Moon Princess (12 page)

14 Jiejiude – Rescued

W
hen Sienna opened her eyes she was lying on a bed. She turned her head to the side, aware that her head ached and was covered in a large bandage. There, sitting by her side, was a familiar figure. Dad!

Seeing that she was awake, her dad enveloped her in an enormous hug. She felt safe in his warm arms. ‘Dad!' she croaked. ‘You're really here. Am
I
really here? Where
is
here?!'

‘You're in hospital,' Dad said softly. ‘You're
fine, but you had a nasty knock on your head and you were very dehydrated.'

‘But … but how did you find me?' asked Sienna. ‘I was in the mine … the roof fell in … then I don't remember.'

‘A huge part of the mine collapsed,' said Dad, speaking in a low, soothing voice.

Sienna's heart clenched. Mum and Gege were in the mine – what if they'd been trapped, or worse?

Dad continued. ‘A security guard heard the explosion and found you unconscious outside. He called for an ambulance. I had reported you missing after a call from Ling, so the hospital contacted me right away. I was already on my way here as the last sighting of you was of you boarding a night train to Pingdingshan.' Dad stroked her face softly. ‘What on earth have you been doing, my darling girl?'

‘I had to come here, Dad. Because of Mum.' Sienna sat up in bed. Her head throbbed. ‘Dad, Mum was in the mine! Did they find her? Was Feng there?'

Dad frowned. ‘Who is Feng? You were all by yourself, my darling.' His frown deepened, his
eyes sad. ‘When are you going to accept that your mother is gone?'

Sienna shook her head. ‘Dad, you have to listen to me. Ling's a crook – she pinched Mum's jewellery. And Mum, she's—'

Dad interrupted her, his shoulders stiffening. Sienna could tell he was angry, even though he didn't raise his voice. ‘Sienna, you need to calm down.'

‘Dad!' Sienna cried, ‘Listen! Ling knew Mum. She's connected with her disappearance. But Mum isn't dead. She's
alive
—' Sienna broke off. ‘At least, she was still alive this morning. It's all connected with the statue and the tem—'

Dad's voice was harsh as he cut her off. ‘Listen to me, Sienna. Your overactive imagination is putting you in danger. What on earth were you doing in a derelict mine? You've injured yourself and ended up in hospital – and it could've been so much worse!'

Sienna's eyes filled with tears. She hated being told off by her dad – but it
wasn't
her imagination. ‘I'm telling the truth!'

All of a sudden, his anger crumpled. He pulled her to him and hugged her tightly. ‘For God's
sake,' he said, his voice barely more than a whisper, ‘please stop this nonsense. I can't lose you too.'

Sienna held her tongue. It was no use: he would never believe her. ‘Sorry, Dad,' she said quietly.

‘I'm sorry too,' he sighed. ‘Get some rest, Sienna. I'll come back soon with some supper.'

Kissing Sienna on the forehead again, Dad left the room. As soon as he did, Sienna swung her legs out of the bed and then stood up shakily. What had happened to everyone? Feng must have carried her out of the mine, she supposed. She hoped he was all right. She longed to know if he had found her mum and Gege.

Looking out of her window she saw that it was late afternoon. From the hospital, she could just glimpse the curved pagoda roof of the temple on the hill. Suddenly she remembered: it was the Moon Festival tonight! Everything was coming together, and there was no time to lose – she had to go to the temple and find out what had happened.
Sorry, Dad
, she thought.
But I have to go. I have to find Mum
.

As she put her shoes on and grabbed her
clothes, still unsteady on her feet, a familiar voice exclaimed, ‘Dearie me, don't you look a state! You could at least have brushed your hair.'

Rufus!

Gathering the little dog in her arms and inhaling his familiar scent, Sienna hugged him until he squeaked. ‘Where have you been? Is everyone all right?' she demanded.

‘Enough!' protested Rufus, struggling out of her grip. ‘We'll meet Zou at the Moon Festival, as planned. I don't know about anyone else, but no doubt they'll meet us there too. Now hurry up. Hmm, I think I know the way …'

Feeling better already, despite the bandage round her head, Sienna followed Rufus out into the corridor and the lift. Now she had Rufus by her side, she knew she could make it through the town and back to the temple.

She just hoped she wouldn't be too late to save her mum.

15 Yishujia – Artist

A
t dusk on the Moon Festival, the Fragrant Mountain Temple was busy with monks and visitors, preparing for the celebrations. Many of the monks were carrying fruit, flowers and other offerings in their arms. Their voices rose towards the moon, already a ghostly white disc against the deepening blue of the sky.

Sienna and Rufus blended with the gaggle of visitors at the temple gates, and hurried into the courtyard that had the well at its centre. A group
of monks were finishing decorating the small pagoda over the well with flowers and strings of lanterns. Sienna turned away. She was terrified of spotting the fat, blue-eyed man a second time. The first time she had seen him, he had been wearing a suit. Then she had seen him in monk's robes. Was he really a monk? What would he do if he saw her? She couldn't forget that sight of the glinting knife clenched in his fist.

As Sienna passed the tree at the side of the courtyard, she heard a cry and glimpsed movement in the corner of her eye. She gasped and started backwards, heart in her mouth, her fists clenched, only to recognize Feng leaping out of the bushes. He almost knocked her over with the strength of his hug. ‘Sienna! Are you OK?'

‘Fine,' she said, laughing breathlessly, her pulse racing. ‘Apart from the heart attack you just gave me.'

‘Sorry.' He smiled sheepishly.

‘Are
you
all right?' She remembered how he'd been too scared to visit the temple the previous day. ‘It must've taken a lot of courage to come back here.'

‘It's strange, but I feel braver now – I've been
trapped in a mine, so I think I can deal with a temple.' He grinned. ‘And Rufus!' He caught sight of the little black spaniel and patted him on the head. ‘I can finally see you!'

‘We meet at last,' said Rufus, bored. ‘Now if you'll excuse me, I'm exceedingly hot after that mad dash across town.' And with a yawn he settled himself in the shade of the tree and shut his eyes, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.

‘Where's Xiaolong?' asked Sienna, searching the air above Feng's head.

‘He and Minka stayed at the mine to search for Gege and your mother,' Feng explained, some of the light falling from his eyes. ‘I haven't seen him since.'

Sienna bit her lip. ‘What happened? Are Mum and Gege alive?'

‘I think so. At least, Minka could still feel your mother after the rockfall. I managed to drag you out – I was so worried! But then the guard arrived and I hid in one of the outbuildings – I wanted to go with you in the ambulance, but I didn't want to leave Gege.' He looked ashamed.

‘Never mind about that!' said Sienna, squeezing his shoulder. ‘We promised each other to
carry on searching, remember? What happened next?'

‘I couldn't go back inside, after all,' said Feng. ‘There were just too many guards around. But Minka and Xiaolong continued the search. So I came here to wait for Zou alone.' He shuffled on his feet. Sienna could tell he was worried about his little dragon. After all, he'd only just seen him for the first time in years, and now they were separated again.

‘Don't be afraid for Xiaolong – invisible friends can look after themselves,' said Sienna, squeezing her friend's shoulder.
It's Mum and Gege I'm worried about
, she thought. ‘Right now we need to find out more about that statue. I think I saw the stone it's made from in the mine – it was pure white, like marble, but almost glittery. It reminded me of something: last time I was here, I met a monk with a similar sort of white dust on his hands. I'd like to speak to him again.'

Suddenly Rufus sat up, his ears pricked.

‘What is it?' asked Feng.

‘That sound,' said Rufus in surprise. ‘I know that sound …'

Tip tip tip tip
.

Cautiously, Feng and Sienna retreated behind the tree and peered out into the courtyard. A woman wearing a pair of red shoes with sky-high heels was walking across the uneven cobblestones.

Ling.

‘The curler-monster! She's here in the temple!' Rufus hissed.

‘Let's follow her,' said Sienna.

Feng glanced at her and nodded.

‘Have you both lost your minds?' Rufus objected. ‘She can see me! That woman and I have history! And her horrible crocodile can't be far behind.'

‘Ssh! Just stay close to us,' whispered Sienna, and she hurried after Ling.

Ling didn't notice them amongst the monks and visitors running back and forth among the temple halls, but she was looking around her and seemed to be waiting for someone.

Presently one of the monks went up to her. It was
him
: the plump man with the shiny face and bright blue eyes, in monk's robes once again! Sienna flushed in anger at the sight. Ling greeted him with a fake smile and addressed him
as ‘Fa Yi'.

The two walked across the yard towards where the three friends were standing. Sienna and Feng glanced at each other in terror, and quickly joined a group of European tourists snapping pictures on their phones, backs turned to Ling and the monk. The pair passed by without a glance. After a few seconds, Sienna and Feng followed, Rufus trotting along at their feet. They didn't even need to stay within view, but hurried after the clacking of Ling's shoes.

They reached a quieter part of the temple. Ling and Fa Yi disappeared behind a wooden door. They heard the sound of a lock turning. Rufus pressed himself up against the door, trying to hear what was being said within. He shook his head in frustration.

‘Most annoying,' said Rufus. ‘I can't make out a word.'

But Sienna's attention had been caught elsewhere. Her eyes followed the long hallway to the right of the wooden door, at whose end was another door, a sprinkling of white dust on the handle.

‘Come on,' she said, hurrying along the
corridor. She pushed the wooden door open cautiously, her heart pounding. To her disappointment the small, square room was completely empty apart from a few balls of dust on the stone floor and a pile of empty wooden crates.
But that dust on the handle … there must be something here
, she thought, scanning the room a second time.

‘What now?' asked Feng.

Rufus slipped in behind the others, snuffling at the floor. ‘There's … something … here,' he managed, in between sniffs. He put his paw on the stone floor. ‘Feel it.'

Feng bent down and carefully pressed his palm against the floor. ‘You're right,' he said finally. ‘This part here feels warm.' Sienna tried it too.

Rufus began to sniff the ground again. ‘Smells of wood, not stone.'

‘Wooden … like a door?' said Sienna. ‘If only we could find the handle.'

Feng explored the area with his hand. Suddenly he said, ‘I've got it!' and a subtle click revealed a square hole in the flagstones.

‘I don't like it here at all,' muttered Rufus, while Sienna and Feng pulled up the hatch.
‘What are they trying to hide down there?'

Stale, warm air rushed out of the square hole in the floor. At first all they saw was a staircase leading down into darkness, a flicker of light at the bottom.

‘You first,' said Rufus.

Together, Sienna and Feng began to go down the steps. When they had reached the bottom they stood there for a while, speechless.

Rufus broke the silence. ‘Where are we?'

They were standing in a large chamber. In the centre was a massive levelled block of stone, with tools lying on it. A fluorescent strip light hung overhead. Beside the stone block stood an easel, below which were several colour palettes. Wooden shelves were mounted along the sides of the room, stacked up to the ceiling with works of art. Pictures, statues, jewellery and porcelain were piled high on each shelf.

There was a shuffling noise, and after a brief flicker the room was illuminated in a blaze of neon lighting. ‘Who are you?' said a quavering voice.

Sienna spun round. There stood a bowed but broad-shouldered old monk, who looked to be
over a hundred years old. Sienna recognized him from his bald head, white eyebrows and the kindness on his face, visible even when he did not smile. It was Sun.

‘It's me. Sienna,' she said, her voice a little shaky too. ‘We met the other day. This is my friend, Feng.'

‘What are you doing down here, children?' the monk asked.

‘We're here for the Moon Festival,' said Feng, when Sienna couldn't think up a good excuse. ‘We – er – found our way down here by chance.'