120 The emptiness in their eyes

We'd reached the next sweep in the river and passed out of Shipao land into Chen. To the left bank we were home, and to the right we still had the cushion of Liú Province. Stroking away on the poles, we travelled the short distance to that final fork. Here the river had lost it fervor but we still had to work to remain left.

Ahead was the fork to Tanguin and although it took the majority of the flow it's way, it fought us less and we were able to remain on the correct trajectory. We were getting better at the pole work and it showed in our progress. I think both of us wanted to reach somewhere where we could stop and rest up before our work really began.

Taking a left fork once more, we entered a familiar lake complex. We were home. Surrounded by Chen land, we felt the sensations of safety because we were home,  but also vulnerability, for the same reason, we were home. What had the Mu army and bandits done to our lands?

"Let's stay up river of the lake for now. When we can, let's find a suitable spot where we can beach this vessel and haul it up so its out of sight." I was wary and wanted to stay as protected as possible. I was spent and needed a few days to recover. I also wanted to be able to light a fire and here, there was less chance foreign agents would spot our smoke, and think anything of it.

"Okay." Xin kept a look out and finally a shallow bank came into view, with plenty of undergrowth close at hand. "How about here?" She gestured and I nodded in agreement, helping her steer the boat to dry land.

My arm were ready to fall off and my back felt as if I had worn it down to half it's length, but not long now, and we could both stop.

"Let's get the boat up and out of sight, then sit for a while, I need to rest. Would imagine you would too."

Beaching was easy. Smoothly we hauled the boat into the undergrowth. Hidden from view, we sat down and stared at each other.

"We made it! I didn't think we would. That river was so strong. How did you do that Niao? Where did all that power come from? I mean, no disrespect, we needed it, but where on earth having you been hiding such awesome strength!" Xin stared at me in awe, I've no idea why. I shrugged. 

"When needs must, you'd be surprised what the body can do. Don't be awed Xin, its just Nature working. You go into a trance state and the body takes over. It feels odd. Everything is slow motion and easy to do. I don't try to explain it, I just thank my body for the feats it can perform." I stopped and looked at her, "you do it too when you have to, I promise you."

I lay back. The sun was starting to set and the familiar skies of home glowed pink in the cloud-base. I smiled. "We need to get our camp made up, night is coming and the insects will be biting soon." Getting up, I brushed myself off and turning to Xin.

"Come on, let's get the sleeping arrangements sorted and a fire going. We need to fish and use some of the vegetables Master Liang gave us. Let's get food cooked and eaten, then sleep."

"Yes, I could sleep for a week." 

"Where do you think they are now?" Bǎo sat eating his evening meal. He looked up at his sworn brother, who was more kin than he had ever felt before.

"Hopefully, they've made it past the worst of it and are now heading down to Chen land." Hao took another mouthful and continued, "if they are sensible they will stop at Shàng Yóu, lakes behind Chenxi and hide away there for the time being.  Wonder what they'll find? I just hope its not as bad as I imagine."

They continued with their meal in silence until Sergeant Zumò joined them.

"Sir, any news from Colonel Chen?"

"Nothing yet, but we should hear within a few weeks. No scouts have returned either, so we are all a bit in the dark. How's the training going?" Hao looked over to Zumò. He had grown into himself in the short time Hao had known him and he was pleased he was one of the few singled out to be promoted; he wore it well.

"It's going well Sir. The men have taken on much of the martial arts the monks have been teaching them,  and as a fighting force, they are formidable. I would pit them against any oppopsition now and we would lose very few."

The conversation continued for some time until, after finishing their respective meals they made their parting comments and went their separate ways.

"Colonel Chen, I do not see the relevence to this conversation. Why do you think you have a say in the future of Shipao Province and for that matter, Liú Province? And why, pray," Commander Zhang did his usual, and inspected his nails before continuing, "do you think you have any say, what so ever, in our passage to and fro our lands to theirs?"

Zhang looked at Second Master with that steely eye of triumph.

"Because, Commander Zhang, both Shipao and Liú Provinces have signed treaties with us and have integrated their armies into one, Twim Hammers. We are also in talks with Min Province as we speak, and they are very interested in aligning themselves." Second Master smiled, "So you see, Commander Zhang, the majority of provinces to the south of this pass are not willing to have you or the Mu army travelling through their lands. That, Commander Zhang, is why it has a lot to do with you, and free movement through the pass."

Zhang balked at the news. He knew this had something to do with the Mu people and he had allowed himself to walk right into their hands. His mind twisted and truned but the more somersaults it did, the less wriggle room he could find. Chen had sown him up and he was going to have to graciously agree to his terms.

"So, what do you see as your solution?"

"Mutual agreement on the cessation of aggression across the borders, signed in a declaration which includes both you and the Mu Provoince." Second Master knew he had the upper hand and he also knew Zhang was ultimately lazy, anything for a quiet life. "If we can agree to this, then there will be peace once more throughout the region. Our nations will no longer have to spend long, tedious months arming and then fighting each other, emptying their coffers for sensless actions. Trade can begin to flow again and you, Commander Zhang will be able to accumulate wealth from both the passes, allowing free flow of goods for a toll, a price to travel through. You would have to do nothing save collect the taxes as they passed and these would be negotiated with us as a collective."

Money, that was Zhang's other weakness. He smiled at Second Master, "I can see how adventagious it could be to both parties." Once more, out of habit more than anything, he proceeded to inspect his nails. He was thinking, and apart from the obvious problem with the Mu, and everything they had heaped on him, he couldn't think of any reason too refuse.

"Agreed, Colonel Chen. Now my last question is what do we do about the Mu Province?"

"We, do nothing. You deal with them here and I will deal with them in my own province, as will the Liú province in theirs. That, I think, we can agree on?" He looked at Zhang. He had one play left, "We have to wrestle our land back from their clutches and rebuild where they have pillaged. We have families to rebuild too, finding wives, children, homes and land to farm, burying dead. We have much to do and it will require a great deal of money. By comparison you only have the minor task of sending them home and rebuilding your coffers from the tolls which will begin to accumulate quite quickly. I am sure Liú Province will grant them passage as long as they behave? Any misdeeds and they will be dealt with by the Liú province wing of Twin Hammers, and they will pay heavily."

Zhag looked at Second Master, he knew he had been well played.

"Do we have a deal?"

Zhang stood up and walked toward Colonel Chen. Waving his hand toward his scribes, who had been sitting, waiting for this moment, looked at him expectantly. "We have a deal." They lifted their pens and began to write.

Treatise for Peace.

I had lowered myself into the water and was enjoying the healing effects of the cold waters. The mud squelched between my toes and I smiled at its familiarity, Reaching down, I brought up hand fulls of it in a small bamboo basket, and allowed the water to drain through. Having washed my torso with it, exfoliating my skin, I carefully, took handfuls out of the basket and started plastering into my hair. 'Lice be gone!'

 It was a delight to wash and clean my skin, so much so, I stopped looking at the bank and concentrated on myself.

Having applied the silt into my hair I used my comb to pull through the worst of it, dislodging any lodgers and sending them down stream to be eaten by hungry fish. 

I became aware of a pair of eyes and looking with peripheral vision, I saw a young child of no more than four summers, crouching at the water's edge, watching me. His eyes were hollow, lifeless, his skin, sallow and his clothes hung off him like rags.

Slowly, I turned to face him, continuing to comb my hair.

"Hello." I said as softly and as gently as I could, "you on your own?"

He shook his head and looked behind him as if indicating there was someone else there.

"Is it a sister or a brother?" I carried on combing, not making any sudden moves.

He continues to look at me, but said nothing.

"My name is Niao. Do you have a name?"

"Didi, his name's Didi." a voice came from the undergrowth. It was a girls voice but as yet, she had not shown herself.

"You can come out if you like, I won't hurt you, promise. I am with another lady and her name is Xin. She is further up the bank at our camp. You may have smelt the food cooking. Would you like some?"

Didi looked at me. He didn't dare speak or gesture, he seemed to be completely mute. I wondered what he had seen at such a young age.

"We don't know whether we can trust you. Why should we?" That dismembered voice again, angry, belligerent, distrusting.

"Because you came to me and I am in the water. You seem to want something I can offer you."

Slowly, I started to walk out of the water. Naked, it was obvious I could offer no threat; little did they know, but that was for the Mu, not them.

Didi moved back as I approached, heading towards the undergrowth where the voice had eminated from. I ignored him and proceeded to dress, putting on my arm protectors, my belt and boots as well as my twin knives which rarely left my side.

"I am going to walk back to the camp and meet Xin. You can follow if you like or stay here, that's your choice, but we are happy to share food if you would like some."

With that I collected my last bits and pieces and, ignoring Didi, I walked back to the camp.

"Xin, there maybe two small mouths to feed tonight, if they get over their fears that is."