Date: Fri, 16 Dec 1994 11:30:41 -0600 Reply-To: Joshua A Reyer Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Joshua A Reyer Subject: Dragon's Luck, Part Two X-cc: Chandra Reyer Dragon's Luck Part Two By Joshua A. Reyer Okay, for any new members out there: movie universe rules, no characters from the movies or the series. Enjoy. ******************************************************************** Village of Lijing, Shandong province, China. 1608 A.D. With an effort, Daniel forced his eyes open. With a start he realized he had no idea where he was. He sat up, and as they fell away from his chest he realized that was lying under some fur blankets. He looked around and found he was lying in a small bed made of fur and silk. He also realized he was naked. It was soon after this realization that a young Chinese girl, of about sixteen, walked in. She left a bundle on a small table at the far side of the little room, and with a small nod to Daniel, she left. Daniel grimaced as he blushed all over. Wrapping himself tightly in his blankets, Daniel examined the room he was in. It was fairly small, only about twelve feet long, and six feet wide at the end Daniel was laying at. It was made of a fine wood, and Daniel noticed the door was slightly tilted to one side. The room was sparse on furnishings, with only the little bed and table as furniture. "Aaa, my dawtaa told me that you waa awake," come a voice from the doorway, in broken English. Daniel looked and saw a small, old man enter. "My aporojees, baat your clothing was vera burnt and ripped. Porease accept this gift, from my famiry, to you." He took the bundle from the table and gave it to Daniel. Daniel unwrapped it and found it to be a silk shirt and pants, black, and about his size. "Waan you are dressed, porease come and join my famiry for tea," the old man bowed once and left. Bewildered, Daniel dresses in the black silk suit. It felt odd, much looser than the restrictive English hose and apparel he was acustomed to wearing. He still felt naked, and found himself checking to make sure he was still fully clothed. He walked out of the small room, and into another room not much larger. It was sparsely furnished as well, but with a little more decoration. Scrolls and banners hung in some places, and at the far end of the room was a shrine with burning incense, and a book, reverently propped up so one could see the title. But Daniel could not read Chinese, so he did not know what the book was. "Ahhh, ni hao ma!" said the old man from a small table in the center of the room. "Qing zuo!" he added, indicating a small stool. Daniel sat. "My name is Wei. I am called Wei Lao Nan. Welcome to my home." "Uh, my name is Crosby, Daniel Crosby," Daniel answered. "Thank you for taking me in." "Bu xie," Wei smiled. "I am looking for a man named Ying Chen, near a village called Honjing." "Ah yes. I know of Honjing." "Do you know Ying Chen?" "I know of Ying Chen. A mastaa swordsman, vera dangerous. Why do you seek him?" "I wish him to teach me how to swordfight," Daniel answered, leaning forward. "Can you take me to him?" The old man laughed. "I do not think Ying Chen would give you an audience. Keyi, wo bu zhi dao, I do not know. I can take you to Honjing, and I can help you find him, but I think you should be ready for refusal, and hard times eithaa way." That suits me fine, Daniel thought. "How far to Honjing?" "Hmm, let me think..." Wei replied. "I do not know your measurements, and you do not know mine, so I will go by time. It is about a month's walk." "A month?!" "Half a month if we run." "But why would you take me on such a long journey yourself?" Daniel asked in disbelief. Wei indicated the book on the shrine. "It is the Dao, the Way." He rose and called out to someone in the house. An older woman appeared, apparently Wei's wife. He began speaking in rapid Chinese, with his wife nodding, and occasionally looking at Daniel. Finally, she responded curtly to Wei in Chinese, and left. "My wife shall attend to the needs of our journey. Porease, Crosby, take rest in your room. We will leave tomorrow after breakfast." *************************************************************************** Chinese Glossary Ni hao ma (nee-how-ma): a greeting. Qing zuo (ching-zwuh): Please sit. Bu xie (boo-shi-eh): No thanks (needed) Wo bu zhi dao (wuh-boo-jir-dow): I do not know. Any questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail, or post to HLFIC-L. ;-) =========================================================================