Forged in Honor (1995) (8 page)

Bak waved his hand as if shooing them away. "Good, good, now lie down and rest. I'm an old man who needs the darkness to sleep."

Joshua exchanged smiles with Stephen as they lay down by the coals of the fire in the corner of the hut. Joshua whispered, "I think he's impressed."

Stephen shook his head. "I told you we shouldn't walk all night just to return early by a day. Teacher does not impress easily."

"Naw, he's impressed, I can tell. He'll say so tomor-"

"QUIET! You two sound like whimpering pye dogs!" growled Bak.

"I told you he was impressed," Joshua whispered in Stephen's ear.

Sarah walked over the rise and abruptly halted. Below her, on the plateau, were two mounted men. Goose bumps ran up her arms and neck and she suddenly felt a warm rush of pride course through her body. The two riders were sitting erect with their heads and eyes set to the front. They wore the traditional blue mountain Shan turban and loose-fitting white shirt and pants. Around their waists were crimson sashes; both wore swords stuck in their sashes and had rifles slung over their shoulders.

Bak stepped up beside the small woman and bowed his head. "Mrs. Brown, I am honored for you to witness the last test of the two candidates. They returned from the river two days ago and have been resting and practicing for this last event."

Sarah kept her gaze on the two riders. "You've worked very hard with them, Horseman Bak, and it shows." She turned and looked into the old man's eyes before bowing her head. "I'm very proud of what they've become, test or not.

Thank you."

Bak returned the bow. "And I thank you for your understanding. I am sorry the pastor could not be here to witness the test. I ask your permission to begin."

Sarah looked back at her son and Stephen, thinking of how much they had grown in the past four years. Stephen was no longer a thin, gangly boy-now a half-foot taller than Joshua, he was rawboned and had the look of a slick racehorse, all muscle and sinew. Joshua too had grown and filled out. He had become broad-shouldered and thick-chested like his father. His bronzed face contrasted sharply with his sun bleached blond eyebrows. She thought both young men had the look of the Horsemen she had seen, confident men who knew no fear.

Sarah nodded. "Please begin."

Bak raised his hand, then dropped it to his side. Immediately both riders spun their ponies in opposite directions and took off at a full gallop.

Although his pony was galloping, Joshua's body seemed perfectly still. There was no bounce or movement of his head or shoulders, as if he were floating just above the horse. Suddenly both ponies stopped abruptly at opposite ends of the field. Both horses reared up on their hind legs and pawed the air as the two young men pulled their swords from their sashes. A chill ran up Sarah's spine hearing the swords' distinctive singing sound as the blades were pulled from their metal sheaths. The horses came down in a full run and headed directly for each other. The riders lifted their swords in the attack position. As the distance between them closed, each rider raised his blade higher, as if to make a slashing attack, but as they passed within inches of each other each rider twisted in the saddle and plunged his blade into the grass field. Both swords swayed on their glinting shafts but remained perfectly perpendicular to the ground.

Bak nodded in approval and leaned closer to his guest.

"The placement of the swords was well done. Notice they are parallel to each other, which shows good timing. Now they must recover their blades. It is very difficult at a full gallop."

Both riders had reached opposite ends of the field, had made their turns, and were barreling back toward each other.

Each rider leaned over the side of his pony, plucked his sword from the ground, and swung it over his head.

Sarah let out her held breath and clapped. "They're wonderful!" she cried out excitedly.

"Watch now, Mrs. Brown. They will perform without their reins, using only the pressure of their legs to direct the ponies."

The young men were now in the center of the field, facing Sarah. At the same moment both horses began sidestepping in opposite directions as both riders held their arms across their chests. The ponies halted and backed up, stopped, and came forward at a trot. At the same time each peeled away and made a wide loop before coming back to their original positions and halting.

Bak leaned toward Sarah. "Now you will see the final phase of the test, combining horsemanship and weapons skills. Notice the melons at the far end of the field."

As Bak was speaking, Joshua spun his horse around and lined up behind Stephen. All at once both ponies sank to their knees and rolled onto their sides. Both young men took their rifles from their shoulders, lay over the ponies' flanks, and fired at the melons. Stephen hit a melon, as did Joshua. Stephen fired again, followed by Joshua. Two more melons exploded in succession. Jerking their horses back up, both boys remounted and reslung their rifles. Grasping their sword hilts, they smiled broadly at each other and together made the blades sing as the shafts were pulled from their sheaths. Holding the glistening blades high, they kicked their ponies. "Ayeeeee!" they screamed as they galloped full speed toward two remaining melons on barrels.

With swords held high they closed within striking distance and slashed downward.

On a distant hill overlooking the plateau, Sawbaw Xu Kang lowered his field glasses but kept his stare on the field. A single tear trickled down his cheek and fell into the dust.

Horseman Lante stepped up to his leader and nodded his head. "Stephen performed as a true Horseman, Chindit. You can be very proud."

Xu Kang rolled his shoulders back and took a breath.

"Yes, I am very proud. Of both of them." He faced the Horseman and canted his head. "Were we ever as graceful as they?"

The Horseman smiled and handed the reins of the Sawbaw's horse to him. "We were, Chindit ... many, many monsoons ago."

Xu Kang bellowed in laughter and swung into the saddle.

Reining his raven horse around to face the other mounted Horseman, he stood in the stirrups and shouted, "My brothers, the gods are smiling on me this day! My son has become a man!"

Sarah was trying to smile as Joshua rode toward her, but her tears wouldn't stop.

Joshua climbed down from the saddle, lifted his mother off the ground, and gave her a kiss on the chin. Lowering her slowly to the ground, he winked. "How was I?"

"Wonderful, really wonder-I'm sorry for crying. It's just that you were both so good. I still can't believe it."

Stephen rode up and bowed his head to the small woman.

"Your son is an insufferable show-off." He pinned Joshua with an angry stare before breaking into a grin. "But I love him anyway. We were good, weren't we?"

Sarah bobbed her head, still trying to stop her tears. "I'm so proud of you two. I'll fix whatever you want for dinner to celebrate."

The young men exchanged worried glances before Joshua sighed and faced his mother. "Mom, it's kind of traditional for those who pass the tests to have a little party. The Teacher and the militia are giving us one at the Horsemen's camp. I-we won't be home tonight."

Sarah's smile dissolved. "Is there drinking involved?"

Joshua lowered his chin. "A little zu. But we know to be careful."

Sarah stepped closer. "And will there be girls at this party?"

Joshua's head dropped further. "Yes, some were invited," he said meekly.

Sarah was about to speak but stopped herself and took a deep breath instead. Then she spun around and headed back toward the village. After ten steps, she yelled back over her shoulder. "At least you two be at breakfast on time."

Joshua sighed in relief and winked at Stephen as he climbed back up on his pony. He began to direct his mount toward the Horseman's but but glanced over his shoulder at his mother walking back to the village. He looked pleadingly at Stephen, who nodded and said, "If you don't, I will. Go on, I'll explain your tardiness to Teacher."

Joshua kicked the pony's flanks and galloped toward his mother.

Sarah heard the hoof beats approaching and turned. Joshua reined in the lathered horse and grinned as he offered her his hand. "A pretty lady should always ride. Will you allow me the honor, Mrs. Brown?"

Tears began trickling down Sarah's cheeks again as she bowed her head. "It would be an honor to ride with you, Josuha Hawkins."

Stephen took a sip of zu and tried not to make a face.

Seated beside him in a white cotton dress, Chi leaned over and touched his shoulder with hers. "Will you take me riding tomorrow after our choir practice?" she asked.

Stephen felt suddenly hot and flushed. Taking a breath for strength, he shrugged. "If you like."

"Oh yes, I would like it very much," she said and glanced back to the campfire where the militiamen were gathered listening to Bak tell his stories. "When will your Teacher give you the silver band of the Horsemen?"

Stephen shook his head. "He cannot. Joshua and I can never be Horsemen."

Chi's eyes darted back to him. "But you passed the test today."

"Yes, but there is another test, one that we can't take. It is the test of combat, real fighting."

"It's not fair. You have worked so hard," pouted the young woman.

Stephen leaned forward and lifted Chi's chin. "Joshua and I have always known we could not be Horsemen. The Master Horseman has taught us the old ways so that the traditions of the Shan will never be forgotten. It was an honor for us."

Chi glanced again at Bak. "Why are there so few Horsemen? It is said you and Joshua were the first to be taught by the old Horseman in many years."

Stephen began to answer but Joshua walked up behind him and answered, "Because it takes years to be trained in all the skills. The Teacher says young men who join the rebels don't have the time or care about the old ways anymore. They don't think it's necessary to learn to ride the ponies like the old Horsemen and use a sword. They want to learn about the new weapons and modern fighting." Joshua leaned forward to touch Stephen's shoulder. "Excuse us, Chi, the Teacher wants to talk to Stephen and me."

Bak stood as the two young men approached. He rolled his shoulders back and filled his lungs. "My students, you have exceeded all requirements. Today it is my honor to proclaim you true Shan. As a symbol of your accomplishment I bestow these."

The old Horseman held out two brass bracelets. "The metal was taken from bullet casings and made pure by fire," he said. "Soil of the Ri and blood from this Horseman were added to the molten metal, as was the hair of a boar and water from the river. The soil represents the land we hold so dear. The blood represents the people and their toil. The hair of the boar represents the courage and cunning of the forest dwellers you have come to know and respect. The water represents purity and truth. Cooled and shaped, these bands were truly forged in honor, just as you have been over the past four years."

Bak held a bracelet up and motioned for Stephen to raise his arm. Placing the band around Stephen's right wrist, Bak squeezed it tightly until the ends touched. "This is a symbol of truth and your commitment to the Ri and your people.

Wear it proudly."

Facing Joshua, he placed the other bracelet on the young man's wrist and squeezed it as he had done Stephen's.

"You are not the first foreign-born to wear the symbol of commitment to our land. The Chindit was the first. Like him I have seen your love grow for my homeland and I see in your heart you are a true Shan. This band is a symbol to all that you are committed to truth, the Ri, and the people.

Wear it proudly."

Bak placed his hands on the young men's shoulders and stared into the darkness. "I am proud to be called your Teacher. You have made this old man's heart sing this day."

Shifting his eyes to Stephen and then to Joshua, he squeezed their shoulders and broke into a wry grin. "Tomorrow you begin new lessons. I have much more to teach. But tonight drink zu and talk to the ladies who have come to honor you.

This night is yours. But remember, tomorrow you are again mine."

Chapter 6.

1966 Shaduzup, Burma.

Sarah couldn't bear to wait on the porch, so she ran out to meet the old bus that had stopped in the mission courtyard.

As Stephen stepped down from the bus Sarah wrapped her arms around him. "I've missed you so much!"

Stephen returned the hug and kissed Sarah's forehead.

"You are as lovely as ever, Second Mother."

Sarah pushed him away but still held his arms. "Let me have a look at you! My, aren't you handsome. Oh Stephen, I'm so proud of you." She hugged him again as Henry stepped forward and patted Stephen's back. "You do look awfully good, Stephen. We were worried that you wouldn't be able to catch a boat upriver. There have been so many rumors-"

"It was no problem, Pastor," Stephen replied, extending his hand.

Henry pumped his arm. "We have prayed for you every day. The university must be feeding you well-you look fit as a fiddle."

Stephen smiled, but he was looking past the pastor for the person he most wanted to see.

Sarah saw his searching eyes and shrugged. "He said he would be here. I don't understand where he could-"