Snake (Five Ancestors #3)(37)
Author: Jeff Stone

Fu grinned.

“How much do they cost?” Seh asked.

The old woman stopped next to Fu and bit her lower lip. She glanced at their tattered robes. “Well, normally, we charge an arm and a leg. Our House Special Dumplings really are quite special. We use a secret ingredient that gives them a full-bodied flavor.” She poked Fu in the stomach. “However, you, dear boy, look famished, and you appear to be a true lover of food. I’ll tell you what—I’ll give you a discount. Half price. What do you say?”

“It’s a deal!” Fu said.

“Hold on,” Seh said. “We don’t even know what the full price is. Stop thinking with your stomach.”

Fu untied the pouch of coins from his sash and dumped them on the table. “Is this enough?”

The old woman smiled. “More than enough.”

“Two more people will be joining us,” Seh said. “And we will all need one night’s lodging as well.”

“We have plenty of space,” the old woman replied. “We can talk about the cost of the rooms and meals after your friends arrive. I’m sure I can give them a discount, too. When do you expect them?”

“We’re not exactly sure,” Fu said.

The woman’s thin white eyebrows rose. “Oh? Do they know to meet you here?”

Fu looked at Seh. “I didn’t even think of that.”

Seh shook his head.

“I’ll tell you what,” the old woman said. “I’ll take a chair and sit out front while you eat. Tell me what they look like and I’ll call them over. Okay?”

“Thanks!” Fu said.

The old woman smiled. “I’ll get your food first. Two bowls of House Special Dumplings coming right up!”

“Excuse me,” Seh said. “If you don’t mind, I’d prefer a bowl of vegetable soup or something similar. I don’t eat meat.”

“Of course,” the old woman said. She disappeared behind the curtain.

Fu sat back in his chair and sighed. “Ah, this is the life. I like this place.”

“Well, I don’t,” Seh said. “I sense somebody else in the back.” He stood and stepped away from the table.

“Where are you going?” Fu said. “That’s probably just the cook.”

“Shhh! Keep your voice down. I want to take a look around.” Seh was casually stepping toward the red curtain when the old woman burst through it, carrying two large, steaming bowls.

“Going somewhere?” the old woman asked Seh with a smile.

“I was just… stretching my legs.”

“Please sit down,” the old woman said. “Your soup tastes best when it’s hot.” She looked at Fu. “The same is true for your dumplings, dear. Eat up! I’ll be back in a few moments to help find your friends.” She disappeared behind the curtain again.

“That was strange,” Seh said as he sat down. “The food came so fast.”

“You’re strange,” Fu replied. “Stop analyzing everything and eat.” Fu grabbed a pair of chopsticks and a spoon and dove into his dumplings.

“Whoa!” said Fu. “These are the best dumplings I’ve ever tasted! The broth is really good, too. How’s your soup?”

“I haven’t even touched my spoon yet,” Seh said. He picked it up and began pushing around the pieces of pickled cabbage and leeks inside his bowl. The pit of his stomach tingled.

“You don’t know what you’re missing,” Fu said. “This is absolutely delici—” He stopped in mid-sentence, and his face went sour. Fu fished around inside his mouth with two fingers and pulled out a long black hair. He wiped it on the table and went back to eating.

Seh frowned. “Was that inside a dumpling?”

Fu nodded.

“And you’re going to keep eating them?”

“Sure,” Fu mumbled between mouthfuls. “It’s only a hair.”

Seh shook his head and stared at the piece of hair. “Interesting. That hair is long and black, but the innkeeper’s hair is gray.”

“It probably belongs to that cook you sense,” Fu said. “Stop being so—” He set his chopsticks down and gripped the edge of the table with both hands.

“What’s wrong?” Seh asked.

“All of a sudden, I feel… strange …,” Fu said. “I—” Fu’s eyes rolled back, and his head slumped forward.

“Fu?” Seh whispered.

Fu was out cold.

I knew something was wrong, Seh thought. The dumplings were drugged. I’m sure my soup has been drugged, too. What is that woman up to?

Seh decided to play along. He quickly spooned some of his soup into Fu’s bowl so that it would look like he’d eaten some. Then he narrowed his eyes to slits, let his head flop to one side, and slowed his breathing.