by Susan Moore
“What?” said the reporter and cameraman, jumping up out of their chairs in unison.
“The two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-US-dollar-apiece bribe that is now sitting in bank accounts in your names in Novorovo Bank,” said the security chief.
“There was no bribe. The whole super-soldier thing was real. We saw it with our own eyes. I filmed it,” said the cameraman.
“That film was a hoax, made by the Barzurkan using the latest CG techniques. You took the money and made us look like fools,” said the editor, his face red with fury.
“We didn’t. We took nothing. It was real!” said the reporter, jumping to her feet. “As real as this meeting is now, as this building stands!”
“Fools! The moment this gets out our reputation is going to be in shreds!” The editor slammed his hand down hard on his desk.
“But it was real! They have a super-soldier! I’d stake my life on it,” said the cameraman.
“Well, you’ve staked your job on it, you greedy idiot. You’re both fired!”
Chapter Seventy-Three
ANTIDOTE
Nat could hear women’s laughter, a child giggling and the low rumble of conversation. Her eyes flickered open. She was lying on her back. For a moment she thought she was dreaming. Her last memory was of Fred and her giant needle.
“Princess,” said Altan.
Suddenly a cheer went up. She moved her gaze from the ceiling to find the ger packed with smiling faces. Temur, Tabin, Fred, Jamuka, along with a crowd of other Clan members she hadn’t seen before.
Jamuka stepped across to her side.
“Thanks to you, Fred was able to make an antidote,” he said, his brown eyes shining.
“From my blood?”
“Strange as it may sound,” said Fred, chewing on a piece of aaruul. “Sorry I had to take so much but it did the job.”
Nat’s arm was throbbing.
“It hurts,” she said.
“It’s a good job you passed out. I had a devil of a time drawing it out of you,” said Fred.
Jamuka put a bowl to her lips. “You need to rebuild your strength.”
She took a sip, the warm taste of boiled mutton filling her mouth. “How long have I been asleep?”
“All afternoon,” said Jamuka. “Jebe has not left your side.”
She reached over and buried her fingers in the wolf’s thick fur. He looked up, moving his head to come to a rest in her lap.
Temur stood up. He was holding a bow and an instrument that looked like some sort of violin. He drew the bow across the strings. A screeching moan erupted through the tent. Nat gritted her teeth. He opened his mouth. A deep, gravelly gurgle rose from his throat.
Not to be outdone Fred leapt to her feet, flung her arms wide and released an ear-splitting operatic high-note. The Clan gasped in horror, hands flying to their mouths. A child screamed but it didn’t stop Fred, who was now climbing up through an octave.
Temur frowned. He started furiously sawing at the strings with his bow. The gurgling from his throat became a deep rumble of thunder.
Without missing a beat, Fred hit another top note. Jebe threw back his head and began to howl. The noise was cacophonous, deafening and unexpectedly uplifting.
Nat felt a giggle burbling up in her throat. She caught Altan’s eye and the two of them burst into fits of laughter.
Chapter Seventy-Four
RETURN
Later that night, after the last of the partygoers had left, Jamuka rolled out his mattress. The fire in the stove had burned low, casting a soft orange glow across the ger.
Nat lay on her bed with Jebe at her side.
“We must leave for home early tomorrow, Bao Bao,” said Jamuka.
Hong Kong? Nat sat bolt upright. She’d been so immersed in everything here she’d almost forgotten what was waiting for her back there.
“Zoinks! We’ve still got to stop Aunt Vera!” she said, her mind filling with images of Wetley Towers, her aunt’s bony finger jabbing at her, Ah Wong sailing the Junko away, her mother’s kimono going up in flames. Her heart began to race.
“We will face her in court and we will win,” said Jamuka.
“I want to stay here,” said Nat, reaching out to stroke Jebe’s head.
“You could, but your destiny lies elsewhere. I promised your parents…”
She leaned over, putting her face close to Jebe’s. He cocked his face to one side and looked at her with his golden eyes. “But they’re dead.”
“But their legacy and hopes for your future must be respected.”
Jebe licked her cheek. “What hopes? That I study hard, inherit a fortune and have to run a computer games company? What if I don’t want to? What if I just want to stay here and be a part of the Clan?”
He looked at her, his eyes softening.
“You are from a very different world to this, Bao Bao. We will come back and visit, but your true path lies in Hong Kong.”
“No!”
He put his hand over hers.
“You are as brave as a lion. What you have done to save the Clan and the wolf pack makes me so proud. I am truly honoured that I am your guardian, and as your guardian I must ask that you trust me and honour your parents’ wishes.”
She let out a deep sigh.
“Can Jebe come with us?” She stroked his head.
“Jebe must stay here to ensure the survival of the pack.”
Nat threw her arms around Jebe’s neck, inhaling his scent of warm fur, woodsmoke and pine. She stamped it into her memory, willing herself never to forget.
“I’ll be back,” she whispered to the wolf.
Chapter Seventy-Five
COMMUNICATION
The buzz from Jamuka’s FastPad woke Nat up. She pushed herself up from where she’d been lying across the seat. She was in Fred’s old spot in the Overrider. There was so much more room than she’d had in the back, and it was far less bumpy.
She rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Outside it was dark, the full beam of the headlights showed them driving across the flat white expanse of the Steppe.
“It’s Wen,” said Jamuka, passing over the FastPad.
“Hai, you’re alive!” said Wen, her face filling the screen.
Nat blinked, her mind going into a spin as her old life collided with the present.
“I’ve read Jamuka’s message. Wow, what an adventure you’ve had,” said Wen, peering closely into camera. “You are one gun fu jade babe!”
Nat smiled.
“Did he tell you everything?”
“Yes, all about the ex-Clan guy who was trying to poison the Clan with Growemup to get back at them.”
Nat felt Jamuka tap her on the knee. She looked up from the screen to see him holding a finger to his lips. It suddenly hit her that she was never going to be able to tell the truth about what really happened – the Barzurkans, the Tumen Vachir, Genghis Khan. Secrets were secrets.
“Yes, he was as mad as a box of snakes,” she said.
“Must have been. Anyway, you must be as swift as a rocket getting back here. There’s been a lot going down and you’ve missed all the news about an amazing hoax by the Barzurkan army about some super-weapon that even had Mum and Dad fooled!”
Chapter Seventy-Six
CONFRONTATION
“Zoinks! We’ve only got fifteen minutes,” said Nat, checking her watch. “We’re never going to make it.”
They had landed in Chek Lap Kok airport but still had to get across the water to the Hong Kong court building where Wen had said Aunt Vera and Uncle Fergal would be waiting to get the guardian papers stamped. She looked over at Jamuka, who was calmly speaking to an airport official.
“This way,” he said, heading towards a doorway.
Nat ran after him, through the door, into a stairwell. They bounded up the steps, taking two at a time, until they came out on to the airport roof. A Speedcopter sat waiting for them, its blades rotating, ready for immediate take-off.
“Zoula!” she
said, jumping inside.
The door closed, they lifted up into the sky and took off towards Hong Kong. Nat looked down at the flickering skyline. Home at last.
Minutes later they touched down on the top of the District Court building. Nat climbed out to find Wen and Henry waiting. They ran to meet her, wrapping her up in a tight hug.
“Ai yah. You look and smell like a proper explorer,” said Wen, letting go.
Nat laughed and looked down at her baggy trousers, black boots and wool sweater. “Not quite Shan-xi, is it?” she said.
“Hurry,” said Jamuka. “Lead the way, Henry.”
Henry bounded towards the open door. The others followed, clattering down twenty flights of stairs.
“How much further?” shouted Nat.
“One more floor,” said Wen, taking two steps at a time.
They flew through a door, coming out into a long corridor. Wigged barristers powered along, cloaks flapping like bats. Wen took the lead, weaving through their midst with Nat, Henry and Jamuka in her wake.
She finally came to a stop outside a large pair of mahogany doors marked “Courtroom Seven”. A computer screen above flashed “Court in Session – Walker vs Walker”.
“Allow me,” said Jamuka, flinging open the doors.
The judge looked up in surprise. On one side of the court sat Aunt Vera, Uncle Fergal, Prissy and a purse-lipped, grey-haired woman. Nat guessed it had to be the new nanny, Mrs McTavish. They turned, their jaws dropping open.
“Surprise!” said Wen.
Aunt Vera’s eyes shot from Wen in her immaculate designer lime-green catsuit to rest on Nat. She looked her up and down from head to toe, taking in the Mongolian tribal clothes, tangled mass of red hair and rosy-cheeked face. Then her gaze fell on Jamuka, who was similarly attired. The sound of a strangled cat erupted from Aunt Vera.
“You went to Mongolia? You defied and lied to me!” she screamed at Nat. She swayed, gripping hold of Uncle Fergal’s arm for support. Prissy scowled. Uncle Fergal flushed crimson with embarrassment.
“Let us take our seats,” said Jamuka, waving towards a small man wearing a smart grey suit who was busy mopping the sweat from his brow with a canary-yellow silk handkerchief. Nat recognised him. It was Jamuka’s lawyer, Mr Chun.
“Henry Walker, get over here right now!” screeched Aunt Vera.
Henry ignored her and carried on walking towards Mr Chun.
“I said now!”
The judge banged her gavel on the desk. “Silence in court! Now. Who do we have here?” she asked, peering over her half-moon glasses.
Jamuka took hold of Nat’s hand and led her up to the judge’s desk. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Prissy staring daggers at her.
“This is Nat Walker and I am Jamuka, her guardian.”
He handed the judge their passports. She thumbed through them and then looked up, peering closely at their Mongolian clothing.
“You look as if you have just arrived from an expedition.”
“We have. Our flight just arrived from Mongolia.”
Nat smiled and squeezed Jamuka’s hand.
“You are a liar!” screeched Aunt Vera from the side of the courtroom. “Nat told me she was staying with Doctor Tang.”
“Silence in court!” The judge banged her gavel on the desk again.
She looked down at the papers in front of her and then at each of the lawyers. “I will see you two in my chambers, right now! The rest of you are to remain here. No one is to leave the courtroom, have you got that, Sergeant Yao?”
“Yes, ma’am,” said the policeman at the back of the court.
The judge stood up and disappeared through a side door with the two lawyers trotting along in her wake. The door closed. For a moment there was complete silence.
“You’ve no hope of keeping her,” said Aunt Vera, pointing a long bony finger at Jamuka.
“Mrs Walker, I am Nat’s legal guardian and you would do well to respect her parents’ wishes – and the law,” said Jamuka.
“You are a vile, greedy, wicked witch!” said Nat, unable to swallow her feelings.
Prissy glared. “Don’t you say that about my mum, you—”
“Stop this ruckus or you will all be in contempt of court!” Sergeant Yao came running to the front. “There will be silence now until the judge is back,” he ordered.
Nat went and sat down next to Henry. He squeezed her hand.
“I hate Mummy,” he whispered.
Nat didn’t dare look up at the wall of vile Walkers opposite.
“Me too.”
“Shhhhh!” said Jamuka.
They sat in silence, Sergeant Yao keeping guard in the middle of the courtroom. Nat was wondering just how long they were going to be kept in such heated suspense when the judge re-entered the courtroom with the two lawyers. She resumed her position and turned to Aunt Vera.
“Jamuka Borjigin is Nat’s legal guardian. They were away on holiday. And yet you filled in a claim of abandonment to request sole guardianship? Is this correct, Mrs Walker?”
“It’s not like that—” said Aunt Vera.
“You have wasted my time and this court’s time, and have attempted to make a mockery of our child-protection laws. You are liable for all fees pertaining to this case, you are forbidden access to the Walker Trust and must repay everything you have spent from it. I am also imposing a fine of ten thousand dollars. Case dismissed!”
She slammed down her gavel, stood up from her chair and once again swept out of the side door.
Aunt Vera fainted. Henry and Wen let out a loud cheer. Nat threw her arms around Jamuka and he hugged her tight.
“Let’s go home,” he said.
Chapter Seventy-Seven
“SURPRISE”
Nat walked up the gangway on to the deck of the Junko. The sun was shining from a clear sky. A light breeze, carrying warm air, blew across the blue waters of Victoria Harbour. She was home at last.
“Welcome, Miss Walker,” said a tall woman in a white uniform. She had her head bowed low, her long dark hair tied back at the nape of her neck. When she looked up she was smiling.
“You must be Ah Ping,” said Nat, holding out her hand.
Ah Ping nodded.
“Your new housekeeper, or perhaps I should say boatkeeper.”
Nat laughed. “Yes, boatkeeper. How was your journey?”
“My trip from the New Territories was swift. With all the computers on board the Junko is easy to sail.”
Frantic chirping broke out on the upper deck. Nat looked over to see Jamuka holding up Gobi’s cage. He sang back to her; she chirped even more loudly.
“This arrived for you a few moments ago.”
Ah Ping held out a small red box. A label on the front read “Natalie Walker, the Junko. Handle with extreme care”.
Nat’s hand trembled.
“Thanks. I’ll take it to my cabin.”
She closed the door and sat down on her bunk. The last time she’d seen Fizz he lay broken inside a wooden box. And it was all her fault.
She took a deep breath and opened the lid, dreading what she might find. The box was lined with black velvet. Inside lay Fizz, his eyes closed. His emerald scales had been polished to glittering perfection. His snout glowed warm amber.
She gently lifted him out of the box. His bright-green eyes snapped open. His wings unfurled, the broken one now perfectly repaired.
“Hello, Nat. It’s good to see you again. How are you?” he said, cocking his head to one side.
“Fizz?” she said in surprise.
“Yes, do you like my new voice? Big upgrade. Higher-resolution two-inch screen and a custom-designed CRU processor…”
Nat grinned. “Zoinks! This is so ku. I’ve missed you so much.”
“By my calculations I have been asleep for twelve days.”
“Asleep?” Nat wasn’t sure about that. “I’m sorry, it was my fault. I had to use your wing to cut a rope…”
“Do not apologi
se. I’m glad to be of service.”
Nat’s bedroom door burst open. Henry came rushing in, followed by Wen.
“Daddy dropped me off at the quay. I can stay for the whole month,” he said, jumping on to the bed. “Nasty Nanny McTavish got her marching orders. Mummy’s gone to a sanatorium for her mental health and Prissy is working at Shan-xi stocking shelves for the rest of the summer to pay off her fashion bill. So I get to stay with you.”
“And as of one hour ago I am officially forgiven by my parents for deceiving them and flying off to Borneo without their permission. My mother saved me by saying she thinks I have the makings of a top scientist. Or spy,” said Wen.
“Ku!” said Nat, hugging her two best friends.
There was a tap on the door. Jamuka walked in.
“Tea is served,” he said with a short bow.
“Let’s go,” said Fizz, flying up into the air and on to Nat’s shoulder.
Everyone just stopped and stared, their jaws hanging open. Nat put her hand to her shoulder. Fizz was perched up there like a real-life parrot.
“Now, that is seriously ding,” said Wen.
“Hey, can NutNut get an upgrade too?” said Henry. “I’ve always wanted the eighth-generation model.”
“Your father’s plan is coming true,” said Jamuka.
“What plan?” said Nat.
“Your father designed Fizz to be a sentient robot. He wanted to make him as much like a living creature as possible. But he was limited by the technology of the time.”
“I think, I speak, I fly. I have work to do on the feeling part though.”
Jamuka moved to the doorway. “Ah Ping’s tea awaits. If you’ll please follow me.”
“What happened to Ah Wong?” said Henry.
“Jamuka sent Mr Chun, the lawyer, up to Dazhou. He’s terminating her employment and giving her a lifetime ban on ever contacting us ever again.”
“Maybe we could do that with Mummy too?”