Tangshan Tigers: the Silent Enemy

by Dan Lee

  Dan Lee spends his time travelling between Asia and Britain. A wing chun master, he also trains in kickboxing and ju-jitsu.

  Books in The Tangshan Tigers series

  THE STOLEN JADE

  THE GOLDEN KEY

  THE INVISIBLE CLOUD

  TANGSHAN

  TIGERS

  The Slient

  Enemy

  Dan Lee

  PUFFIN

  With special thanks to Brandon Robshaw

  PUFFIN BOOKS

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

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  (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd)

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  Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  puffinbooks.co.uk

  First published 2008

  I

  Series created by Working Partners Ltd, London

  Text copyright © Working Partners Ltd, 2008

  All rights reserved

  The moral right of the author has been asserted

  Except in the United States of America, this book is sold subject to the condition

  that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise

  circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other

  than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition

  being imposed on the subsequent purchaser

  978-0-14-191970-6

  CONTENTS

  1 Returning Home

  2 A New Coach

  3 Investigating Sensei

  4 Following Sifu’s Trail

  5 Explanation

  6 Sifu Versus Sensei

  7 The Fight in the Boat

  8 Aftermath

  RETURNING HOME

  Matt peered through the window at the soaring skyscrapers of Beijing, glittering in the sunlight. The view tilted as the plane banked and he felt a gush of relief as the wheels of the jet touched down with a bump. The plane taxied along the runway, gradually decelerating.

  Matt loved flying – but this flight had been tense. He stole a look across the aisle at Andrei Drago, sitting alone. Drago caught Matt looking at him and gave a mocking smile, before turning away.

  Shawn nudged Matt. ‘He gives me the creeps, that guy.’ Shawn Hung was a member of the Tangshan Tigers, a secret gang Matt had set up with his friends. Along with Olivier Girard and Catarina Ribeiro they had first cracked the mystery of a missing jade dish. Since then they’d solved more than their fair share of crimes. But the big secret about the Tangshan Tigers was that they were just that – a secret. No other kids in the Academy knew the gang existed.

  ‘I don’t understand why he’s here at all,’ said Matt in a low voice. ‘It’s been bugging me all through the flight.’

  ‘I know. He tried to knock out a whole roomful of people with sleeping gas, all because he was sore about being left out of the martial arts team –’

  ‘And then Chang says he can transfer to the Beijing Academy!’

  ‘He oughta be sitting in a police cell,’ said Catarina, twisting round from the seat in front. ‘Not being flown by private jet to one of the best schools in the world!’

  ‘I suppose Chang must have a good reason,’ said Olivier. ‘He usually does.’

  ‘Can’t figure out what it is, though,’ said Matt.

  The plane’s speakers emitted a soft, musical bong and the illuminated signs came on: YOU MAY UNFASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS.

  ‘This way!’ said Mr Figgis, the history teacher who had accompanied them on their trip. ‘Two straight lines, please, two straight lines!’

  The Tangshan Tigers gathered up their belongings and prepared to join the queue. Drago pushed past, making Catarina and Olivier fall back into their seats.

  ‘Hey, quit pushing!’ said Catarina.

  ‘If you don’t stand in the way, you won’t get pushed,’ said Drago. He gave a toss of the head and pushed past others down the aisle. Matt could hear people tut loudly all the way down the plane.

  ‘He’s a charmer, isn’t he?’ said Olivier.

  Catarina clenched her fists. ‘I’ve a good mind to –’

  ‘Forget it, Catarina,’ said Matt. ‘He wants to wind you up – don’t let him.’

  ‘You give good advice, Matt. The simple fish snaps at the bait, but the wily old carp is too wise.’

  It was the voice of Chang Sifu, their coach. Matt turned and saw him standing behind them – a slim figure of medium height, with lightly silvered hair, wearing the kingfisher-blue jacket he favoured when not in martial arts costume. His face was calm as usual, but he radiated a sense of controlled energy.

  He motioned them towards the exit. ‘Time to leave; we are last.’

  At the top of the steps, Matt paused to survey the scene before him: the wide expanse of the airport tarmac, the glinting towers of Beijing in the distance. It was good to be back.

  The rest of the students, led by Mr Figgis, were already halfway to the arrivals building. At last Matt had the chance to talk to Chang Sifu.

  ‘Sifu?’ he said respectfully as they walked across the tarmac. ‘We don’t understand – could we ask you…’

  ‘You may ask what you wish.’

  ‘Well, about Andrei Drago – how come…?’

  ‘How come he’s joining our school?’ said Catarina bluntly. ‘The guy’s crazy!’

  ‘Trying to knock out a whole roomful of people! It could have been dangerous,’ said Shawn.

  Chang inclined his head. ‘But fortunately danger was averted,’ he said. ‘Thanks to you.’

  ‘Yes, but –’ Matt hesitated, unsure how to go on.

  Olivier stepped in. ‘We know there’s a good reason why you couldn’t stop him coming to Beijing,’ he said. ‘But we can’t work out what it is.’

  ‘It is not a question of what I could or could not do,’ said Chang. ‘It is a question of what is wise.’

  ‘But why’s it wise to let him in?’ asked Catarina. ‘I don’t get it.’

  Chang regarded all four of the Tangshan Tigers gravely. Then he said: ‘Sometimes it is best to embrace enemy and make him your friend.’

  Matt didn’t want to show Chang Sifu any disrespect, but he couldn’t help the question that came next. ‘But why?’ he asked, frowning. ‘What he did was terrible.’

  Chang Sifu raised his eyebrows and nodded. ‘That is true. But there are reasons people do terrible things. We all deserve a chance in life. Look at you, Matt. Your instructor in London told you that the standard at the Beijing Academy team might be too high for you.’

  Matt gasped. How did Chang Sifu know about that?

  ‘But I gave you a chance to try out and you proved yourself. Drago just needs his own chance to prove himself. We should give it to him.’ He glanced past the Tangshan Tigers at the rest of the team. ‘The
others are waiting,’ said Chang gently. ‘We must hurry.’

  They caught up with the group in the arrivals building, collecting their luggage at the baggage carousel. Matt couldn’t help eyeing Drago, wondering what he was thinking. Drago held his hand up, making the ‘L’ for ‘Loser’ sign at Matt. Then he smiled, picked up his holdall and turned his back.

  Matt forced himself to take his own advice and not get wound up. ‘Well – Chang must know what he’s doing,’ he said quietly to the other Tigers as they were boarding the luxury, air-conditioned, double-decker coach that would take them back to the Academy. ‘He always does.’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Shawn. ‘We’ve got to trust him.’

  ‘It’s one thing to trust Chang,’ said Catarina. ‘But I don’t trust Drago.’

  ‘We’ll keep our eyes on him,’ said Olivier.

  ‘We’ll watch him like hawks!’ said Matt.

  The coach doors swished shut behind them as they climbed aboard.

  The following morning, the martial arts squad gathered for their training session at the kwoon – a spacious hall with matting on the floor, high windows and smooth, white light-panels on the walls and ceiling. One wall was decorated with paintings of scarlet dragons. All eleven of them – Matt, Shawn, Catarina, Olivier, Carl, Lola, Wolfgang, Abdul, Dani, Jahmal and Vincent – were there early. There’s nothing like victory in a tournament, thought Matt, to make you eager to train.

  As they waited for Chang, the Principal, Mr Wu, popped his head into the room. To Matt’s surprise, Andrei Drago was with him.

  ‘Well done, well done!’ said the Principal. Despite the early hour he was clad in his usual well-cut dark suit and tightly knotted tie. Matt sometimes wondered if he slept in this outfit. ‘A famous victory – we certainly showed those Kyoto chaps how to do it! And just in time to appear in next year’s school prospectus; what very good timing! Now, I have brought the new boy, Andrei Drago – you have met already. I feel sure you will make him welcome!’

  He ducked his head out of the door and Matt heard his heels clicking away down the corridor.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ Catarina asked Drago. ‘You’re not in the squad.’

  ‘I know; I have come to see if I can try out for it,’ said Drago softly. His manner was subdued, nothing like the blustering performance of yesterday.

  At eight o’clock on the dot Chang Sifu opened the door. He doesn’t seem surprised to see Drago, Matt thought. But then, Chang very seldom seemed surprised by anything.

  ‘Sifu – could I try out for the squad, please?’ asked Drago.

  Chang Sifu regarded Drago thoughtfully. ‘Are you prepared to work hard?’

  ‘Oh yes, I am! I will work as hard as you ask me –’

  ‘Well, squad,’ said Chang. ‘What do you think? Should we let him try out?’

  No one said anything. What are we supposed to say? Matt wondered. It seemed ridiculous to let a loose cannon like Drago anywhere near the team – but now that he was a student at the Academy, he had as much right to try out as anyone else. ‘Yeah, let him try out – why not?’ he heard himself saying. He saw Catarina’s jaw drop open.

  Chang nodded. ‘Very well. It is only fair to give you a chance. ‘You may train with us today. If – and only if – I am impressed with what I see, I will consider revising squad. This depends entirely on what you can do.’

  Andrei brought his hands together in front of his chest as though praying, and bowed low. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Thank you very much, sir, I will do my best.’

  Matt felt a twinge of guilt for having been so down on Andrei before. He’d done something dreadful in Kyoto, but he seemed a different person today. All that pushing and face-pulling yesterday – could that just have been bravado?

  ‘Chang Sifu’s giving him the benefit of the doubt,’ Matt whispered to his friends. ‘Perhaps we should too.’

  Master Chang ushered them into place.

  ‘Begin with simple stretching exercises to loosen muscles,’ said Chang. ‘Start with thigh-stretch, like so. Work in pairs.’

  Matt was paired with Catarina.

  ‘You don’t really want Drago in the team, do you?’ demanded Catarina as they went through the first routine together.

  ‘Not really,’ Matt admitted. ‘I’m not sure he’ll get in anyway. He wasn’t good enough for the Kyoto team. But everyone deserves the opportunity to try out.’

  ‘Form into two lines,’ said Master Chang, interrupting them. ‘Today we learn new and very important technique. You will need to concentrate.’

  ‘Hey, give us a break!’ said Carl. ‘After the Kyoto tournament we deserve to take it easy!’

  Everyone knew Carl for his loud mouth and arrogant opinions. His ego always got the better of him after a win, so it was no surprise that he had something to say today.

  ‘Martial arts fighter should never take it easy,’ said Chang Sifu.

  ‘No, but I mean, we won the tournament, or maybe I should say, I won the tournament, so –’

  ‘So I should immediately be made emperor of the whole world!’ said Olivier, imitating Carl’s accent. ‘Emperor Carl the First, that’s me!’

  There was a burst of laughter. Matt always enjoyed Olivier’s brilliant imitations of Carl. The only person who didn’t enjoy them was Carl. He glared at Olivier through narrowed eyes. Olivier smiled back.

  Chang held up his hand for calm. ‘Focus of today’s training will be on balance,’ he said. ‘You will learn to master your centre line.’ He paused to let these words sink in. ‘Does anyone know of concept of centre line?’

  Matt racked his brains. Centre line? He saw Shawn raise his hand.

  ‘I know a little bit about it. My grandfather did wing chun, and he taught me – I don’t know much, just the basic idea.’

  Chang Sifu nodded. ‘Tell us what he taught you.’

  Shawn walked to the front of the mat so that all his teammates could hear him.

  ‘The centre line is the area right in front of your body, right? And you have to focus on it, direct all your energies on it. Kind of point your whole body at it. And you’ve got to be balanced – have a good foot-base. If you’ve got a firm base to strike out from and you focus on the centre line, you should beat your opponent to the punch – because a straight line is the shortest distance between two points.’

  As Shawn talked, Chang Sifu walked slowly back and forth behind him, listening.

  ‘That is correct,’ he said. ‘Balance is the key. What this means in practice is –’

  ‘Hold on!’ protested Carl. ‘This isn’t fair – it’s biased to people who do kung fu. I do karate, it’s not gonna suit my style –’

  ‘It’s not a question of styles,’ said Chang patiently. Matt liked the cool way he put Carl in his place, never getting wound up by him. ‘We are concerned only with what works best. You will find centre line theory can be applied to all fighting styles – it will make your karate techniques more effective if applied properly. You will also find this principle works not just in tournament but in real-life fighting situation. In street fight it is devastating.’

  Matt blinked in surprise. He had never heard Chang talk of real fights before. He knew that Chang himself was awesome in a real fight – he had seen him in action against Sang and his henchmen under the Great Wall of China – but in the kwoon he always talked of martial arts as if they were just that – arts. Why was Chang talking about street fights? Matt glanced at the other Tigers. Catarina raised her eyebrows. Shawn frowned. Olivier pulled a ‘search-me’ expression.

  ‘Adopt this stance,’ said Chang. He stood with his legs apart, one foot about a shoulder’s width behind the other. His knees were very slightly bent. ‘Note that most of my weight is resting on back foot. Note also that toes, knees, hips, shoulders, all point in same direction: forward. Everything focused on narrow area in front of me.’

  The students slowly adopted the same stance, as Chang went round adjusting a knee here, an elbow there. Matt fou
nd it strange and slightly uncomfortable – as a tae kwon-do practitioner, he was used to standing side-on to an opponent, protecting vulnerable areas. This stance made him feel exposed.

  ‘centre line is narrow area directly in front of you. Imagine an enemy facing you: the centre line goes through his body, and that is where you must attack. If correctly centred, all your chi – your energy – runs right up through your body, starting from back foot where your weight is placed. You will strike with great force, all your chi converging on the target. If channelled properly, you will punch harder than you ever thought possible. If attacked by multiple enemies, they need to be taken out fast. Before they have opportunity to co-ordinate. Go to meet them, intercept, hit them bang bang bang, using centre line. Strike hard, strike straight – control angles. Throw them off-balance and the fight is yours.’

  Multiple enemies? Members of the squad glanced at each other uneasily.

  Matt would never normally question Chang Sifu, but it felt strange to hear Chang talking about enemies in this way. ‘Sifu, why are we changing our training?’

  Chang gazed past Matt at an open window in the kwoon. Matt glanced over his shoulder and saw the Beijing landscape spreading out beyond the Academy.

  ‘Your life does not begin and end in this kwoon, Matt. Nor does your training,’ said their teacher.

  ‘What does he mean?’ Catarina whispered.

  ‘What I mean,’ said Chang, turning to Catarina, ‘is that I want you all to be able to defend yourself wherever life takes you. I won’t always be by your side.’

  ‘Why? You’re not leaving for another job, are you?’ asked Carl Warrick. ‘That would be totally unfair!’ Trust Carl to put himself first. But Matt felt his own chest tighten at the thought of Chang Sifu leaving them.

  Chang shook his head and smiled. ‘I will never willingly abandon you.’

  ‘Good,’ said Carl, turning away. ‘My father paid good money for me to be trained by you.’ Matt gazed after Carl in disbelief. Was that boy for real?