The Dragon's Breath

by James Boschert

  “He said that he could go to three thousand taels and two tons, but no more,” Hsü told them.

  Talon frowned. ‘The man knows perfectly well what the cargo is worth! They are trying to rob me,” he said angrily. “The price he is offering is no use to me. It would not even cover my costs, let along provide a profit.”

  At that moment, several men appeared at the entrance to the inn; one of them was a tall, dark-featured man who wore a well wound turban and was better dressed than everyone around.

  Although he wore the usual Arab dress, the cloth was more suitable for the tropical climate. He had a sparse beard that was flecked with gray. His black eyes fastened on the group talking by the window. Talon sensed the look and turned to see who might be watching them. Their eyes locked for an instant, and then the man smiled and walked towards him. Stopping about three paces away, he gave a curt bow and then said in Arabic, “You are invited to the house of Master Sing.”

  Talon raised his eyebrows, but then got up and stood before the man, who was closely guarded by several alert attendants. Reza, sensing that something was amiss, got up too and stood next to Talon, assessing the newcomers.

  “My name is Amar,” the man said. “My master understands that you are trying to sell your cargo?”

  Before the surprised Talon could wonder how the man knew this, Amar lifted a bejeweled hand, smiled and said, “My master knows everything that goes on in this town.” He smiled again and indicated that they should come with him.

  Talon looked back at the two Chinese men and was struck by how frightened they looked. Hsü got up to stand with him, but the two merchants with whom they had just been speaking dropped a couple of coins on the table and made haste to leave.

  May we all differ

  from robber barons

  who thought themselves examples

  Of ‘survival of the fittest'

  as they made the earth more barren

  —Saiom Shriver

  Chapter Fourteen

  Master Sing

  Amar’s attendants held spears and wore swords. They were unmistakably bodyguards, and there was an unspoken threat in their manner which Talon didn’t like.

  They walked in silence towards a small group of horses held by Malay syce, and Amar indicated that they should mount. There were only three spare horses, so Talon told the captain to go back to the boat. Fuling left with the captain, after his father murmured something to him.

  They rode for about half a league, and most of it was along a road that brought them well above the harbor and the township. They didn’t have much time to admire the view, however, because Amar led them briskly past a high walled compound towards an ornate stone arch of a gate. There were menacing stone figures of men carved on either side of it, brandishing solid stone swords and threatening visitors with glaring eyes and bared teeth.

  They were led along a pathway that followed a tall wall, with shrubs and small trees lining either side. Talon just glimpsed a small pagoda perched on the top of the far wall and wondered what might be its purpose. As they walked behind Amar, he became aware of a sickly and unpleasant smell that emanated from the other side of the wall. He glanced at Reza, who had also noticed the smell, as had Hsü, but neither said anything. Amar hurried them through another entrance which was also guarded, but these guards were very much alive and watchful. They passed into the cool of a tall chamber, thankful for the relief from the intense heat and humidity outside. Talon wiped his face with a cloth, as did Reza; even in here the damp heat was stifling.

  A tall man walked towards them with a smile on his face. It was clear that he was of mixed blood, with round features and sporting a sparse but well-trimmed, jet-black beard. He looked comfortable in his loose sarong, wide cotton shirt, and over robe.

  “Welcome to my house, gentlemen,” he said with his arms spread wide. “I had heard that a new ship was in the harbor, and I wanted to see for myself who the new visitors might be. My name is Sing.”

  Talon felt Reza tense beside him, but he said nothing. Talon gave a half bow and presented his two followers. He introduced himself as Suleiman, thinking it might be better not to give too much away. Was there a flicker of enmity in those dark eyes when he introduced Hsü? Talon wasn’t sure, but realized that it would behoove him to tread carefully with this man who gave off the smell of ruthless power.

  Amar had vanished.

  “I am given to understand that you have a cargo to sell, Master Suleiman.”

  “Your information is correct, Master Sing. We were in the middle of some negotiations just as your man Amar arrived with your invitation.”

  Sing smiled in an avuncular manner. “Yes, I understand that it was not going as well as you expected?”

  “We had not quite reached a point of negotiation where I would have liked it to be,” Talon responded. His two companions remained silent.

  Sing clapped his hands and servants appeared. “Bring refreshments to the pagoda. I wish to show my guests around,” he ordered. They vanished, and he led the way up stone stairs to another level. Amar was already waiting for them at the small pagoda that Talon had glimpsed earlier. The servants hastened to provide cushions for the guests. There were fruits of many kinds arranged on rattan platters, including several fuzzy looking ones that Talon had never seen before. Drinks of fruit juice and sherbet were waiting for them.

  As they had they emerged onto the second level, Talon found that he could now see down into the other courtyard. It was less well maintained than the other, and there were several dogs growling and fighting over some bones. A man ran out onto the ground and waved a stick at them, shouting. He chased them out through a large, iron-barred gate at the far end. Talon noticed that there were some vultures perched in one of the trees. Why would they be there if it wasn’t for the bones on the ground?

  Sing didn’t seem to notice the carrion eaters and invited his guests to be seated. “Do you not think the view is magnificent from here?” he asked with a smile, displaying good teeth, waving towards the town and the sea below. Talon could even see his own ship at anchor in the harbor.

  “Try the fruit; it is from our own plantations, and most of them transport well on ships. I can provide you with all you might for your journey home. You are eager, are you not, to be going home?” Sing asked in a concerned manner.

  Talon stared out over the light jungle between their location and that of the town before replying.

  “Yes, we are very eager to go home, once I have unloaded our cargo,” he said. “You have a magnificent view from here, Master Sing.”

  “Yes, there is little that goes on that I don’t see one way or the other,” he responded; his tone implied more. Talon looked back at him. Was this some kind of threat?

  “I enjoy watching the ships come and go. Over time the merchants from both your country to the West and the Chinese have made me... comfortably well-off, shall we say,” Sing added.

  Considering the opulence of the main building interior, the rich hangings and the beautiful glazed pottery, the marble floor tiles strewn with fine rugs, and the numerous servants, Talon could not disagree. There did not appear to be any other buildings of stone on the island; this must have once been a fortress, he thought to himself. He could tell that, even now, it could be easily defended.

  They discussed the recent events of the voyage. Sing expressed sadness and commiserations that Hsü’s ship had gone down, and then he sighed. “Word has reached me that several ships I sent to China have either gone down or been badly damaged in the typhoons. This means that their cargos are also lost or damaged. It has been a very bad year for trade everywhere.”

  “We heard that there had been a huge storm in the Chinese sea. Is this the season for storms? The one we encountered West of here was like the wrath of God!” Reza said.

  “You could say that, but it is especially bad this year. But you have not taken any refreshments! You must have some of that fruit over there. We call it Durian.” Sing pointed
to a large, round, greenish object that had shallow spikes all over its skin. He then produced a small knife from his robes, with which he proceeded to start cutting the green fruit. The moment he opened it, the fruit produced a most offensive smell. Talon forced himself not to hold his nose or to sneeze. Hsü, meanwhile, had an enigmatic smile on his face. Reza looked pained.

  Having eased the fruit open, Sing exposed soft, yellowish, silky globules within. “These,” he said, “are the nectar of the jungle gods. You will enjoy them.” He smiled.

  Talon wanted to get as far away from the fruit as he possibly could, but knew he was being tested. He felt Reza cringe next to him, but his friend also knew that manners came before all else and subsided. It would be a great loss of face to refuse.

  Sing reached for a finely carved ivory spoon, then dug out one of the globules from the inside and offered it to Talon, watching him intently from under the heavy lids hooding his black eyes. Talon gave the rictus of a smile, thought of declining as the smell assaulted him, but knew better and took a mouthful. It took all his self control not to spit it out and to restrain his stomach from heaving. He chewed carefully and forced himself to swallow. He nearly choked as the substance slid down his throat, but tried to look thoughtful. He knew that he was failing dismally.

  “My goodness, that is incredible! Reza, you must taste some of this!” he gasped when he could get his breath back.

  Reza gave a shudder and very low moan. “Pedar Sag!” he muttered under his breath, but then he, too, trying to smile, received a mouthful. Talon saw that he held his breath while he consumed the awful stuff.

  Hsü seemed to be about to have a heart attack; his normally pale face was puce and he was gripping his knees with great force. Sing seemed quite unaware of the misery he was causing and offered Talon another spoonful. This time Talon could refuse without offense. He waved it off with a weak smile. “I am overwhelmed by the extraordinary taste, but I am not a big eater of fruit,” he murmured. Even he could hear the desperation in his voice.

  Then Hsü casually took a spoonful.

  “I had forgotten how good it tastes,” he murmured with a glint in his eyes. Talon wanted to stuff the spoon sideways down his throat.

  Sing put his spoon down with a half-smile and turned again to Talon. “Please tell me of the cargo you possess, and we can then decide if I want to buy,” he asked politely.

  Talon was aware that Sing probably already knew to the bale, but he elaborated on the ivory and Nutmeg in particular, and the Myrrh which he had purchased in Yemen, as well as the Frankincense; Hsü had assured him these were sought after for medicines in China and brought good prices. Then he described the ivory, the rhino horns, the pelts and the precious stones he had brought from Lamu, Muscat, and Kulam Mali.

  When he had finished, Sing sat back and casually spooned some of the revolting fruit into his mouth and chewed reflectively.

  “By weight alone you have a large cargo, Master Suleiman,” he said glancing at Talon. “However, most of us already have our godowns full to their roofs, and so there is not much need for more unless some ships come by and take our goods.”

  Talon sighed. This was similar to what he had heard in the town.

  “What price are you offering?” he asked directly.

  “Sight unseen, I would offer you four and a half thousand taels of silver, some two hundred taels of gold, and three tons of cloves and peppers from the land across to the west.”

  Talon sat back. This was exactly what he had wanted from the merchants in the town, but now he wasn’t so sure. He glanced at Hsü, who imperceptibly shook his head.

  “I appreciate your offer, Master Sing, but I would need more than that to cover my costs.”

  “I can go as far as five taels, but the tonnage stays the same for the cloves and peppers,” Sing stated, and his eyes had lost their former friendliness. Talon sensed that the man was not used to bargaining and had been irritated by his response.

  “That is a very generous offer, Master Sing. I hope you will allow me time to consider this. I must consult with my friends on the ship.”

  Sing waved his hand in dismissal. “You should know that no one in the town can make a better offer, Master Suleiman. But... there is no need for haste, and of course I must inspect the cargo before we can conclude, so perhaps we can come to an agreement tomorrow. I shall have Amar take you back to the harbor.” It was the signal for them to leave.

  They all stood up and said their farewells. Amar led the way back along the patio towards the stairs. Talon glanced again at the now deserted courtyard below. He wondered if the smell he had noticed on their way here had anything to do with the Durian. Something told him that perhaps it did not.

  As they were leaving they heard a roar. The horses were startled and would have galloped off if their riders had not held them in check. Amar pretended not to have heard and continued riding down the pathway, but the others looked back over their shoulders. Talon was sure the roar had been that of a lion, and it had come from the compound of the palace.

  They dismounted on the main street where Amar bade them an elaborate farewell and promised to meet them with horses the next day. He led the horses off with the help of his bodyguards.

  The three of them made for the shade of one of the large trees alongside the street. It was sweltering, even in the shade. Talon watched the Arab ride off; he had already decided that he didn’t trust Amar.

  “You should learn patience, my friend.” Hsü admonished Talon. “This is bargaining, and it requires restraint and patience.”

  “Do you think Sing is really interested in paying what the cargo is worth?” Talon challenged him. “The price he offered was only just enough to cover my costs, but there is no profit in it. Why did I sail all this way if that is the best we can do?”

  “No, and there might be others who could offer more. I think a lot is going to depend upon how much space they have left in their godowns. They are all very worried about pirates.”

  Talon nodded. “Sing has made the biggest offer so far. Arrgh, but that ... fruit as he called it, Durian, is disgusting! I still have the smell in my nose!”

  Reza laughed. “Pedar Sag! I am surprised that I didn’t vomit all over Hsü here, it was so foul. It is like having to stand in a huge urn of horse snot surrounded by shit! I need a hot bowl of tea to wash that foul taste out of my mouth!” he exclaimed, pretending to gag.

  “Neither of you barbarians has any refinement of taste!” Hsü chided them. “This is one of the most popular fruits in the region, and furthermore, we Chinese enjoy it too. The people here love it, and by the way, so do the elephants, I am told.”

  “You Chinese have just fallen off whatever pedestal I might have placed you on, Hsü. I am not of these people, and neither am I an elephant, so I will decline to have any more of that stuff... ever,” Talon stated firmly, with a grimace. “I saw him, Reza, he was enjoying every minute of our pain.” He pointed an accusing finger at Hsü.

  They all laughed, but Reza wagged his finger at Hsü. “That is one item that does not come aboard our ship!”

  Hsü inclined his head slightly and smiled his half-smile.

  “Did you notice the smell of that compound?” Reza remarked on a more sober note.

  “I did indeed, Reza,” Hsü nodded his head. “That is the smell of carrion, and not, as you might have been deceived into thinking, the smell of Durian, your new favorite food.”

  “Those bones, they didn’t look like those of any animal I know of,” Talon said slowly. In fact, the last time he had seen bones of that kind they had been of dead people who had lain for some time in the open and been picked clean by vultures. He remembered the vultures at the compound.

  “That roar was the roar of a tiger,” Hsü informed them quietly.

  “What is a tiger?” Reza asked.

  “It is a very big cat, and from what I saw, I judge this one is in captivity.”

  “Big? How big?” asked Talon, images of th
e lion he had fought surfacing.

  “Very big. It has yellow and black stripes all over and is terribly dangerous when angry, I am told. We have them in China, too.”

  *****

  They spent the rest of the day going from godown to godown and from one trading-house to another, drinking copious amounts of tea and sweating it out on the short walks in between. The humidity climbed at the same rate as the accumulating cloud-banks above them. Talon glanced up at the dense black clouds as the mutter of thunder came to them from the mainland. Flickers of lightning danced accompaniment to the thunder and gusts of warm wind began to ripple the darkening waters of the harbor.

  In every trading house they visited, the merchants, be they Arab or Chinese, were cagey and offered minimum prices, which exasperated Talon. He was contemplating ruin if he accepted these prices, even Sing’s offer was not a fair one, so he refused each time, hoping that the next house of trade would be better, but it never was.

  A very disconsolate group finally turned and trudged back towards their ship. At one point they passed a temple of some sort, and Talon pointed to an image of a creature that looked like a giant serpent with clawed feet painted in garish colors of red and gold; it stood guarding the entrance way to this sacred place.

  “What is that creature?” he asked.

  “It is a dragon,” Hsü responded. “They also can be found in China.”

  Talon looked suddenly very interested and yet pensive. “So that is where they have gone! The dragon is a creature that we used to have in our country long ago. I have heard about them. I would like to see a real one, very much,” he said.

  “It will rain very soon,” Hsü stated, changing the subject.

  Jewels beget gems

  So hard to measure them

  We seek thy treasure