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“You can't be serious,” Malao said. “Do you really know the way?”

The monkey stopped jumping and cocked its head to one side. It looked confused.

Malao grinned. “I knew it. You don't understand me, do you?”

The monkey continued to stare at Malao as if waiting for something.

Malao sighed. “I thought so. I'll never find my way back to Cangzhen.”

Once again, the white monkey got excited. This time, it grabbed Malao's hand, squeezed three times, and raced off into the trees.

Malao shrugged and followed.

Malao ran for what seemed like forever. He had long since stopped trying to keep up with the white monkey in the treetops. Instead, he traveled on foot as the monkey tirelessly raced from tree to tree. Malao's neck grew sore from looking up.

By early evening, the terrain began to look familiar. Malao climbed up to the monkey's side, and they traversed the treetops together. From that point on, Malao led.

They stumbled upon the large hollow elm sooner than Malao expected. When they were still some distance away, Malao took cover behind the trunk of a large oak, just in case. The monkey curled itself into a tight ball next to him.

A moment later, Malao realized hiding wasn't necessary. He could feel Hok's intense gaze burrowing through the trunk, seeking him out. Malao climbed around to the front of the oak. There was Hok, poking his head out of the hollow and staring directly at the spot where Malao was hiding. Malao waved.

Hok leaped from his perch and glided through the treetops. He landed next to Malao.

“I was afraid you wouldn't return,” Hok said. “I owe you an apology. I shouldn't have pushed you to do something you weren't ready to do. I'm sorry.”

Malao lowered his head. “There's no need for you to apologize. I'm the one who should apologize for running off like that.”

Hok reached out and raised Malao's chin with a pale finger. “Don't worry about it, little brother. Are you feeling okay? You don't look so good.”

“I'm fine,” Malao said. “Just a little tired. And a little sad, I guess.” He looked over at the hollow. “Where is Grandmaster?”

“He's in the tree,” Hok replied.

“You got him up there yourself?”

Hok nodded.

“But there aren't any stains on the trunk or the ground or anything.”

“I was very careful,” Hok said. “Would you like to see what I did inside?”

“Um … I …” Malao's voice trailed off. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Yes. Yes, I would like to see.”

“Good,” Hok said. He patted Malao on the shoulder. “You can bring your little friend, too, if you want.”

The white monkey poked its head out from behind the trunk and looked at Malao. Malao shrugged.

Hok grinned and launched himself toward the hollow. Malao and the white monkey followed. Once inside, Malao looked around.

“It looks exactly like it did the last time I was in here,” Malao said.

“Yes,” Hok replied. “I found a small hole in the floor and widened it. There's an enormous cavity beneath us that seems to run the entire length of the trunk. That's where Grandmaster now lies. As you can see, I plugged the hole thoroughly. No one will ever know he's in there.”

“You've been busy,” Malao said. “It looks great. I'm sure Grandmaster appreciates it.”

Hok's brown eyes sparkled. “Thank you, Malao. But now that it's done, I'm sure he'd like us to focus on Ying.”

“Yeah,” Malao agreed. He glanced outside and saw a green tree snake slithering up a tree trunk. “Hey, I need to tell you about Seh!”

“Seh? What about him?”

“I saw him,” Malao said. “Twice, actually.”

“This better not be a joke, Malao.”

“It's not a joke. He joined a gang of bandits.”

“I'm sorry, did you just say bandits?”

Malao grinned. “Yes, but Seh said they're not ordinary bandits.”

“I don't understand,” Hok said. “What kind of bandits are they?”

“Who knows?” Malao replied. “We're talking about Seh, remember? You know how he is.”

Hok rubbed the back of his long, thin neck. “Do you know if Seh happened to cross paths with Long?”

“He said he hadn't. I wonder where Long disappeared to?”

“I haven't the slightest idea,” Hok said. “I—”

Hok froze in mid-sentence. He glanced around the hollow, then lowered his voice. “I'd like to hear more about your adventures, Malao, but I think we should keep our talking to a minimum. I have a feeling someone is nearby.”


Tags: Jeff Stone Five Ancestors Fantasy