Scar thrust the dagger down, and Hok screamed.

Malao screamed, too—loud enough to make Scar flinch in mid-swing. At the same time, Malao’s hand lashed out, ramming a splintered piece of bamboo wager stick he’d been hiding into the side of Scar’s calf.

Scar cursed and his leg buckled, his knife swing going wide. Malao twisted out of the path of the tottering giant, but Hok watched in horror as Scar twisted in the same direction as Malao. Scar let himself drop to the ground, knees first, and slammed into the side of Malao’s wobbly head. Malao was unconscious before he even hit the brick floor.

A few of the crowd members gasped, but most of them burst into cheers. They began to chant, “FINISH HIM! FINISH HIM! FINISH HIM!”

Hok stared into the pit, wide-eyed, as Scar planted his knees firmly on either side of Malao’s limp head and rose up, hoisting his knife high.

“NOOOOO!” Hok cried, and she leaped into the pit, landing on the bricks in a tight single roll. She hopped to her feet, and her turban shifted over her eyes. Hok tore it off and screamed at Scar, “What’s wrong with you, trying to kill a little boy? Can’t you see that he’s been drugged! Fight me! Leave him alone!”

Scar turned and stared at Hok, looking confused and angry. He lowered the knife and stood.

Scar took a step toward Hok, the broken bamboo stick still protruding from his calf.

“Stand down, Scar!” LaoShu yelled from above. “We’ll count this as a victory for you! Guards, get that crazy girl out of there!”

The crowd began to boo, and someone shouted, “Scar didn’t get to finish! We want a proper ending!”

People began to throw all sorts of items into the pit—drinking bowls, wager sticks, even food. Hok covered her head with her arms.

“Everyone, please calm down!” LaoShu shouted. “No need to get too excited. The outcome of this bout is clear. If you bet on Scar, you’ve won. No need to lose control!”

“LaoShu!” someone shouted. “I may be able to help. …”

Hok looked up to see that it was Tsung speaking. He turned to face the pit and stared straight at her.

“If these people want a proper ending,” Tsung purred, “I’ll give them one. Have the pit cleared out, but leave the girl to dance with me.”

Hok looked away from Tsung and glanced up at LaoShu to see his reaction. LaoShu looked down at her, and his beady eyes widened.

“General Tsung!” LaoShu shouted. “Is that who I think it is?”

Tsung nodded, and LaoShu clapped his hands. Hok’s heart began to race. She glanced at Tonglong and AnGangseh. They both started laughing.

Hok wanted to look over at Seh, but she knew it wouldn’t do much good. He couldn’t see her, and Charles was still off somewhere else. Instead, she looked back at LaoShu.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” LaoShu announced. “Did you just hear what I heard? Former Grand Champion General Tsung is going to return to the pit! His opponent will be none other than Enemy of the State Number One! That girl in the pit may appear harmless, but looks can be deceiving. My sources tell me she is a superb fighter and personally responsible for the demise of the beloved Shaolin Temple. What do you think about that?”

The crowd began to boo, and someone shouted, “Kill her!”

LaoShu raised his hands. “Whoa! Not so fast. Wouldn’t you like to wager on the outcome of this bout first? See the clerks at the bettors’ table for details. You have until the sound of the gong to place your bets. Attendants, to your stations!”

The crowd jumped to its feet, and people began to rush frantically toward the bettors’ table. Hok scanned the room and noticed an attendant running over to HaMo’s table. HaMo dumped a huge bag of money on the table, and the attendant began to sift through it while counting out wager sticks.

Hok glanced quickly over at Seh. He sat alone, listening, and Charles still wasn’t there.

Hok heard the pit door open and she turned to see the two armed guards standing beyond it. “Come on, Scar,” one of the men said. “You heard LaoShu.”