Forged in Honor (1995) (9 page)

"AYEEE!"

Stephen turned toward the sound and the approaching rider who galloped full speed into the compound. Joshua yanked the horse to an abrupt halt and jumped from the saddle in a dead run.

The two young men collided in a jolting embrace, then Joshua roughly pushed Stephen away. "By the gods, you stink of the city and civilization!"

Stephen's face contorted. "And you stink of pony and campfires!"

Joshua grinned. "I've missed you, brother. The Teacher and I have-"

"The Teacher is still-"

"Alive? What and who could kill the Master Horseman, except maybe Mother. She is killing him with her meal she's growing fat."

Henry laughed, put his arms around both young men, and led them toward the house. "It's true. If the Horseman weren't seventy years old I'd be a very jealous man. Sarah invites him over for dinner almost every night."

"You men are terrible!" scolded Sarah. "The Horseman appreciates my food. Henry and Joshua just gobble it up and don't say a single nice word."

"Where is the Teacher?" Stephen asked.

"Up north," Joshua said. "There's been a lot of trouble with the bandits again. Since the army broke the truce the Chindit has had his hands full. The Teacher is training more militia to help the northern villages. I was helping him, but he sent me to see you."

Reaching the porch, Sarah pulled back a chair for Stephen.

"Sit. I've got some roasted goat and potatoes. I'll get the food, and then I want you to tell us all about the University of Hong Kong."

Stephen waited until the small woman had disappeared into the house before pinning Henry with a worried stare.

"What is going on? I saw hundreds of people on the road.

They were all heading for Namti."

Henry exchanged glances with Joshua. "It's not a good time for the Shan, Stephen. The military has been attacking other minority groups in the south. The army has only sent small units to the north thus far, but the rumor is that a large force is coming to find the Chindit and his army. The Shan you saw are seeking refuge in the lowlands."

Stephen's face became a cold mask. "So the great Chindit leads an army. He won't stop until the Ri is destroyed by his foolishness."

"Foolishness?" blurted Joshua. "Don't dare say that! He's fighting for what we trained together for, the Ri and the people. The army has driven the Mon, Karp, and Kachin people off their lands, and now they're in refugee camps dying of hunger."

Stephen raised his hands, and his expression changed to one of submission. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I apologize."

Henry shook his head. "You're both right. It's terrible what's happening to the other minorities, but fighting causes all to suffer. I would have said prayer was the answer a few years ago, but now ... I just don't know anymore."

"I'm going to have to go back tomorrow," Joshua said.

"The Teacher needs me."

"Then I will go, too," Stephen said. "Tomorrow we'll ride north together, as we used to."

Sarah came back to the porch with food and an infectious smile. "Now tell me all about the university. What classes are you taking? Have you made friends? Have you found a church?"

"Ah, Mom, let him eat a bite first."

"Hush your face, young man. Come on, Stephen, tell me everything!"

Stephen couldn't help but laugh. He stood up and surprised Sarah by giving her a big hug. "I'd almost forgotten how full of energy you are. I've missed you, Second Mother." He gave her a second hug, then released her and pulled back a chair. "Please sit down. I have so much to tell. The university is magnificent, but Hong Kong is beyond description."

Joshua slipped into the darkened room trying to be as quiet as possible and tiptoed toward the bed.

Stephen rose up and chuckled. "You never were any good at surprising me ... until today. You've grown up, brother.

When I saw you galloping toward me I thought for a moment it was a Horseman."

Joshua shrugged and sat down on the end of the bed.

"You're the one that's grown-new haircut, shoes, pressed shirt. You look like those pictures we used to look at in magazines. Stephen, is college really okay? I mean do you think I can handle it? Mom is sending me back to the States next month to start classes and ..."

"You will love it, brother. It is not like anything you've experienced. The colors, sounds, people ... so many things you can't imagine ... And the women, by the gods, the women! They all smell like the sweetest flowers you've ever smelled and they wear so little you can see all we used to dream about."

Joshua grinned. "Really? They're really that different?"

"Different? Is black different from white? Our Shan women are beautiful, but the educated women I speak of will drive you mad with lust."

Joshua's grin slowly faded. "But I'm not smart like you, Stephen ... do you really think I can make it in college?"

Stephen smiled. "A man who can ride and shoot like you can do anything he wants. College is nothing compared to the lessons of our Teacher. No professor I have had is as tough or as strict as the Master Horseman. He prepared us well. You will find the classes child's play after what we have gone through. Your only difficulty will be in getting used to the other world outside of the Ri. Your mind will be overcome by so many things to see, touch, and hear.

Cars, buildings, machines, music, movies, television are all things that will attack your senses and leave you shaking and breathless. The smells alone will give you a headache, there are so many. The cities will scare you as you've never been scared before, and the people ... they are so different ... so weak. They complain about the smallest things, it's too cold or too hot for them. And they are always in such a hurry to do everything. You will find yourself walking fast everywhere as they do. They are so spoiled, food is bought at stores or eaten at restaurants. They wear different clothes every day and they take baths nightly. Your fellow students know everything, they think, but it is book learning. One day they are for democracy, then next, after reading an article or listening to a professor, they are for communism. They have no mind of their own, they are like pye dogs, whimpering and barking but never taking a stand."

"And you love all that?" asked Joshua, trying to imagine such a world.

"Yes! It is difficult to explain, but yes a hundred times.

There is so much to learn and everything is there for me to learn it. Believe me, Joshua, it is hard to leave the Ri but there is another world out there for you. I have seen it ... and I want to go back and experience it all."

Joshua stood and walked to the window. "I've missed you, Stephen ... it's not the same here without you. I was kidding when I said the Teacher was growing fat ... he's growing old. I see him and it breaks my heart. He can barely ride now ... it's why I went with him, to help him. He forgets what he's saying. I'm going to have to go back tomorrow ... he needs me."

Stephen pursed his lips and nodded. "Then I will go too.

I have come back to see you, Joshua ... the things I said about the university and other world are true ... but there is not a day that goes by that I don't think of you and the times we had. I often think that together in Hong Kong we could become anything we wanted. Nothing could stop us."

Joshua looked up at the stars. "I'm going to miss the Ri ...

I love it." He turned slowly and began walking for the door.

"Go to sleep, Big Brother. Tomorrow we'll ride together up north like we used to. Good night."

Stephen waited until Joshua was at the door. "Have you seen him?" he asked in a whisper.

Joshua spoke with his back still turned. "Yes, just two weeks ago. Your father is looking well ... he always asks about you. You should go and see him."

Stephen lay back on the pillow and shut his eyes. "Good night, Joshua."

Bak squinted and slowly a smile came to his face as he recognized the approaching riders. Stephen kicked his pony and galloped ahead. "Greetings and blessings, Teacher. It has been many months."

"Greetings and blessings, my student. This old one's heart is lifted this day by gazing upon you. I see you have not forgotten how to ride."

Stephen laughed. "But I had forgotten the smell of these beasts. How goes your training?"

Bak's face seemed to droop and his eyes lost their twinkle. "The men I was to train have left me. They said I was an old fool. I think perhaps they are right. I'm too old to teach."

Stephen rode closer and hugged the old man to him. "They are fools for leaving you. Joshua and I will talk to the village elders and get them back. I have missed you."

Bak's eyes misted as he hugged the young man. "And I have missed you."

Joshua walked down the line of militiamen shaking his head. "No, no, no. You must gently squeeze the trigger after letting out a half-breath. Most of you are jerking the trigger. Now try it again, and this time concentrate on the trigger squeeze."

The men turned around and lay down on their stomachs facing posts that were serving as targets.

"Load!" commanded Joshua. "Concentrate on your target.

Now take aim and take a breath.... Let it out slowly and fire when ready."

Standing behind the firing line, Bak leaned over to Stephen, who was watching for those not following instructions. "Joshua is an excellent teacher. He reminds me of myself, when I was younger."

Stephen grinned but kept his eyes on the shooters. "He speaks Shan better than I. He has grown up, hasn't he? He truly is a man."

Bak smiled and gave Stephen a quick glance. "You both are. I must have been a good teacher, eh?"

"You still are a good teacher, Master Horseman. I have watched you the past week, and you still have all of your skills. These men will be ready in just a few more days."

Bak straightened his back and lifted his head higher. "The gods are smiling on us. I have been made young again with my finest students at my side. Come, we have work to do."

Bak strode toward the firing line and bellowed, "Concentrate!

Take a normal breath and quit panting like pye dogs!"

The campfire crackled and popped when Joshua tossed on another log. Bak smoothed back his moustache and shifted his gaze from the coals to Stephen. "So, the university pleases you?" Stephen leaned back on his saddle, savoring the smell of the burning wood. "It is beyond my dreams."

"Tell the Teacher about the women," said Joshua, poking Stephen in the ribs.

Bak chuckled. "Ah ... women? Yes, tell me about these creatures. Perhaps you will teach Joshua something. He is like a rutting boar, sniffing and hunting, but finds nothing to satisfy his lust for female companionship."

Joshua rolled his eyes and was about to respond when a branch snapped somewhere in the darkness behind him.

"Identify yourself or die!" barked Stephen, raising his rifle.

"Jesus has blessed me! I have found you!" cried out a man still hidden in darkness. "It is me, U Wat. The bandits have attacked the village! The pastor sent me to find you! They took the schoolgirls and Dau Brown-" A little gnarled man staggered forward into the fire's light and collapsed to his knees.

Joshua ran to the militiaman and jerked him to his feet.

"My mother was taken?"

Bak touched Joshua's shoulder. "Let him get his breath.

We need a full report. Stephen, saddle the ponies."

Bak stepped closer to the small man. "U Wat, it is important to tell us everything. Start from the beginning and leave out no details. Take another breath and begin."

Wat's chest was still heaving and his eyes were wide with terror. "They-they came without warning, just as the sun was setting. We never saw them. They attacked the church, while-while Dau Brown was teaching the young women to sing. They took them all! Oh, where is Jesus? They took my daughter and shot the pastor and-"

Bak raised his hand. "Calm yourself. Breathe and tell us about the pastor."

"He-he heard the screaming and ran to the church. They shot him in the leg and foot."

"How many bandits?"

"Tam Cuu saw them from the dormitory window. He said fifteen or twenty."

"Weapons?"

"Tam Cuu said they looked like lowlanders plus a few Karen. He saw rifles and short swords."

"How many women did they take?"

"Nine, and Dau Brown."

"Which way did they leave the village?" Bak pressed.

"East into the forest, Horseman. I sent three of our best hunters after them to mark their trail. The pastor sent me for you. I have run for hours-"

Bak patted the man's shoulder. "You have done well."

Joshua's eyes had become burning coals. He spun and faced Bak. "They have at least four hours on us."

Bak walked back to the campfire, picked up his rifle, and slung it over his shoulder. "The lowlanders can't travel far at night with ten women. We will catch them on the plain above the Yak River."

"But tonight they'll-"

Bak shook his head. "No, they won't touch the women tonight. They took them to sell to the Wa. The Karen are probably leading the pack. They will control the lowlanders.

We'll stop them on the plain."