Detective Yuki

16. Paiwan

1. Paiwan

After a gruelling flight across the east China sea in a rickety iron passenger plane, Yuki and Aibo touched down at the airport of Taihoku, the capital of the sprawling Japanese colony of Taiwan. At the northern tip of the tear shaped island lied the city of ornate brick and stone buildings set around lush mountain rainforests and wooded temples. For centuries the island of Taiwan had been under the dominion of neighboring China, but it had been less than thirty years since Japan had taken over the island in the Sino Japanese war of 1894 the Japanese quickly turned Taiwan into their modal colony, but still faced resistance from the locals as they had in Korea.

Yet, despite the odds, Taihoku was a great city that saw the blending of China, Japan and the native aborigines who had inhabited the isle for millennia. As they exited the customs office and out of the airport terminal, Aibo pointed something out, "where are we going to stay? We have over a day before Senbi should be here, and we definitely cannot lounge around on the street like bums" he said.

 Yuki and Aibo walked along the long promenades of the city, with houses stacked on top of each other, separated by short dark alleyways intertwining throughout the city in the shade of oaks and elms. The two continued to walk, until a voice resonated from beneath a tall wide willow.

 "you two need a place to stay, do you not?".

"how do you know that?" a surprised Yuki answered back at the shaded man, who emerged from under the tree to show a short old man of wrinkles, carrying several colorful feathers in his hair and carrying a warped wooden pole over a red robe of beaded cowry shells. 

"I know many things, my child, now come, I will give you sanctuary" the old man led the way with his guests, out of the suburbs and ascending a grassy green hill overlooking the city.

 Yuki took some time to admire the view of the metropolis and distant sea, then came across the tent like thatched hut of the man, nestled into the side of the hill. Inside the hut was a large central fire that led out through a hole in the roof, surrounded by several sleeping bags, a desk and several flowers which the man used to make tea in a black pot over the crisp flames.

"so, what is your livelihood, kind sir?" Yuki asked the man, who took the stew in the pot into a teapot and shared it out amongst himself and the guests.

 "I am a shaman, master of the forces between this world and the next, the beings who man cannot tell of, and foretelling of a destiny. I take it that you are a seeker of truths, it is your livelihood" the wise sage spoke. 

"that is correct, sir. It is amazing how you know all these things about us, but even then I expect you know much about many" Yuki replied in complete surprise and Aibo beginning to take the words of the elder seriously.

 "you are kind and very attentive, child. Perhaps your tenacity could assist you in a problem that I have witnessed plaguing the city-dwellers below" the sage told the two. 

"what would that be?" Aibo responded. 

"recently, I have sensed a great release of cosmic energy far greater than ever before. Creatures of myth now roam the earth in droves. The people in town have seen their fellow men mysteriously disappear. Little people have scoured the city at night, taking food and leaving without a trace. Maybe you would be up for the task?" the sage proposed as he drank his tea.

"well, we have a previous engagement, but I suppose we may have enough time to solve this little mystery of yours" Yuki accepted over the fire as evening approached outside, leaving the morning to bring new surprises. 

The next morning, as the sun rose and the city began to buzz, Yuki had discussed a plan with Aibo and the shaman on how to go about the mystery in Taihoku. She chose to take the initiative and head out into the city on her own to search for clues. Aibo chose to have a deep discussion inside the hut with the shaman about a personal issue close to his heart. They entered the hut and while sipping on tea, the shaman advised Aibo on whether or not to confront his parents despite abandoning the military academy several weeks prior.

The generous soothing words of the shaman ensured that Aibo reached a peace of mind. Meanwhile, Yuki perused the streets of downtown Taihoku, beside the automobile carriage lanes and crowds of pedestrians during the morning rush. Yuki continued her walking, but even more interestingly, she could see tall treelike creatures assisting window cleaners on local buildings, small dwarves helping women with their groceries at the local markets, and large blue cats giving children back rides around the streets.

 In a strange turn of events, the people had taken a shining to the mythical oddities that had arrived in their midst, who rather than causing rampant destruction were assisting the civilians. Yuki found it hard to believe that any of these creatures would be capable or willing to cause any harm. As she delved into the open street markets in the square beside a government office, Yuki went up to a wooden ramshackle stall to ask the owner some questions. 

"excuse me, sir. Have you witnessed any little men roaming around taking things in town?" she asked the slightly tanned young man, named Tao.

Tao (1901- 1975) was a noble man, with roots in the Bunun clan of Taiwanese Aborigines. Initially raised in the isolated center of the island, Tao later discovered Taihoku and became a barterer. Not much was known about his life, only that he was an excellent tracker and knew the landscape of Taiwan very well, eventually serving as a native tour guide after World War Two for the Chinese and for the rest of his life.