Snake by Jeff Stone Page B

continued rubbing Malao's head, but nothing more happened.
    “That's enough,” Seh said finally. “We need to find someone who can help keep him awake.”
    Fu laid Malao's head down. “I wish Hok was here. He … I mean,
she
would know what to do.”
    Seh nodded. “She does know a lot more about these things than we do.” He rubbed his long chin. “Too bad we can't go back to the stronghold. I have a feeling AnGangseh might be able to help.”
    “You mean your mother?” Fu said.
    Seh blinked. That sounded strange for some reason. “Yes,” he said.
    “Why do you think she could help?” Fu asked.
    “When the soldiers attacked, she fought off a couple of them with poison hidden under her fingernails. Usually people who handle poisons know antidotes and potions for many things.”
    “You mean those two dead soldiers in the bandits’ shed—” Fu said.
“She
killed them?”
    Seh nodded.
    “Whoa. What did she want with you?”
    “She just wanted to talk.”
    “Why would she have poison under her nails if she just wanted to talk?” Fu asked.
    Seh paused. That was a good question. “I guess because she lives with bandits. She has to be ready for anything.”
    Fu seemed satisfied with this answer. He nodded and looked at Seh's lower back. “Is that lump under your robe the dragon scrolls?”
    “One of them,” Seh said. “I gave two to AnGangseh—I mean, my mother—for safekeeping.”
    “You did
what?”
Fu said. “I risked my life to get those scrolls! When are we going to get them back?”
    “The next time we see her, I suppose,” Seh said.
    Fu growled and slammed a fist into his open palm.
    The monkey looked at Fu and bared its teeth.
    “Take it easy, Fu,” Seh said. “You're upsetting the monkey.”
    Fu snorted and turned away.
    “I'm sorry you're angry,” Seh said. “But there's nothing we can do about it now. Our number one priority is to get Malao some help. That's what we need to focus on. We need to figure out where to take him.”
    Fu glared at Seh. “We? How am I supposed to help with that? You led us here. I don't have any idea where we are. What we need is a—” Fu stopped and looked at the white monkey. He slapped his forehead. “A tour guide! Of course!”
    “What are you talking about?” Seh asked.
    “The white monkey was like a tour guide for me and Malao,” Fu said. “It led us to Shaolin Temple. It also led us to the village where the Governor lives.”
    “How far was the village from Cangzhen?” Seh asked.
    “About half a day's travel.”
    “Was it east of Cangzhen or west?”
    “Sort of southwest,” Fu said. “Why?”
    Seh pointed east toward a small mountain. “The more I look at that, the more I think it's ShiShan Mountain. If I'm right, Cangzhen is on the other side. That means if the village was half a day southwest of Cangzhen, it's probably half a day southeast of where we are now. Do you think the monkey could lead us there?”
    “Let's find out,” Fu said. He looked the white monkey in the eye. “Can you take us to the village?”
    The white monkey tilted its head to one side inquisitively.
    “What's the name of the village?” Seh asked.
    “I don't know,” Fu confessed. He scratched behind one ear and looked at the white monkey again. “Can you take us to the … ummm … Governor?”
    The white monkey seemed to grin. It reached out and grabbed Fu's hand. Seh saw it squeeze three times before letting go and leaping into the trees.

L ate that evening, Seh couldn't stop thinking about the mushroom skewers the monkey had brought them earlier. He wished they'd eaten them. He and Fu had been following the white monkey through the forest all day and he was famished. He was also exhausted. Seh and Fu had taken turns carrying Malao, and it had worn them both out.
    Oddly enough, Fu's mind still seemed sharp. He was rambling nonstop about his adventures with Malao. Seh was glad to get the information, but he was finding it harder and harder to absorb the