Eagle (10 page)

Ying turned his head to see strips of Hok's white silk dress wrapped neatly around his upper arm and chest. The whole area felt as if it had been trampled by an ox.

“It's fine,” Ying said.

“It's not fine,” Hok replied. “I'm sure it hurts quite a bit. I removed a
qiang
ball from your shoulder last night, and packed the wound with horsetail plant once we arrived here.” She pointed to a cluster growing nearby, close to the water's edge.

Ying looked over the side of the skiff and realized Hok had run it aground to take care of him. He nodded his thanks.

Hok nodded back.

“Where are we?” Ying whispered.

“I don't know,” Hok said. “Soon after you blacked out, I went to work on your arm, quelling the bleeding as much as possible with strips of silk. Then I grabbed the oar and rowed upstream until—”

“Upstream?” Ying interrupted.

“Yes,” Hok said. “I am anticipating that Tonglong will have men search for us downstream since that is the direction of the current.”

“Clever,” Ying said.

Hok nodded. “We shall see.”

“Then what happened?”

“I continued to row upstream until the sun rose high enough that I could see the shore clearly. As soon as I found this patch of horsetail plant, I landed the boat and packed your wounds with it. After that, I went in search of the
xiang mu,
and here we are.”

Ying paused and gathered his thoughts. “Why are you helping me? We were even.”

“What a ridiculous question,” Hok said. “People should always help one another. That's just the right thing to do.”

“But I—”

“I know what you've done,” Hok said. “And I can guess what you're planning to do. It doesn't matter. I am not an animal. I have compassion.”

Ying groaned. He didn't know what to say. He tried to sit up but collapsed back onto the floor of the skiff.

“You've lost a lot of blood,” Hok said. “You're weak. Lie still and relax. I want to go search for some
dang gui
—angelica plant—to make a blood tonic for you to drink.”

Ying shook his head slowly. “No. Tonglong will be looking for us. We need to hide.”

“We will deal with Tonglong when he confronts us. The problem right now is your well-being. You need medicine, so I need to find you herbs.”

“Just leave me here,” Ying said. “Save yourself.”

Hok rolled her eyes. “Save the drama. You sound like Fu. I will help you until you can help yourself.

Besides, I have nowhere to go. I don't want to put the others in any more danger than they are already in. Charles will remind Fu, Malao, and Seh to go to Paw-Paw's house, but I've decided to stay clear of there for the time being.”

Ying thought for a moment. “If you insist on helping me, I will need dragon bone.”

Hok shook her head. “I will find you some real herbs. Powdered dragon bone has no medicinal value. Street vendors hawk it for ridiculous prices to take advantage of sick people.”

“How would you know?” Ying challenged weakly.

“The teachers back at Cangzhen told me, including Grandmaster.”

“Grandmaster did not want you to learn the truth,” Ying said. “He wanted to keep the dragon-bone secrets to himself.”

“Do you know what dragon bone is?” Hok asked. “It's a rock. Dragons no longer exist. They walked the earth so long ago, their remains have turned to stone. You might as well consume powdered boulders.”

“You are wrong,” Ying said. “The dragon's essence is still alive in it. I've felt it.”

“It is all in your mind, Ying, and you are wasting vital energy arguing with me. Get some rest.”

“Find some dragon bone and you will see for yourself,” Ying urged. “I … dare you.”

“Stop with the challenges,” Hok said. “They are childish.”

Ying scowled weakly.

Hok glanced at the pouch of coins tied to Ying's sash. “I'll tell you what. Earlier this morning, I heard signs of civilization upstream. After I make some real medicine for you, we will head that way and I will attempt to purchase some dragon bone. Hopefully, no one will be on the lookout for us. Will that make you happy?”

Ying nodded slowly. “Yes. You will see.” “We will both see,” Hok said. “Now go back to sleep. I have things to do.”

Ying woke beneath a large willow tree. The sun had set, and it was nearly pitch-dark around him. It took him a moment to realize that he was in the skiff and that it had been beached in a different location. He heard water lapping gently against the boat's wooden sides. Hok sat in the bow, humming softly.

“We've moved,” Ying muttered.

Hok stopped humming. “Yes. I couldn't find any
dang gui,
so I shoved off and we headed upstream to the village outskirts while you slept. I have something for you.”

Hok leaned toward Ying and held out a small terracotta crucible. She lifted the tiny lid, and Ying saw a fine powder inside. Dragon bone.

“This was all I could find,” Hok said. “I had to get it from a black-market vendor. All the legitimate vendors said they no longer carry it because the Emperor has placed too high a tax on it. I imagine this is only enough for a few weeks if you consume it daily, but it cost more than half your coins.”

“It is worth it,” Ying whispered. “You will see. Now I need you to find me a snake.”

Hok shook her head. “I know you want to mix the dragon bone with fresh snake blood. I won't do it.”

“You … have to,” Ying said.

“I don't have to do anything. I didn't even have to get this. In fact, I probably shouldn't have. It took me so long to find, I ran out of time to get you proper herbs.”

“Dragon bone is all I need,” Ying whispered. “It is a rejuvenator. It helps the body repair itself at a rapid rate. They say it even helps the old stay young.”

“People say lots of things,” Hok said. “This dragon bone will do nothing for you. And when it doesn't, I don't want to hear you complain that it didn't work because I didn't mix it with snake blood.”

“I won't,” Ying said. “Just mix it with water. It won't be as effective, but the results will be noticeable, even to you.”

Hok sighed and shook her head again. “What ratio should I use?”

“The crucible lid doubles as a measuring device. Mix one scoop of the powder with one scoop of water.”

Ying watched as Hok scanned the ground around them. She leaned out of the skiff and picked up a small section of dried tree bark that contained a curved hollow, and rinsed it in the river. Then she poured one scoop of powdered dragon bone and one scoop of water into the hollow and swirled it around. Hok held the bark to Ying's mouth, and he drank greedily.

Ying smacked his lips. “Ahhhhhhh. You have no idea how good that makes me feel.”

“If you say so,” Hok said. “We should be moving on.”

“Tonight?” Ying asked.

“We have no choice. If you are afraid of the dark, go back to sleep.”

Ying frowned weakly. “Very funny. I thought you might be tired, that's all. It just so happens dragon bone works best while you're sleeping. Perhaps I
will
go back to sleep.”

“You do that, Ying,” Hok said. “Good night.”

Ying woke a few hours later, but he felt as if he'd slept for days. He sat up in the skiff and winced at the pain in his shoulder. He was sore, but he no longer felt dizzy.

Ying looked over at Hok. She was at the stern, rowing them steadily upstream in the moonlight, pushing the skiff's oar from side to side with a strong, steady rhythm.

Hok blinked. “I can't believe what I'm seeing.”

“What?” Ying asked. He quickly scanned the shoreline.

“You,” Hok said. “You shouldn't be able to sit up like that already.”

“Oh,” Ying said, looking back at her. “I told you, it's the dragon bone.”

Hok nodded. “It might be. Have you ever heard any other stories about dragon-bone cures?”

“Such as?”

“I don't know, anything.”

Ying thought for a moment. “They say it has done some strange things in certain cases, like helped the deaf to hear again. They also say it has brought sight back to people blinded in certain kinds of accidents. You're thinking about Seh, aren't you?”

“Perhaps.”

“Well, this dragon bone is mine.”

“Of course, but perhaps I will look for more.”

“Where?” Ying asked.

“Along the river, I suppose.”

“You don't know your way around.”

“I'll figure it out.”

Ying thought about the map he'd memorized. The same map that he'd burned. It led far south down the Grand Canal. Perhaps he could convince Hok to travel that route while she looked for more dragon bone. He could get more dragon bone for himself, too.

“Why don't I join you?” Ying proposed. “I've traveled throughout this region while participating in the fight clubs. In fact, just a bit upstream from here is the Grand Canal. We could follow that south, traveling with the canal's current. There are a thousand villages of all sizes along the canal. We are sure to find some dragon bone there, and I doubt Tonglong will ever suspect we've gone that way.”

“I don't know—”

“I need you,” Ying said, half speaking the truth. “We need each other. I can't show my face anywhere. A
scarf doesn't seem to help much. You can take care of things I might need and help me heal, and I will navigate and keep an eye on the skiff while you're out shopping for dragon bone. We can work as a team. I will make it worth your while.”

“I don't want anything from you,” Hok said. Then she sighed. “But I do want to help Seh. All right, I will allow you to join me as long as you make yourself useful. You can start by watching the shore for anything that looks suspicious.”

Ying nodded. “You won't be sorry.”

Hok didn't reply. She just continued rowing the skiff in the darkness.

Ying stifled a grin and began to scan the shoreline. He was now on the road to riches, and Hok was chauf-feuring him there. He'd have to find a way to get rid of her before they got too close to the treasure, of course, but he was confident that he would think of something. There had to be a hundred different ways a powerful dragon like himself could clip the wings of a crane, if necessary.

T
onglong unsheathed his straight sword and stormed into HukJee's office two days later. A pair of bodyguards stood on either side of the doorway, but they didn't attack. They took one look at Tonglong's extraordinarily long ponytail and shimmering sword, and they dropped to their knees, kowtowing.

Tonglong sent them away with a wave of his hand and turned to HukJee. “Where is he?”

HukJee pushed his enormous self away from the dinner table and smiled, his mouth full of food. “Where is who?” he mumbled. “And warm greetings to you, too, by the way. You'll have to teach me that trick with the sword. Those bodyguards never kowtow like that to me.”

Tonglong frowned. “Now is not the time for jokes. I am looking for Ying, the kid with the carved face. I understand he was here recently.”

“Ah, yes,” HukJee said, interlocking his fat fingers. “The teenager with the eagle's name and the dragon's appearance. Interesting young man, that one. He offered me three long
qiangs
for a short one, plus some clothes and a bit of my breakfast. Quite a character.”

“Those aren't the sort of details I'm looking for,” Tonglong said. “Tell me where I can find him.”

HukJee shrugged. A mountain of flesh rippled across his upper back. “I don't know. I never ask these things. It's bad for business.”

“I'm making it your business,” Tonglong said. “Give me your best guess.”

“I really have no idea.”

Tonglong took a step toward HukJee, considering whether he should slice him into bacon or short ribs, when Tonglong's mother drifted into the room through the open front door.

“There is no sssign of them on the docks,” An-Gangseh hissed to Tonglong from behind her black hood. “I do not think they are here.”

“Of course they aren't here, AnGangseh,” HukJee said. “You will only find my employees. Shame on you for not sending word that you and your son were stopping by for a chat. I would have tidied up a bit.” He burped.

AnGangseh looked at Tonglong. “Did you get any information out of this disgusting excuse for a human being?”

“No,” Tonglong replied.

A smile slid up the side of AnGangseh's face. “Let me try.” She turned to HukJee. “Do you remember the first time we met at the Jinan Fight Club?”

“How could I ever forget,” HukJee said, taking a gigantic bite out of a lamb shank. “You were a vision of loveliness.”

“You were with your nephew, correct?” AnGangseh asked.

“Yes,” HukJee mumbled. “Why do you mention him?”

“Because I thought I sssaw him outside a moment ago. I would like him to deliver a message for me.”

AnGangseh removed her hood and walked over to an open window. She poked her head outside.

Tonglong watched as his mother waved a hulking dockworker over, inviting him inside the office with a wink. The man hurried so quickly, he tripped twice over his own gigantic feet before stumbling through the door.

AnGangseh closed the door behind the big man and asked, “Do you remember me?”

“Do I ever!” HukJee's nephew replied.