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Seh didn't answer.

Hok decided to answer for him. “We're not exactly sure. I thought traveling downstream made the most sense because there might still be soldiers upstream in Kaifeng looking for us. I haven't given it much more thought than that.”

“I see,” PawPaw said. “Can I make a suggestion?”

“Please,” Hok said.

“If you don't mind, then,” PawPaw said, “I'd like to take a peek at that map of yours, Seh. I overheard you talking with Hok about it last week, and I've been meaning to ask to see it ever since. I've spent my entire life in this region. Perhaps I can make some sense of it.”

Hok was worried that Seh might decline, but he nodded and pulled the scroll from the small of his back. Hok saw his snake slither up his arm and over his shoulder.

“Here,” Seh said, holding out the map.

PawPaw took it and unrolled it, holding the map up to the waning sunlight as she had undoubtedly heard Seh tell Hok to do. After a few moments, PawPaw whistled.

“Very, very clever,” PawPaw said. “Look here, Hok. The main lines in the chi meridian sketch represent rivers, while the other lines represent tributaries and, possibly, landmarks. Pure genius.”

“Is any of it familiar?” Hok asked.

“Yes,” PawPaw said excitedly. “See this main meridian running across the chest of the figure from shoulder to shoulder? It represents the Yellow River. And see this main line that runs up and down the figure, from the head all the way to the feet? I believe it is the Grand Canal.”

“What is the Grand Canal?” Seh asked.

PawPaw's eyebrows raised up. “You've never heard of the Grand Canal?”

Hok and Seh both shook their heads.

“Why, it is quite possibly the greatest engineering marvel of all time,” PawPaw said. “It's a canal that extends from the capital city of Peking in the north, all the way to the city of Hangzhou in the south. It was dug entirely by hand. Most of China's rivers run west to east, so this canal is very, very important for north-south transportation of goods. If I had to guess, I'd say the head of this figure in your map represents the Emperor's palace in the Forbidden City inside Peking, which is the map's northernmost point. The feet represent something far to the south, but I'm not sure what. Perhaps Hangzhou, or some place even farther south like Canton. I've never traveled very far down the Grand Canal. I'm sorry I'm not much help.”

“Don't be sorry,” Hok said. “You've already been a really big help.”

“Yes,” Seh said. “We never would have figured that out. Or, at least I wouldn't have. Not in my condition.”

PawPaw laid a hand on Seh's shoulder. “You're doing extraordinarily well, Seh. You should be happy with your progress. I don't want you to depart on a depressing note, okay?”

Seh nodded.

“Good,” PawPaw said. “Do you happen to know what this map is supposed to lead to? A secret temple, perhaps?”

“We don't know,” Hok replied. “But it seems to be very valuable. Seh is blind because—” Hok stopped herself in mid-sentence.

Seh cleared his throat. “It's okay, Hok. I'll tell her.” He turned in PawPaw's general direction. “I was poisoned because AnGangseh wanted the original map. She stole it from me, but it won't do her any good. I changed it.”

“You what?” Hok said. “You never told me you changed it!”

A crooked smile slithered up one side of Seh's face. “Sorry. I guess I forgot to mention it. I carefully drew several new lines that connected previously unconnected meridians on the original scroll. I also traced over all the other lines on the dragon scroll with new ink so that the ink would match everywhere.”

“Dragon scroll?” PawPaw said. “You mean this is a copy of a dragon scroll map?”

Seh nodded. “Yes, why?”

“Well, this is only a legend, but it may be worth sharing,” PawPaw said. “NgGung once told me a story about a secret dragon scroll map brought to Cangzhen by your Grandmaster. Supposedly, it leads to a treasure vault. NgGung thinks there might be some truth to it because your Grandmaster comes from a long line of bodyguards. His family has been protecting wealthy families for countless generations.”

“You know,” Seh said, “Grandmaster was constantly doing secret things and always seemed to have plenty of money. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a mountain of treasure hidden someplace.”

“This certainly is exciting,” PawPaw said. “Tell me, then, are the two of you going to head up the canal to the Forbidden City, or down into the southern regions?”


Tags: Jeff Stone Five Ancestors Fantasy