Forged in Honor (1995) (7 page)

"You will not find Xu Kang, Mr. Swift. He will find you," said Henry, motioning toward the village. "Take the new road that travels north just outside the village. Somewhere along it you will be stopped. Xu Kang's men patrol all the roads in the region."

"I'd best be off, then. I'll stop here again on the way back to Namti. It was a pleasure meeting you both, and I hope everything turns out all right."

Sarah shook the American's hand. "Don't hope, Mr. Swift.

Prayer is the answer."

Henry walked down the steps with Swift and spoke in a harsh whisper once the two men had reached the vehicle. "I think I know what you do in the embassy, Mr. Swift. I warn you, don't use these people. It can only come to ruin."

Swift gave Henry a deadpan stare. "I don't know what you're talking about, Pastor."

Henry lifted an eyebrow. "You know ... and our Savior knows you have ulterior motives for coming here. I'm not a fool. I am aware of your CIA working with Xu Kang. I know you send your secret teams into China from Kang's camps to gather information. I have seen your planes and some of your people when I travel to the northern villages. Just remember my warning. Using these people for whatever you're planning will cause their ruination. Let them be. In God's name, don't involve them."

Standing alone on the porch, Sarah watched the sun set behind the distant purple mountains. She closed her eyes to pray for more strength but heard the gentle plod of hoof beats and creaking leather. Turning, she smiled at the old Horseman climbing down from his saddle.

"Greetings and blessings, Master Horseman. I am pleased to see you."

The old man bowed his head as he walked up the steps.

"Greetings and blessings, Mrs. Brown. I am always made to feel younger in your presence."

"Sit down, Master Horseman. Join me in a cup of tea.

Henry has gone to Namti and then on to Rangoon. It will be nice to have your company and wisdom."

Sarah walked into the house and moments later came out with a tray. After pouring Bak a cup of tea, she sat down with a smile. "I haven't seen you since school ended two weeks ago. How are the boys doing?"

Bak took a sip of tea and put down the cup. "That is why I am here. They are ready for the last tests. I have come to seek your approval."

Sarah shrugged her shoulders. "I'm afraid I don't understand. What are these tests?"

Bak leaned closer to the small woman. "Mrs. Brown, your son and Stephen have been very dedicated and have learned far more than I expected. They have challenged me."

Sarah chuckled. "If Joshua has challenged you, then you have gotten a lot more out of him than I have. Stephen, I can understand. He's an excellent student and makes me work harder than I have ever had to in all my years of teaching."

Bak did not change his serious expression. "Mrs. Brown, Joshua is my best student. I'm not speaking of my teaching here at Shaduzup. He is the best student I have ever taught."

Sarah's mouth dropped open a fraction and her eyes locked on the old man's. "You are serious, aren't you? I ... I had no idea. I know he's loved your teaching, but he never talks about it with me. He's-he's really your best?"

Bak nodded in silence as he leaned back in his chair.

"Mrs. Brown, I ask permission to test the boys as Horsemen.

They are ready. Please understand, and do not worry. They cannot be given the title of Horseman or bestowed the silver band of honor, for there is a final test they cannot perform, the test of real combat. What I am asking for is an opportunity for my students to take the tests and see for themselves what they have learned. It is a passage into manhood which both students are prepared to make."

"Are these tests dangerous?" Sarah asked with concern.

"There are two phases. The first is to travel north to a distant river and live from the forest for a week before returning. The second is a demonstration of horsemanship and weapons skills that you may attend on the plateau below the village. Dangerous? No, not to my students. They are too well trained, as you will see."

"But I haven't given you permission yet," said Sarah, eyeing the old man.

Bak brushed back his moustache ends. "Would you keep your honor students from demonstrating their ability? I think not, Mrs. Brown. I am asking, one teacher to another, for such an opportunity. I have two honor students who have attained all that this teacher can teach. It is time for graduation.

It is time for our boys to become men."

Sarah sighed and slowly nodded her head. "You are a very wise man, Master Horseman. I have learned much from you over the past four years. I know you have worked very hard with the boys and I appreciate all you have done. Joshua has changed. He has always been a good boy, but you have given him what Henry and I could not: an appreciation of this land and its people. I approve of the tests and will be happy to see the demonstration."

Bak smiled and reached out to take Sarah's hand. "Thank you, Mrs. Brown. I believe you will be very pleased with the results."

Sarah squeezed the old Horseman's hand. "I need your wise counsel on another matter. You know as well as I that Joshua and Stephen have become like brothers. And as you probably know, Stephen has become like a son to me. It pains me ... it breaks my heart to think' of his leaving the mission, but as you said, it is time for graduation. Stephen is a gifted student, very gifted. He needs to go to college next year. A good school, so that he can use his gift. I thought at first, when Stephen first came, that he might become a man of God ... but it is not to be. His gift is in math. I'm saying this to you because I know you stay in contact with the Chindit. Many times I've heard that our people have seen him watching the training. I ask of you, Master Horseman, talk to the Chindit and tell him what Stephen needs to better himself."

Bak dipped his chin. "Stephen's heart has grown cold for his father. I do not think he would accept anything from him, even if it was an opportunity to go to a university."

Sarah's lips curled upward. "There are scholarships granted to gifted students. If the Chindit would provide a `scholarship,' Stephen would not have to know where it came from."

The old Horseman smiled. "Ah, Mrs. Brown, you are a very clever woman. I can assure you a scholarship can be made available whenever you desire."

It was the second day of the test, and both Joshua and Stephen were sweat-soaked as they made their way up a steep, twisting trail. Stephen led and stopped for a moment, glancing over his shoulder at the sun that was just beginning to sink behind the mountains. "We'd better camp once we reach the top."

Stephen began to step off, but Joshua grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"What are you doing?" Stephen protested.

Joshua pointed at the bamboo viper coiled among fallen leaves on the trail just three steps in front of them. "I'm keeping you alive. You'd better let me lead."

Stephen rolled his eyes. "I saw him. I was just seeing if you did."

Joshua took the lead and knocked the green snake off the trail with his walking stick. "Yeah, sure. Just like you saw the boar's lair in the valley."

Stephen sighed. "Okay, so you know the forest better than I-I give you that. And I give that you are a better rider and shooter. But who helped you with your studies, and who is helping you become friends with Su?"

Joshua abruptly stopped and turned around. "Yeah, big help you are. She won't even speak to me. Stephen, I think you're after Su yourself and just messing with me."

"Su? Never. The only woman I can see is beautiful Chi.

She is my dream and the one for me."

"Wait a minute. Last week it was Sak See and the week before that, Daa. Since when is Chi the one?"

Stephen grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Since she asked me to take her riding after the tests. She loves me. She said so in a note."

Joshua sighed and again began walking up the trail. "You may be a brain in school, but with women you're as dumb as they come. Maybe we should ask Teacher to help us with girls instead of making us fetch black stones."

Stephen laughed and motioned ahead. "There's the top.

Let's get there, start a fire, and discuss how we will approach Teacher on this delicate subject-" Stephen froze as he saw Joshua suddenly raise his hand.

Joshua lowered himself slowly to the ground and whispered, "Do you smell it?"

Stephen sniffed the air and immediately recognized the putrid odor of saddle sores that he and Joshua had smelled during other treks in the forest. He nodded. "A mule train."

Both boys scrambled off the trail toward a huge sayo tree's aboveground root, which stood like a winding wall. Joshua climbed over, then slithered on his belly to a spot where he could see without being seen. He had to wait only a few minutes before the lead scout of the train appeared. It was a Wa guide, easily identified by his flat nose and greased hair.

Short and powerfully built, the scout was obviously in a hurry, for his face was glistening with sweat. Behind him came the first mule, loaded with large woven sacks that formed a huge mound on the small animal's back. Waiting, Joshua counted ten mules-and more were coming. He also counted the drivers, all lowlanders, identified by their dirty Western clothing and shaggy, unkempt beards.

Stephen had crawled up beside Joshua. He whispered, "What kind of train is it?"

Joshua backed up. "It's a lai train, an opium train. The drivers are carrying new rifles."

Stephen pulled at Joshua's arm. "They will shoot first and ask questions later. Let's just stay here and wait for them to pass."

Joshua leaned against the root wall with Stephen to wait.

Suddenly a shot rang out, then another. The mules brayed and struggled to break their ropes. Men shouted and more shooting broke out, louder and closer, the sound like a wave of thunder rolling over the ridge. Joshua and Stephen lay balled up on the ground as bullets cracked overhead. They heard a man grunt as if he'd been hit with a bat; another screamed like a child.

Finally there was a long, oppressive silence in which not a leaf rustled or a bird chirped. A bray from a wounded mule finally ended the eerie quiet.

Joshua began to rise slowly and then froze. The Wa scout was standing only a foot away on the other side of the root wall, pressing his bloody hands against his stomach. The wounded man raised his eyes to Joshua as if pleading. A loud report behind Joshua caused him to jump. The bullet cracked over his ear and hit the Wa in the forehead, making a dull noise like a stone hitting an overripe melon. The Wa dropped like a rag doll and lay looking up at the canopy with unseeing eyes.

Joshua pulled his pistol and spun, but Stephen grabbed his arm. A blue-turbaned Horseman holding a rifle stepped forward and stared at the two boys for a long moment before lifting his chin and barking a command. In seconds both boys heard the hoof beats of approaching riders.

Walking past Joshua and Stephen, the Horseman approached the Wa's body cautiously until he saw where the bullet had struck. He smiled and looked at Stephen. "I was worried about you, Sao. It is good to gaze upon you again."

Stephen bowed his head. "Greetings and blessings, Horseman Lante. It is good to gaze upon you as well."

The Horseman walked up to Joshua and took the old pistol from his hand to inspect it. "I have heard much about you, white Sao. It is said you are a true Shan and one to behold when riding and shooting. I am fortunate my Sao stopped you from shooting me."

"Did you have to kill them all?" asked Joshua, still in shock at seeing the Wa shot dead before his eyes.

"Of course," retorted the Horseman levelly. "They were warned five days ago and told to pay the tax before crossing the Ri. They stole away during the night thinking they could cross without our knowledge." The Horseman motioned toward the dead body. "It is the law to pay the Chindit for crossing his land. This one and the others knew this law and insulted us by breaking it. They knew the penalty was death." He pinned Joshua with his eyes.

"Sao, this bandit is a killer. The black tar he carries will kill many people and cause nothing but ruin. Farther north the people are cutting down the mountain forests and growing more and more poppies to make into this black tar. The Chindit cannot stop the people from doing this. The lai is worth more than rice or teak. The fields are spreading like storm clouds and soon will devour our Ri."

Joshua nodded in silence, having seen the white and pink flowers in fields of other villages.

The Horseman stepped forward and slapped his hand on Joshua's right shoulder. "I must go, white Sao. I have wanted to meet you for many monsoons. The Chindit speaks of you with a smile. I will pray to the gods that you and the Chindit's son have a good journey to the river. It was long ago that I made the journey, and I remember well the Master Horseman's praise upon my return with the stones."

The pup pig dog growled at the but door. Bak rose up from bed holding a pistol and shouted, "Identify yourself!"

"Teacher, it's us," Joshua said, pushing the door open.

Bak lay back down and mumbled, "I should have known you two would be back early and try to impress me."

Stephen walked in from the darkness with a beaming smile and held up a small bag filled with the black river stones.

"We have traveled all night. Here are the stones for you, Teacher, a full day early."