said.
“Yes, Master,” I answered, thinking I understood. But I never pictured it like this, tied to the end of a vine.
“Mikko follows Nezume,” says Yoshi, sorting us by weight and strength until we all belong somewhere.
Yoshi goes last because he’s our leader and a good captain steers from behind. Anyone can lead from the front.
Expert at finding things in the dark, Taji quickly pulls vines from under the mud. Kyoko weaves the strands into a thick rope. It’s up to me to calculate the length. Too much will be heavy for Kyoko to carry, and too little won’t reach back to us.
“How long is a piece of string?” Sensei often challenges. I never know. But I know how long a vine harness needs to be.
“We’ve got enough now,” I decide.
Kyoko knots the end and places loops of rope around her waist.
“You are the Snow Monkey,” Yoshi says. “You were born to climb across mountains.”
I wish I were blind like Taji so I didn’t have to look. But Kyoko doesn’t hesitate. She’s climbing the flagpole sideways until with a wet squelch, she lands on the other side.
Our
hurrah
s echo up and down the tunnel.
Kyoko wraps the rope around a large rock and ties it tight. She kicks the rock to check that it holds firm. It’s a good test because Kyoko kicks harder than all of us. I know. I’ve received bruises in the wrestling ring that prove it.
Swish.
Kyoko tosses the rope across. It falls through the air and misses us completely. She tries again.
Swish. Slap.
Holding the candle high, Yoshi tries to help her see. Taji has a better idea.
“Close your eyes,” he calls.
I hold my breath as she stands blind at the edge of the drop.
“Imagine you are roping Uma,” Taji yells. “See how he runs from you. Past Mikko. Past Niya. Quick, he’s getting away. Throw! Throw now!”
Without thinking, Kyoko flings the rope.
“Got it.” Taji raises his hand just in time to stop the end from smacking him in the nose.
“Sorry.” Kyoko giggles. She doesn’t
look
sorry.
The goldfish in my stomach sprout wings and flap against my insides as Nezume ties the rope around his waist. What if he slips and the rope doesn’t hold? But Nezume’s not worried. He scurries across the ledge and throws the rope back.
With one arm and a sprained ankle, it won’t be easy for Mikko. Suddenly the harness rope doesn’t seem safe at all.
Mikko shuffles slowly, but he isn’t afraid. Halfway across, he leans back against the wall and waves. “Look, no hands!”
Everyone laughs. It’s not easy for him, but he’s making it look easy to help us. And it’s working. My goldfish are quiet now.
Taji follows next. Then it’s my turn. I shouldn’t look down, but I can’t help it. Even in the pale and reflected candlelight, I can see it’s a long drop. The White Crane flaps its sodden wings in panic. I knot the rope in place, take a deep breath, and think about my friends on the other side. Braver now, I step onto the narrow ledge and edge my way toward them.
A crowd of hands reaches out for me as I scramble to safety. Now it’s Yoshi’s turn. For once, we get to help him. When Yoshi douses the candle, I can’t see him anymore, but I feel the rope move. When I eventually grasp his hand to help him up, my fingers touch something warm and sticky.
“Blood brothers,” he whispers, reminding me of another night on a different mountain. He shakes his head because he doesn’t want me to tell the others. Yoshi’s more concerned about us. Especially Nezume, who looks tired and pale. Our leader understands what it’s like to walk with a heavy weight on your shoulders.
“It’s my turn to help Mikko now,” Yoshi says.
Nezume shakes his head. “Thanks, but I can manage.” It’s a matter of honor, and Nezume will faint on his feet before he gives in. He helped to cut off Mikko’s arm, but now, for the length of this journey, he has the chance to replace it.
Still, Yoshi can see Nezume needs to rest. “I think we should
“Yes, Master,” I answered, thinking I understood. But I never pictured it like this, tied to the end of a vine.
“Mikko follows Nezume,” says Yoshi, sorting us by weight and strength until we all belong somewhere.
Yoshi goes last because he’s our leader and a good captain steers from behind. Anyone can lead from the front.
Expert at finding things in the dark, Taji quickly pulls vines from under the mud. Kyoko weaves the strands into a thick rope. It’s up to me to calculate the length. Too much will be heavy for Kyoko to carry, and too little won’t reach back to us.
“How long is a piece of string?” Sensei often challenges. I never know. But I know how long a vine harness needs to be.
“We’ve got enough now,” I decide.
Kyoko knots the end and places loops of rope around her waist.
“You are the Snow Monkey,” Yoshi says. “You were born to climb across mountains.”
I wish I were blind like Taji so I didn’t have to look. But Kyoko doesn’t hesitate. She’s climbing the flagpole sideways until with a wet squelch, she lands on the other side.
Our
hurrah
s echo up and down the tunnel.
Kyoko wraps the rope around a large rock and ties it tight. She kicks the rock to check that it holds firm. It’s a good test because Kyoko kicks harder than all of us. I know. I’ve received bruises in the wrestling ring that prove it.
Swish.
Kyoko tosses the rope across. It falls through the air and misses us completely. She tries again.
Swish. Slap.
Holding the candle high, Yoshi tries to help her see. Taji has a better idea.
“Close your eyes,” he calls.
I hold my breath as she stands blind at the edge of the drop.
“Imagine you are roping Uma,” Taji yells. “See how he runs from you. Past Mikko. Past Niya. Quick, he’s getting away. Throw! Throw now!”
Without thinking, Kyoko flings the rope.
“Got it.” Taji raises his hand just in time to stop the end from smacking him in the nose.
“Sorry.” Kyoko giggles. She doesn’t
look
sorry.
The goldfish in my stomach sprout wings and flap against my insides as Nezume ties the rope around his waist. What if he slips and the rope doesn’t hold? But Nezume’s not worried. He scurries across the ledge and throws the rope back.
With one arm and a sprained ankle, it won’t be easy for Mikko. Suddenly the harness rope doesn’t seem safe at all.
Mikko shuffles slowly, but he isn’t afraid. Halfway across, he leans back against the wall and waves. “Look, no hands!”
Everyone laughs. It’s not easy for him, but he’s making it look easy to help us. And it’s working. My goldfish are quiet now.
Taji follows next. Then it’s my turn. I shouldn’t look down, but I can’t help it. Even in the pale and reflected candlelight, I can see it’s a long drop. The White Crane flaps its sodden wings in panic. I knot the rope in place, take a deep breath, and think about my friends on the other side. Braver now, I step onto the narrow ledge and edge my way toward them.
A crowd of hands reaches out for me as I scramble to safety. Now it’s Yoshi’s turn. For once, we get to help him. When Yoshi douses the candle, I can’t see him anymore, but I feel the rope move. When I eventually grasp his hand to help him up, my fingers touch something warm and sticky.
“Blood brothers,” he whispers, reminding me of another night on a different mountain. He shakes his head because he doesn’t want me to tell the others. Yoshi’s more concerned about us. Especially Nezume, who looks tired and pale. Our leader understands what it’s like to walk with a heavy weight on your shoulders.
“It’s my turn to help Mikko now,” Yoshi says.
Nezume shakes his head. “Thanks, but I can manage.” It’s a matter of honor, and Nezume will faint on his feet before he gives in. He helped to cut off Mikko’s arm, but now, for the length of this journey, he has the chance to replace it.
Still, Yoshi can see Nezume needs to rest. “I think we should
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