Taming Poison Dragons

by Tim Murgatroyd

  ‘Why are you here?’ I croak.

  He lowers himself to his knees and cries: ‘Ensign Tzi-Lu, sir!’

  ‘Quieter!’

  ‘Of His Majesty’s Guard! I was instructed to pass a message to you alone, sir!’

  He looks at Wudi meaningfully.

  ‘You may speak in front of the headman,’ I say.

  ‘That is against my orders. . .’

  ‘Damn your orders! Speak quickly, then leave my house before you bring it tumbling round my ears. What is the message?’

  The Ensign Tzi-Lu nods stiffly, bringing his fists together in a salute. He rises suddenly, listening for movement in the corridor. The house creaks ominously. Then he resumes his kneeling position and lowers his head.

  When he speaks again, it is in the sing-song tones of a messenger who has learned his message by heart:

  ‘Should the Second Chancellor to the Son of Heaven, His Noble Excellency P’ei Ti, arrive at the gate of Yun Cai of Wei, in Chunming Province, His Imperial Majesty expressly orders that his servant should return at once to the capital, without delay of any kind, and that this command be confirmed by the seal carried by this bearer.’

  The Ensign Tzi-Lu proffers a small jade seal, carved with intricate characters and fletched with gold. There is a reckless courage about the man. No doubt that is why he was chosen for so insane a mission. Yet travelling through General An-Shu’s armies to Wei calls for guile as well as bravery. At last I fully understand P’ei Ti’s importance.

  ‘I am grateful to you for saving my life, ‘ he adds. ‘And that of my men.’

  ‘You are still hiding behind the waterfall?’

  ‘Yes. The rebels have searched the area twice, but without success. Lord Yun Cai,’ he says, passionately. ‘Please know that I have been commanded to save His Excellency at any cost. Any cost at all!’

  A knock on the door – one I know well – my steward.

  ‘Do not enter!’ I call. ‘I am indisposed.’

  I motion fearfully that the cavalry officer should hide behind my dressing screen.

  ‘Lord!’ calls my steward, outside the door.

  ‘What is it? I have told you I cannot see anyone.’

  How long has he been listening by the door?

  ‘Lord, your youngest son has arrived in the hall. He won’t have a moment’s delay. He told me he wishes to see you.’

  ‘Tell him to wait in the hall.’

  I hear the steward’s hurried footsteps padding down the corridor.

  ‘Go at once!’ I hiss. ‘Wudi, get Ensign Tzi-Lu away from Three-Step-House! I will occupy my son.’

  ‘Your son?’ asks the officer.

  ‘Is one of General An-Shu’s captains. Oh yes, now you know my predicament.’

  He stiffens with suspicion.

  ‘Leave at once. For all our sakes.’

  Wudi opens the door and peers around. The corridor is clear. He gestures to the officer who hurries after him. The door closes and I listen to the scuffle of their feet. All is silent once more. Then the sound of heavy boots in the corridor, and my door swings open without even a knock.

  Youngest Son stands glaring in the doorway.

  ‘Father,’ he says. ‘Didn’t the steward tell you I was here?’

  I fan my face with the first piece of paper to hand. A copy of the lake poem I have prepared for Lieutenant Lo.

  ‘What is the matter, Father?’ he demands. ‘You seem unwell.’

  I cough uneasily. It is essential I detain him in my room for as long as possible.

  ‘Ah,’ I say. ‘Sit! Sit yourself down! I am just tired. Are you thirsty?’

  He glances round the room suspiciously.

  ‘There is no time for that. One of my guards saw a stranger approaching Three-Step-House. The fool lost him in the bamboo grove! Have you seen any strangers?’

  I gesture at the empty room. Smile blandly. It is a shameful thing when one is afraid of one’s own son.

  ‘Doubtless he saw a villager,’ I say.

  ‘No, Father, he reported a man of military bearing.’

  ‘Really? How curious.’

  Youngest Son paces up and down. He seems to fill the room with his armour and cloak, his long sword rattling in its scabbard.

  ‘I take it, His Imperial Majesty’s soldiers have not been found?’

  He stops pacing. Scowls.

  ‘You should not refer to the Usurper like that!’ he says.

  ‘Only General An-Shu deserves such a title. You must remember that when you are in Chunming, or. . .’

  Or else? Well, he hardly needs to explain. I must keep him talking, win time.

  ‘Perhaps your enemies have left Wei. In which case you search in vain.’

  ‘That is not possible,’ he snaps. ‘The exits to the valley are guarded.’

  ‘You should know there are numerous routes in and out of Wei.’

  ‘No,’ he says. ‘I know they are still here. I can feel it. I must capture them, Father! It is essential for me to capture them! I have assured His Highness it will be done.’

  ‘Sometimes we all fail,’ I suggest. ‘What matters is how one learns from it.’

  ‘I will not fail!’ His voice is slightly hysterical. ‘I have not failed!’

  It distresses me to see him like this. Yet the more he talks, the better hidden my unexpected visitor will be. I have no doubt Wudi is too wise to leave Three-Step-House. As a boy he learnt every corner on our cricket hunts, surely he will find a quiet hiding place for our guest.

  ‘What am I doing here?’ cries my son. ‘The house must be searched! Wait here, Father.’

  Now my anxiety doubles.

  ‘Surely that is not necessary,’ I say. ‘Let me call for wine.

  You can tell me about the situation in Chunming. I mean, the Temporary Capital.’

  Once more he looks at me suspiciously.

  ‘Chunming is indeed the Temporary Capital,’ he says.

  ‘Of course. Sit yourself down! We have much to discuss.’

  For a moment I think he will oblige. Then he remembers his intention and, without another word, stamps out of the room. I hear him bellowing orders. The sound of soldiers’ feet and clumsy hands opening doors, frightening the servants, shifting furniture and barrels. Youngest Son’s shouts rise above all. He is in a frenzy, the fever of a desperate man. Should I pretend to be an old dotard and try to frustrate them? Or should I stay here and anticipate the worst? Few know Three-Step-House better than Youngest Son. At any moment I expect to hear shouts of triumph, the sound of the Ensign Tzi-Lu being dragged forth.

  Finally I can bear it no longer and make my way to the Middle House. Everywhere soldiers and their sergeants.

  They stand aside to let me pass, knowing I am their captain’s father, but that will be small protection when the Ensign Tzi-Lu is found, as surely he must. I walk down to the Bottom House, where kitchens and storerooms surround our courtyard. A squad of guardsmen by the gate.

  Truly, we are trapped. Suddenly Youngest Son emerges from the privies, which are built above the pig-sty. He fumbles as he straightens his clothes and armour. Perhaps the excitement of the hunt has loosened more than his temper.

  ‘Well?’ I ask, trying to feign unconcern.

  He stares at me.

  ‘You seem nervous, father.’

  I laugh hollowly.

  ‘My home is full of soldiers,’ I say. ‘People will think I am a rebel against the General.’

  He looks from side to side. Even as a boy, this gesture signalled he was thinking.

  ‘You are right,’ he says. ‘My soldiers will remain here as guards until the rebels are found. Go back to your room now, Father.’ He wishes to concede something. ‘Though I am glad you try to help.’

  I do as I am told. I sit in my room and anticipate the discovery of Ensign Li-Tzu. Where can he be hiding? Why has he not already been captured? Perhaps he is in the rafters, or beneath a bed. I cannot imagine where else he might be. After a while, a knock
on the door. Wudi enters without ceremony and sits heavily on my favourite divan.

  He looks decidedly grey.

  ‘Well?’ I whisper.

  He blinks at me.

  ‘He’s in the pigsty,’ he murmurs. ‘Do you remember the tiny chamber beneath the privies, with the low doorway for the pigs to enter?’

  ‘Ah, where we hunted the cricket with a piercing cry, like gongs! When we were boys!’

  ‘I don’t know about that, Lord, but he’s in there. Rather him than me on a hot day like this.’

  I settle back. What can we do but wait? Minutes pass.

  It must be an hour since they began searching.

  ‘Join the servants in the kitchen,’ I say, finally. ‘I don’t want my son to find you with me. It might make him suspect something. Tell the steward I have ordered you to collect a sack of rice from our stores in anticipation of my journey to Chunming. He’ll understand that. If we can, we’ll give it to the Ensign for his men.’

  Wudi raises his thick eyebrows.

  ‘But if they find your. . . guest?’

  ‘Then pray he does not reveal your part in this.’

  Wudi grunts.

  ‘I’m off to the kitchen then.’

  So I am left alone, and close my eyes. I can hear the soldiers continuing to search and a sergeant’s raised voice.

  At last it is evening. Stars gather in eternal shapes above the earth; but down below, in Wei, the campfires are brighter. Red, merciless eyes looking us over, assessing what we have left to take. Little enough. After four days we have been stripped bare, yet still they want more. Who can blame the common soldiers? They do not belong here, feel no loyalty towards us. All civilians despise them. We are just one more larder, and when the food runs out other meat will present itself.

  Wudi comes to my room after the lighting of the lamps.

  Neither of us is inclined to talk. I gesture towards the wine flask, fan myself. He pours himself a cup and drinks it in one. Then he anxiously kneads his Buddha’s pot-belly as though he were alone.

  ‘I have heard bad news from the village,’ he says.

  ‘Regarding our guest?’ I ask.

  ‘No, Lord. Our guests.’

  ‘You mean General An-Shu’s rabble?’

  He looks around nervously.

  ‘Someone may be listening by the window,’ he pleads.

  ‘What of that?’

  ‘You have been drinking, my Lord.’

  ‘That is true,’ I say.

  ‘This is not the time, perhaps?’

  I laugh bitterly.

  ‘What of our other guest?’ I ask.

  ‘Still in the same place, as far as I know.’

  So we are safe for now.

  ‘And your bad news? You mentioned bad news.’

  Wudi scratches his bald head, a sure sign of distress with him.

  ‘The soldiers are getting out of control,’ he said. ‘I have heard they dragged the landlord Li Sha’s daughter from her home and held her down. All because he refused to tell them where he had hidden his seed corn.’

  I digest this development. So the food is finally running out in the village.

  ‘Is she the only one?’ I ask.

  ‘No, there have been others.’

  ‘And your own relatives?’

  ‘Safe so far, Lord, but I am frightened. It is not good.’

  It takes little imagination to recognise that rape may lead to massacre. But if they devour the peasants’ stock of seed for planting, another kind of massacre must follow, slower perhaps, but as deadly. Our whole province is threatened with famine and that worsens our danger. We can expect no assistance from neighbouring districts as badly pinched as ourselves.

  ‘Youngest Son has lost mastery of his own men,’ I say.

  ‘That is the worst news of all, for everyone knows that only the stupid, criminal or poverty-stricken enlist as soldiers. Such men require a firm hand.’

  Wudi shrugs. ‘What are we to do?’ he asks.

  I sense weary fear behind his question. He is a peace-loving man, a peasant at heart, ill-suited to the risks he has taken on my behalf.

  ‘First, we must say farewell to our unwelcome guest.’

  ‘Eh?’

  ‘You know what I mean.’

  He sighs heavily.

  ‘Very well, my Lord, I will do it. But there are still a dozen soldiers around the house.’

  I wag my finger. Perhaps I’m drunker than I imagine.

  ‘Leave it to me,’ I say.

  ‘Forgive me, Lord, but I think it would be best for all of us, if I went with you.’

  We are disturbed by voices in the corridor. I place a finger over my lips. There is a tap on the closed door.

  ‘Forgive the late hour, Lord Yun Cai.’

  We relax. My steward’s voice.

  ‘I have a gentleman with me who insists he must see you.’

  Again we grow tense. My life has begun to resemble the farces I remember being performed in the Imperial Pleasure Grounds! They, too, were full of unexpected entrances.

  ‘Then show him in,’ I call.

  The door opens. Instead of Youngest Son returning to admonish me further as I expected, a more genial face, though by no means welcome. Lieutenant Lo, in full uniform. I peer behind him for a squad of soldiers but he is alone. So we are not to be dragged off, just yet.

  ‘Welcome, Lieutenant,’ I say. ‘Please be seated while I finish with my servant.’

  He sits down awkwardly.

  ‘Ensure that not a cash coin of my rents goes uncollected!’ I chide Wudi. ‘As for that other business I mentioned, wait until I have entertained my honoured guest before proceeding further.’

  Wudi bows, sidles out.

  ‘Forgive me,’ I say. ‘I have much to arrange before I am conducted to Chunming.’

  Lieutenant Lo looks embarrassed. I have no doubt he guesses how I feel about General An-Shu’s summons.

  ‘Your son, I mean, the Captain, sent me here with an urgent message.’

  I raise my eyebrows.

  ‘He requests that you gather all the possessions you require for the Temporary Capital without delay, and that you should be ready to leave before cock-crow.’

  ‘That is. . . soon.’

  Lieutenant Lo scratches his chin.

  ‘A messenger arrived an hour ago from the General himself. We have received orders that all companies must assemble immediately. It seems the Emperor, I mean, the Usurper. . .’

  ‘I know who you mean,’ I say quickly.

  Lieutenant Lo meets my eye and an understanding passes between us. After all, the man is not a hot-headed youth or complete fool.

  ‘It seems,’ he continues, with his mournful smile. ‘A second army is preparing to march on Chunming.’

  ‘Ah,’ I say. ‘Tell me, did you defeat the first army with ease?’

  He spreads his hands.

  ‘We defeated them, Lord Yun Cai.’

  ‘And did you lose many men in the process?’

  ‘Quite a few.’

  We both nod, conversing, as they say, without words.

  ‘And is the Emperor’s, I mean the Usurper’s, second army larger than the first? No doubt he has had time to summon reinforcements from the frontier.’

  ‘You’d expect such a thing,’ says Lieutenant Lo. ‘On the other hand our own forces have been swelled by many conscripts.’

  ‘But has there been time to train them?’ I ask.

  ‘The time has been short,’ he concedes.

  Lieutenant Lo rises to his feet, and bows.

  ‘I must get back to the village,’ he says. ‘There is much to organise.’

  ‘Perhaps your presence will restrain some of the more, how can I put it, ill-disciplined, of your men? You understand that, as Lord of Wei, it is my duty to shield the villagers from harm.’

  I am assuming too much with him. But what have I to lose? It appears I do not misjudge him.

  ‘You are their father,’ he says
, simply. ‘Rest assured I will try my best, even if it means no sleep for me tonight.’

  ‘Then you will gain my eternal gratitude, Lieutenant Lo.’

  He rises to go.

  ‘One moment!’ I call. ‘You may recollect that I promised you a copy of the poem we discussed on the first night you came. I have it here. Honour me by presenting it to your wife.’

  He looks puzzled, then smiles sadly.

  ‘ Waiting by West Lake,’ he says.

  ‘That’s the one.’

  I pass over a rolled parchment. The edge of the paper flutters in the night breeze entering through the window.

  ‘I’m obliged,’ he says.

  I wait a respectable time for him to leave, then search out Wudi. I find him by the entrance to the Middle House.

  ‘Do you have the rice?’ I whisper.

  He taps two bags at his waist.

  ‘Then accompany me.’

  It is securely dark. Few of the servants are around and I order those we meet to their rest. No rain-clouds obscure the stars filling the valley with soft, sweet light. Even the village below seems at peace; men laughing and singing, though the wisest among them must realise what awaits them back in Chunming. Looting, or worse, could still break out in a moment. Night insects chirrup. Fireflies flit around Three-Step-House. This is my last evening here, possibly forever, and I would enjoy my old home if I could.

  We reach the privy.

  ‘Wait outside,’ I murmur. ‘If anyone comes, cough.’

  I enter and close the door. It is black within, yet no eyes are needed to sniff out the wooden seat with a round hole cut into it.

  ‘Psst!’ I whisper. ‘Ensign Tzi-Lu! It is I, Lord Yun Cai.’

  Silence. Then the sound of a slight movement.

  ‘Can you hear me?’ I whisper.

  The stench is nauseating. I fight back an urge to vomit.

  To have spent a whole day among such smells and textures might haunt a man for the rest of his life. Perhaps he has been overcome.

  ‘Yes,’ comes a muffled reply from below.

  I sigh.

  ‘Wait for a short time,’ I say. ‘Then make your way to the entrance of the sty. Be careful to make no noise, there are guards patrolling the house. Do you understand?’