Listening to Rain

Chapter 9 - A Shaman's Ship

Chapter 9

A Shaman's Ship

As Tanzong managed to return to the cooler regions of consciousness, another image floated up, a creature-dragon headed with a horse's body-stood before him.

Could the vision have returned so quickly? This would be unusual.

"Welcome to our southern regions, Shaolin Blade."

Tanzong could hear the words, but the dragon horse was not physically speaking.

"Omitofo, great dragon horse," Tanzong replied. This was another type of vision similar to his meetings with the Sage-King Shun.

"So you know my form, monk, but do you know me?"

"August presence, I am only an ignorant mendicant following a pilgrimage trail..."

"Yes, yes, I've heard all that, but before the spirit of Ma Yuan you might be a little more forthcoming!"

"A great honor it is, sire, to be in the presence of the great Han 'Wave Tamer' himself. You no doubt are familiar with our mission..."

"Would you expect less? I am here to offer you my ship to cross to the Isle of Pearls. I do this as recognition of your uncle's wisdom. He once preached the Dharma to me and his wisdom has offered me a peace heretofore unknown as either man or spirit."

"The great Chinese general, Conqueror of the Southern Regions, is too kind. And of my uncle...do you have further word? Does he abide on the Isle of Pearls?"

"Alas, even the great Ma Yuan has his limitations. All we can say for sure is that his human form has not since left the Isle of Pearls."

"Great spirit, you have given me hope, and what little I can do in my prayers I will do, thankful for your kindness."

"Monk, you should wait before you thank me so much. Ma Yuan's ship is not so easily mastered in such a storm, for to have access to it you must leave now and sail across this very night. My ship is of the Yin realm and only arises in the darkness."

* * *

There was a sudden rush of the sea and the building shook. Li awoke with a start to see Tanzong packing. He looked at the sliding paper door and could see the lightning flashes.

"It's still dark?" asked Li.

"Talk as little as possible. We are leaving," whispered Tanzong, who was completely dressed in black; he pulled a black head covering over his face.

"Night warrior's clothing."

"Here," Tanzong threw a set of clothes to Li Wei. Tanzong had been altering these clothes during their trip.

After they were both packed and suited up, Tanzong, ever so slowly and quietly, slid open the paper and bamboo door. As he suspected, there was a guard outside, snoozing. Tanzong listened for more breathing rhythms on the corridor-far weaker than his previous encounter. There was only one guard.

Tanzong moved so swiftly that in the dim light Li wasn't sure what happened. The guard's slumber, however, deepened with the aid of a few dexterous finger strikes to his body's sleeping points. Tanzong and Li moved down the hall to a side doorway. It led downstairs to the back of the building, which faced the sea.

In order to resist the storms that frequented the tip of the Thunder Peninsula, the Red Bird Inn was built with a solid wall facing the sea. There was no back door or windows.

"The main gate is the only way out," said Li.

"Our ancestors would never build such a trap for themselves, especially in this hostile region," said Tanzong. He gently tapped the floor with his bamboo rod.