BAF 64 - Kai Lung Unrolls His Mat, page 18
part #64 of Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series
“Let the perjured transgressor give his own fictitious account of himself then,” commanded Shan Tien, closing his eyes judicially.
“Greatness,” replied Kai Lung with a submissive gesture, “my unassuming name and the pacific nature of my journey have already been declared. What more remains?”
“Clearly something, or the contumacious rebel would not be so desirous to conceal it,” interposed a melodious whisper from behind the hangings.
“The difficulty obviously arises, criminal, that being a prisoner here before us it is essential that you should have committed something by which you become imprisonable or the whole of our well-thought-out judicatory system falls to pieces.” Here the inspired law-giver placed the ends of his fingers together in an attitude that never failed to convince even the most hardened of his rigorous impartiality. “If your naturally retiring mind is not equal to the strain of disclosing what the offence may be, it will automatically devolve upon this unworthy but incorruptible upholder of the peace to supply it.”
“Well-spring of authority,” prompted the hidden voice, “in that the recalcitrant clown has no obvious business here, is not the inference that he is an unusually determined spy reasonable?”
“The imputation that you are an alien intruder seeking to acquire military information occurs to us,” continued the enlightened official tentatively, “and the crime, punishable as it is with every form of correction from ridiculing your immediate ancestry to extirpating your entire posterity, would serve as well as any. But—”
“As the insensate buffoon has been moving about the district freely, does not the opportunity present itself of enticing him into revealing something of the intentions of our adversary, high intelligence?” came the low-voiced suggestion.
“But in order to incriminate you on this head, felon, it is necessary that something of a definite nature should be allegeable against you. The details of our own impregnable position offer no scope for your admitted talent, but doubtless some interesting points in connection with the obvious weakness of the defences of Chi-U have come under your many-sided notice?”
“All-grasping,” was the meet reply, “the one before you is a man of Kham, and Chi-U is of our Over-State. Is it becoming that a vassal should disclose particular information to those in arms against his suzerain?”
“There is marrow in this bone, sublime, if you will but probe it,” was the sage monition. “The backward oaf has knowledge that he will not readily disclose.”
“That remains to be tested,” muttered the credulous Shan Tien, while Ming-shu, ever insistive, cried aloud:
“Who is this scrofulous Mang-hi that he should speak before a provincial governor and one who is destined to lead the all-conquering Knife to victory of what is or is not seemly? Words fade at nightfall, but a branded sign of guilt upon the forehead endures while life remains. Let the irons be made ready.”
“Benevolence,” entreated the one thus threatened, holding out his hands suppliantly toward Shan Tien, “is it your august will also that the unwitting should endure so oppressive a correction?”
“Maintain your autocratic upper lip, exalted, and you will yet wrest information of great value from the misgiving knave,” was the whispered counsel.
“The mortar must harden if the wall is to hold good,” replied Shan Tien inexorably. “Look for no flaccidity in this direction, culprit,” and from outside there came the sound of dry wood being kindled.
In the ensuing pause the captive raised a fold of the garb he wore and drew it across his face, and for a space of time wherein a man might count a hundred nothing could be heard but the sound of preparation taking place beyond and the offensive beat of Ming-shu’s low-class breathing. Then the one arraigned before them bared his face.
“It is contrary to the rites and strict observance of our high rule that the son of a chiefs son should submit to this misusage. In our remote upland we have an adage designed to meet most of the contingencies of an ordinary person’s everyday experience, and among us it is said, ‘If when escaping from a dragon you should meet an advancing demon, turn back again.’” He lowered his hands submissively and bent an appropriate neck. “On this understanding, high puissance, ask what you will.”
Shan Tien and Ming-shu exchanged glances of ill-hedged satisfaction and the latter person cleared his self-willed throat.
“In what way is it possible for us to inflict a calamity upon those of Chi-U without incurring any danger to ourselves?” he asked.
Kai Lung thought for a moment, while the others watched him narrowly to see by the changing phases of his emotion whether his disclosure would be sincere.
“The weakness of Chi-U lies in the leanness of its stores, not in any effeteness of its walls or vacillation among its intrepid guard—”
“There is no official band,” interposed the stiff-necked Ming-shu.
“Your knowledge is exact,” replied Kai Lung, “but each man of the city is trained to bear a part, while at no far-off date a strong company of the Tiger-clad is promised in relief.”
“It would be well to make our presence felt before those weak-kneed miscreants impede our footsteps,” remarked Shan Tien with well-arranged anxiety.
“Thus and thus,” explained Kai Lung. “To-morrow, about noon, a convoy designed to replenish Chi-U’s need will slip through the western gorge. Without knowledge, the chance that you would be there to intercept them is remoter than the clashing of two stars. For this reason there will be no armed guard—for the cities of the route have none to spare. None will be there but the bearers of the loads and drivers, and this you will verify from a distance off before you swoop upon them. Baffled in the hope of this relief, Chi-U will succumb and its gates will open to the summons of your lifted hand. Lo, I have spoken and a noose is round my neck.”
“It is well—or it may be,” was Shan Tien’s pronouncement. “Yet of what does this train consist that it should be worth our while to seize it?”
Ming-shu could not forbear a gesture of despair at the ineptitude revealed by this disclosure, for even to his unbalanced mind it was plain that the essence of the strategy lay in the deprivation of their foe rather than in the replenishing of their own store. He was recalled from this funereal mood by the gross elation of Shan Tien, rejoicing at what Kai Lung unfolded.
“Nothing could be more auspicious, for it is by the lack of these very things that we most suffer: had Chi-U sent a messenger to ask what we would have it could scarcely have been bettered.” (From behind the screen a thread of silver laughter gladdened Shan Tien’s fatuous heart.) “This project carries.”
“How many of our company will the enterprise require?” demanded the more practical Ming-shu.
“Ten or fifteen score of your indomitable horde will baffle every chance of failure.”
“That is as the destinies ordain,” was Ming-shu’s guarded answer; “for although we may protect the fruit we cannot see the roots. But”—here he bent on Kai Lung a sudden look of menace—“they will go armed and alert for guile, and you, Mang-hi, will travel in their midst with a gag closing your mouth and your throat chafed by a rope.”
“Yet even then, esteemed, my unfettered mind will be free to dwell on the bright vision of your rising fortune,” replied Kai Lung discreetly.
“Ming-shu and Shan Tien were ever of a cast,” pondered the Golden Mouse, “and, as with a crystal jar, whatever is poured in at the neck can be seen filling, the body. Had one come to them, freely offering knowledge, they would have derided his pretension, but now that they have had the appearance of exacting it by force, demons could not dissuade them. Truly is it written, ‘It is easier to put an ox into an eggcup than for a man full of conceit to receive wisdom.’”
Chapter Eight
IN WHICH THE POSITION OF THE ESTIMABLE KAI LUNG IS SUCH THAT HE MUST EITHER GO UP OR DOWN
At an arranged gong-stroke after daybreak, three hundred men—one half of Ming-shu’s ill-clad force—marched from the rebel stronghold with Kai Lung in their midst, a gag filling his mouth, his arms bound, and a degrading cord (the noisome Li-loe controlling it) hung about his neck. From the opening of a spacious tent, Shan Tien and Ming-shu stood forth to see them pass.
“At the first sign of treachery, pull the noose tight and drive a heavily projected knife well between the uncouth shoulders of the repellent outcast,” was Ming-shu’s offensive order, and the supine Shan Tien concurred.
“Is it not due to the dignity of your button to be informed how the affair proceeds, mightiness?” enjoined an insidiously alluring voice from the shadow of the tent, and the obtuse Shan Tien coughed several times and arranged his girdle clasp to indicate high-minded unconcern. “Li-loe would prove a speedy runner in any case, so that his absence would entail no loss if there should be a fray. Would it not be in keeping with your special office that he should hasten back, either with or without the repulsive-featured hostage as the outcome may require, when the issue has been cast? This one, at any rate, will know no rest until the success of your strategic-minded foray gladdens her yearning ears.”
“It was balanced on my finger-tips to make some such command,” replied the egregious Shan Tien, and he beckoned to a lesser chief and spoke as had been said.
When the band had proceeded a short march to the west, Li-loe, under a pretext, dropped behind the rest, and as soon as they were unobserved he removed the gag from the storyteller’s mouth.
“It is well enough to talk to you about this wine of mine that we are on the point of recovering,” he said, “but it would be even more attractive to hear your assurance in reply. Now, as regards the exact size of the cask, whereof you spoke of three men’s encircling arms? In this respect men vary, yet it would be manifestly unjust to take three of only meagre stature. Last night, on the feigning of a jest, I induced three sturdy fellows to join hands, and the full measure…”
In this strain the niggardly Li-loe filled himself with his own imagination until, about noon, the company reached the border of the rocky terraces that overlooked the plains. Here they lurked in hiding, not daring to emerge until the defenceless nature of the convoy was disclosed, and on this hung Kai Lung’s fate. When, soon after the appointed time, a column of unarmed men was seen winding along the track that led toward Chi-U, the rebel host raised a loud cry of triumph and launched headlong forward in pursuit. At this display the assemblage of bearers cast down their loads in terror and, without staying to make any retort whatever, fled back to the safety of the intricate passes they had come by. At the same time the horsemen cut loose their charges and urged them incessantly on toward the safety of Chi-U. The effect of the surprise was immediate and complete, and Ming-shu’s unbridled horde at once began to take possession of the spoil, for many of the bales had burst open in their fall, and the contents lay scattered.
“There is no longer any doubt as to the success of the foray,” declared the under-chief to whom Shan Tien had spoken. “Ordinary warriors Li-loe and Kong are instructed to return without delay and relate to the High One in Command the outcome of the venture. And should the name of the reticent Ip Chan be favourably garnished in the telling,” added the one who thus described himself, veiling his voice discreetly, “it will be mutually creative of profitable esteem.”
To this the sombre-mannered Kong made no reply beyond a servile flourish of his open hand, but Li-loe (distrustful for his share of what was taken) would have raised a dejected plea had not Kai Lung contrived to pluck him by the sleeve and whisper in his ear.
“It is better to have the chance of netting a turbot than to have already caught a shrimp,” was his admonition.
“Now, with the camp more or less denuded, is our chance to search unseen.” And the ever-craving Li-loe assented.
With about half the distance still untravelled, they came to a cleft cut sharply through the rock, where each must pass alone. It was toward this spot that Kai Lung had shaped his preparation when he had stood in the open space within Chi-U and called for six intrepid men who should be the standard bearers of a righteous cause. “If there be any who have suffered the unforgettable offence at the unclean rebels’ hands, now is the opportunity to exact a strict account,” he cried, and twelve had answered to the call. “Your names will be extolled in characters of gold,” had been his forecast as he made a choice, and to the remnant, “and yours no less than these, for to all a part will in due course be given.” These chosen six now crouched beyond the rock and, as Kong and Li-loe passed through, their arms were seized and they were held securely.
’The time for dissimulation has gone by,” pronounced Kai Lung in his natural voice, “and this business will shortly assume another colour. Which rogue of the two has the more supple tongue?”
The only reply Kong deigned was to spit in that direction, ’ but the pusillanimous Li-loe fell upon his knees and beat the unyielding earth beneath his two-faced forehead.
“All-conquering,” he exclaimed, to the steady clash of his abasement, “there is no evasion to which I would not bend my pliant throat to retain my worthless life. Lay the weight of your authority upon my allegiant shoulders to practically any extent, for I am not yet fit to face the Records.”
“Not only will your life be spared, but enough wine will be allotted to float you in a state of bliss through three quarters of each moon—if you but play your part.”
“Omnipotence,” declared the other freely, “on those terms I am with you in this world and the next.”
“Take heed lest you precede me very substantially in both,” was Kai Lung’s stern menace. “It is not befitting that the more abject is the one who must be spared, but yonder dog would maintain a stubborn end at any hazard. Howbeit, he has had the chance and made a becoming choice…Now take the uncompromising outlaw to a little space apart, and there, with as slight an inconvenience to his distinguished self as possible, remove his attractive head.”
“May your perjured-hearted father grill in Hades to the end of all time and apes void upon the fallen Tablets of your race,” was Kong’s farewell parting, and he was led away by those who held him.
“It is enough to recall the worthy Yen-tsu in a similar position—‘Blessings will cause a strong town to flourish, but the curses of the vicious cannot destroy even a mud-built wall.’” Thus Kai Lung reassured his fellows, and he added, “Let each now move to his appointed task, and aptly.”
Leaving one of the band to guard Li-loe, the rest fell to their different parts, and very soon a transformation had been wrought. One brought Kai Lung a special kind of lye in which he washed off his stain, while another combed and drew out his matted hair and trimmed it as a tail. In place of his Out-land garb and barbarian trappings, they robed him in everything that Kong had worn and in various ways changed him to that one’s likeness. Without much hurt, an appearance of wounds was given to his face and body, and blood was splashed both on him and on Li-loe, though it was not deemed necessary to indicate actual violence toward the latter beyond a spear-thrust through the rear part of his trousers. In the meanwhile, Kong’s severed head had been transformed no less completely, a stain deepening its tone, the hair spread out as Kai Lung’s hair had been, and the gag forced between his rebellious teeth; nor was the knife withheld to disguise wherein they differed. Thus prepared, the two resumed their journey, Li-loe, at a command, bearing the burden.
“Mightiness,” ventured that feeble person when they were alone again, “so far a feeling of unworthiness has sealed these slow-witted lips. Yet have we not been as the two sons of one father, with all things shared in common? Now touching this ambiguous head I bear—”
“Peace, dullard,” replied Kai Lung with some dignity; “for you are as you are and it is very necessary that I should now instruct you. Dwell well on this: that when we approach the camp my wounded face will be all but concealed within this bandage, and, for support, my clinging arm will be about your shoulder.”
“So long as I am by your side, esteemed, you need fear no stumble.”
“So long as you are, I shall not,” was the admission. “But should you. attempt to disengage yourself or to vary what you are to say, I may, perchance, and in slipping this small but extremely pointed knife that I shall hold beneath my cloak and against your middle ribs will inevitably be thrust forward…”
“Revered,” protested Li-loe very earnestly, “I clearly begin to foresee that in whatever tale we are to tell our words will blend together as harmoniously as the two parts of a preconcerted ballad—though between the madness that has assailed you on the one hand and the madness that will certainly assail the bloodthirsty Ming-shu shortly on the other, I see very little likelihood of our song reaching a happy ending.”
“That is because you have a weak, deficient mind, or you would have begun to deduce an ordered scheme emerging,” explained Kai Lung more kindly. “What was in progress when we left the captured spoil, O witless?”
“That is easily expressed,” was the overcast reply. “The sordid-hearted crowd were seizing what they could. The greater part of this by some mischance consisted of the dress and insignia of a strong company of the Imperial guard, and the ragged barefoot crew were triumphantly refitting.”
“Thus,” agreed Kai Lung. “And by a benevolent conjunction of the time and place they will return at nightfall waving the captured banners of authority and wearing the Tiger-garb. How regrettable will be the outcome if Ming-shu, having heard our tale of treachery and rout, should mistake them for the foe and fall upon them in the darkness unaware!”
“Stripling,” declared Li-loe with a gathering look of insight, “what I hitherto took to be an empty shell would seem to enshrine a solid kernel. Yet this scheme of yours must proceed along the razor edge of chance so that a single false step will undo it.”
“The same path confronts those who oppose us also,” replied Kai Lung, “and Ming-shu and Shan Tien are notoriously uncertain on their feet. For the emergencies that may arise, remember that it is better to have an ingenious mind than a belt adorned with weapons.”
