THE SILK TREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Back in the privacy of their quarters Yi didn’t waste words. ‘That’s it! Not staying another fucking minute in this crazy place. I’m away!’

‘But – you’re Beastmaster. Where-’ Nicander said lamely.

‘I’ll admit it was a good screw, but better out and away, than here with that mad bastard on the loose.’

‘How about us?’ Nicander spluttered. ‘You can’t just…’

‘Watch me.’

‘Could you first free us as slaves?’ he ventured.

‘No. You belong to Hao. Ask him.’

‘Beastmaster, sir, please-’

‘Out of m’ way, I’ve got things to do,’ Yi said irritably and hurried to his room. Soon they could hear sounds of furious activity.

‘You have to take us with you,’ Nicander called out in despair.

‘No!’

‘You can have the silver sycees the Emperor gave us.’

‘Piss off, I’m busy.’

‘Sir, please, we’re-’

Yi stormed back to confront them. ‘Wasn’t I clear enough? I’m off, you lot are on your own. Do your act how you like, why should I care? Hao will find another beastmaster, it’ll then be his worry, not mine.’

‘We’re marked, you know that?’ Marius muttered darkly as Yi left. ‘Any trouble in a city, it’s always “get the foreign bastards” first.’

‘It’s the Emperor who’s going to do us, believe me. One night he’ll not like the act and have our heads sliced off just for the fun of it,’ Nicander retorted.

‘And without Yi we’ve got big bother. No one to stir the crowd, get ’em going, like.’

‘Look, forget the act. If we can’t find a way to get out of here…’ But they had been over it all before and seen no solution. Why would now be any different?

In the early afternoon a messenger came. ‘You are summoned before the Grand Chamberlain,’ he announced loftily. ‘He wants you to tell him what you’re going to say at the next act, that it won’t offend the Emperor.’

At the residence of the Grand Chamberlain they were ushered in to a little courtyard. Nicander sensed something was wrong – but couldn’t put his finger on it.

Kuo arrived with the faithful Wang. ‘I’ve asked you here to detail for me the substance of your next act before His Effulgence,’ he said, rather more loudly than necessary. ‘We should, I suppose, go somewhere quiet to discuss this – we don’t want to give away the plot to others now, do we?’

They proceeded to a small building. ‘This is my sanctuary, my place of meditation.’

Inside it was dark, lit by two lamps only on a high writing desk, but it was warm and enfolding.

Kuo went familiarly to the desk while Wang motioned them to a carved bench opposite, glancing outside before closing the door.

‘Now. My apologies for bringing you here under false pretences,’ Kuo said. ‘The matter, however, is critical and pressing. I’m bound to say, to my infinite sorrow, that the Emperor has now transgressed the rules of conduct for a ruler far beyond those laid down for him by the ancient sages. I believe him now to be past redemption, remote from enlightening by any moral precept.’

He held as still as a statue for long moments and Nicander thought him lost to the world. Then he continued, ‘Therefore my loyalty to his misrule is now withdrawn, for how can I lend my hand and heart to acts abhorrent to the meanest? It would make me complicit in them and that I cannot bear.’

‘Master, why are you telling me this?’

‘You are right. This is none of your concern. Only inasmuch as at this point I must place my life, and that of those I hold dear, in your hands.’

At first Nicander thought he had misheard. ‘Your l-life?’ he stuttered.

‘I am about to make you both a proposition. One that if it came to the ears of Chancellor Hao or the Emperor would undoubtedly result in my summary execution. If you do not wish to hear it, you must go now.’

Every instinct screamed at him to leave instantly – not to get involved in a life and death palace intrigue as a lowly player in whatever plot was unfolding.

Before he could say anything, Kuo quietly added, ‘I should perhaps tell you that the proposition will be to your undeniable advantage in your present situation.’

Nicander froze. If he left now it would be to abandon the only chance that had presented itself to them.

‘Please go on, sir.’

‘Should I provide you with a means of escape, gold, documents and so forth, would you undertake to be gone from here – with my daughter whom I would place in your protection as holy men I do trust?’

Nicander caught his breath. From anyone else but the all-powerful grand chamberlain the words would be incredible.

‘Master, I – we’re honoured in the trust you have placed in us. Do pardon while I explain the matter to my brother monk.’

He turned to Marius whose eyes lit up as he spoke. ‘Take it! Go – what’re you waiting for?’

Nicander held his gaze and whispered, ‘I have deep worries. We’ll be caught up in all this plotting up to our eyebrows, is one. The other is that do you want a woman, high-born at that – and they’re the worst – around our necks while we’re trying to get away? If we go with this, then whatever else we come up with has to be thrown aside, we’ll only get one chance!’

‘I say yes!’ snarled Marius. ‘Woman or not, I want out of here as I need air!’

‘I don’t like it! We’d be-’

‘We’re going! Tell him!’

Nicander realised if he didn’t agree, Marius would go on his own and be damned to all else.

He turned to Kuo. ‘Sir, we’ll do it.’

The sudden easing of the man’s body told its own story. ‘You cannot believe how grateful I am that my daughter will be clear of this… this gathering whirlwind, and you have my eternal thanks for it.’

In a voice charged with emotion he continued, ‘The details be pleased to leave to myself. It must be very soon, I fear. Do hold yourselves ready, for it will happen fast and without chance of return.’

‘How will we know-?’

‘We cannot be seen meeting again. The next time will be on the night of your departure. The signal will be a messenger requiring you to present costumes for my approval. Bring one, but I have to tell you that of your belongings you will only be taking what you have on your person.’

‘I understand, Master.’

‘Then I will bid you good night – and again, please know you have my most earnest expression of gratitude!’

Marius was beside himself in glee. ‘We’re on our way! No more poncing about, soon we’ll be as free as birds!’

‘You haven’t thought about this much, have you, Marius?’

‘What’s to think? We’re away out of it, thank the gods.’

‘Has it ever occurred to you that this doesn’t really add up? It’s starting to smell – something isn’t quite right. Answer me this: why is it that we, slaves – and holy men too, let it be said – are being asked to conduct a high lady out of here? Why not a dedicated band of warriors, a tight crew of compulsors or whatever they call them here. Why us, who stick out as foreigners?

‘And another thing. Why is Mr Kuo and his doggy assistant staying? You’d think he’d want to be gone, surely.’

Was it that they were to be sacrificed as cover to a larger plot?