Undercover - In China - Book 7

Part 32 - Murga

Dr Zhang was so interested in the work that he didn't notice Kongming's carriage had disappeared into the night. We raced to catch up but the trail went from bad to terrible and finally, our horse decided we were off the trail and stopped for a rest. Dr Zhang climbed down and backed the horse out of the trees but the trail got rougher and we stopped again. 

 Licia, Miguel and I had to get off and lift the wheels over some rocks. 'I can't see a thing,' Licia whispered. 'Are you sure this is the right direction?'

'No,' Dr Zhang replied, 'But we can't be far behind Kongming.  Anyway, the horse can see the path better than I can and I think she is following the other horses.'

The trail became smoother and we all climbed back onto the carriage. Then we crested a small hill and saw the dim glow of starlight reflected in a small river. 'Oh! Malediction!' Dr Zhang exclaimed quietly, 'We've turned the wrong way.'

The horse started to trot down the hill toward the water and Dr Zhang pulled it up clumsily so it veered into the ditch. We stopped with a jerk and Dr Zhang was thrown forward onto the horse's rump cursing vigorously in Mandarin.

'Aiya.' Licia pointed.  At the river, fire torches illuminated hundreds of horses and dismounted men. Dr Zhang recognized the ideographs on one of their banners. They were Cho Cho's surviving shock troops from the burning city of Xinye.

We couldn't move the carriage so, as the moon light increased through the grudging clouds, we sat very still, trying to blend into the landscape. Our horse found a comfortable position in the ditch and munched contentedly on the long grass. And then, there was a sudden roar like a waterfall and a foaming mountain of water poured down the river sweeping all before it. Men and horses, encumbered by their weapons and armour, suddenly disappeared in the flood. A few men managed to escape just in time to avoid the deluge but shouts from across the river announced an attack and they fled closely pursued by a mob of horsemen. The noises faded away and it became eerily quiet as the daylight increased slowly. It revealed a grey, depressing, overcast sky.

 ❘❘ ❘❘❘ ❘❘❘❘❘❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❘❘❘❘ ❘❘❘❘ ❘❘ 

 The cart appeared undamaged so Dr Zhang tried to back the horse out of its awkward position in the ditch as Licia, Miguel and I tugged at the wheels but we couldn't move it up the steep incline. Dr Zhang was about to unharness the horse but stopped when four scruffy-looking horsemen trotted up to the river and started poking about among the injured horses, dead soldiers and the debris of battle. I thought they were trying to help until one of them spoke to a wounded soldier who replied with a groan and received a savage kick in return. Dr Zhang put a finger to his lips and beckoned for us to hide in the bushes. The interrogation went on until there was a shriek of pain as one of them stepped deliberately onto the soldiers chest. I had to press my hands over my ears to muffle the screams. Eventually, the noise was cut off with the flash of a knife and they started removing the soldier's armour. 

 The tallest one pulled on a red silk surcoat from another body. He seemed oddly familiar until I saw the funny sun glasses under his helmet. My heart skipped several beats. It was Murga.