The Lives of Tao (28 page)

It was a brief and ugly exchange, and was over in moments.

When it was over, Sonya stepped out alone from the alley, dusting off some grime that got onto her clothes when she threw his body into the dumpster.

“I think it’s time Roen quit his job. Going to work is getting way too dangerous for him. And me.”

I agree. We will arrange to have him laid off. At least then he gets severance.
 

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

T’AI CHI

And for the third and last time, I faltered. My sin against Zhu was great. In order to save what we had built, I destroyed it from within – through him. I betrayed his trust and twisted him into everything he wasn’t. This was done in order to save his people, I told myself. His peaceful reign became one of suspicion and terror. I conceived the birth of the infamous secret police which terrorized his people. I sent his armies forth to suppress all dissension. I destroyed my own dream.
 

“Relax your breathing. Feel the chi flow through your arms. Push with your entire body, not just your arms.”

Roen let Sifu Lin drone on in the background as he focused on the Chen-style form. It always surprised him how much he sweated practicing t’ai chi. It was even more surprising how hard it was to move at a slow and controlled pace. He originally thought moving at a snail’s pace would be much easier than moving fast, but that wasn’t the case. It forced him to pay attention to his body in a completely different manner.

“I said, not your muscles!” Lin admonished.

Roen felt a sharp rap on his shoulder from Lin’s stick.

Roen had avoided sports as a youth and had never developed any athleticism. Sonya’s training improved his conditioning and strength, but she wasn’t able to improve his coordination. She explained that physical coordination required years of practice to obtain muscle memory. Since Roen started training his body later in life, it was a harder lesson for his body to grasp.

Lin’s teaching was the complete opposite. In fact, the pudgy short t’ai chi master taught him to stop thinking about using muscles altogether. Roen realized then that he had a natural affinity for t’ai chi and his progress had been quick. Lin often commented that it was because Roen was a totally empty canvas with nothing to unlearn.

“The muscle is only a small part of the body,” Lin continued. “When you punch with muscle, you are using a fraction of the power one can generate; the arm, forearm, or parts of the upper chest, but not all of you.”

Focus on relaxing. Worry about what to eat for dinner later.
 

Tao’s ever-present advice sped up Roen’s development as well. It helped that he had two very demanding teachers. While Sifu Lin constantly berated Roen for every small mistake, Tao was even harder on him, scolding him not only for mistakes he made but for times when his mind wandered. While frustrating, it was one of the few times he heard Tao become so passionate.

“I am, Tao. Leave me alone. You’re screwing up my concentration.”

Maybe if you stopped thinking about food every five minutes.
 

“I can’t help it. This everlasting diet is killing me. I want some steak and potatoes so badly.”

Your “Buddha pounds the mortar” looks pitiful.
 

“Well, maybe if you...”

Another sharp rap on the shoulder from Sifu Lin’s long stick caught Roen’s attention. “Stop wasting my time and listen to Tao,” Lin said.

“Wha’...? How did you know what Tao was saying?” Roen asked.

“I know exactly what he said, considering your terrible posture and the lazy Buddha-pounds-mortar. Looks more like grandma-slaps-baby’s-butt. And your silk-reeling looks like fairy dancing.” Lin gave him another poke in the ribs for good measure. “Again!”

Roen gritted his teeth and began anew, working through the form. He reached the same segment he was previously at when he felt the sting of the stick again.

“Gah!” he yelled in annoyance.

“Your silk-reeling is awful.” Lin scowled. “Your right arm should move like this. Your left hand should move like that, and it should all flow.” Lin demonstrated the move more fluidly than Roen could ever hope to do.

He is right, you know. You are making San-Feng roll in his grave right now.
 

“The move doesn’t seem to have any purpose, Sifu Lin. I feel like I’m just waving my hands in the air,” Roen protested.

Now you asked for it. Why would I invent a move that has no purpose?
 

“You think ‘silk-reeling’ is frivolous?” Lin sounded like a four year-old discovering the truth about Santa. “Here, grab my wrist.”

Facing him, Roen grabbed Lin’s right wrist. Then, before he could react, Lin performed the same smooth silk-reeling motion and suddenly, a sharp pain shot up Roen’s arm as Lin escaped Roen’s clutch and reversed the hold. “I can also do this to your fingers.” Lin demonstrated that. “And your shoulders.” He slipped his right hand under Roen’s armpit and flipped him onto his back. “And if I get my hands on your head, well, it might snap off. The only reason you cannot make it work is because you are doing it wrong. Don’t presume these moves are worthless because you’re too incompetent.”

Someone started clapping. Roen looked up from the floor and saw Sonya smirking as she walked up and embraced the wizened old man. Roen’s face turned a slight shade of red, and he picked himself up from the floor.

“What brings you here today, child?” Lin said warmly.

“I have the intelligence reports from the Tibetan underground you requested. I told them I’d deliver it personally. I have a date with Roen after you’re through with him. We’re going to learn to block throwing knives. How is his training coming along?” she asked.

“Block knives?” Lin chuckled. “His brain talks too slow to his hands to block knives. He’s a clumsy oaf. He forgets things right after I tell him and whines like a little girl, but he’s much further along than I expected.” It must have hurt Lin to say that. It almost sounded like a compliment. If Roen didn’t know better, his master almost sounded proud. “He could be adequate one day, once he stops being such a slow-witted buffoon.” Lin smiled at Sonya. “Why, child, are you afraid he’ll one day surpass you? Are you ready to try t’ai chi again?”

Sonya shook her head. “I tried it three times already, Master. It’s just not for me. Besides, I’ve never met a t’ai chi practitioner besides you that could take me on.”

“Really?” Lin grinned, with a conniving look on his face. “That sounds like a direct challenge... to Roen.”

“What?” Roen said, startled. “No it didn’t!”

Sure sounded like one.
 

“Shut up, Tao! You just like seeing me get beat up.”

I admit I find a perverse enjoyment in that.
 

“Show some respect to your family art, boy, and defend its honor,” Lin growled. Sonya grinned, took off her jacket, and cracked her knuckles.

Roen sighed and met her in the center of the circle. He’d thought his days of physical abuse by her were over.

The two bowed and circled each other. Roen had sparred with Sonya dozens of times now and was familiar with her techniques. She utilized Krav Maga’s aggressive style to batter through her opponent’s defenses. She was also fast and had few real weaknesses. She utilized angles, her legs were quick, and she did not have a dominant hand she relied on.

Roen thought the only real weakness she had was her defense. Sonya did not like to retreat. The few times he was able to set her back on her heels, she would disengage to look for a new angle.

Not a bad analysis. Utilize your superior weight. Watch her kick to your chin. She is flexible and likes to sneak it high once in a while, which you often fall for, I might add. Remember that she likes to go forward, sometimes a bit too much. Take advantage of that. And watch out for that right hook!
 

Roen measured her footsteps as she moved, feinting to the left and right, until she suddenly leaped toward him, throwing a jab as she closed in. Roen twisted and countered, throwing a combination of his own. She blocked his attack and kneed him in the stomach. He grunted and retreated, managing a grazing punch to her chin as he moved backward.

If she had any reaction from his blow, she didn’t show it. Immediately, she went on the offensive again. Roen rolled with the punches, squatting low and dodging, keeping his elbows tight to his ribs. Then – right as she overextended herself just a smidgeon – he launched himself toward her. The attack caught her off guard and he slammed into her, knocking her off her feet.

You took too many hits setting that up. That only works on smaller opponents anyway, and you will not be engaging many her size.
 

Sonya picked herself up and looked impressed. “Very well done, good sir. I see you have learned something, though you had to block several of my punches with your head for that.”

Roen gingerly touched his eye and blinked. There would be a beautiful black eye in the morning. “Part of my master plan.” He grinned. It hurt a little to smile.

She put on her game face and launched at him again, initiating the attack with a left-right combination. Instead of blocking, Roen spun to his left and her blow just missed him. He kept spinning until he made a full turn and was now behind her. She was precariously out of position, and he went to work. He grabbed her in a bear hug. Sonya grunted in surprise as he lifted her up. Even sweating, she smelled good.

He grinned triumphantly. “I got you this time. You can’t get out of this. Give up and...” She kicked back and caught him in the knee. His legs buckled; she threw her head back, striking him in the forehead. “Ahhh,” Roen cried, dazed, but he held on.

On the side, Lin laughed. “I didn’t teach you t’ai chi so you could become a professional wrestler, stupid boy.”

That looked painful.
 

“Thanks for the useless observation, Tao.”

Sonya took the opening to squirm out of his bear hug and kick him in the face. Roen’s head snapped back, and he crumpled to the floor. She stood over him, panting and grinning. “Not bad. This was your best effort yet. You move like a t’ai chi practitioner already. You don’t hit like one, but you’re starting to move like one.” She offered her hand.

“I think I need to lie here for a few minutes.” He grimaced. “I’m feeling light-headed.”

“Come on, you big baby.” She grabbed his hands and pulled him to his feet, ignoring his groans. Roen leaned on her as they walked back to Lin. She felt very soft.

“You did not win, but I was not disappointed.” Lin nodded.

Roen wasn’t sure, but that could’ve been the second almost compliment he had ever received from Lin. Twice in one day. What was this world coming to?

“Well, this was fun, but we have to get going,” Sonya said as she wiped her face and grabbed her jacket. “Get dressed, Roen. I’m taking you out to dinner, my apology in advance for what I’m about to put you through tonight.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

AWAY GAME

To make matters worse, the plague found its way to these lands anyway. The turmoil I had created set the tone for the next three hundred years until the dynasty fell. When Zhu died, I had my fill of empires and dreams, and decided to return west. This part of the world deserved to be free of me, for I had brought nothing to the people here except death and tyranny.
 

Exactly seven months into his life as a host, Roen was laid off from his job when his company found contractors in India who did the same work for a quarter of the price. It was a mixed blessing of sorts. Tao had no choice then but to put him on a Prophus stipend, meaning his official job from that point on was to not screw up his missions too badly. The stipend, though, was pitifully small.

“No wonder Marc defected,” he said, gaping at the first check that came in.

You start at the bottom of the totem pole like every other rookie. Why do you think I told you to keep your job?
 

“How can I afford anything with this? I get more collecting unemployment!”

Bullets are expensive. Learn to shoot better.
 

“Do I ever get more?”

You mean like a raise? Sure, start killing Genjix or better yet, invent Quasing membrane reproduction in this atmosphere. Command would probably buy you a tropical island then.
 

“I’d like Moorea please.”

You will have to get in line for that one.
 

Much to his chagrin, Roen immediately began to miss his old job. It was one of the last pieces of his normal, prior life he had left. A year ago, he would have rejoiced at being laid off and becoming a full-time agent. Now, it made him sad. He spent his first few unemployed days waking up early and staring from his balcony at the hundreds of people bustling off to work.