The two youths sat on a step in the flight that was just outside the furthermost courtyard. The colossal Buddha was behind them, serene face in the same direction as they to look upon the view of far-off mountains. Mao was silent, wishing to gather his thoughts before starting his questions. Keihan rested his head on the fold of his arms and remained thus until Mao chose to speak.
“I was wondering, Keihan. When exactly did you become Master of the Sixty Four?”
At this, Keihan straightened himself, and looked at Mao. “Why is that important?”
“Because … I want to know. Did you know any martial art before we arrived?”
“No.”
“What about at the streams … when Junho and those boys messed about? Were you a master then?”
“Don’t be silly. I was just a kid!”
“And when my father clobbered you?”
“I was just getting started.”
“Does he –”
“Yes, he knows. He even offered me a job.”
Mao felt weak at this thought. “Did you accept?”
“No.”
“Promise me you won’t consider it, ever!”
“Don’t take me for a fool. I am not ignorant of your father’s nature, and I value my life and my sanity – what’s left of it anyway,” said Keihan and shrugged.
“What about when Junho was bullying me in the junior hall? Were you a master then? When you came between us.”
“No. But I could have given him the thrashing he deserved – and then received the thrashing from the monks I deserved.”
“What about that wayside inn? Were you a master then?”
“Yes,” said Keihan simply.
Mao felt coldness enter his heart.
“Then when you said you beat the crap out of a troublesome fool and nearly took his life. You weren’t kidding.”
“No.”
“But why resort to that? Surely if you were more patient and continued reasoning –”
“Mao, Mao, Mao, listen to me … all that stuff I said about persuading him to see the error of his ways? – That was bull crap! … It is like there is a demon rage in me and when I am provoked it jumps up and comes forward. Lately I find it harder and harder to push back. I know it, Cragon knows it, and if I attend this hearing, the whole temple will know it – assuming they don’t already.”
“Why? Are you planning to leave before this hearing? But this is your chance.”
“No it isn’t Mao. I’m doomed if I show up. Cragon knows it and thinks I should leave. In fact, I even promised him I would. But –”
“But what?”
“I am equally determined not to leave unless I get that damned scroll.” Keihan sighed. “Please leave me now. I want to be alone and think some way out of this stalemate.”
Mao considered him for a long moment, and then said, “Sure. If that’s what you want. But promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”
“Stupid? Like what?”
“I don’t know. Stupid!”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. Like jumping off a cliff!”
“Why would I want to do that?” snorted Keihan. “Is that what you think I should do?”
“Of course not –”
“–Then why mention it?”
Mao was stunned at his friend’s impeccable logic, and then exclaimed, “Just promise me you will tell me whatever scheme you come up with so we can talk it over, Kei?”
“– I suppose jumping off a cliff is one solution –”
“Kei! –”
“But that would be too easy. Alright, Mao. I agree – when I have thought of a scheme, I shall place it before you so you can be the first to piss on it.”
“I only meant –”
“In fact, Master Mao, I shall now prepare several schemes so your lordship may have your pick of whichever one takes your fancy to piss on first.”
“Be serious for a minute, will you, just –”
“You have my word,” said Keihan. “Now, please let me alone?”
“Sure,” Mao stood up and then noticed the crowd of juniors observing them from the porch of the nearest building. He went towards them and told them to scatter, but this had the result of making them come forward with their strength in numbers.
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Junho appeared from a passageway and came towards them. He had noticed this gathering of juniors and guessed what they were up to. “Hey, Mao. Let me handle this. Now then Lingmon, you really are being ridiculous. Scatter your boys before someone gets hurt.”
“I can’t believe you are defending the upstart servant who doesn’t know his place!” said Lingmon.
“Not that old tune,” said Junho. “Look. You can’t be allowed near that particular individual and this is for your own sake. If you go near him, chances are that you won’t survive. That goes for the rest of you. Go back to your dormitories, now.” He addressed the other juniors. Some of them looked at this handsome disciple, and seeing the seriousness of his face decided to end their support of Lingmon.
Mao looked at Junho astonished. Noticing this, Junho said easily, “It is quite obvious to me, Mao, that your friend sitting over there is already a master. In fact, I’d say that maybe Lingmon is quite right that he shouldn’t be asking to wear the grey jacket – he should be asking to wear the white.”
“What?” said Lingmon. “Are you crazy?”
“I can also tell from the strength of his killing air – which I see is a whole different order to my own – that he is more than capable of dealing with a bunch of idiots like these in a way they will certainly regret. And in all conscience we should not let any of them go near him. It would be unethical … amusing – but unethical.”
“That’s not funny,” said Lingmon.
“You don’t believe me, Lingmon?” said Junho. “Perhaps I should go and persuade him to give you a demonstration …”
Thus Junho went over to Keihan and after attracting his attention exchanged a few words with him. Keihan looked towards the crowd, then without changing his expression, turned back to Junho and there was another exchange before Junho came back to them wearing a rueful smile.
“So what!” said Lingmon.
“He said that he is not a circus monkey, and – I don’t think you should provoke him, Lingmon.”
Lingmon pushed past the grey disciple, but Junho caught him and held fast. “His exact words were, ‘– And if that pompous little shit comes near me, I’d be happy to break his neck for him – and the necks of anyone who follows.’ ”
“Who does he think he is?” exclaimed Lingmon trying to free himself from Junho. “I’m not scared of him! Are you scared?”
“Of him? Yes,” said Junho simply. Here was a man so ferocious that there was no posturing. And if he appeared to retreat, it was that his sphere of striking distance had grown –
The junior disciples who realised the grey disciple was not joking decided to go back to their dormitory.
“Let me go. I don’t need your help. I’ll sort him out myself!” said Lingmon.
“If you still think like this, then there really is no helping you, Lingmon, but before you go, take a look behind you.” Junho nodded towards the porch of the temple building where a small group of temple masters had gathered.
When the junior disciples saw them, they scattered. Mao and Junho bowed towards them and departed. But the monks did not notice. They were looking intently at the young man sitting by himself on the steps in front of the giant statue. As if they had never seen him before –
The temple masters had the breadth of perception to see exactly what Junho only sensed –
Keihan was trying to think through the meaning of the riddle. Shadowless prayers obviously meant wholehearted sincerity or some such. Flames of Qh’i referred to using Qh’i of the flame variety in some sort of way, although the other types should not be discounted. And somehow that is supposed to give you the secret scroll. But what of the first line: Sixty Four Forms of the Shaolin Art fall humble before the Sacred Heart? While he was trying to think through it he flowed through his knowledge of all the Forms and as he did this, his Qh’i moved and flickered to reflect this. To the watching monks, it was as bright as a campfire, it was –
“Genius – absolute genius!” breathed Seiskein Monk. “Why didn’t I see it before? I should have –” Then he shook his head sadly.
“Amazing – absolutely amazing!” said Greson with a delighted grin. “But how did he – How, in all this time – right under my nose –”
They came forward, and when Keihan sensed them, he put aside his ruminations to stand up before them and bowed politely.
“How did –” began Greson.
“Simple,” said Keihan, smiling. “I can read. I know where the Form manuals are kept. I have perfect recall – and I don’t sleep much at night.”
Seiskein moved forward in a dazed fashion: “Young man, it seems I made a grave error of judgement in your case. It seems I must –”
He was interrupted by Cragon Monk who came forward and said, “Sihfu, perhaps this can all be discussed later – at the hearing.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” said Seiskein recovering himself. He inclined his head towards the young man, and then, shaking his head sadly at the enormity of his error, he walked back to the temple followed by Cragon.
One by one all the other monks left until only Greson remained. He gave another delighted chortle and said, “To think you were such a skinny wretch – and now – in such a short space of time – a Master of the Sixty Four Changes! Next you want the secret scroll that is kept inside the statue – and then you’ll be a true Shaolin Master. Amazing – absolutely amazing!” He clapped Keihan on the shoulder and with another delighted chortle, bustled back to his work with an, “Astounding – absolutely astounding!”
Statue?
~~~
Night fell.
Tired of sitting, and still finding the solution tantalisingly out of reach, he got up and stood where the low stone barrier kept unwary folk from the fathomless drop of the mountainside. So, the scroll is hidden inside a statue. He could guess which one, but how did the riddle relate to it? Time is running out …
“Keihan?”
The sound broke through his musings and he saw the thickset servant.
“Lazuro?”
“Yeah, it’s me. I didn’t startle you did I?”
“No.”
“You are doing us proud, boy.”
“What makes you think I represent your class?”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I am not a servant. I was born into a rich family, but I left to come here because I wanted to learn the fighting arts. I only pretended to be a servant because it was the only option available to me to learn what I wanted to learn.”
“Well, whatever you are, you are still one of us. You have lived with us, and so that makes you one of us, doesn’t it? We are all behind you in this. I told the other chaps how brilliant you are bound to be!”
“Poor Lazuro, you really don’t understand do you? I cannot be a disciple. Not now. I will be leaving the temple before the hearing.”
“But that’s absurd! This is your long-awaited chance. Don’t be so foolish!”
“Do you think the monks will let me stay now that they know I am a master, and that I intend to use what I learn only for vengeance and destruction?”
“What! You can’t be a master!”
The laughter began so silently that Lazuro didn’t know it for what it was until Keihan turned to face him. He thought the youth was choking back tears. But it was laughter, and the laughter was cruel. His loosened hair blew with the rising wind.
“You can’t be!” said Lazuro. “That is impossible! Stop being so ridiculous!”
Then he came forward to try and shake some sense into the lad, but Keihan lashed out. His right hand brushed against Lazuro’s chest, and there was a ripping sound. Lazuro looked down at his chest and saw where a ragged patch of skin had been exposed; there was a thin red streak along which beads of blood started to form. Keihan drew back his hand and clutched it in his left with an agonised expression, then managing to control himself for a brief moment, said through clenched teeth, “Leave. Now. Get away before I hurt you!”
The laughter that followed was so evil and mocking that Lazuro stumbled, then turned and ran as if the hounds of hell were frothing at his feet.
