Monkey (8 page)

When Malao realized this, he gave in a little. To his surprise, so did his opponent. The hand squeezing his face seemed to soften more and more as he struggled less and less.

“Easy, little brother,” a voice hissed in his ear.

Malao let his body go limp and the blanket of pressure around him released. The hand slipped away from his face, dragging a trail of snot across his cheek.

“That's disgusting!” Seh said as he climbed off
Malao in the darkness. He wiped his hand on Malao's shoulder. “Don't you ever blow your nose?”

Malao giggled and sniffed loudly. He wiped his face on the sleeve of his orange robe. “That's what you get for smothering me in my sleep, you sneaky snake. How did you find me?”

“I saw mushroom stems flowing down the stream earlier,” Seh said. “I thought they might be from you, so I walked upstream. Sorry I didn't come sooner. I had to wait until dark before I snuck out.”

Malao rubbed his eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to check on you,” Seh said, slinking to the ground. “That was some fight you had with Hung. He moaned and groaned the rest of the day from the beating you gave him.”

“He deserved it,” Malao said.

“Of course he did,” Seh replied. “I had to beat several bandits senseless myself before the gang stopped attacking me. I didn't even do anything to provoke them.” Seh paused and looked off into the darkness. “Did you hear something?”

“No,” Malao said. He rubbed his bald head and stretched. “Why would you want to join a gang of bandits?”

“I'm hoping to earn their trust so that maybe they'll help us. They're very powerful, you know.”

“They're
bandits,
Seh. Why would they help us?”

“They aren't ordinary bandits. I think with a little time—” Seh stopped and stared off into the darkness again. “Did you hear that?”

“No,” Malao said. “I didn't hear a thing. And I don't believe you came out here just to check on me. I know how sneaky you are. What are you
really
up to?”

“Listen, I can't talk long,” Seh said. “Do you have any news for me? Tell me, quick.”

Malao paused and blinked several times. “Grandmaster is dead.”

“What?” Seh whipped his head around to face Malao. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Malao replied. “I helped Hok retrieve the body.”

“Hok! Where did you see Hok?”

“At Cangzhen.”

“But Hok was the one who pushed hardest for us to run and then separate,” Seh said.

“I know,” Malao said. “Hok really surprised me when he snuck up on me while I was spying on Ying.”

“You returned to spy on Ying?” Seh asked. “That's pretty bold, little brother.”

Malao smiled. “Yes, it is. But not as bold as what Fu did. He swiped the dragon scrolls.”

“What?” Seh said. “I can't believe I missed all this. Fu? Are you sure? Ying said that he sent his number one man to get those scrolls. You mean to tell me that that overgrown pussycat defeated Ying's number one soldier?”

“I guess so,” Malao said.

“Amazing,” Seh said. “I didn't know Fu had it in him. Did you or Hok happen to see Long?”

“No,” Malao replied.

“Me neither.” Seh paused. “So is Hok … okay?”

“Yeah, Hok is fine. Why?”

“No reason,” Seh said, looking sideways. “What are you going to do next?”

“I was going to try to find my way back to Cangzhen and see how Hok is doing. Do you want to come with me?”

“Well … no. I'm going to stay with the bandits and…” Seh's voice trailed off. He listened, then shook his head. “Look, Malao, I've got to get back.”

“Wait,” Malao said. “Do you know why some of the bandits have Cantonese names? I mean, doesn't that seem strange to you? And what's going on with their leader, Mong? I know I saw him with Grandmaster at Cangzhen several times.”

Seh looked sideways again. “I have no idea what you're talking about, Malao. Now, I really need to—”

A twig snapped and Malao sat up straight. He glanced around but didn't see anything. He looked over at Seh.

Seh was staring in the direction of the sound. After a moment, he whispered, “I need to get out of here, Malao. I don't sense anyone, but I can't take any chances. Good luck, little brother.”

Malao opened his mouth to say something, but Seh had already slipped away into the night.

Malao shrugged his shoulders and curled up beneath the small willow tree. He closed his eyes to
welcome sleep again and grinned as he thought about Seh's exit. Seh was always so dramatic.

Hidden in the thick underbrush several paces from Malao, Mong also grinned. He, too, turned and slipped away into the night.

M
alao woke the next morning when the sun began to warm the willow leaves above him, sending heavy drops of dew cascading onto his forehead. He wiped his brow and walked to the stream for a quick drink, then built a small fire and scoured the area for more mushrooms. It didn't take him long to find some. It took him even less time to prepare them. Soon the heavenly aroma of roasting mushrooms filled the air.

To Malao's surprise, the white monkey appeared again. But instead of lurking in the treetops, this time it came down and sat right next to him beside the fire. The monkey scratched the large scab on the side of its head. Malao winced.

The monkey winced, too, mimicking Malao. Then it crossed its legs and sat up straight, just like Malao. It looked at Malao with its one good eye as if waiting for a reaction.

Malao laughed and handed the white monkey one of the two long skewers he had prepared. He expected the monkey to gobble down the half-cooked breakfast, but the monkey held the stick out and continued roasting the mushrooms over the flames, just like Malao was doing.

Malao grinned and the monkey seemed to grin back. The monkey scooted closer to Malao. Malao and his new friend sat that way long after they had finished cooking and eating.

“Well, my friend,” Malao finally said to the white monkey, “I've got to get going. You can come with me if you'd like. Unfortunately, I don't know how long I'll be gone because I can't remember how to get there.”

The monkey looked at Malao, concern written across its face.

Malao laughed. “Don't worry, I'll be fine. Too bad you can't show me the way to Cangzhen.”

Upon hearing the word
Cangzhen,
the white monkey began to jump up and down, chattering excitedly. It pointed into the trees.

“You can't be serious,” Malao said. “Do you really know the way?”

The monkey stopped jumping and cocked its head to one side. It looked confused.

Malao grinned. “I knew it. You don't understand me, do you?”

The monkey continued to stare at Malao as if waiting for something.

Malao sighed. “I thought so. I'll never find my way back to Cangzhen.”

Once again, the white monkey got excited. This time, it grabbed Malao's hand, squeezed three times, and raced off into the trees.

Malao shrugged and followed.

Malao ran for what seemed like forever. He had long since stopped trying to keep up with the white monkey in the treetops. Instead, he traveled on foot as the monkey tirelessly raced from tree to tree. Malao's neck grew sore from looking up.

By early evening, the terrain began to look familiar. Malao climbed up to the monkey's side, and they traversed the treetops together. From that point on, Malao led.

They stumbled upon the large hollow elm sooner than Malao expected. When they were still some distance away, Malao took cover behind the trunk of a large oak, just in case. The monkey curled itself into a tight ball next to him.

A moment later, Malao realized hiding wasn't necessary. He could feel Hok's intense gaze burrowing through the trunk, seeking him out. Malao climbed around to the front of the oak. There was Hok, poking
his head out of the hollow and staring directly at the spot where Malao was hiding. Malao waved.

Hok leaped from his perch and glided through the treetops. He landed next to Malao.

“I was afraid you wouldn't return,” Hok said. “I owe you an apology. I shouldn't have pushed you to do something you weren't ready to do. I'm sorry.”

Malao lowered his head. “There's no need for you to apologize.
I'm
the one who should apologize for running off like that.”

Hok reached out and raised Malao's chin with a pale finger. “Don't worry about it, little brother. Are you feeling okay? You don't look so good.”

“I'm fine,” Malao said. “Just a little tired. And a little sad, I guess.” He looked over at the hollow. “Where is Grandmaster?”

“He's in the tree,” Hok replied.

“You got him up there yourself?”

Hok nodded.

“But there aren't any stains on the trunk or the ground or anything.”

“I was very careful,” Hok said. “Would you like to see what I did inside?”

“Um … I …” Malao's voice trailed off. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Yes. Yes, I would like to see.”

“Good,” Hok said. He patted Malao on the shoulder. “You can bring your little friend, too, if you want.”

The white monkey poked its head out from behind the trunk and looked at Malao. Malao shrugged.

Hok grinned and launched himself toward the hollow. Malao and the white monkey followed. Once inside, Malao looked around.

“It looks exactly like it did the last time I was in here,” Malao said.

“Yes,” Hok replied. “I found a small hole in the floor and widened it. There's an enormous cavity beneath us that seems to run the entire length of the trunk. That's where Grandmaster now lies. As you can see, I plugged the hole thoroughly. No one will ever know he's in there.”

“You've been busy,” Malao said. “It looks great. I'm sure Grandmaster appreciates it.”

Hok's brown eyes sparkled. “Thank you, Malao. But now that it's done, I'm sure he'd like us to focus on Ying.”

“Yeah,” Malao agreed. He glanced outside and saw a green tree snake slithering up a tree trunk. “Hey, I need to tell you about Seh!”

“Seh? What about him?”

“I saw him,” Malao said. “Twice, actually.”

“This better not be a joke, Malao.”

“It's not a joke. He joined a gang of bandits.”

“I'm sorry, did you just say
bandits?”

Malao grinned. “Yes, but Seh said they're not ordinary bandits.”

“I don't understand,” Hok said. “What kind of bandits are they?”

“Who knows?” Malao replied. “We're talking about Seh, remember? You know how he is.”

Hok rubbed the back of his long, thin neck. “Do you know if Seh happened to cross paths with Long?”

“He said he hadn't. I wonder where Long disappeared to?”

“I haven't the slightest idea,” Hok said. “I—”

Hok froze in mid-sentence. He glanced around the hollow, then lowered his voice. “I'd like to hear more about your adventures, Malao, but I think we should keep our talking to a minimum. I have a feeling someone is nearby.”

The white monkey scurried over to the hollow's entrance and peeked out.

Malao began to fidget. He whispered, “Since we need to stay quiet, why don't you show me how to do it now?”

“Do what?” Hok asked.

“You know,” Malao said, shuffling his feet. “Do what we came in here to do. Pay respects to Grandmaster.”

“You've never paid respects to someone?”

Malao shook his head.

“You never cease to amaze me, Malao,” Hok said, shaking his head. “Let's make this quick. Grandmaster is basically below us, so just lower your head and do as I tell you.”

Malao took a deep breath and nodded. He was a little worried he might do something wrong and offend Grandmaster's spirit, but he figured he would probably offend Grandmaster's spirit more if he didn't try at all.

“Close your eyes,” Hok whispered in a peaceful tone. “Fold your hands in prayer and bow three times
slowly while thinking of something you would like Grandmaster to hear.”

“What should I think of?” Malao asked.

“That's up to you,” Hok said.

“Well, what did
you
tell him?”

“That's between me and him. Now don't talk, just think. And listen with your mind. You might be surprised by what you hear.”

Malao concentrated.
I'm sorry if I offended you, Grandmaster. I now realize I should have helped Hok bury you.

Malao waited for a response. He didn't get one. He tried again.
And I'm sorry I thought burying you in a tree was a disgusting idea.

Still no response. Malao focused as hard as he could, struggling to think of something else.
I'm also sorry I used to joke about the Forgotten Pagoda.

For a moment, Malao swore he heard a voice. A familiar voice. He concentrated harder.
And I wont ever joke about the boy in the soup again!

This time, Malao was sure he heard something. He opened his eyes wide. “Hey, Hok, did you hear—”

“Hush,” Hok whispered.

Malao slammed his eyes shut and reached out once more with his mind. His heart began to race as he imagined Grandmaster's spirit trying to communicate with him.

His heart nearly stopped when he realized the voice he was hearing wasn't Grandmaster's. It was Ying's.