by Brian Thomas
The woman jumped to do as he instructed and Li Chin removed his belt knife and checked its edge. The blade was razor sharp and clean as he knew it would be. Nevertheless, he dropped it in the pot of water with the threaded needle as it was brought in and stripped off his gown. He knew the importance of cleanliness in the treatments of all wounds and he was about to inflict a serious one.
Li Chin sat beside Shisee and took her face gently between his palms and looked directly at her. Shisee had no alternative but to look straight into Li Chin’s eyes and he began speaking to her in a steady commanding tone. As her attention became fixed he bound her attention closer to him until he had her in a hypnotic trance state. As he talked she noticeably calmed and he began explaining what he was going to do and that she should not be concerned. That she might feel pain but she was to push it away as though it were not there. That if she were to nevertheless feel it that she was to ignore it until he told her otherwise. When he was certain that she was deep in the trance he had intended he signalled to the waiting women.
They came and quickly stripped Shisee and bathed her. Li Chin thoroughly scrubbed his hands, arms and torso before plunging his head into the steaming water. Bursting free of the scalding water, he retrieved his knife and bid the others to hold Shisee down firmly, while he made a shallow finger’s length incision just above her hair line and below her swollen belly. He was careful not to cut too deep, wiping away the blood which welled from the wound. As it began to gape open from the pressure behind he was careful to gently cut to avoid the bladder and veins, though there was so much blood it was difficult to see clearly. Suddenly the womb’s residual waters were draining through the incision and Shisee had another contraction. Li Chin watched the wound being forced open wider as the baby was pushed through the new opening before stopping with its head out but the rest of its body still hidden. Gently taking the slippery head in one hand Li Chin inserted the fingers of his other hand into the incision to ease the babe out to sit wriggling in his hands.
One of the women relieved him of the babe, while another began cutting the cord. He gesture towards the needle and thread and had another of the women constantly clearing the wound of blood so he could see to stitch. Eventually he was done and he sat back to examine the wound. He had stitched the womb and the muscles where he had cut Shisee. He didn’t think he had cut any other organs or major veins, though Shisee had lost a prodigious amount of blood. However, women produced far more blood to support their baby during pregnancy than they would normally have and hopefully she would survive. Though the women had held Shisee down she had hardly reacted to his cutting her and she still seemed awake. Looking deep in to her eyes again, Li Chin told her to sleep and when she awoke to return to her normal state. Shisee obediently closed her eyes and seemed to sleep.
The blood oozing from the wound was running less freely and already starting to coagulate. She seemed to be more comfortable, the contractions quickly easing off.
As Li Chin waited for the afterbirth he explained to the women how to test the ligatures and free them when the time was right so they wouldn’t be trapped in the healing wound and cause Shisee’s death. He watched the women bathing the new child and quickly swaddling it in long sheets. Baubu’s sister-in-law brought the baby over to Baubu who took it reverently, obviously fearful of causing the little bundle harm. “You have a boy, Baubu.” She told him with a smile. Baubu looked up at Li Chin, wonder at the tiny bundle in his arms battling with concern for Shisee in his expression.
Li Chin smiled reassuringly at Baubu as Baubu’s sister-in-law relieved him of his burden and placed the babe against his mother’s naked breast to feed. Suddenly, Shisee gave a brief spasm and the afterbirth exited. Li Chin used the salted water to clean Shisee, especially around the wound before having the women move her to a fresh bed.
When he finished Li Chin discovered most of the women who had previously been in the outer room were now standing silently behind watching intently. None of them had seen anything of the kind before and all now wondered whether Shisee would live to know her new child. As one of them brought over another bowl of fresh water and a towel he spoke carefully to them and to Baubu as he washed and then dried his hands. “It went well but Shisee remains at great risk and may yet die. Though I have seen battle wounds where men have survived much worse than this. Though wounds to the gut and belly are often fatal and result in a painful death there is none of the smell here normally associated with such fatal bowl wounds and Shisee appears less distressed than when I came in. She is in better condition than many men I have seen who have lived to recover from far more serious wounds. She must rest, more than she would from a normal birth and the wound must be kept free of corruption. If it festers she will die. Smear the wound in honey and bind it with fresh bandages until it heals over. Above all, she must be kept in a clean environment and no one must come close to her or the wound before thoroughly cleaning themselves, especially their hands. Beyond that, she is in the hands of the Spirits.”
Xiou’s wife who was still at Shisee’s side had recovered some of her own strength as a result of the birth. “She rests easy now and I have seen women in worse condition following childbirth live to have many more children. I have never seen the like of what you just did. You have great skill priest. Baubu and Shisee have much to thank you for.”
Li Chin was less certain she would survive. But the child at least seemed well. “If the wound corrupts a quick death would be a mercy.”
That seemed to release what was holding the women back and they were suddenly surrounding the prone Shisee. They fussed equally over mother and baby marvelling at least for now they both still lived. Baubu was beaming down at her unable to speak but gently stroking her hair and using a finger to pull the swaddling back so she could see their son more clearly.
Li Chin backed unobtrusively out of the bed chamber into the main room, ready to make his departure. On picking up his sword the door opened and a large man quietly slipped from the night into the lamplight of the room. Coming over to Li Chin and Xiou’s wife who had followed Li Chin out, the man bowed before reporting. “A group of soldiers have come looking for a lone man in grey, with a tattoo on his forehead and carrying a sword.”
The large man looked pointedly at Li Chin who stood before him as he had just described, holding the sword by the middle of its sheath. “They offer a great reward for anyone who can tell them anything that will lead to the man’s capture.”
Xiou’s wife spoke anxiously. “Where are they now Mengpo?”
The man gave a brief smile. “I myself reported seeing a lone man take the road after leaving the tavern, carrying something which may have been a sword, behaving suspiciously in keeping to the shadows and dark places. The soldiers left quickly along the same road so as to apprehend this man before he was lost to the night.”
The woman gave a brief smile back but was quickly passing out instructions. “The emperor’s men arrive sooner than we had hoped, we must leave quickly. Tell everyone who wishes to come that we leave in a few minutes. They do not seek us yet but will shortly and we must go now, while we still can.” Bowing to Li Chin she continued. “We owe you a great debt and would be honoured if you would travel with us.” She added less certainly, cautious about suggesting something which might cause offence. “If you wished to travel less conspicuously we have alternative clothes you could wear. A head scarf to mask your tattoo and we could place your sword in one of the carts.”
Li Chin was surprised that soldiers had come upon him so quickly. They were only searching for him at the moment, so it seemed likely they had not been to the village and they could not have come direct from the Sun Palace in such a short time. If they looked for a man travelling alone his starting out with the peasants might prove a good disguise, at least throwing off his pursuers until he broke off on his own again. He bowed to the woman and replied hesitantly. “My presence is likely to attract danger but I would be grateful to leave with you. I would accom
pany you until clear of these soldiers and then make my own way.”
She smiled, pleased. “We are already in danger and it is small enough for what you have done. My daughter, Shushan, will bring you some of my husband’s old clothes and show you where to hide your sword.” Bowing again she scurried out to organise her group and get them on the road.
Baubu came over and bowed to Li Chin. “I too owe you much but have little with which to repay you. I will stay here at my brother’s house with Shisee and our child. We are amongst friends and family here and will be in less danger than on the road. If I can repay you for what you have done you must tell me how and I will see it done.”
Li Chin was touched at the young man’s earnestness and remembered a promise to a dying friend, as yet unfilled. “No debt is owed Baubu. But you could relieve me of an obligation if you wish.”
The young man straightened up. “Name it!”
“I promised an old friend the world would know of his courage and that of his men. You said earlier you would compose a song to make your son famous. Would you sing of my friend Captain Chow and his men of the life guard so others can hear of their courage and honour, remembering them for a little time longer in this world?”
Looking surprised and pleased Baubu beamed back in pleasure. “I shall make a fine song and, better still, I shall sing it in all the towns and villages I visit. Everyone will know of their courage in the face of an insurmountable foe, unswerving before the Spirits’ instrument of devastation!” Amused at Baubu’s enthusiasm, Li Chin wondered what kind of testament to his old friend he had unleashed.
Xiou’s wife returned, accompanied by a young woman carrying some old clothes, which she thrust towards him. “You must change quickly and then we can leave.” He did so, changing into Xiou’s simple work-worn clothes, completing his disguise by tying a wide white cloth around his forehead to mask the Temple’s emblem there.
With a wry smile he decided with each new day he was moving closer towards the historic role of the Temple priests, prior to the Temple’s covenant with the Wang dynasty. In leaving palaces and the Temple behind he was discovering the Temple’s roots. Li Chin hoped Shisee survived his intervention. The prospect of saving lives rather than taking them lifted his optimism about his future.
Chapter 13
Zun clenched his teeth in frustration trying to keep a hold on his anger. He had driven his already tired men hard on the trail of Li Chin outside the last village, certain the priest could not be far away. They had stopped wearied at sunrise, the empty road stretching far away to the horizon with no sign of anyone on it, let alone their quarry. After a brief rest Zun had driven his men on for two more days to the next town, three times dividing his force to send scouts down side roads. He had given the scouts instructions to rendezvous with him in two days or to send a fast messenger if they picked up their quarry’s trail in the meantime.
He and his men had arrived at the next town to find there was no sign of Li Chin and none of the town’s people had seen him. However, news of the massacre and the killing of the emperor’s nephew by his guardian had reached the town and was the main subject of conversation. Zun had been shocked to hear not outrage at the killing of the emperor’s nephew but awe of the Temple priest who had killed a master, defeating his life guard and soldiers in defence of an innocent peasant.
The version of events had already been distorted from his own certain knowledge of what had taken place. In addition to the life guard, it was common belief Li Chin had fought and defeated the other one hundred soldiers of the honour guard. Those guards lucky enough to escape the encounter running for their barracks. It took no imagination to understand the implications for the priest in taking the actions he had in the defence of an “innocent” peasant, which had gripped the imagination of the people. Li Chin was quickly acquiring cult status and whispered conversations would cease whenever Zun or his men came close to those talking. There was no love or loyalty from the people to the ruling class but it was also rumoured Zu Wah had been a vindictive masochist, dishing out punitive punishments and abuse against innocents at the slightest whim.
It hadn’t taken long for his own men to spread the tale of Li Chin’s supposed possession by evil spirits and his subsequent casting out by the Temple. Rather than secure the fear and loathing of the people as Zun expected, it further elevated their opinion of Li Chin. The general view seemed to be that Li Chin was some sort of Heaven-sent saviour of the people, blessed by the Spirits and as a result untouchable. Zun had seen citizens regarding him and his men curiously, speculating as to whether they would catch the errant priest and what would happen to them if they did. Going by the looks they received few expected Zun and his men to benefit from any such encounter.
None of the citizens had made any direct comments to Zun regarding their commonly held views. Had they done so he would have had no compunction about summarily executing them for disloyalty to the emperor. That was his duty. The story had been collected in dribs and drabs by his soldiers and brought to him by his sergeant. It was clear there was no new information here, only rehashed rumour and he already knew more than most of the town about the events which had taken place.
On the fourth day the last of his scouting parties returned and reported they had questioned a trader on the same road they had just travelled. After questioning they had left him following and he was still a day away from the town where they had to report to Zun. The trader knew of Zun and his search for Li Chin. He had not seen Li Chin, but he had a new tale which was sweeping the village they had just left. The tale was of a Temple priest who had used magic to open up a woman at death’s door following a failed child birth. The priest had saved the child and brought the mother back to life. Given the scarcity of Temple priests and that they were rarely seen in the country other than as guardians, even then jealously held close by their masters as status symbols, it was unlikely there were two lone priests in the vicinity. This priest must be the same one they searched for and the improbable story was entirely in keeping with the other distorted stories which were circulating about him.
With the renewed level of gossip in the village and the surreptitious looks he was receiving Zun could see the tale had already leaked from his own men to the town’s people.
Fuelling Zun’s frustration was the extent to which his own men were being affected by the stories about the priest. They were experienced soldiers who should know that all men bleed and died at the end of a blade. Instead they were allowing themselves to be unnerved by the stories of the priest’s possession by demons and being blessed by the Spirits. They had noticeably relaxed at the news they had probably missed their quarry, contrasting starkly to their palpable tension earlier when it was believed they had been closing on him. The men seemed to be as caught up in the improbable tales about the priest as much as the town’s people.
Zun wished heartily he had his House’s life guard with him, rather than these soldiers he had barely known before taking command of them. Nevertheless, they were what he had and he was determined to bring them up to the same standard of the Yeu life guard he’d relinquished to his father.
Thinking of his men’s’ training and the search for Li Chin, Zun decided he couldn’t keep dragging all of his force around the country at breakneck speed. Based on the underlying level of support for Li Chin in this town Zun had become convinced he had been deliberately misdirected. He needed to be more subtle than he had been so far. His soldiers caused fear and resentment and people were only too anxious to send him anywhere on a wild goose chase, just to be rid of them. He needed to gather his information at a more personal level, to assess its worth firsthand and tease out that extra bit of information which would lead him to the priest.
Zun walked over to Mading, his first sergeant. Mading leapt to his feet as Zun approached. “You and I will start back for the last village this afternoon. Have the men follow starting tomorrow. They are to arrive at the village in five days time but they are to ca
mp outside and wait for us to find them. They are not to enter the town. They are to fast march each morning and repeat the training exercises we have started each afternoon. Tell the men I will be assessing them for improvement with the sword next time I see them.”
Mading saluted and rushed to pass on the orders to his corporal and the men. Zun called a soldier over and ordered him to make up light packs of food for him and Mading, studying the road to the village he and Mading would soon return to. Li Chin may have won the first round but Zun was determined to make sure it was him who would win the game. He wanted to capture this rogue priest before the emperor’s men arrived. He had been made to look foolish and the longer he looked for the priest the more it tasted like failure not to apprehend him. Failure was something he was unwilling to tolerate.
Li Chin leant his weight onto the cart to get it over the rock in the road. As the wheel lurched over the obstruction he shared another smile with Shushan, Xiou’s young daughter, pushing on the other side. Li Chin marvelled at the simple pleasure of travelling with these people. He felt more at peace than he had for as long as he could remember. Walking for most of the day, training in the patterns for his martial craft during the evening, simple food and with no concerns on a day to day basis he was left feeling content and relaxed.
The emperor’s men must be closing in on his trail but he had time yet and he had become convinced his travel with the villagers, while slow, was an excellent masquerade that would fool all but the most discerning pursuer. His conscience pricked at him knowing his presence increased their danger but he would find it hard to make the break having grown attached to this small band.
The group of twenty five souls had decided to travel beyond the empire’s northern borders to an isolated settlement in an area not claimed by any Great House. It held out a promise of freedom never experienced by these people, firing their imaginations to drive them on despite the hardships they faced and the inevitable dangers beyond the protection of the empire’s soldiers. They would try to stay hidden from the barbarians. Many years could pass before the marauding tribes passed the same way again and if discovered they hoped to trade.