Tiger - Jeff Stone [1]
Malao giggled softly and wiggled his toes.
“If you do that again, Malao, I'll bite them off one at a time,” Fu said. “I swear I will.”
Malao giggled again but kept his toes still.
How much longer am I going to be stuck in here? Fu wondered. He hoped for his brothers' sake they would all get out of the barrel soon. He wasn't sure if he could control himself much longer.
Twelve-year-old Fu couldn't believe his bad luck. He wished he could set the water clock back one hour to the time when Grandmaster first woke him.
Like every night, Fu had been sleeping in the small room he shared with his four brothers at the back of the main sleeping quarters. They had long since retired for the night, and Fu was dreaming about an overflowing banquet table that stretched as far as the eye could see. He'd been about to fill his bowl with a piece of chicken when he was awakened by a smack on the head.
Had the strike come from anyone other than Grandmaster himself, Fu would surely have sprung from his bed and returned the greeting tenfold. However, Fu instantly recognized Grandmaster's skinny, bald head and orange robe.
Grandmaster grabbed the collar of Fu's robe and yanked him to his feet.
“Rise, now!” Grandmaster whispered into Fu's ear. “We have very little time. Follow your brothers on cat's feet. Go!”
Fu scanned the room with a quick twist of his head. All the beds were empty. His eyes locked on the back door as a small figure scampered outside.
“GO!” Grandmaster urged. He shoved Fu toward the door.
In one great bound, Fu launched himself through the open door and landed silently in the moonlit courtyard. Filling his lungs with the damp night air, Fu raced after his little brother, Malao, who was scurrying around the back corner of the practice hall. By the time Fu reached the enormous wooden doors at the front of the hall, Grandmaster had already caught up with him. Fu's brothers Long, Hok, Seh, and Malao stood there, waiting.
Grandmaster glanced around, then pushed one of the giant doors open just enough to stick his wrinkled head inside. After a moment, he pulled his head back out and looked at Fu. Fu knew exactly what Grandmaster wanted. As Grandmaster opened the door wider, Fu rocked back on his heels and sprang through the doorway.
Fu hit the ancient brick floor without making a sound and rolled to one side. He crouched low and pushed his back flat against the cold stone wall. Like a wary feline, Fu scanned the immense room with his low-light vision. It was empty.
Fu grunted and the others filed in. Grandmaster came last, closing the door behind him.
“Follow me,” Grandmaster whispered. “Do not open any shutters. Do not light any torches. If you concentrate, you can see well enough.”
“What's going on?” Seh whispered as they moved forward.
“Troops have gathered outside our walls,” Grandmaster said. “You are to remain hidden here until I return.”
“Troops?” Hok said. “You mean soldiers? Cangzhen is a secret temple. How do they know about us?”
“I fear they are led by your lost brother, Ying,” Grandmaster replied.
“Ying!” Fu growled. “He's no longer my brother! Where is he? I'll tear him to shreds!”
“No, you won't,” Malao said, giggling. “Ying's eagle kung fu is much too powerful for you. Remember the time he broke your arm because you woke him up?”
“Watch it, Malao,” Fu replied.
Malao skipped forward, still giggling. “And remember the time he tied you to that tree with his chain whip? Right beneath that big hornet's nest!”
“Stop it,” Fu said, pivoting toward Malao. “I'm warning you—”
Malao giggled louder. “Oh! And remember the time he—”
“That's enough, you two,” Long whispered as he positioned his muscular body between Fu and Malao. Malao stopped giggling.
“Us two?” Fu said, irritated. “I didn't even—”
“I said, enough!” Long hissed. Fu glared at Long but kept his mouth shut. Long turned toward Grandmaster. “Pardon me for asking, Grandmaster, but you think Ying is leading the troops? How can this be? He