The scruffy men with the ass-drawn wagon shouted their exasperation at being left behind as the ramp was drawn up and secured; one of them went so far as to threaten to shoot the master waterman if they were not taken aboard.
“If the ferry is over-loaded, it will sink,” shouted the oldest of the ferrymen as they pulled away from the shore.
“You could make room for us!” bellowed one of the men on the shore.
“Next crossing!” the ferryman promised him, and turned his back on the shore, giving his attention to the chain a short distance below the water that marked the line of passage to the other side.
The master waterman hung on the tiller, his massive shoulders hunched with holding the ferry on course to the opposite shore. All but two of the ferrymen worked their long poles, digging them into the bed of the river and trudging the length of the barge to propel it forward; the fifth stood in the flat prow of the boat, prepared to reach down into the river to snag the chain if they should start to drift off-course. Water splashed onto the deck of the ferry and was swept off by the youngest of the ferrymen, using a stiff broom and a shallow pail to accomplish his work.
“It’s choppy,” said Yao, addressing Zangi-Ragozh from the driving-box of his wagon.
“That it is,” said Zangi-Ragozh, not wanting to dwell on the state of the river.
“I’ve been in much worse crossings,” Yao boasted. “This is only bouncing a bit. I have seen it when the boats bucked like wild horses.”
“No doubt,” said Zangi-Ragozh, swallowing hard.
“The waterman knows his trade,” Yao went on approvingly. “See how he holds the course.”
“He does his work very well,” Zangi-Ragozh said, sagging against the railing.
“Shall I take your reins?” Ro-shei offered, switching the reins of his chestnut to his left hand and holding out his right for the mare’s.
“If you would. I will only make her more uneasy if I continue to hold them.” He gave the reins to Ro-shei and wobbled as the ferry lurched over a rough patch of water.
“Are you all right, my master?” Ro-shei asked, attempting to hold the two horses and assist Zangi-Ragozh at the same time.
“I will be,” he answered.
Yao watched this with ill-disguised dismay. “Is something wrong?”
Zangi-Ragozh managed a wave of dismissal. “Nothing dangerous. Those of my blood are inclined to sickness on the water.”
“A strange affliction,” said Yao.
“Certainly an inconvenient one, but not dangerous,” said Zangi-Ragozh.
“All sickness can be dangerous,” said Yao, adding the reproof, “You may cause harm to us, if you are ill.”
“You will see how quickly I recover when we arrive on the far bank,” Zangi-Ragozh assured him.
Yao was not yet satisfied. “You have crossed streams and rivers before and I saw no sign of this weakness.”
“Those crossings were short, or the water was not flowing as strongly as this river,” Zangi-Ragozh said, and clenched his jaw. He wanted to lie down out of the sun, on his bed that lay atop a chest of his native earth, but he knew this would create suspicions he did not want to address, so he remained where he was and did his best to resist the vertigo that pulled at him.
“Still, it is a strange affliction for one who travels as much as you do,” Yao observed.
“I fear I must agree,” said Zangi-Ragozh, and fell silent while the ferry continued on across the river. By the time the ramp was let down, he was dizzy and did not trust himself to mount his mare until his company was some little distance from the river. Walking the half-li restored him somewhat, so that he was able to vault into the saddle with the appearance of his habitual ease.
Ro-shei, who had been walking beside him, also got onto his chestnut, remarking as he did, “I believe we can reach Tai-Sho by nightfall, if the weather remains clear.”
“Tai-Sho is a reasonable distance,” Zangi-Ragozh agreed. “Just over four li, as I understand.”
“That is about right,” said Gien.
“Then if we keep up a good pace, we should arrive shortly before sundown.” Zangi-Ragozh had raised his voice so that Yao and Jong could hear him clearly.
“Yes,” said Yao. “If the road is clear and there are no other delays.” He paused. “They say there are robbers in the woods hereabouts.”
“Then we will have to be careful going through them,” said Zangi-Ragozh, and patted the curved Persian sword that hung from the pommel of his saddle. “Get the weapons out of the wagon and make sure you all have a sword and a dagger.”
“I’ll tend to that,” Ro-shei offered.
“Thank you, old friend,” said Zangi-Ragozh as he took his place ahead of the two wagons and the spare horses. He made a point of sitting very straight and being as alert as he possibly could, for it would not be provident to appear truly weakened by the river crossing. He shaded his eyes with his hand and put his mare into a jog-trot.
“The swords and daggers are distributed,” said Ro-shei a bit later as he rode up next to Zangi-Ragozh.
“Excellent,” Zangi-Ragozh approved, and settled into the routine of travel, keeping a wary eye out for marauders and other possible outlaws as he led the company through an arm of the forest. “How broad are these woods?” he called back to his companions.
“Almost a li,” said Gien. “We should pass through them while the sun is still high.”
“Prudent,” said Zangi-Ragozh.
When they forded a stream, a while later, they paused to water the horses and to change teams and mounts.
“Does this water bother you?” Yao asked Zangi-Ragozh as he tightened the girth.
“Yes, it does. Not as much as the river did, or the ocean would do, but it makes me uncomfortable,” Zangi-Ragozh admitted, patting Flying Cloud before he vaulted into the saddle; he had already secured Shooting Star’s lead to the rear of the larger wagon, and so was impatient to be off.
Jong was still buckling on the harness of his second team, his face mottled and his breathing strained. He started to apologize, but broke off in a rattle of tight coughing. He clung to the neck of the nearest horse and tried to bring his spasm under control.
Zangi-Ragozh swung off his gelding and thrust the reins at Gien. “Tie him to the wagon with a lead,” he ordered as he went to assist Jong to get into the wagon. “You should lie down and keep warm.”
“I will be all right,” Jong insisted even as Zangi-Ragozh lifted him with amazing ease onto the narrow cot behind the driving-box.
“As soon as you have had a chance to recover, no doubt you are right,” said Zangi-Ragozh as he took Jong’s place on the box. “Gien, make sure the harness is properly buckled. Ro-shei, if you will lead us?” He waited until Gien gave him a nod, then he signaled the team to set off.
“You should not be driving a wagon,” Yao protested.
“Do you fear I cannot do it?” Zangi-Ragozh inquired. “For I assure you, I can.”
Yao looked confused. “Nothing like that. It is just that a man of your position should not drive a wagon. Have Ro-shei do it.”
“I think not,” said Zangi-Ragozh. “If Jong should become worse, I want to be able to attend to him without delay, which I can do if I am able to watch him. Driving allows me to do this.”
Ro-shei brought his horse alongside Zangi-Ragozh’s wagon. “I will trade places with you, my master.”
“Thank you, but there is no need,” said Zangi-Ragozh, his punctilious response so firm that there could be no doubt as to his determination.
The gates of Tai-Sho stood open when Zangi-Ragozh’s company arrived and paid the travelers’ tax to enter. Directed to the center of the town, they chose the largest of the inns for the night and went about stalling their horses and storing the wagons, then carried Jong to a small room at the rear of the inn that was used for quarantine.
“I will send for a physician,” the innkeeper declared as he saw Jong laid on the bed in his isolated room; the man was middle-aged and showed signs of prosperity in his dress that was belied by his pinched mouth.
“There is no need,” said Zangi-Ragozh. “I have some knowledge of medicaments, and I am willing to tend him.”
“Foreign medicaments!” the innkeeper scoffed. “I will send a servant to Kuo and tell him that he must come promptly.” He glowered at Zangi-Ragozh. “This man is Chinese. He must have Chinese medicines.”
“If he must, he must,” said Zangi-Ragozh. “But I will attend him until the physician arrives.”
“That will not excuse you paying for his care,” the innkeeper warned.
“He is my servant,” said Zangi-Ragozh. “I will be responsible for any charges his care incurs.”
“If Kuo agrees, then it is all right with me,” said the innkeeper, and summoned one of his slaves to carry a message to Physician Kuo, telling him to assert that the need was urgent and required the physician himself and not one of his apprentices.
The man who arrived with the slave was a blocky individual with thick fingers and a crusty manner and the look of one used to being obeyed. Kuo Li-Dan contemplated Jong as he took his pulse, saying when he had done, “This man is very ill, perhaps beyond saving.”
“His lungs are inflamed,” said Zangi-Ragozh, “and they are congested.”
Kuo looked a bit surprised. “Yes. Fire and wind have invaded him.” He tugged on his long mustache. “An astute observation, foreigner. Have you had some training in treating the sick?”
Zangi-Ragozh ducked his head. “I have.” He did not mention that he had spent more than eight centuries at the Temple of Imhotep, rising from slave to High Priest in that time.
The innkeeper, who had lingered in the doorway, regarded Zangi-Ragozh narrowly. “A merchant who is a physician?”
“Merchants are often wholly on their own, and if any injury or illness occurs, they must deal with it,” Zangi-Ragozh said smoothly. “Knowledge of medicaments has proved extremely useful to me.”
“You must be a good pupil, and your teachers more able than many foreigners are,” said Kuo. “It has seemed to me that foreigners are not skilled in such matters. They rely upon the power of the Immortals or their powerless gods; they depend upon amulets for magic and not teas for the body.” He laid his hand on Jong’s chest and put all his attention on what he felt. “I will leave a tea that he is to drink as frequently as he can be roused to drink it. It will balance the heat and cold in his body, which should help him to fight the inflamation.”
“While I am sure you are most diligent in your treatment, is there nothing more to be done?” Zangi-Ragozh asked, and went on before Kuo could answer. “For I have a remedy that may be of some help.”
“Foreign potions!” Kuo glowered. “What sort of preposterousness are you—”
“It has been helpful before, where there is fever,” said Zangi-Ragozh. “As this man is in my employ, I believe I am obliged to do all I can to help him recover from his illness.”
Kuo was wary. “You learned of this where you were trained to treat the sick?”
“I did,” said Zangi-Ragozh, and did not elaborate. “I have used it on many different injuries and illnesses.”
“Has it been beneficial?” Kuo pursued.
“Yes, it has, or I would not recommend trying it,” Zangi-Ragozh replied, doing his utmost to remain respectful, but growing impatient with Kuo.
The physician bent over Jong and smelled his breath. “If you can administer your remedy so that it will not keep this man from drinking the tea I will prepare for him, then I will not oppose your using it. I will call tomorrow to see what progress has occurred.” He straightened up. “If there is no improvement, it will not be on the account of my tea.”
“Certainly not,” said Zangi-Ragozh, realizing that Kuo did not expect Jong to survive and was seeking the chance to lay the reason for his demise at Zangi-Ragozh’s door.
“So long as you tend to him yourself, I will not send any of my apprentices to treat this man,” Kuo announced as much for the benefit of the innkeeper as Zangi-Ragozh. “By midday tomorrow, I will call here again, to see how he is responding. If he takes a turn for the worse, have one of the servants here inform me of it.”
“I will be most grateful to you,” said Zangi-Ragozh, and took a string of silver cash from his sleeve, removing six of the coins and handing them to Kuo. “This should cover the cost of the tea.” It was half again as much as such teas usually cost, and both knew it.
Kuo slipped the money into his wallet and almost smiled. “I will need a large pot,” he informed the innkeeper. “And it must be filled with fresh-drawn water.”
The innkeeper hastily retreated to the kitchen to follow Kuo’s instructions.
“He has been ailing for four days that I know of,” Zangi-Ragozh told Kuo.
“When did he begin to cough?” Kuo asked.
“I first noticed it in the evening, three days ago. He may have had trouble during the day, but it was not sufficiently severe to alarm me.” Zangi-Ragozh was chagrined by this admission. “With the weather so harsh, coughs are not so uncommon.”