Sky of Paper: An Asian Steam-Driven Fantasy Tale

by Matthew Seaver

  Dae Jung summoned the Boar and the guard captain, both waiting nearby, and the three discussed fervently amongst one another as they went below deck.

  As I disembarked the boat, Kassashimei tugged at my sleeve. She looked at me with obvious concern.

  "Don't worry," I said. "The Boar- I mean, Master Ichiro would never allow anything to happen to us."

  "You trust people too much," she replied ominously.

  The next day, the Premier's dispatch ferried us from the docks to his mansion onboard peculiar-looking steam gyro copters. They looked much like the planes I had seen in Rui Nan, except they were much larger and they had spinning blades above their fuselage that droned like a thousand rasping drums against the constant croaking and sputtering of their rattling engines.

  Kassashimei and I sat in the back along with Lai, Etsu and several other children; as well as Ren Tzu and a few other guardians. Towards the front sat the Young Emperor, Princess Xiangfeng, Dae Jung and the Boar. While the four of them occupied themselves by talking with the dispatch near the cockpit, Kassashimei and I huddled near the porthole, looking over the city below.

  The streets and roads zigzagged and curved without any predictable direction. Unlike the previous places we’d visited, there were no straight lines or orderly grids. Instead, the buildings were massed together in a cluttered mess of structures in various states of disrepair. In a few places there were large patches of shacks and metal tents, that at a passing glance, seemed to resemble garbage dumps. How strange it was that Watersbe was once a far cry from the pristine city it would eventually become in the coming decades.

  At the very center, towering high above the huddled buildings and misshapen shacks was the coal mill that provided electricity to the entire city. Sprouting like trees from its roof were dozens of smoke stacks puffing gray, mountain-like clouds into the air.

  Past the city's center, we came upon a wide, metal tower that must have been almost as tall as the mill itself. Like an insect to an outstretched flower, the gyro copter steadied itself upon the tower's roof. After landing, the dispatch guided us to a worn and rusted elevator. The machinery clanked and shimmied as it took us down.

  At the tower's heart, we came into a cavernous reception hall. Scattered amongst the long tables filled with food and the servants who carried trays of wine and refreshments, were what seemed to be rich merchants and traders. Every detail I overheard from their conversations were matters of business and the prices of this and that, and what one might do to acquire so-and-so item at the modest trade of another. Some were in formal western-looking suits, while others were in more rustic attire, as their stout bodies were covered in rare animal furs and rough-worn leather. Still others seemed to have come from the eastern side of the continent, as they were dressed in richly decorated robes of silk. The entire western wall was made of glass, showcasing a breath-taking view of the lake as well as a teasing glimpse of the land beyond. The eastern wall, however, was without a single window, a cunning design, which hid the ugly, unnatural smoke clouds that emanated from the coal mill nearby. Large fur carpets dyed black and dark gray lay sprawled upon the dusty ground while upon the concrete and rusted steel walls hung portraits of men, all stoic, heavily bearded and proud. Their broad shoulders and piercing gazes seemed to distract from the musty, worn look of the room.

  The Premier and other important officials from the city would not be coming for some time, so the Young Emperor, Dae Jung and the princess waited, while Kassashimei and I, as well as the other children, did what was requested of us in our invitation: we performed.

  The instruments and props had already been setup long before our arrival. As we took our places along the western glass wall, the crowd fell into a hush. The lights dimmed slightly as our escort stood before the crowd and made his announcement.

  "It is with absolute delight that I present to you a rare spectacle hailed from far to the east. An exhibition that few from our side of the world have ever had the privilege of witnessing. Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of our illustrious Premier Gorchiv, we present to you, the sky children and their mystical air dance."

  The steady thump of drums moved the once frozen air and the hollow wail of bamboo flutes sung like the haunting calls of wary spirits. Delicate hands plucked away at shamisens with teasing melodies, all while eight children; four shyo mah and four shyo mu, took their places at the front. The four girls sat neatly abreast upon their knees while they watched their partners take their ready stances in front of them. Counted among the pairs were both Kassashimei and I, performing as true entertainers for the very first time. Lai, who had trained as a performer with his sister most of his life lead the exhibition. It was called, "The Sky of Falling Water", a performance which only Ami and Sa Shi had properly mastered. But Lai was determined to show the true extent of his skill and without hesitation he turned his focus to a bowl of water that lay upon the ground in front of him.

  With Etsu carefully tracing his movements, they turned the ether, directing its currents to snake into the bowl and cup the water within. The drumming became more vibrant as the bowl rattled at first, then, like a sprouting tree, the water began rising into the air. Sounds of disbelief resounded from the audience, but Lai and Etsu would not give them the opportunity to catch their breath. Lai flung his arms out to the side and like a trained pet following his every command, the water, formless in its shape shattered into a cloud-like mist of droplets. As if turning a hanging curtain with his hand, the droplets wavered and flowed against an unseen breeze.

  The other children and I followed Lai's movements by floating a dozen small stone fish through his watery veil. With practiced hands and unflinching eyes a scene of seemingly divine life was created where fish dove and darted like unbound birds, and large droplets of water seamlessly floated in the air as if it was their very nature to do so.

  Drums bellowed as the fish dove and sprinted upwards and flutes hailed their movements as they quickly changed direction. All the while, the steady pluck of the shamisen carried the tune of the water's flow.

  The show itself was Ai's own personal favorite. And while she trained us, she had taught us that the music, the water, and the very life we imbued into the stone animals was a portrayal of things connected. The majesty of the world, every tree, every blade of grass, drop of rain, hoof beats of horses, even the ether itself, all boundlessly a part of one another. Like the stone fish upon the floating water, narrated by the soft strums and haunting whispers of the music, life and the motions of the world itself, connected and intertwined, let its presence drift across the audience.

  And then, at the absolute height of our show, the Premier appeared. The large, double doors at the end of the room flung open to the booming sound of a proud man's voice.

  "Fellow merchants, tradesmen, your Premier has arrived," he said with all the fanfare his title had endowed him with.

  The music stopped. Water and stone fell to the ground with a resounding thud as everyone, including the performers, turned their stunned and surprised gazes to the heavily bearded, giant of a man, who chuckled and waved happily as he made his way through the crowd.

  Broad shoulders and thick, brown woolen jacket and pants, he was a stout and portly man with a menacing look about him that rivaled even the stern faces in the portraits that hung across the walls. Draped across the shoulders and neck of his massive body were the roughly-cut furs of some sort of animal striped in shades of black and gray. His small eyes glinted like beads through his dark, bushy eyebrows as he shook hands and greeted those that approached him.

  "Premier Gorchiv," murmured a smaller, much skinnier man tailing behind him. "May we offer the courtesy of perhaps announcing your arrival next time."

  "No," the Premier replied above the hum and admiring drones of those around him. "These are my people. We are all business men, and as such we are all partners." He laughed. "At least until our profits dictate otherwise."

  He turned in our direction, paused for a moment
and then pointed a large, stubby finger. "You. Something tells me you are here for something other than business."

  As if sharing the man's doubts the crowd diverted their eyes towards us.

  "Sir," the skinny man beside him informed. "I trust you have not forgotten, but you invited these foreigners to be tonight's entertainment."

  The Premier laughed loud enough to shake the dust from the walls. "Of course I have not forgotten Chovis. But I have summoned them here for more than just entertainment. Bring them into my meeting room."

  The next room seemed almost identical to the main reception hall, even the size. The western wall was completely glass and still, more portraits of glaring men hung from the walls. The only difference was a long meeting table that stood in the center of the room. Dae Jung, the Young Emperor, Princess Xiangfeng, Lai, Etsu, Kassashimei and I, all watched, standing from the door way as the Premier made his way to the far end of the table. Chovis removed the fur from his shoulders as the Premier took his seat.

  The others remained outside to entertain the audience.

  Dae Jung had insisted that he meet with the man alone, but the Premier seemed displeased by his request. He demanded that a select number of us accompany him. And so there we were, silent and uncertain. Dae Jung boldly stepped forward, convinced of our situation.

  "What do you have to offer me?" The Premier raised his chin gazing slyly at the Young Emperor's advisor.

  "Why would we offer you anything?" Dae Jung replied.

  "You have read my letter, have you not? I believe my messenger was clear about the arrangement. The ones that you have brought with you, like these here beside you. These are the ones you are going to trade perhaps?"

  "How dare you threaten our divine emperor and his court-"

  "No." Premier Gorchiv pounded his fist against the table. "I do not threaten. Politicians threaten. I am a man of business. I barter.” After a brief pause, he glanced at the man beside him. “Chovis, have you ever known me to threaten anyone?"

  "Never Premier Gorchiv," Chovis said reverently.

  "You see? You think that because my messenger informed you of my intention to shoot down your ship if you leave my city, I am somehow holding you hostage. I am not that sort of person and how dare you think that I would stoop to such things. No, I bear my guns upon your ship because you have as of yet to respect the rules of my city. You, like everyone else, must pay the cost of visiting my city by taking part in some well-intentioned bartering. You must exchange something of yours in return for receiving something else. Certainly a ship as luxurious as yours would have something to offer. Or shall I forego these formalities, take offense to your lack of manners, and seize all that you have?"

  The princess stepped forward, a fierce look in her eyes. "I am Princess Xiangfeng, daughter of the Eastern Kingdom. If what you say is true, if you have turned your guns on us, then know that someday, my nation will return the same disrespect you have shown us, and it will be with fire, cannons and spears."

  "Be silent little girl," he said pounding his fist again. "Do you think I’m stupid? The Eastern Kingdom is dissolved. Rui Nan now has rule over your home and just like your so-called emperor there, none of you have any power to speak of. Now, tiny insignificant children like yourselves had better step aside and watch as the adults here do business."

  He waved her back, regarding her as no more than a nuisance. She gave a long, silent glare, then looked to the Young Emperor who only returned the briefest, timid expression of disdain before returning his attention to the bearded man and draining any trace of emotion from his face. Then suddenly, she turned away, tearing open the doors and slamming them behind her.

  "Dae Jung is it?" the Premier continued. "If you would forgive me, I find it difficult to remember eastern names, let alone pronounce them. Whatever the customs in your country, we do not abide the annoying tantrums of young ones. As far as I am concerned, you keep a ship of orphans and if they are all as loud and unruly as that girl, then you may find yourself and your crew walking to whatever destination you are seeking. It would be in your best interest to keep your so-called royalty, properly silent while we discuss our business."

  Dae Jung's face was admiringly calm. He gave hardly a twitch during the Premier's outbursts and though his anger was evident, he remained unmoved, even stern, as the situation grew ever tense.

  "All we intend to do is buy food and supplies, then leave," he said. "The fact that we accepted your invitation and agreed to entertain at your party as well as to meet with you, was merely done as a courtesy. If you wish to open your guns upon our ship, then do so. But know this: the child emperor beside me has the admiration of General Fung, the current ruler of Rui Nan. You have an ear for secrets, so surely you are aware of this. The general seeks to bring the Young Emperor back alive and well, and if he discovers how you’ve treated him and his court then you may very well be inviting the might of the greatest eastern air navy in the world. Would you risk that for the sake of your so-called business? Now we will pay you money, as much as you want in return for supplies. After that we are leaving."

  The large, bearded man looked unmoved by his words. Then, after a time, his long, dark, wiry hair rattled against his heavy frame as he gave a long, hearty laugh.

  As strange and intimidating as the man's reaction was, Kassashimei looked on with the same defiant glare in her eyes as the Princess had, while both Etsu and Lai grew more and more fearful as they kept their gaze submissively to the ground. Dae Jung and the Young Emperor were careful to leave their faces devoid of any expression, locking their attention unflinchingly at the Premier's bellowing taunt.

  Their reactions alone had made me wonder as to how vast the differences were among disciplined members of royalty and the sincere humility of commoners. Such examples were displayed with both shame and dignity upon our faces.

  After the man had had his laugh, he motioned to his assistant Chovis, who proceeded to unlocked a heavy, metal door in the wall beside him. The door opened with a piercing, metallic screech as its rusted hinges grinded and wailed. From within the room beyond, bars of gold were carried and stacked neatly upon the table.

  "As you can see," the Premier said boldly. "I do not care for your money. But I will give you some of mine in return for some of those wonderfully gifted children of yours. Additionally, I would like to have something else of yours that has fancied my interest; And of course, you can have whatever supplies that you need."

  Dae Jung remained like a statue and allowed his voice to grow colder. "There are no deals to be made here. Did you not hear my words?"

  "Yes yes," he said, nonchalantly waving his hand. "Something about General Fung and his Air Navy. Look, I have little care for politics. If your General has an interest in my city, then I and my own air navy will face him accordingly. But I think it would be more pressing for you worry about the moment. Just look at what you have to gain? All of this gold plus the full resources of my docks. Repairs, even weapons. It’s all yours."

  "You mentioned that you wanted something else in addition to our chienkuu ko."

  "That young lady. Ai, I believe is her name. You must trade her as well."

  "I will go," Ai said without hesitation.

  She stepped across the deck of the Young Emperor's ship and looked out from the railing at the two airships hovering in the distance, their gun ports braced wide open with cannons at the ready. "So he wishes to have me as well as four of our children? I will take care of them, so you need not worry about their well-being."

  "Are you sure about this?" Dae Jung came up beside her, a rare expression of concern looming over his wrinkled, old face.

  Lai, Etsu, Kassashimei and I as well as the Young Emperor watched the two from the center deck where the Premier's gyro copter had landed and stood waiting. A few moments earlier, after the copter's boarding ramp came down, Princess Xiangfeng had rushed out and hurried into the ship. Ren Tzu followed, escorting the other children below decks. Chovis remained at
the ramp, anticipating Dae Jungs final confirmation of the deal.

  "Each one of my ancestors has served the Imperial Family in one way or another. The father of my great-great-grandfather had given a pledge that we would protect the family for a hundred generations." Though Ai was without emotion as she spoke, the sincerity in her voice betrayed a hint of her solemn resolve. "My father, Master Lu, with his deceit and lies abandoned our pledge when he and General Fung overthrew the government. Though I cannot hope to regain my family's honor, I must do what little I can to preserve the Young Emperor's faith in us."

  "No, there’s no reason for you to leave," the Young Emperor said boldly, approaching Ai and stepping in front of his old advisor. "What possible use could the Premier have for you and the children? After all, this city sails their air ships using steam and western machines."

  Dae Jung placed a stilling hand upon the Young Emperor's shoulder. The boy glanced up at him with an impatient frown, forcing the older man to hesitantly pull his hand away.

  "Though archaic and to some extent, outdated," Dae Jung said, "our nation chooses to fly using the mystic arts, as it is the way of our culture. But the Premier does not see the gifts of our children in the manner we do. Because of the rarity of the gifts each chienkuu ko possesses, each and every one of them is worth a small fortune. The Premier knows this. And I am certain he’s well aware of how profound your gifts are Ai."

  "I see. So that’s what happened,“ Kassashimei interjected with a voice that sounded as accusing as it was disrespectful. “That’s what happened to Ami and Sa Shi. You sold them didn’t you?”

  Dae Jung didn’t reply. So the Young Emperor pressed on with Kassashimei‘s claim. "That's it isn't it? And what of the other members of the court you left at Castleburg? Did you sell them too?"