‘Well, Reverend Brother, I do thank you for your time. When we return to our land we will be sure to give prayers for your continuing health and prosperity.’
He edged further around. ‘Do convey our thanks to your colleagues who prayed for us so sincerely. We will now take our leave.’
The monk bowed politely – but then called out, ‘Lao na, what is wrong with your brother? Is he taken sick?’
Nicander turned around in concern. Marius was bent over, holding his stomach with both hands.
‘Oh, dear. I fear a return of the river fever. I will help him home. Come, Ma lao na.’
The monk bowed again, his face unreadable.
Out of the monastery, Brother Ni and Brother Ma turned into the lane of the apothecaries and hurried until they were out of sight.
Marius laughed in relief. ‘Be buggered! The monk thought I was pissed!’
‘You did get one?’
He pulled out two bamboo containers.
‘It’s stealing,’ Nicander mumbled in a sudden rush of guilt.
‘I’ve only snitched a couple, they won’t miss ’em in all that lot,’ Marius said in triumph. ‘And now we’re going back to Constantinople – and with what everyone expects us to return with. The doings to make our own silk, for God’s sake! We put ’em in our holy scriptures box – remember that false bottom? No one’s going to look under our sacred writings, are they now!’
It was breathtaking. If they made it through they would have the means not only to make themselves insanely wealthy but earn Justinian’s undying gratitude.
If – they successfully crossed the deserts and mountains, faced demons and barbarians, went in the right direction…
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Kuo was waiting for them, his face creased with worry. ‘Thank the heavens. Quickly – inside!’
‘What is it, Kuo hsien sheng?’ Nicander said with a sudden chill.
‘Wen Hsuan – he’s hot and angry, determined to find you. I’ve received word from Luoyang. There are imperial agents out, asking about you.’
Terrified of the Emperor’s wrath, they were apparently sparing no efforts to cover the country and Chang An, one of the biggest cities in the Empire and the gateway to the outer world, would be high on their priorities.
‘How far-’
‘My man has only just reached here, but they cannot be long behind. I will hide you here of course, however I fear that the first place they will secure is the caravan terminus. We must pray you’re able to leave before they reach us.’
With nervous apprehension Nicander and Marius prepared for their journey. In the privacy of their quarters the contents of the bamboo tubes were carefully extracted. A mass of undistinguished black earth studded with pale specks, it was easily padded down into the false bottom of the box and the scriptures carefully arranged above, in the main compartment.
Their clothing and necessities were gathered together and packed into a pair of pannier bags and then they were ready.
After a sleepless night they waited in a stew of anxiety. Kuo himself would visit the terminus to see if anything was amiss and leave it until the last moment to send for them.
It was well past midday when word finally came. It was on!
They left the house separately, the two holy men going on foot the relatively short distance to the Western Market, Ying Mei and Tai Yi in a sedan chair took a different route, their baggage yet another.
Nicander was keyed up and the noise and confusion of the bazaars and choked lanes tried his patience. When they reached the caravanserai the substantial quadrangular courtyard was packed with jostling humanity and strings of camels. On the air was a heady compound: the stench of droppings, occasional wafts of perfume, the pungency of old leather and a sense of imminent travel.
There seemed no order to the scene. Kuo found them and took them to where the ladies waited. ‘It’s always like this. Don’t worry, it will sort itself out. The freight camels have already been loaded, there’s only you passengers who are left.’
Eventually a harried clerk with a well-thumbed list came up with two stable boys. ‘Kuo sheng! You’re last, do you know that? Or nearly last. I have you down for four – two females for mule and carriage, two males for class three horses, one pack camel through to Khotan, changes at Dunhuang. Right?’
‘Correct, and here they are.’
‘Well, good. The boys will take you to your mounts. Please stand by them, do not leave for any reason, we will not be held liable in the event the caravan goes without you. Understood?’
The clerk made the necessary entries and they were hurried into the throng.
‘Make way! Make way!’ the boys yelled and suddenly they were at the long camel train.
Brother Paul and Brother Matthew’s place was next in line to a snug enclosed carriage for the ladies.
Nicander looked at their two horses with dismay. They were small – halfway in size between a horse and a donkey, a different breed to any he knew.
‘This is your camel,’ one of the boys said.
It was a large two-humped beast with a mournful look and huge eyelashes. It swung its big head to regard him then looked away.
‘What’s his name?’
‘Name?’
‘Yes. What do I call him?’
The lad, surprised, gave a soft smile. ‘This one’s Meng Hsiang, on account he’s always dreaming.’ He fondled the beast’s muzzle. It responded with a subterranean rumble and a grey tongue shot out to touch his hand.
He expertly brought it down to a kneeling position. ‘We’ll load him up now.’
It was skilled work; balancing the load, leading the plaited cords to counter movement and yet not interfere with the camel’s gait, and having the underlying harness cinched just so.
‘I’m going to be a cameleer when I’m big,’ the boy said shyly as he finished up. ‘My father promised.’
He tapped at its rear with a stick. Obediently the giant back legs levered the animal up on the kneeling forelegs then it straightened, not seeming to notice the load at all. He went to its muzzle and inserted a wooden nose-peg and led the line from it to the rear of the saddle of one of the horses.
‘On the road the cameleers will take care of him for you – but don’t let ’em treat him rough, he’ll never forget. And if ever it comes on to a sandstorm-’
The booming of a large gong sounded making conversation impossible. The boy shouted, ‘You’re leaving!’ and scurried away in a general movement to one side of all who did not belong to the caravan.
The noise became deafening with boisterous farewells, restless snarls of nervous camels and orders being shouted up and down the long snaking line.
And there was the Ice Queen, exchanging last words with her uncle. Nicander watched cynically as she finished, putting her hands together in a courtly bow. She straightened, turned quickly and went to her carriage without once looking back. She got in, followed by Tai Yi, and in one swift movement drew the curtains on the outside world.
Heartless bitch!
The little carriage was small and stuffy, worse when the veils were drawn.
Tears squeezed out until Ying Mei’s face, expressionless and rigid, dissolved into a rictus of grief and heartbreak. She surrendered to her emotion, weeping helplessly.
Tai Yi reached for her, held her close, whispering the same endearments she had so long ago when she had comforted a small child on the loss of her friend to banishment.
But then Ying Mei fought back – she was her father’s daughter and would never, ever, shame him. How could she? Such a wise, wonderful, perfect man… who she would not see ever again. It brought on terrible sobs welling up from her deepest being, a flood of pain and desolation that threatened her sanity.
The never-ending din outside beat in on her – but at the same time it gave her a focus. They might well have to face the world before they left and to be caught like this…
She brutally clamped a hold on herself, forced her body into a dignified position and managed a wan smile at Tai Yi.