Talitha Koum

Chapter 26

TALITHA KOUM

CHAPTER 26

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Julie’s eyes went wide. “Tom!”

She scanned the area all around and then further up the ramp but he wasn’t there or anywhere. She made to run back to where he had first fallen out of the car, but as soon as she pivoted around, she froze.

Out of the thick of the smoky mist that surrounded all of them, emerged a high horse and a smiling Abda thereupon.

More of the air cleared and additional figures could be seen. Other leaders of the clans filed in from the distance, with their men and horses close behind, men and horses more than three hundred strong.

Pang’s group retreated to a position behind their chief. They all gripped their weapons and stood at the ready.

With his standard flying high beside him, Abda dismounted and presented himself before Pang and his company, or what was left of it anyway. The two parties stood about fifty yards apart, with the smouldering car in between.

Abda clapped twice and a man was dragged forward to stand beside him. The man was held by two others and firmly, as he struggled against them to get free. He twisted. He squirmed, but it was no use. The grip that the men had on Tom’s arms was just too strong.

Abda shouted out in a pip-squeak voice. He began to pace back and forth, gesturing with his hands. He directed his remarks to Pang but Pang made no answer.

“What’s he saying?” Julie stepped over to Mr. Fong. “What’s he saying, Mr. Fong?”

“How do I know?” He frowned. “I only speak Chinese.”

Abda pointed repeatedly to Julie as he spoke. One of Pang’s helpers, one of Mr. Fong’s original litter carriers, scooted over at Mr. Fong’s beckoning to interpret for him. His name was Fu.

Mr. Fong began to translate what Fu was telling him. “Abda say he want car like lord Pang want car. But now car dead. Nobody wins. But he want to show honour for Pang. He ask him how he want to die.”

Julie swallowed hard.

She turned her eyes to study the Chinese leader, standing firm before the hordes of his enemy. Behind him stood fewer than fifty of the company that had begun the journey with them that morning. Pang raised his eyes and peered far away for a minute. His view lingered on the top of the cliffs.

Whipping his gaze back onto Abda, Pang straightened his back and stood taller. He squared his shoulders. He held his head higher. The colour in his cheeks turned a brighter red, as if he had just imbibed new wine. His eyes gleamed when he said something defiant to the leader of his enemies.

“What?” Julie shook Mr. Fong’s arm. “What did he say?!”

“Just a minute…” Mr. Fong bent his ear to Fu. “...lord Pang say…a man should not boast so much when he going to die soon. No one should say so many strong words when he does not have control over situation.”

Abda narrowed his eyes to slits. He whipped out a dagger from his belt and unsheathed it with a twang. He backed over to where Tom was standing. With one hand, he seized Tom by the hair and yanked his head back. With the other, he pat the blade on Tom’s neck a few times, and then pricked its point in to draw a line of blood.

Tom screeched, as he flailed his hands out in front of him.

With his fingers deep in red hair, Abda dragged Tom closer toward his friends and away from the others.

Abda hoisted up his dagger.

He struck Tom on the back of the head with the pommel.

Tom slumped to the ground. He did not move again.