Snake (Five Ancestors #3)(44)
Author: Jeff Stone

“Yuck,” Malao said.

“I suppose it is a rather morbid story,” the large man said. He looked at Seh. “You know your history. Is this your first time here?”

Seh wasn’t sure how to answer that. As his mind began to race, a number of drums started beating on the southern shore. They sounded much bigger than the drums on the dragon boats. Fast, rhythmic melodies filled the air, and people both on that shore and the bridge began to move toward the sound. Seh was grateful for the interruption.

“What’s going on?” Malao asked.

“Lion dancers,” the man replied. “You have heard of lion dancers, haven’t you?”

“Of course!” Malao said.

“You should have a look, then,” the man said. “The group of acrobats camped over there do the best lion dances I’ve ever seen. They wear all white.”

Seh’s eyebrows rose. That’s what Mong had said, too. Seh wasn’t eager to join the crowd, but his curiosity was piqued.

“I love to dance!” Malao said. “Come on!” He began to wiggle and shake, twisting his way through the people on the bridge.

Fu rolled his eyes and looked at Seh. Seh nodded.

“Nice talking to you boys,” the large man said with a grin.

“Likewise,” Seh replied.

Fu grunted and began to shove his way through the crowd to keep up with Malao. Seh followed in Fu’s wake. As the crowd thickened, Seh paid extra attention to the scroll in the small of his back and the snake on his arm. He didn’t want to lose either.

By the time they reached the southern shore, the crowd had formed a huge circle. Malao wriggled and Fu shoved until the three of them were at the circle’s inner edge. In the very center, Seh saw two costume creatures that resembled stylized lions he had previously only heard about. A single person was inside one, and two people were inside the other. The lion dancers were hunched over inside the costumes, their legs covered with material that matched the shaggy fringe of the costume lion.

As Seh watched the performers jump, tumble, and gyrate to the beat of the drums, the pit of his stomach began to tingle in a familiar way. He glanced around, and his attention was drawn to a slim girl in an ivory silk dress with a matching turban on her head. She seemed familiar.

Seh eyed the girl as she worked her way around the inner section of the circle with a large bowl in one hand, collecting donations. She moved gracefully and had pale skin and a long, slender neck. She had obviously been injured recently because her other arm was in a sling and she walked with a noticeable limp. Much of her face was covered by an ivory veil, but Seh knew exactly who she was.

“Hok!” Malao shrieked.

Hok turned and hobbled away, ignoring Malao’s call.

“Hey!” Malao said. “Why did Hok—mmmpf!”

Seh clamped one hand over Malao’s mouth and whispered in Malao’s ear, “Hok probably doesn’t want anyone to know who she is. The bandits told us that people think she is responsible for the destruction of Shaolin Temple. Remember?”

Malao nodded, and Seh let go. Seh watched Hok’s white turban slowly bob into the crowd as she limped along. She was leaving the circle.

Fu leaned toward Seh. “What should we do?”

“Follow her,” Seh whispered, “and try not to attract any attention.”

Fu began to work his way through the masses. Seh and Malao trailed behind. Hok appeared to know they were following her because she took her time weaving her way through the group. Once she made it out the other side of the circle, she ambled toward a collection of large carts several hundred paces downstream from the crowd. Hok stopped when she reached the makeshift camp’s fire pit. She turned to Seh, Malao, and Fu and smiled.

“Can I talk yet?” Malao asked.

Seh nodded.

“Woo-hoo!” Malao said, and jumped into the air. “You’re alive, big sister!”

Hok bowed and removed her veil. Her face was badly bruised. “Hello, brothers,” she said. She straightened her dress and looked at Seh. “I guess everyone knows my secret now.”

“Not everyone,” Seh replied. “Only these two. I’m glad you’re okay.”

Hok stared at Seh, unblinking.

“Seh didn’t tell us you were a girl,” Fu said. “We found out from that leopard monk Tsung when the three of us were at Shaolin. I’m glad you survived the attack.”

Hok’s thin eyebrows rose. “You went to Shaolin?”

“Yes,” Seh said. “How did you end up there?”

“I’ll have to tell you some other time,” Hok replied. “Right now, I want to introduce you to some people.” She cleared her throat and gave a single sharp trill, like a crane.

A moment later, a tall, beautiful woman drifted toward them from within the circle of people upstream. She was dressed just like Hok, and she looked Seh, Malao, and Fu over with unblinking eyes before stopping beside Hok. “Yes?” she said in a quiet, peaceful voice.