"Anyhow, I figured if we're all in this together, the least I could do was to... even up the odds a little," announced the master mantra maker, sliding the gigantic canvas backpack off and gently lowering it to the ground in front of them all.
This got Richie's full attention.
"Would you like to see?" asked the old dragon, a playful smile on his face, sensing full well how keen Richie really was.
"If it's not too much trouble," replied the lacrosse captain, grinning from ear to ear at the thought of whatever mischief the old shopkeeper was about to introduce them to.
Gee Tee turned and beckoned to Hook. As the strapping rugby player made his way nervously forward, the old dragon bent down and retrieved something large out of the backpack. Hook pulled up next to Richie and was rather surprised when the old shopkeeper offered him what looked like some kind of rusty old jetpack. Hanging off the right hand side was a flimsy looking holster holding a metallic gun, which had an oversized barrel, making it look more like a rifle than a pistol. It was in fact a cross between the two, and not dissimilar to a modern day jet washer.
"Put it on, put it on," urged the old dragon. Not wanting to offend something three times his height and weight, Hook slipped his arms through the straps and shrugged it into place, unable to believe how heavy it actually was, as the old shopkeeper had used just one finger to pick it up out of the backpack and hand it to him. Richie frowned on noticing the worn label running down one side of the main compartment. It had obviously once read 'WATER', but the word was now barely visible.
"What are we going to do... give them all a shower?"
"Now, now, little one," admonished the master mantra maker, waving his index finger at her. "That's not the attitude is it? Besides, that's not just any water. It's Romanian heavy water."
Hook looked more than a little unsure.
"Here's what you do," ventured the old dragon, as he moved to the back of where Hook was standing. "Draw the gun, adjust the flow regulator and arm the backpack," he said, slipping the rifle-like object from the other side of the pack, on which he turned a small, silver knob totally clockwise, and then flicked an ancient looking switch hidden right underneath, causing the whole thing to hum gently.
"Now, just point and shoot," he gestured to Hook.
Reluctantly the gentle giant pointed the end of the rifle in the direction the dragon had gesticulated and pulled the trigger. Sluggishly, a great big squirt of gloopy looking liquid jumped out and hit the house about twenty yards away. It did nothing but cling to the wall.
"There you go, what did I tell you?"
"That's great," sighed Richie, "but what exactly is it supposed to do?"
"Ahhhh... for that, you'll need a dragon my dear. But let's just say that they won't like it, and it WILL have the desired effect."
Shrugging her shoulders, Richie raised her eyebrows theatrically. Given his track record, she remained more than a little sceptical about what use, if any, the heavy water was going to be. Still, Hook seemed to be enjoying practising with the weapon.
One by one, the master mantra maker beckoned the rest of the friends forward, all except Janice. The others all received bandoliers that strapped across their chests, all holding different types of grenades. Some were smoke grenades that made it almost impossible to see, some were electrical grenades that caused shock and momentary paralysis. Gee Tee explained how to arm the five second fuses on them, and how best to throw them at their intended target. Next, Janice was asked to step forward. Tentatively, she did so. Noticing the worry in her face, the old shopkeeper did his best to buoy her spirits.
"Hmmmm... I know all about YOU!" he remarked menacingly, recalling the trip inside Peter's mind.
Instantly, Janice took two steps back, as the old dragon leaned forward and put his ancient reptilian head right in her face. Tiny little flames sizzled and danced from inside his nostrils.
"You must be something special to capture the heart of a dragon," he whispered so that no one else could hear. "I know why you're here and will tell you only this. It will be hard to find a more honest, loyal, brave and trustworthy being. Tread carefully, little one, he thinks the world of you."
Janice's heart raced, and she had to remind herself to breathe. He'd almost confirmed what she thought she knew from the events of the night so far. All she could think was... 'He's a dragon!'
Pulling his face slowly back from hers, the master mantra maker declared,
"It'll be okay... honest. There's nothing to worry about... well, there is actually. But I've saved the best for last, well, almost." Reaching deep inside the backpack, the old shopkeeper pulled out the most mesmerising thing the whole group of them had ever seen. It gleamed from almost impossible angles, so shiny was the metal it was made from. Its design was so sleek and unusual that it looked like something from far in the future. However, those features weren't what made it stand out. Surrounding the blade of the knife/sword, as that was the only way to describe it due to its significant length, was a kind of moving frost that circled continuously. It gave off an eerie, light blue glow while spluttering and hissing ever so slightly. It looked AWESOME! Gee Tee held it out for Janice, encouraging her to take it as everyone else looked on, slack jawed. Taking a deep breath, the petite blonde stepped forward and grabbed the surprisingly comfortable hilt. Waving it around a few times, she created a kind of blue trail across the air in front of her, much as a child would do with a sparkler on bonfire night. All she could think was how light and natural it felt in her hand. Looking on, the old shopkeeper seemed pleased with his selection.
"This," he announced, "is my pride and joy. It's the only one of its kind, and was forged by a Chinese dragon more than two thousand years ago. Nobody's ever been able to recreate that feat, despite many having tried. It is thought to have been crafted by a master weapon smith by the name of Fu-ts'ang. So revered was Fu-ts'ang that he was written into ancient Chinese mythology, having special responsibility for the minerals of the earth and is sometimes known, even to this day, as the Dragon of Hidden Treasures. Hence the weapon is known only as Fu-ts'ang. You should refer to it as if you were referring to a person. Do you understand child?"
Swallowing involuntarily, Janice just about managed to mumble,
"Yes... sir."
"Ohhhh... 'sir'," said the master mantra maker, turning to Richie. "I like her, she can stay."
Janice blushed fiercely.
"Now listen carefully, child. It's a serious responsibility you bear. This weapon will cut its way through just about anything: metal, stone, even with the necessary intent behind it... dragon. Probably not fatally, but you could in theory remove a dragon's tail, rendering it off balance and relatively defenceless. But here, today, that's not your main purpose. I will now demonstrate. Little one," the old shopkeeper whispered, referring of course to Richie, "please would you go and stand in front of us, with your back turned."
Striding forward ten paces, Richie turned to face the other way, having heard about the master mantra maker's demonstrations she was far from keen to have anything to do with one. It was bad enough that he made her idiot friend participate on a regular basis. Abruptly her thoughts turned to Tank, hoping they were in time to save him, if that were even possible. Before she knew it, a strange sensation dripped down her back. Just as she was about to turn round to find out what was going on, she experienced the most painful sensation she'd ever felt in her entire life. Worse still, she was paralysed.
Whilst Richie had been facing the other way, Gee Tee had gotten Hook to fire a burst of heavy water at her, as he sneaked up behind her and touched Fu-ts'ang to a trailing part of the heavy water covering her. Immediately her whole body froze. As it did so, he turned and addressed the group of humans.