Snake (Five Ancestors #3)(29)
Author: Jeff Stone

“Evacuate! We are no match for the soldiers’ qiangs! Abandon the stronghold!”

Commander Woo approached Ying. “What should we do?”

“Leave five good men here in the hall with me,” Ying replied. “Lead the rest down to the boats. If the bandits escape with the boats, we will be stranded.”

“What if they have other boats hidden somewhere and use those to escape?” Commander Woo asked.

“Then let them go,” Ying snapped. “We can’t spread ourselves too thin. Our men are no match for the bandits individually.”

“Understood,” Commander Woo said. “Have you heard about Captain Yue, sir?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Ying growled. “I knew he shouldn’t have come along. I understand his head is missing. We need to find it. If one of the bandits delivers that head to the Emperor without me there to explain myself, there could be trouble.”

“Right, sir. I’ll do my best. What about the young monks?”

Ying adjusted his robe, and the scroll Tonglong had taken from Seh pressed against his chest. “Tonglong is following the boys to determine their next move. We’ll catch up with those three troublemakers soon enough.” Ying glanced over at the large pool of blood where Malao had lain, and smirked.

“Make that two troublemakers.”

Seh stood on the moonlit beach, staring at Malao in Fu’s arms. Malao’s dark-skinned face was unnaturally pale, and his whole body continued to tremble.

“Now what?” Fu asked in a hushed tone.

“First we need to get clear of the soldiers,” Seh whispered. “Then we need to see if there’s anything we can do for Malao. Follow me.”

Seh walked along the shore until he found the trail Gao had followed to get to the beach.

“This way,” Seh said. “It’s risky following a trail, but it will be easier for you to carry Malao.” Seh pulled the monkey stick from the folds of his robe. “You go first. I’ll watch your back.”

About half a li into the forest, the pit of Seh’s stomach began to tingle, and the snake on his wrist tightened its grip. Seh stopped to listen.

“What is it?” Fu whispered.

“I don’t know,” Seh said. “I think someone is following us.”

“What should we do?”

“Keep going,” Seh said. “Let me know if you see or hear anything.”

Two hours later, they were still walking. Seh had stopped often to scan the area, but each time he failed to identify the source of the chi he thought he detected. He was beginning to think stress was getting the best of him. Maybe they weren’t being followed after all.

Fu finally stopped. “I need to rest,” he panted.

Seh shook his head. “I don’t know, Fu. We should probably keep moving.”

“Then you’ll have to carry Malao. I can’t take any more of this.”

Seh looked at Malao’s tiny, unconscious body in Fu’s arms. Malao was shaking from head to toe.

“Is that you shaking or Malao?” Seh asked.

“A little of both,” Fu said. “My arms are killing me. Let’s stop here for the night.”

“Here?” Seh said. “We might get caught.”

“We’re pretty far from the stronghold,” Fu said. “I think we’ll be okay.”

“I don’t know—”

“Those soldiers are not going to come this far looking for us tonight,” Fu interrupted with a feisty snarl. “And I really don’t think anyone is following us. They would have attacked by now.”

“Not necessarily,” Seh said.

“How many people do you sense?”

“One,” Seh replied.

Fu rolled his eyes. “I could beat one person with both hands tied behind my back. That’s how angry I am.” Fu raised his voice. “Does somebody out there want to cross hands with me? Show your face!”

“Shhh!” Seh said.

But it was too late. High in a nearby tree, leaves rustled.

Fu growled and they both looked up. A large, white one-eyed monkey leaped from its perch into an adjoining tree, then scurried down the trunk. It looked like the same monkey Seh had seen leading the troop that raided the bandits’ gold carts.

“Uh-oh,” Fu said as the monkey began to approach them.

“What are you worried about?” Seh asked. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was the monkey he’d been sensing all along. “That’s Malao’s friend. Malao mentioned it back at the stronghold.”

“Did Malao tell you what that monkey did to Hung’s hand?” Fu said. “I saw the scars during our food fight. I’m not taking any chances.” Fu took several steps back.

Seh had forgotten about Hung’s hand.