Dragon Dance Read Online Free PDF Page B

ringing’?” Brad asked. “Well, we’ll find out in time. And we’ve plenty of that.”
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    During the first session, which lasted over an hour, the Chinese identified himself as Shih Chung-tu. They were called for another lesson the next morning, and thereafter at daily intervals. After a week, Brad was able to conduct a halting conversation. That day they weren’t sent back to the hold.
    Brad explained: “He thinks it’s okay to give us the freedom of the ship. He pointed out we’re a long way from land. And, of course, we’re hobbled.”
    â€œDid you get any idea what he’s going to do with us?”
    â€œWhen we get to China? Well, we intrigue him. By not being susceptible to hypnosis, for one thing, and for another being Roman but at the wrong edge of the Chinese world. That seems to have surprisedhim as much as finding a pagoda in California did us. I think he feels a bit like someone on a horse-rustling expedition who picks up a couple of zebras. Or giraffes, more likely.”
    â€œSo what do you think his plans might be for his giraffes?”
    Brad nodded. “Lots of possibilities. Put them on public show. Hand them over to a zoologist for a little scientific investigation. Keep them for private display, the way English ladies kept blackamoors in the eighteenth century. Sell them, maybe. If we’re potentially of value, it’s better, from our point of view, than just being nuisances.”
    â€œDid he ask how we came to be where he found us?”
    â€œYes. I pretended I didn’t understand that bit.”
    â€œI don’t suppose it would do any harm to say we fled across the great water after the rebellion against the Roman emperor, and then kept on travelling. It’s roughly true.”
    â€œThe sensible giraffe doesn’t start explaining its neck.”
    â€œPerhaps not.” Simon paused. “Do you think the wind’s getting up?”
    â€œYes. And the sky’s looking dirty. That was ashorter session, and he went forward afterwards. He may think it’s the moment for calling up extra hands. By the way, I think I’ve worked out how we came to miss him at the beginning.”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œIf they can apply that trance sleep to one another, they can probably slip into it themselves. As the captain, he wouldn’t want to be out for too long, but short spells would break up the monotony and conserve energy. It was our bad luck he set his mental alarm for that particular time.” He pointed along the deck. “I was right about the extra hands.”
    Chung-tu was standing beside the hold containing the bulk of the crew. He produced a small gong and striker from inside his robe. The ringing, twice repeated, was carried to them on the freshening wind. Soon a head appeared from the hatch, followed by others. Within a minute, the deck was boiling with Chinese.
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    The storm blew up fast and lasted through that day and the following night. The resuscitated crew worked with noisy cheerfulness as the junk rolled before a northeasterly gale. The vessel showed itsseaworthiness; although things became uncomfortable, Simon never felt the situation was getting out of hand.
    In the middle of the next day, with sea and wind moderating, a large meal was served; and afterwards all but three—a different three, Simon thought, but could not be sure—retired to the hold.
    Next morning the Chinese lessons were resumed, and as the days passed their grasp of the language improved. Brad reached the point where he could ask fairly complex questions and understand most of what Chung-tu said in reply.
    The technique for putting people into deep trance, he said, had been known for hundreds of years. Apart from its value on long voyages, it had other advantages—in the healing of certain sicknesses, for instance. It was part of the Laws of