The Silk Map (28 page)

They tossed enough trade goods that all could ride, all night and through the day. (Quilldrake refused to discard the carpet.)

At last they crested a row of dunes and were startled by Shahuang.

“They call it the Butterfly of the Desert,” said Zheng. “I can see why.”

In the midst of tan sands, small twin lakes of shockingly blue water stretched out like wings. Someone with geomantic training had contrived green fields and a cluster of buildings to complete the illusion that a butterfly of turquoise, emerald, and ruby had landed upon the sands. Like a pin piercing the butterfly, a straight stone road ran from Shahuang eastward, where after many li it would eventually reach Qiangguo's Last Fort.

“I see no trouble,” Bone said.

“In a way that worries me more than if we saw them, Bone,” Gaunt said. “Let's approach with caution.”

“Don't we always?”

Gaunt gave him a look she'd learned from the camels. As they threaded the green fields, children emerged from farmhouses and paced them, yelling various inanities.

Wandering holy folk! Desert madlings! Are you from Madzeu? Qushkent? Are you ghosts?

Gaunt smiled and waved. “They do not seem very invaded.”

There was no guard post, but they'd been spotted, and a pair of armored men, their equipment rather less spotless than that displayed in Yao'an, rode up on horseback.

“State your business,” said one. The tone sounded harsh to Western ears, but Gaunt sensed there was no true hostility.

“We come—” Zheng began.

“We are dealers in silk and tea, medicine and spice,” said Quilldrake, cutting her off with a warning look. “We've come a long way across the desert.”

“Three of you indeed look as if you'd come a long way. The fourth looks as if she might have been kidnapped.”

“Do not insult your elders, boy!” said Widow Zheng in her haggler's voice, though she scowled at Quilldrake. “I go where I wish, with whom I wish.”

The guard grunted and nodded to his partner, who dismounted and poked about the camels. “Interesting carpet,” the second guard said. “Otherwise the wares look much like what you'd find in Yao'an.”

“In the barbarous West,” Quilldrake said, “my people struggle to imitate the treasures of the East. You do me honor by saying we have approached that ideal.”

“There is no dishonor in saying you got lost in the desert,” the mounted guard said.

“Sir!” Quilldrake said with reproach.

“Ha. You can go in. I am less interested in your wares than in your news. Did you happen to notice strange flying creatures in the desert?”

“No,” Gaunt broke in. “In fact, I would find it strange if anything at all lived in that desert.”

“Even so. Yet during the night some stargazers claimed they saw vast shadows in the sky. A couple of us went to check it out and haven't returned. We're not worried—yet. There's an abandoned temple out that way, with a bunch of paintings in caves. They may just be exploring a little.”

“Temple?” Quilldrake said innocently. “Caves?”

“About a half day's ride northwest. There's an old madman who's appointed himself curator, if you want to check it out. Nothing much to interest a trader, though.”

With a recommendation for an inn, they entered town. Gaunt looked around her, even as the curious townsfolk, many winding down their labor, looked back at them. The style of buildings, with their iron gates and lacquer lattices and sweeping roofs, recalled Qiangguo's cities, but the oasis town had a different air. Perhaps, Gaunt thought, there was something to the local attempt at geomancy, for there was an aeolian spirit to the place, with more towers and spires, more lanterns and statues, than she'd seen in Yao'an. Strange, she thought, that Yao'an should appear more blunt and militaristic than this exposed, independent settlement.

The Inn of the Water Sprite shared Shahuang's soaring atmosphere. Its pagoda rose from the southern end of the strip between the two wing-shaped lakes. Stone butterflies adorned various corners.

Soon the travelers conspired in a room with a view of the stables. “So, Art,” Zheng said, once Bone had checked for eavesdroppers. “Why didn't we shout ‘Karvaks! Karvaks!' at the tops of our lungs?”

Quilldrake said, “I think Shahuang's in no danger. And the strange sightings prove it. The Karvaks have gone to the old temple.”

“You think we're dealing with
flying
Karvaks?” Zheng scoffed. “They've tamed dragons?”

“It can be done,” Gaunt said. “Whatever the truth, the sighting can't be coincidence. The old temple is where we originally planned to go, no?”

“Yes,” Quilldrake said.

“The Karvaks have gotten wind of the Silk Map, then,” Bone said.

“If they didn't before,” said Quilldrake, “now they have Flint and Snow Pine to give away the game.”

“Something is nagging at me,” Bone said. “Something I've seen in the past . . .” He frowned and shook his head. “It's not coming clear. Age is catching up with me.”

Zheng and Quilldrake gave him doubtful looks. Gaunt said, “Perhaps it will return, my love, like a thief to a rich house. In any event, I am thinking that I should pay a visit to the old temple.”

“Agreed!” said Bone, looking as excited as a boy given a chance to play beside a cliff.

“I said ‘I,' Bone. You are still limping. And we will need someone to watch the camels.”

“Watch the
camels?
”

“Not merely that,” Quilldrake said. “Someone to play the part of a merchant!”

“
Merchant?
”

“Not only that.” Quilldrake frowned, as though forcing himself toward a difficult decision. At last he said, “I'd like you to guard the fragment of the Silk Map.”

Bone scratched his chin. “I am not sure . . .”

“We may be going into danger.”

“Danger may find me here as well. No, I have a different idea. I want Gaunt to wear it. She is more likely to enter combat than you, and it can help protect her.”

“Why, thank you, Bone,” she said. “I can't recall you ever giving me clothing before. It's sweet.”

“There was the escapade outfit . . .”

“I'm sure that was my idea. You've simply stared at it so much you think it was your idea.”

“Truly?”

Quilldrake coughed. “If it has to stay with me, I'd rather it be guarding
my
neck . . . but I see your point. And I trust you not to run off with it. You are among the most honorable ne'er-do-wells I've ever known.”

“Don't make us blush.”

Under cover of night, Gaunt, Quilldrake, and Zheng (who'd insisted she was refreshed and ready for adventure) ascended the dunes to the northwest. This time they were beyond Quilldrake's knowledge and had to make their best guesses.

Hours passed. Gaunt was getting more comfortable with Quilldrake's patchwork dress, and it helped keep her warm beneath her travel clothes.

Quilldrake slowed, squinting.

“Now . . .” he began.

“Halt!” came a voice behind them.

“We must be cautious . . .” Quilldrake concluded mournfully.

They turned in the moonlight to discover the two guards who'd greeted them in Shahuang. “You!” said the leader. “What are you doing out here?”

“Evening constitutional,” Quilldrake said.

“Don't insult them with lies,” Zheng said. “Sonny, we misrepresented ourselves. We're traders, sure, but we're also treasure hunters. We think there's a treasure in that old temple. We also think there may be Karvaks after it.”

“Now I'm starting to believe you, Grandmother,” said the guard. “The treasure, now, you can work that out with the crazy hermit—”

“Captain Yang? Sir? Isn't a cut our due?”

“You've spent too much time in Yao'an, Jia. Shahuang's an honest town. Now, if there are Karvaks around, that is our business. We don't necessarily mind, but there's history there.”

“Indeed,” Zheng said.

“We were already on our way to investigate, so we'd be glad to join you. Shall we?”

They reached the temple at moonset, Yang and Jia guiding them to a vantage where they might glimpse it unseen. A rocky promontory rose pale and shadowed against the stars, and upon its face were carved two great humanoid figures, each with one hand upraised. Between them opened a wide tunnel.

There were also two small figures, torchlit, bearing spears. These were more lightly armored than Yang and Jia, wearing breastplates, shields, and tasseled helmets.

“Karvaks,” said Yang.

“Let's attack,” said Jia. “There are only two.”

Gaunt said, “There may be many others in the shadows.”

Yang said, “The outlander speaks true, Jia. Now we've verified there are armed Karvaks, we should return and sound an alarm.”

Quilldrake said, “And then we have battle. Perhaps a siege. Protracted and messy. What about your poor mad hermit?”

“Looking this over? Sadly, he's probably dead. And it's not the hermit you're really concerned about, is it?”

“I confess to some urgency in exploring these caves,” Quilldrake said.

Yang sighed. “You're lucky I found you. And you're lucky I have some fondness for Old Crazy Wei. Jia, I'm going to lead these worthies into the back entrance in hopes we can extricate the hermit. You will proceed back to town and sound the alarm.”

“The women can return too,” Quilldrake said.

“You're trying to cheat me already, aren't you?” Zheng said. “I'm coming. Gaunt?”

Gaunt almost felt she was a schoolgirl again, egged into exploring the Abbess's private library. “I've promised Bone to be careful.”

“And so we will!” said Widow Zheng.

Gaunt thought Zheng's definition of
careful
must be an interesting one, but she found herself nodding. She must trust her own instincts now. She had to admit, it was satisfying not to consult Bone on everything related to sneaking and thieving.

“It has been an honor serving with you, Captain Yang,” Jia said with a bow.

“You are such the pessimist! Did we not play in these ruins as boys? I will be fine. Off with you!”

Shaking his head, Jia trudged away into the sands.

“Let us be about this nonsense before I change my mind,” said Yang.

He led them far around the rocky promontory and up a narrow, snaking gorge. It terminated against a blank face in the sandstone mass. Yang crawled out of sight beneath a boulder. Gaunt followed and found herself sliding into a cold carven passage. The others scraped and thudded behind her.

“You are all right?” Quilldrake asked Zheng.

“Haven't had this much fun in years.”

“I do not suppose any of us brought a light source?” Yang asked, and was answered by silence. “Excellent. It is good to know only seasoned professionals are on this mission.”

“I do have a means,” Widow Zheng said. “I'm down to but four scrolls of Living Calligraphy, but perhaps it's time to make it three.”

She opened a scroll, and the characters upon it glowed like candle flames:
Better to light one candle than curse the dark
. They spilled off the suddenly blank paper and fell to the floor, where they commenced roaming around like a caterpillar composed of fire. Zheng gestured and clicked, and the illuminated proverb flickered ahead of them.

“Marvelous,” said Yang.

“Thank you,” purred Zheng. “You are a man of courtesy, handsome one.”

“How long does it last?” Quilldrake asked.

“You are a man of business,” groused Zheng. “An hour, perhaps two.”

“Let's be about it then,” said Quilldrake, and Gaunt saw sweat upon his brow, shimmering with the magical firelight.

A hundred feet down the passage, Gaunt glimpsed a figure. Her hand went to her dagger before Yang said, “It is but a statue, an image of the Undetermined.”

“What is that around his forehead?” Gaunt asked. “A mirror?” The cross-legged figure was the tan of sandstone, with faded remnants of red, yellow, and black paint clinging to it after centuries. Yet the sculpted headgear of the Undetermined still retained the shiny look of cloisonné.

“That is the symbol of the Dust on the Mirror,” Zheng said, the usual growl departing her voice. “It's an offshoot sect, more popular on the roads West than in Qiangguo. They believe in enlightenment but seek it by way of wanderlust and adventure.”

“Thus has Crazy Wei expressed it,” Yang said with surprise. “Are you a nun?”

The growl returned. “Ha!”

“Very well, we've seen a statue,” snapped Quilldrake. “What of the hermit?”

“I confess to a gamble here,” Yang said. “This area's hard to locate by entering from the front, and I'm hoping Old Wei made it here when the Karvaks arrived. Otherwise I doubt we'll find him.”

“Are these secret hiding places?” Gaunt asked.