Tiger - Jeff Stone [37]
“With all due respect,” Fu said politely, “I don't have anything to say to you. I have something to say to Ho. It will only take a moment.”
“I don't think—” Ma began to say.
“Let him talk,” Ho interrupted, stepping forward. “I'd like to hear what he has to say.”
Ma nodded his head. “Let's hear it then, monk.”
“I am very sorry I attacked you,” Fu said, looking directly at Ho. He folded his hands in his lap. “It was wrong, and I sincerely apologize. If you wish to hit me with something, I understand completely. Only I suggest you use an item that transmits force a little better than spit. Take hold of a spear or staff, and I'll place my head between the bars. Hit me as hard as you can.”
“No,” Ho said, shaking his head. “I don't think so.”
“Please,” Fu said. “Please, hit me. Treat me as I have treated you. Treat me ten times worse. It will make me feel better. I deserve it.”
“It won't make me feel any better,” Ho replied. “I don't get pleasure from hurting people.”
“I'll hit him!” Ma offered. “It will make me feel better!”
“No,” said Ho. “You're not going to hit him.”
“Come on,” Ma said. “I'll just hit him once. Right in the ear—”
“NO!” Ho said defiantly. He stomped his foot. “No one is going to hit anyone on my account!”
Ma took a few steps back and frowned. Fu recognized the tension in Ho's voice and spoke to him softly. Softer than he had ever spoken to anyone before.
“Okay, Ho,” Fu said. “Nobody has to hit anybody. But I would still like to do something for you. How about if I teach you to fight?”
“No!” Ho said, folding his arms. “I don't want to learn how to fight.”
“But if you learn how to fight, you can defend yourself against people like me in the future,” Fu said. “No one will ever hurt you again.”
“No.”
“Well,” Fu said, “what do you want?”
“Wait!” Ma interrupted. “I have an idea! Hey, monk, why don't you teach me to fight?”
Fu looked to Ho for a reaction. Ho looked at the ground.
“All right,” Fu said, still looking at Ho. “Since you don't want to learn how to fight, I'll teach your friend Ma. Then he can protect you.”
“Whatever,” said Ho, turning away. He headed for the bun shop across the square.
The sun was still low in the morning sky as Fu and Ma stared at each other through the bars of the bamboo cage. Fu sat cross-legged, his hands on his knees. Ma stood firm and straight.
“Ma means ‘horse,'” Fu said. “Right?”
Ma rolled up his sleeves. “Yes. So?”
“If your mother named you appropriately, your legs should be quite strong,” Fu replied. “Is this true?”
“Yes,” Ma said. “What are you trying to say?”
Fu rubbed his bald head, lost in thought. He slapped his right thigh. “I will teach you the No Shadow Kick. If you practice it for ten years, it might make you famous.”
“Ten years!” Ma exclaimed.
“Yes, ten years,” Fu said, serious. “Maybe a little more, maybe a little less.”
Ma's mouth dropped. “I can't wait that long to fight! Teach me something that doesn't take so long.”
“All good things take time.”
“Well…” Ma said, “then teach me many things so that I can practice all of them for a long time.”
“That won't work,” Fu replied. “Besides, I have a feeling I won't be here much longer. There's only time to teach you one thing. But that's okay. We had a saying at Cangzhen—I fear the one kick you've practiced ten thousand times, not the ten thousand kicks you ve practiced only once.”
“Come on,” Ma said. “You've got to teach me more than just one kick.”
Fu shook his head. “I can't. Ying and his men will be here soon. But perhaps if you find some friends, I can show each of them one different thing, and later you can teach each other your one thing. Then everyone will learn quite a lot. Right?”
“I guess you're right,” Ma said. He kicked the dirt. “But you have to teach me my thing first! Then I'll go get some of my friends.”
“As you wish,” Fu said. “We will begin with the proper stance; it is the foundation for most things. It's called the Horse Stance because it is powerful. Just like a horse. Just like you.”
Ma smiled.
“Watch