Nicander felt a gush of warmth toward the older man. ‘Master – what will happen to you? I mean, after-’
‘Do not concern yourself. I am condemned the instant it is known that both you and my daughter have fled. I shall leave at the same time with you, but part to go elsewhere. My plans are well advanced. Master Wang and I together will fly at the utmost speed to a sanctuary I long for with all my soul, the Temple of Shaolin, where I ask nothing more than to end my life in the contemplation of the sublime.
‘Timing is crucial. In a short while it will be dark. As the Hour of the Snake is sounded we leave, going by separate ways to meet again with my daughter and her lady-in-waiting – at the imperial stables. There, we will be told what to do. Have you any questions?’
‘What is the nature of our journey once we are outside these walls?’
‘In the chest are all requisite passes and documents. In these you are holy men accompanying a lady on a perilous journey, for you will be hiring a conveyance to take her on an urgent visit on my behalf to her uncle in Chang An, who lies sick.’
‘A lady on her own? Will not this-’
‘You are holy men accompanying her, it is a well-understood custom. However, at this point I must remind you that under no circumstances should you admit to coming here from over the mountains. You will be suspected of being a spy and would never be allowed to leave China.’
‘Then where do we say we’re from?’
‘Some kingdom or other, it doesn’t signify. Only that you do not come from far parts of the west.’
‘Yes, Master. Your daughter. She’s a… lady and we are both men. Do you not think that-’
‘You are men, but holy men. I understand your concern over her female needs but rest your fears; she will be accompanied throughout by her lady-in-waiting, Lai Tai Yi, who is a most loyal and determined individual.’
‘Ah.’
‘The chest will be in her charge, for you holy men should not be burdened with the cares of this world.’
‘Only one more question, sir. Could you be clear as to who exactly you consider to be in command for the journey?’
‘My daughter has been instructed to take wise direction from which of you shall be foremost in the making of decisions.’
He motioned to Wang. ‘Now, might I suggest you prepare by putting on these monkish robes? They will allow those of my country to know you as holy men and will give you a certain protection. The divines in China shave their heads, but your beards identify you as foreign. These are not unknown, passing to and fro from Tibet and the outer world on their search for knowledge and you will have no trouble.’
He reflected a moment then added, ‘And I’ve been giving some thought to your Chinese name. I rather fancy “Ni K’an Ta” for you, sir. It is by way of meaning “One who is able to distinguish great ventures”. Is it to your liking?’
‘Indeed, Master.’
‘Then so shall it be, Ni hsien sheng. Now your friend. How does he like, “Ma Lai Ssu” do you think? It has the meaning “Earth god who tames wild horses”. Will you explain to him?’
While Marius – Ma hsien sheng – gloried in his new name, Nicander said gravely, ‘Master, we thank you with all our heart! If we could ever-’
‘You have lifted a burden from me that has been monstrous these last months, and I go rewarded by being the instrument of restoring two brave and worthy seekers after truth to the land of their birth.’
A stone chime sounded softly.
It was time.
‘Are we then ready? You gentlemen to the left, Master Wang and I go to the right. Then let us depart!’
In a thrill of hope they stepped out into the stillness of the night. Over in the palace there was the usual revelry and Nicander imagined the explosion there would be when the Emperor called for his performers.
He and Marius walked as quickly as they could to the stables, close by their own quarters.
They entered the dank and stifling building and stood in the darkness listening. There was a creak and the door at the end opened. Four figures; two men, two women. Nicander recognised Kuo and Wang, who motioned them into the courtyard.
There, the rising moon provided just enough light to make out features. Wang was holding the chest. One woman carried two bags. The other, standing tall and still, was the Ice Queen!
‘I may have omitted to make introduction. This is my daughter, the Lady Kuo Ying Mei. My dear, this is Ni K’an Ta and Ma Lai Ssu.’
Taken aback at the identity of his charge, Nicander nevertheless managed a bow, returned with a distant inclination of the head.
Kuo spoke urgently, ‘We must not delay. Master Wang, is…?’
‘This way, everyone!’
They hurried over to the stalls where a large cart hitched to two horses waited. It was filled with animal dung.
‘Aboard quickly, please!’ the driver hissed, his eyes showing white.
Wang ducked under the cart and pulled a bolt. A trapdoor swung down. ‘Get in!’ There were gasps from the ladies.
Kuo was first, disappearing up into some recess. He was followed by the reluctant women and then it was Nicander’s turn. He scrambled under the cart, then looked up – nothing but darkness. Guiding hands pulled him over to the side where he wedged himself in, gagging at the smell. Marius followed, then the chest.
Wang shot the bolt, gave a muffled farewell and they jerked into motion.
‘Only a short distance and then he will let us out,’ Kuo said in a shaky voice, adding that this was the usual run for the dung cart to the village, done at night to avoid offending smells while the palace was at work. The regular crew had been told that they were given leave to drink the Emperor’s health that night and trusty men had prepared and loaded the vehicle.
It was well thought out: an internal box under the dung, invisible from the outside.
The cart slowed, then stopped. The tension was unbearable.
But soon it started swaying forward again. After a few minutes Nicander sensed a definite downward angle.
‘We’re through the gates!’ Kuo’s voice came weakly. ‘Only a little while to the river.’
They heard a horse drawing near and the cart stopped. There was a knock, then the bolt slid across and the trapdoor swung free with a sudden intoxicating blast of clean night air.
Wang helped them out and they stood disoriented for a moment.
Behind was the black mass of the city walls, studded with lights. A little way in front of them glittered the river gliding past in the moonlight.
‘This way, quickly!’
He led them to a meadow. In the dark it was difficult to make out shapes and he frantically looked about. ‘There! A boat waits!’
They made their way through the thick turf, stumbling against grass clumps. Out of the dimness came animal noises as they pressed on in a fever of excitement.
Halfway across they heard sounds from the direction of the city walls: distant cries, a powerful war drum starting an urgent beating.
‘We’ve been discovered! Go for your lives!’
They ran – the boat was not a hundred yards away up the river by the bank. A figure stood nearby.
A line of torches flickered to life along the city walls and a trumpet bayed out.
‘No!’ screamed Wang as their boatman, now just fifty yards away, panicked and shoved off without them.
‘The slivey bastard!’ Marius shouted and waded into the water, making for the fast-moving boat to intercept it.
It came on but he was up to his neck and the man had not seen him. As it passed by, a hand shot up and seized his ankle, pulling hard. The man gave a despairing cry and toppled into the water. Marius lost no time hauling himself in. He found the steering oar and brought the boat safely in to nudge into the shallows.
‘Move!’ he roared.
Falling over each other they scrambled aboard. The women disappeared into a shelter aft while Kuo and Wang squatted in the middle.
Marius seized one of the boat oars, gesturing to Nicander to take the other. Wang clambered up to the steering oar.
‘Go!’ Marius bellowed. They heaved mightily and the boat came off the mud.