Tails High

by Paul Kidd

  “Honoured prior. I wished to have a private word with you, as one man to another.”

  The prior grunted. He gave a nod, reaching for some of his papers and squaring them. The assistant – sly and unctuous – rubbed his hands together.

  “It has come to my attention that a new house of our brotherhood is to be opened soon. I am aware that a brother from another monastery is to be chosen as prior of the new house.” With great false modesty, the assistant inclined his head. “I would humbly like to put my own worthy self forward in that monk’s place. I am certain you will give me you support.”

  The prior watched the other man in calculation.

  “Certain.”

  The assistant prior’s face took on a conspiratorial air. He kept his voice low, looking to the door to make certain that they were not overheard.

  “Honoured prior. Imagine if someone in an elevated position were found to have succumbed to temptations of the flesh? What if such a person took advantage, say, of the monastery keys that they hold in trust? It would be a scandal no true brother would ever wish to see revealed.” The assistant prior leant in close. “Fortunately, discretion is a virtue found in many of our brothers. If a man should have discovered this secret, then he would surely keep this information to himself. Particularly if he were overjoyed at news of his elevation to a new position?”

  The assistant prior was full of his own cleverness.

  “It is a secret we can wink at, you and I. After all we are both men…!”

  There was a sudden flash.

  The prior had made a casual motion of one hand. A great bone spike shot out of the his arm, running the assistant prior through the jaw and up into his brain. The man hung on the end of the spear, jerking and choking, eyes rolling. The prior watched him for a moment, then flexed his hand, and the terrible bone spike withdrew. The assistant prior fell lifeless to the floor.

  The prior rose and walked to the door. He slid it open and looked out into the gardens – but there was no movement to be seen. The assistant had made his visit in absolute secret.

  The prior slid the door shut. He turned back towards the still-twitching body on the floor, and slowly spread his mouth in a terrible, noxious smile…

  The morning sun dawned crisp and clear across rooves starred with morning dew. The little village by the monastery stirred itself to life. Fires were lit and breakfasts made as the residents rose and went about their affairs.

  The brothel was still a sleepy place. The working girls would be asleep until almost noon, and the maids were having a lazy morning. Up in the rafters above the dining hall, Chiri lounged in high state, still in rat-form, thoroughly enjoying her day.

  She had settled herself in a bed made from lush quilts and fine silk robes. It was all deliciously comfy. The rat gave a yawn then rolled over to inspect her potential breakfast – all thieved from the pantry shelves below. There were rice balls, sweet mochi cakes and crystallised peach. The rat had managed to find herself a flask of expensive sakē, which was proving to be deliciously piquant. The rat wriggled her fine pink toes, selected a mocha cake, and settled it upon her belly as she lay back amongst the quilts.

  Bifuuko sat just above her, looking intently down at her. Chiri gave a nod and waved her front paw, lounging back to dictate a message. Bifuuko caught the air in a shimmering little globe, recording the sound of Chiri’s voice.

  The rat took a nibble of mochi, and spoke with her mouth full.

  “Dear Sura,

  I am hiding above the pantry in the brothel. There are pastries, sweets, tasty fish, and a very fine plum wine I am sure you would have enjoyed.”

  The rat gave a yawn.

  “I have thoroughly searched the bedrooms. No staff have left the building. There is no sign of the mirror. Nevertheless, I continue my lonely vigil until you send message that I should return.

  Be assured – I am thinking of you.

  Nezumi Chiri – Spirit Hunter.”

  Bifuuko rolled the little energy ball happily about then grasped it firmly. She whirred her wings and took to the air. Waggling a goodbye, the elemental zipped through an open window, heading off towards the monastery.

  Chiri had checked beneath floorboards and inside cupboards, and was now intimately acquainted with the roof spaces, bath house and cupboards. She was satisfied that she had searched the brothel through and through – though the girls all had locked chests that held their special treasures. So – perhaps the mirror might be here. The rat lounged about, keeping an eye on the exits. The rafters gave her a splendid view of every room below.

  Some maids were stirring – gathering floor cloths to neaten up the entertainment rooms and corridors. Chiri took her mochi cake in her mouth and trotted off along a rafter, watching from above. Daitanishi came after her, balancing a full sakē cup upon his head. They both settled themselves above the maids, ready to pass the time in splendour and watch other souls hard at work.

  Out in the morning sunshine, little Bifuuko zoomed along above the treetops, looking for all the world like a wandering dragonfly. She zig-zagged about, enjoying the breeze. Wood elementals waved at her merrily from in treetops as she sped by.

  The Ishigi cordon was firmly in place, with samurai and foot soldiers all diligently keeping watch over the monastery walls. Bifuuko whirred above them all, passed over the walls and circled down towards the monastery guest house.

  Sura was sitting in her room wearing her full disguise, glowering at the unappetising breakfast that been laid out before her. Breakfast was apparently spring water, millet porridge and a raw onion.

  Bifuuko flew in through the window, made two laps of the room, then landed on Sura’s knee. The little creature held out the tiny energy ball, turning it around about, and finally seemed satisfied. She beamed, and pressed the side of the ball.

  Chiri’s voice drifted out into the air as the message played. Sura listened, utterly unamused.

  Opening her balcony door, Sura moved out and sat upon the upper walkway. She prodded at the unappetising breakfast, jamming her spoon into it with decided malice.

  “I am surrounded by comedians.” She crammed porridge into her mouth, and forced herself to swallow. “I’m a medium, you know. I could take the spirit of her favourite childhood hero and channel it right into a chugi stick!”

  Bifuuko gave a shrug. She sunned herself on the back of Sura’s wig, and felt quite happy with her world.

  Sura ate her millet, left the onion and chugged the spring water. The monks’ day was just beginning, and their breakfast would soon be at an end. Sura rose and headed down towards the prayer hall, hoping to find Kuno and Tonbo at large.

  With breakfast over, the lower ranking monks milled about, waiting for the routine of the morning bath. Two senior men had gathered with the abbot, where lessons on the healing magics were to begin, and other upper ranking monks were settling down to debate the esoteric scriptures. Acolytes bustled about upon their morning chores.

  The monks were loitering about the main courtyard in great numbers, gossiping and impatient. Something was interrupting the usual flow of morning activities. Tonbo had gathered up breakfast plates and dishes, carrying them to the kitchen. He now seized hold of a hefty wood axe and went the open wood shed beside the kitchen door. He began to split kindling for the cooks, working with his usual powerful efficiency. The big man powered his way through the wood pile, not wasting a single blow.

  His eye was quietly keeping track of his two least-favourite acolytes. He saw them talking with the milling monks – both of them kicking at rocks and looking much like unruly teenagers on a city street. The two acolytes saw Tonbo, and nudged at one another. They both immediately came over towards him, hitching up their robes and rolling back their sleeves. The taller, stringier of the two acolytes spat towards the woodpile, looking decidedly tough.

  “You there! Novice! Did you forget to clean the baths? You did, eh!”

  Tonbo ceased cutting wood. He buried the axe in a stump, inte
rested in the disturbance in the courtyard.

  “Why do you think I have not cleaned the baths?”

  “The junior men see to the baths! You have been slacking!” The shorter acolyte tried to breast against Tonbo. “Freeloaders aren’t welcome here! You should learn your place!”

  Tonbo ignored the little man’s aggression. He turned to frown off towards the baths.

  “What nonsense is this about the baths? Are you saying they’re dirty?”

  “They are closed due to their filthy state! No baths today! The prior has closed them!”

  Tonbo seized the little man and held him off his feet, pinned against a wall.

  “When?”

  The acolyte blanched white with fright. He dangled helplessly in Tonbo’s grasp.

  “Just now! We were forbidden entrance! The prior himself is making an inspection!”

  Tonbo dropped the man like a sack of laundry and seized the wood axe. He thundered towards the prayer hall, bellowing at the top of his voice.

  “Kuno san! Sura!”

  Kuno strode out of the prayer hall, hand on his sword hilt. Sura popped out from behind the garden fence with Bifuuko still gripping to her wig. Tonbo ran past her, heading for the baths.

  “The prior has closed the baths without warning. He is inside. He has the keys to the drainage tunnel!”

  Sura stared. “Mamono!”

  The three Spirit Hunters ran.

  They pelted through the courtyard, cannoning confused monks out of their way. Sura wrenched open her robes to free her legs to run. They raced behind the main buildings to the baths, to find the assistant prior standing quietly before the doors.

  The man came forward, all waving hands and silky smile.

  “No no no no no! I deeply apologise, but the baths are closed for cleaning.”

  Sura pushed back her sleeves. “Where is the prior?”

  “He is performing his duties.” The assistant prior gave a genial, placatory bow. “Please be patient. All will be in order soon. Continue about your ordinary affairs.”

  Kuno walked up to the man, stern and decidedly official.

  “My apologies, honoured monk, but we must ask you to stand aside. I am an imperial deputy. This is imperial business.”

  A huge bone spike suddenly speared out from the monk’s forearm. It burst through the man’s robes, lunging for Kuno’s throat. The samurai spun aside, and the vicious point missed him by a hair’s breadth. But another spike jutting from the monk’s other arm slammed sideways, crashing into Kuno’s head. He was hurtled against the bath house, staggering and falling unconscious in the grass.

  The assistant prior gave a thundering, feral roar. His forearms turned into huge bone spears. Tonbo moved, keeping the creature to his front, hefting the wood axe in his hands.

  “Sura san! The other one is escaping through the tunnel with the mirror!” He saw the fox hesitate, clearly wanting to draw her dagger and attack. “Find Chiri! Delay the other monster! Go!”

  Bifuuko took off, streaking through the air to find Chiri. Sura turned and ran, clothes falling as she transformed into a fox. She sped like a flash of flame, through the courtyard and past the astonished monks. Taking the monastery wall at a dead run, Sura used a tree to spring-board clean over the wall.

  Tonbo was left facing the assistant prior. He stood with the wood axe in his hands, body balanced and powerful. The man moved carefully in towards the monk, watching in cold calculation.

  The monk flexed, his mouth flashing with fangs. The man spoke in a deep, hellish, echoing boom.

  “So. A warrior…” One bone spear pointed at Tonbo’s eyes. “You I will not slay. You, I will keep to skin alive…”

  Tonbo suddenly flashed forward, the axe a brilliant streak. He missed his strike as the monstrous monk leapt sideways. It ripped at him with its bone blades, tearing Tonbo’s sleeve. But Tonbo cut again and again, the blows huge enough to cleave a tree. Axe and bone spears clashed as the monk fought his way free.

  The monk lunged forward, making a huge slice with its bone bladed arms. Tonbo caught the scything blades with the haft of his axe. He locked against the monk, shoving his huge strength against the creature. The monk shoved back, vast muscles bulging and rippling beneath its stolen skin…

  Chapter 6

  Early morning light slanted bright and clear across the hills, striking sparks from a sheath of morning dew. Many ri away, out towards the ocean, rain clouds trailed a haze of rain. But here in the uplands, the day bloomed bright. The dense, dark forest stood like a wall beside grasslands that shimmered in the sun.

  An Ishigi samurai stood guard just within the forest’s edge, near a mass of tanged underbrush growing near a stream. The road between the village and the monastery ran through the woods nearby. The samurai walked, bow in hand, and looked towards the monastery, where some sort of disturbance could be heard. But the cordon of troops seemed to be intact: no warning shouts or signal arrows had raised the alarm. The samurai stood for a while, scowling off through the trees. Finally he turned back towards the road.

  A bone spike ran the man clean through, piercing his breastplate, body and back plate. The samurai sagged, staring as the monastery’s prior stood before him. The prior watched the samurai for a moment, savouring the man’s death. He finally flung the body aside, letting it crash down amongst the bushes.

  Paying the corpse no more notice, the prior mounted up onto the road, leaving the culvert behind. He strode swiftly off towards the village.

  There was a flash in the underbrush, as Sura came streaking out of the bushes. The fox leapt, fangs snapping, clawing her way up the prior’s back. She bit the back of his head, shaking her jaws and tearing free a huge patch of stolen skin.

  The prior roared – a great, bass, horrifying sound. He clawed at his back, bone spears trying to skewer the fox. Finally he hurtled the fox away. Sura fell rolling in the grass, coming up on all four paws.

  The prior was already raging towards her. He stabbed down with his horrifying bone blades. Sura sprang forwards, the spears slamming into the earth behind her. She bit the man’s arm, shaking her head wildly from side to side, ripping free a great long stretch of skin.

  Sunlight struck the manono’s exposed flesh. The creature smoked, charring in the sun. It gave a huge bellow of pain – the sound echoing through the trees.

  Ishigi samurai came running from their camp nearby. Three men stopped to fire arrows at the monster, long shafts striking flesh tougher than oak. The mamono ignored the attacks. As another samurai charged in swinging a naginata, the creature parried the incoming blade, ripping upwards with its other bone spear. The samurai was flung bloodily backwards, crashing into the other men. The mamono ran another man clean through, piercing armour as if it were paper.

  Sura leapt in from behind, savaging the monster’s robes and skin, tearing the garments open. More monster hide charred in the sun. The fox fell free, a great strip of cloth and skin between her jaws. Sunshine seared into the monster and its flesh bubbled and seared. The creature roared in pain, killing another man in front of it before lumbering off into the deep shade of the woods.

  Dazed by the fall, Sura shook herself. She spat cold human skin out of her jaws and raced into the forest, hard on the heels of the monster.

  Outside the bath house, Tonbo slammed a kick against the assistant prior. The creature’s flesh was shockingly solid – it was like kicking a granite statue. The monster roared and shoved Tonbo backward, punching with its spears. Tonbo clashed them aside with the axe haft, his huge strength just barely turning the attacks away.

  The monster slashed; the point of one bone blade gouged clean through the bath house wall, showering splinters through the air. Tonbo twisted sideways as a second blow plunged straight down with enough power to cut him clean in two.

  Tonbo’s axe hacked down. He struck the monster hard in the side, but the blade penetrated only a few finger’s breadths into the creature’s flesh. The mamono snarled in pain and wrenched
aside, tearing the axe out of Tonbo’s grasp.

  The mamono threw the axe away, grinning with its shark teeth in a man’s face. It slowly closed in upon its unarmed prey.

  On the ground nearby, Kuno weakly stirred. He tried to push himself up off the grass. The mamono flicked the man a deriding glance, then closed in upon Tonbo.

  The mamono clashed his bone spears together, stropping the blades. The creature’s voice boomed horribly through dead, stolen lips.

  “I will spit you like a hare!”

  The monster’s torso pulsed, giant jaws moving beneath the monk’s robes. Suddenly it lunged its bone spears forward, again and again. Tonbo dodged backwards, ducked aside from another lunge – then suddenly leapt into a blow.

  The bone spear flashed past the stubble of his cheek. Tonbo slammed the heel of his hand into the monster’s throat. The huge force of the blow rocked the monster back, but caused no injury. The monster crashed its own arm sideways, staggering Tonbo aside.

  A patch of the monster’s hide was exposed to the sun by the dead monk’s open mouth, and the monster’s flesh sizzled and seared. The mamono shook its head, trying to settle the dead skin across its face. It raged towards Tonbo, smashing a cherry sapling aside with one slice of its blade.

  The monster leapt forward, punching a huge bone spike right at Tonbo’s heart.

  Once again Tonbo dodged forward, slamming his open palms against the spear and bashing it aside. But this time he ploughed in, flinging an arm about the monster in a head lock. He dropped down, his whole weight against the crook of the monster’s leg, collapsing the creature in a brutally efficient throw and slamming it to the ground.

  Tonbo tangled with the monster down in the dirt, flinging his legs about the mamono to hold it from behind. The creature raged and snapped, trying to tear at him with its jaws. It flailed its huge bone blades, but Tonbo clung close, keeping an arm about the creature’s neck, tearing with the fingers of his other hand – ripping free the entire horrible mask that covered the mamono’s head.