With nothing to do, ShaoShu decided to take a nap. He hadn't slept much over the past few days, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity. He closed his eyes, and after what felt like half an hour, he was startled awake by the sound of heavy boots crossing the courtyard. He wiped the sleep from his eyes and was shocked to see that it had grown dark. The moon was even beginning to rise.
“Time to get to work,” Tonglong said, stopping next to ShaoShu.
“Uh, okay,” ShaoShu replied, pushing himself to his feet. He made a move toward the fire pit, but Tonglong grabbed his arm.
“Where do you think you are going?”
“To get the sack.”
“Why?”
“To collect the food offerings.”
“No,” Tonglong said. “They are to stay here.”
ShaoShu looked at him, unsure what Tonglong wanted him to do.
“I didn't bring you along just to be my servant,” Tonglong said.
ShaoShu glanced around at what little he could see of the cemetery, and his nose twitched. He didn't like the sound of this at all.
“What do you want me to do?”
“I need you to retrieve something.”
“From where?”
Tonglong pointed to the circular painting high up the wall of his father's final resting place. The painting of the mantis tearing the bird to pieces.
“In there.”
CHAPTER 6
ShaoShu glanced up at the circular mantis painting on Tonglong's father's final resting place, then at the formidable statues. There was only one thing inside that building, and ShaoShu had no interest in retrieving it.
“How do you expect me to get in there?” ShaoShu asked.
“That painting is only rice paper glued to a round wooden frame,” Tonglong said. “It's called a spirit window. You can easily tear through it.”
ShaoShu glanced up at the night sky and muttered, “Why did he have to wait for night?”
“I heard that,” Tonglong said. “Not that it's any of your business, but I'd rather not have anyone see what you are about to do.”
“I won't be able to see, either, sir!” ShaoShu pro tested. “I can't do it. I don't think I can squeeze through there.”
“You will do it,” Tonglong said. “Or you will die. Do you understand?” He gripped the straight sword sheathed neatly in his sash.
ShaoShu lowered his head, defeated. “I understand. I'm going to need a boost, though, sir.”
Tonglong led ShaoShu over to the front of the small building, stepping around the food offerings. He grabbed ShaoShu by the waist and lifted him up, but ShaoShu's head was barely in line with the painting.
“I need to be higher, sir,” ShaoShu said. “Can I stand on your shoulders?”
“Grab hold of the window recess.”
ShaoShu gripped the lip of the recessed circle containing the mantis painting, and Tonglong let go of his waist. As he dangled there, Tonglong squatted down, grabbed ShaoShu's ankles, and planted ShaoShu's feet firmly on his shoulders before standing up again.
ShaoShu found that the bottom of the round window was now in line with his belly button. This was better. He poked at the rice paper covering the circular recess, and his fingers easily broke through.
“Tear the whole thing out and put your head in,” Tonglong said. “Tell me what you see.”
ShaoShu gladly tore the scary painting to pieces and threw them to the ground. He pushed against the wooden frame, and it crumbled in his hands. With the circular opening cleared, he pressed his head through it, but the rest of his body was stopped short by his shoulders. He pulled his head back out and looked down at Tonglong.
“I can't see anything, and I can't fit. Please let me down.”
“No,” Tonglong said. “You're not finished yet. Take hold of the recess again, and keep your balance. I'm going to squat once more.” Tonglong squatted and reached down as ShaoShu teetered on Tonglong's shoulders. ShaoShu couldn't see what he was doing.
Tonglong stood, and ShaoShu maintained his grip on the window opening for support. Tonglong said, “Lower your right hand.”
ShaoShu dropped his hand, and Tonglong slapped something cold and slimy into it.
“Ew!” ShaoShu cried. “What is it?”
“Beef tongue. Nice and slippery, thanks to the flies. Pull off your robe and wipe it against your shoulders. You'll squeeze right through.”
ShaoShu paused.
“I could always cut off one of your arms instead to help you fit,” Tonglong said.
Remembering Tonglong's straight sword, ShaoShu began to worry. “Why do you think I can make it, sir?”
“Because a mouse can fit its entire body inside any opening that can accommodate its head. It does so by dislocating its joints. I felt your arm earlier, and you have very loose joints, like your namesake. I suspect that you can dislocate one or even both of your shoulders without too much trouble. I can help you, if you like.”