by A. H. Shinn
Kellie ran and stood between the archer and Jory. The nun did not lower her bow.
“Your friends are important to you,” said Tsering. “They will give you the incentive to show us what we seek. You will demonstrate your power to us; otherwise, the boy will be injured. You don’t want him pierced, do you?”
Kellie backed up, moving closer to Jory, never allowing the archer to have an opening to her target. When she was close enough to him where she could reach behind her and touch him, Kellie raised her hands and said, “Okay. I admit it. What the tracker saw at Taiping Monastery was a powerful energy I had.”
“Kellie, don’t!” Jake cried.
Jory gasped behind her.
Tsering’s eyes circled, and whispers floated through the crowd. The archer even lowered her arms in surprise.
“But I don’t have the ability anymore,” Kellie said. “Please, don’t hurt Jory. He’s done nothing.”
Tsering’s eyes transitioned from wide to narrow. “I’ve grown tired of your deceit. Tashi!”
The nun lifted her bow, but changed position and aimed her arrow at Jake. Jake’s jaw dropped open, and two nuns grasped his arms and pulled him as if playing tug-of-war.
Kellie was too far from him and knew she couldn’t outrun the arrow. Sweat trickled down her back and she frantically attempted to reach for the Emotive Chi. She threw two heel palms at the archer, but nothing happened.
Flailing her arms, she yelled, “STOP! Okay, I’ll teach you everything I know. But it’ll have to be tomorrow. I have to prepare. I have to…meditate first to tap into my power. I’ll show you everything—but only if you don’t harm my friends.”
Tsering stared at Kellie as if trying to read her face for the truth. She looked to Choden and received a nod from her.
“Agreed,” said Tsering. “Tomorrow will be your last opportunity.”
Tashi lowered her bow and tightened her mouth as if she was disappointed.
The nuns released both Jake and Jory, and her friends rushed toward Kellie. Most of the onlookers began to disperse, while a small group stayed and kept an eye on the three teens. Kellie knew they wouldn’t let her out of their sight now.
“What are we going to do?” Jory asked, his voice shaky.
“I don’t know,” Kellie answered. “But we’ll have to figure out something, and fast.”
Jake rubbed his face with his trembling hands. “Did I mention that these women are crazy?”
Kellie felt terrible. Her best friends were in danger because of her again. They were in hairy situations before, but they’d had help. Mulin and Zurich had dispersed the wild tigers when they were in the Bamboo Forest. And the Taiping monks were never too far away, always trying to protect Kellie.
But there was no one here to help. Master Chen was under lock-and-key, and Desta was long gone. What was she going to do?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The Plan
The sun was setting. Kellie was making her way up the steps to the highest level of the temple. No footfalls were heard behind her. She had asked the two escorts to allow her to meditate alone at the top.
They agreed when she pointed out that there was nowhere for her to go except down the side of the mountain to an excruciating death.
With her hands on the edge of the wall, which blocked her from a drop of thousands of feet, she stared out into the majestic beauty of Bhutan. The other mountains had clouds looping around them, hanging below the apices.
The opulence of the landscape was as she remembered, except any hint of virescent pasture was now a deep green. Bright colors scattered throughout; exotic wildings fully bloomed. Kellie wished she was simply sightseeing in a foreign land.
She needed to come up with a plan. Turning to scan the area, hoping some idea would fall into her head, she heard shuffling below. The nuns were waiting for her, probably unsure what to do themselves. The temple wasn’t a popular spot for the women here, which was ironic. The Druk nuns had truly forgotten their purpose, valuing physical over mental exercise.
Although she was a bit tired from all the sparring, the smooth floor welcomed Kellie to execute a form. Besides for the good of training, kung fu helped her to think. Master Chen had repeatedly told her to focus on her movements and chi when she went through her forms, but sometimes she let her mind drift.
After lighting the torches, she stepped out onto the center of the floor and inhaled the humid air. She began a form that encompassed various fight techniques using animal movements. At a slow speed, she allowed her motions to hit each mark. She shifted her weight with every step, blocking and following with a hand strike or kick.
Her imaginary adversaries fell to the ground or stumbled backward in pain. She proceeded through the movements, and eventually Lia came to mind. Kellie was relieved that the young girl was away from this wretched place and safely in her mother’s arms.
Lia was so sweet and gentle, not to mention wiser than most girls even Kellie’s age. Kellie replayed the recent conversation they’d had about the Druk nuns. “You’re not scared of them…you’re scared of yourself,” Lia had said.
I never showed fear in front of her…did I?
She rewound her memories to the times they’d spent together and couldn’t remember a moment she’d acted afraid.
There was that time when she ran off into the woods and I couldn’t find her. But that wouldn’t make me scared of myself.
“Lia is wrong,” Kellie said out loud. “I’m not afraid.”
With her eyes closed, she went through the same form several more times, racking her brain for an idea to get Master Chen, Jake, Jory, and herself free from captivity.
I know! We can find rope and shimmy down the side of the temple.
Finding rope that was long enough was doubtful. She also imagined falling onto jagged terrain below.
No. Not a good idea.
Kellie reconsidered her conversation with Jory and Jake in Sonam’s shrine. Jory’s successful ploy of sedating the monkeys had worked all too well. They could temporarily incapacitate the nuns.
If we do it correctly, the nuns would fall asleep and no harm would be done. By the time we’re gone, they would wake up.
Unfortunately, Jory hadn’t brought any medications with him, and even if he had, he wouldn’t have had enough for over a hundred people.
Herbals! I bet Master Chen could identify a plant that could knock them out.
Drugging them with an herbal was a little far-fetched, and she expected that they would be suspicious if they made a tea offering.
Her original idea came to mind. They could flee through the part of the forest near the living quarters and hitch a ride once they got to the road. But how would they go unnoticed? It would be a difficult task and most likely a hostile exodus.
The four of them were closely guarded. Figuring out a way to be without supervision would be the challenge. The nuns were even making it difficult for them to be together. Kellie had wanted Jory and Jake to accompany her to the temple, but with less than twenty-four hours from revealing her power, the captors had decided that she should prepare alone.
“You indeed have fear.”
Kellie flicked open her eyes and saw a mongoose on his hind legs, staring at her from atop the rocky hill, opposite the side of the steep drop.
“Desta! I thought you left.”
He cleared his throat and momentarily looked away. “I delayed my departure. I will be gone soon.”
Kellie was so happy to see him once more.
Then she remembered his comment. “Wait, what do you mean I have fear?”
“The young girl. She is correct. You are scared.”
“Okay, maybe I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop the nuns from hurting my friends, but it’s a different kind of scared. Do you know what I mean?”
Desta stared at her wi
th his cocked head.
“You’re afraid of the Emotive Chi,” he said.
Now Kellie was staring at the mongoose with her head tilted. “What? I don’t even have it anymore!”
Footsteps bounced through the temple, and the two nuns emerged. They looked around. Kellie’s eyes shifted to Desta. He was gone.
“Is there a problem?” Kellie asked.
“We heard a conversation,” one of them said.
“That was me,” said Kellie. “I talk out loud to myself sometimes. No need to worry.”
The other nun squinted at Kellie, and didn’t say a word.
“No one else could get up here without passing you two. Now, please, I must concentrate if I’m going to demonstrate my power tomorrow. You wouldn’t want to be the ones to prevent that from happening, would you? You wouldn’t want to anger Tsering, would you?”
The two nuns traded glances.
“Very well,” said the nun.
“And please, stay down below. Your interruption distracts me.”
After the quiet one glared at Kellie, the two women stomped to the lower part of the temple.
That would keep them from listening in. Once they were out of sight, Kellie turned to call out Desta’s name, but before she opened her mouth, he was back in his spot.
“I thought you would figure it out on your own, but I saw your failed attempt to thwart the archer,” he said.
“You were there…again?”
Desta had seen her try to use her chi against Tashi when her arrow was pointed at Jake.
He nodded once.
“And you couldn’t help?” She shook her head.
“You know I could not. Besides, it wouldn’t have been fair to the nuns if I’d stepped in.”
Hm, Kellie thought. Could he have taken them all on?
“Along with apprehension, you have doubt,” Desta said. “Why so many qualms?”
Surprised, Kellie stepped back. Can he hear my thoughts? Hello? Can you read my mind?
He stared at her. “I’m waiting for an answer.”
“I was just wondering how you would’ve fought all the nuns by yourself, being so small and all…”
Desta twitched his black nose. “I was asking why you doubt yourself. Not why you doubt me and my size.”
“Oh.” Kellie felt her cheeks warm.
“And don’t ever underestimate a mystical animal,” he said.
Now Kellie’s neck felt hot.
“Every size has its advantages and disadvantages,” Desta said, sounding like he was beginning another lesson. “You must recognize them in your opponent as well as in yourself. I was pleased to see how you used the energy of that brawny fighter against her in your last match. You were starting to get it.” Desta’s semblance of a smile disappeared faster than it had appeared.
“You have a gift that none of the other chosen ones have. Hagos’s Emotive Chi. Once you learn to utilize all seven types of chi, you will have unprecedented abilities…”
Kellie’s body shook. “I—I don’t have it anymore. You saw how I couldn’t do anything to the archer. I tried. I’ve been trying.”
“And this is where the fear comes in.” He sighed with annoyance. “How did you feel about containing the Emotive Chi?”
“At first I was unsure about it, but then I thought that it gave me a connection to Mulin and Zurich. Then I was okay with it.”
“Are you really?”
“Am I really what?”
“Okay with it?”
“Yes…I think.”
“Yes, you are or you think you are not?”
“I…uh…don’t know.” Kellie remembered her encounter with Hagos in Shenmi Forest when he’d revealed that she had his Emotive Chi. It was a moment that had forever changed her life.
“No. No, I’m not okay with it,” said Kellie.
“Are you afraid you will turn evil like Hagos?”
There was no beating around the bush with this mystical animal.
“Not exactly. Ever since I blasted him across the stream when he tried to stab Master Chen, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what I was capable of.”
Desta nodded for her to continue.
“What if I get really mad about something and I accidently hurt someone? What if I can’t control my energy?” Suddenly it was as if a blindfold had been removed from her eyes. Kellie was afraid. “At school, there’s a bully, Derek Dodger. He was picking on my friend, Jory. I got so angry I attacked him. And this happened before I found out I had the Emotive Chi. Thinking back, I could’ve really hurt him.”
“You have come to recognize the responsibility you have,” said Desta. “With proper training and guidance from the mystical animals, you will be able to navigate your gifts. But first, you must stop suppressing it.”
“I’m suppressing it? It’s not gone?”
The annoyed look was back on Desta’s hairy face.
“Removing one of the seven chis is not easily done. It can be dormant, but it does not simply disappear. Have you not unearthed its energy during other occasions of extreme emotion?”
Kellie slowly bobbed her head up and down. “Besides the time with Derek, there were others. I don’t remember it, but I found out last year that I roared at a tiger that was attacking Shifu Lau when I was little. I also hit Hagos a couple of times with great force when I was fighting him.”
“During subdued moments in your life, you did not know you contained it and did not access it. Since it is the Emotive Chi you have, its energy was released during times of emotional duress.”
“But why couldn’t I stop the archer when she was pointing an arrow at my friends? I was terrified.”
“Your fear of the Emotive Chi overpowered all other feelings. It is time to release it and take control of it.”
“How do I do that?”
“Relax and accept it.”
“But is it possible that I can really hurt someone?” Kellie shuddered imagining doing something more violent than tossing Derek across the school hallway.
The mongoose flitted closer to her on the slanted, rocky terrain. “With the gifts that you have, you are capable of anything.” Kellie trembled as she bit her lip. “But Zurich, Mulin, and I see the light in your heart. Your choices at times may not be the wisest, and your behavior a bit rebellious, but your intentions are honorable. You are selfless, and that is a trait that is innate, not learned.”
Kellie didn’t want to admit it to Desta, but she was afraid and uncertain. She wondered if the mystical animals should have picked someone else who was worthier to harbor the Emotive Chi. Perhaps they had made a mistake of entrusting her with such great power.
“It may take some time to rediscover the energy,” said Desta. “It could come back simply from a feeling. Or meditation might be the key…or a life-or-death situation. Let’s hope it’s not the latter.”
Kellie’s mouth dropped open. Life-or-death situation? Before she could ask a question, the mongoose instructed her to close her eyes…and mouth.
“Take a deep breath through your nose and exhale with your mouth. I am sure Zurich explained to you the power of air at such vast levels. Your breathing can control blood pressure and heart rate, bringing balance to both the psychological and physical elements.”
Kellie’s beating heart began to slow.
“Fear is negative energy. It overtakes the positive forces in your being and will make you hesitate, doubt yourself, and be defeated.”
Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, Kellie kept telling herself.
“Loosen the tension from your muscles and let your fears ooze out of your skin,” said Desta.
Ooze away, ooze away, ooze away.
“Open your eyes.”
Kellie saw the torch flames wiggle. Desta had moved to t
he wall dividing the cemented ground and the deathly drop.
He put a pebble on the ledge and stepped away from it. “Let’s start off easy.”
Kellie took a few breaths, but they were shallow and rapid. “Relax,” she mumbled to herself.
“Anytime you’re ready…” he said.
She threw up her hands in the direction of the stone. Nothing happened.
“Try again,” he said.
Kellie closed her eyes and attempted to slow her breath. She tried to think of happy thoughts, but nothing came to mind. Her friends’ lives were being threatened, and she had to prove something to the nuns she didn’t think she was going to be able to do. How could she let her fears just ooze away?
“Did you fall asleep?” she heard Desta say.
She opened her eyes. “Can you tell me how to do this?”
“You should know my teaching method by now. I guide my students to make them think and figure things out for themselves because I will not always be there to tell them what to do.”
Without another thought, Kellie threw a heel palm with her right hand. Again, nothing happened.
Then she saw the pebble teeter slightly.
“Did I do it?” she yelled excitedly.
“That was the wind,” he said.
Stomping echoed from below and grew louder.
“It’ll come,” he said.
Kellie turned her head toward the entranceway and saw the two nuns looking at her and then at her surroundings. She whipped her head back to the wall, and the little rock sat alone.
“Did you call for us?” one of the women asked.
“Nope,” said Kellie. She knew that Desta had finally gone.
Before Kellie returned to her room, she wanted to see Master Chen. The two nuns who had accompanied her to the temple followed close behind as Kellie approached the living quarters.
Lin was standing guard by Master Chen’s room. Her ever so frosty expression was planted on her face, and she greeted Kellie with rolled eyes.