The General and the Horse-Lord Read Online Free PDF Page A

He’s trying to come up with a decent excuse right now.”
     
     
    K IM set bowls of soup on the table, then poured two thimble-size celadon cups of jasmine tea. John wondered where he had unearthed the good china. The soup was creamy, fragrant with a coconut broth, and had in the middle of the bowl a little pile of green onions and tiny pieces of carrot sliced into miniature flowers. Gabriel took a spoonful. “This is really good, Kim. Did you make this?”
    “No, we have some Chinese elves back in the kitchen. I just crack the whip and keep them working.” He turned to John and flipped the blue braid over his shoulder. “Nothing happened. It was an accident, a fluke. I swear.”
    John picked up his cup and took a sip of tea, but he kept his eyes on Kim. Gabriel put his spoon down and picked up his cup, studied Kim like he was a little bird that had just flown into the wrong nest. Kim crossed his arms and looked from one to the other. “The silent treatment doesn’t work on me anymore. I’m not twelve, in case you’ve forgotten.”
    John put down the teacup and picked up his spoon. Gabriel was right. The soup was good, very good, delicate and light, with a subtle green flavor and a hint of woody mushroom underneath.
    “What do you think? Good, right?”
    The black eye was a little puffy and bruised, looked about two days old. The lip was swollen with a tiny cut. Those types of cuts usually came from a person’s teeth when they were slapped or hit in the mouth. Not together, though. It looked like two separate blows. He looked down at Kim’s right hand. The knuckles were smooth, no sign of redness or abrasion. Whatever had happened, he hadn’t hit back.
    Gabriel picked up the little teapot and refilled both of their cups.
    “All right! Fine! I told you about it, Uncle John, remember? I didn’t think you believed me. Per usual.” John took another spoonful of soup. It was outstanding. Who knew Kim could cook like this? “Okay, it was another drag queen.”
    “ Another drag queen?”
    “Okay, so I’m not exactly a drag queen yet, but I told you, remember? It’s just performance art, you know? Performance art that speaks to who I am as a gay man. Speaks honestly . Truthfully . Something the two of you ought to consider, before you start casting stones. At least people my age don’t hide the fact they’re gay. We’re living with it right out in the open, black eyes and all. Whatever the consequences. Not in hiding. ”
    John and Gabriel exchanged a look, and John put down his napkin and rose. “Performance art. I see. So, if I want to get slapped around by a drag queen, I will certainly take your advice and engage in some performance art. Thank you for the soup. I’ll speak to you at home.”
    Gabriel was standing next to the table, staring at Kim, his hands on his hips. Kim reached over and gave him a quick hug around the waist. “I know, I know, I’m such a bitch, right? I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Just ignore me when I get like this, okay?”
    Gabriel gave the blue braid a sharp tug. “Don’t worry, brat. I always do.”
     
     
    J OHN was steaming. It was unusual for him, because he was a man who favored action over reaction. And like most military men, he thought there was nearly always a peaceful solution if people used their brains first, before their mouths. Well, maybe 98 percent of the time there was a peaceful solution. Maybe in some parts of the world, that number would have to drop to well below 75 percent. But at his kitchen table, in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
    Kim had put a toe across an unspoken barrier, one that had never before been breached. He waited until Kim came home, at a reasonable hour for once. Kim came into the kitchen and sat down at the table like he’d come to play a game of cards. John gave him a cool look out of cool gray eyes. “What do you think you’re doing?” His voice was very soft, the dangerous one that his officers and men understood meant