Fightback by Steve Voake Read Free Book Online

‘and when you havefinished, there will be a cool drink waiting for you.’
    Kier stood at the end of the rock and stared down at the blue water below. He paused, savouring the moments between desire and fulfilment. Then, stretching up his arms, he leapt into a graceful swallow dive, feeling the shock of cold water as he plunged beneath the surface and swam down to the smooth rocks at the bottom. Following the trail of silver bubbles to the surface, he looked up and saw that the rock above was empty.
    Chiang was nowhere to be seen.
    Kier floated on his back and wondered if his life could get any stranger. Staring up at the sky, he tasted salt water on his lips and thought about the cold drink Chiang had promised. But when he got back to the beach there was still no sign of the old man, so he lay on the hot stones and hoped he wouldn’t be too long.
    After five minutes, Kier was completely dry.
    After ten minutes of getting hotter and thirstier, it occurred to him that Chiang wasn’t coming back.
    Angrily pulling on his clothes, he set off into the sweltering gorge again, passing the time by calling Chiang every rude name he could think of.
    When he arrived back at the monastery it was silent and empty, just as before. But Kier was stillangry, determined to find Chiang and ask him why he had not kept his promise.
    Striding across the courtyard, he searched for signs of the old man. Finding none, he climbed the steps, only to discover that the door he had opened previously was now closed once more. He turned the handle and pushed it open, half-expecting to find Chiang seated at the desk or lying on the small mattress. But the room was empty and just as it had always been.
    Except that, in the very centre of the stone floor, was a glass of cold water.
    Kier smiled.
    Chiang was crazy, no doubt about it.
    All that strange talk about life and its hardships.
    But as Kier slowly lifted the glass to his lips, he knew the old man had been right about one thing.
    The water tasted sweeter than any he had ever tasted before.

NINE
    He awoke to find the room in darkness. At first he was confused, until he remembered how he had lain on the mattress, thinking he would just close his eyes for a moment or two. Tiredness had obviously got the better of him and he had fallen asleep.
    He felt rested, but he was still hot and his throat was dry. As he sat up, he noticed a fresh bottle of water had been placed next to his bed and, unscrewing the top, he drank from it greedily. A T-shirt and a pair of white cotton trousers had been left on the desk and Kier was glad to remove his jeans and replace them with the cooler, loose-fitting trousers. He pulled on the T-shirt, opened the door and wandered out on to the balcony.
    In the courtyard below, Chiang was sitting cross-legged in the dust. Kier watched him for several minutes to see what he would do. But he remained perfectly still, his eyes closed and his hands resting in his lap like two sleeping birds.
    Weird as ever , thought Kier. But the old man intrigued him. Kier guessed that if he hung around a while longer he’d probably find out more about what Jackson had planned for him. And if that meant wearing pyjamas for a few days and listening to Life According to Chiang, then he supposed he’d just have to put up with it.
    Padding down the steps, he crossed the courtyard cautiously, not wanting to give the old man a heart attack. He had just decided to skirt around by the wall and approach from the front when, without moving from his position, Chiang said quietly, ‘Are you rested?’
    â€˜Yes,’ Kier replied, surprised to find Chiang aware of his presence. ‘I slept very well.’
    In one smooth, fluid movement, Chiang rose from the ground, turned and gestured towards an olive tree.
    â€˜Come then. Let us eat.’
    Kier frowned. It had to be about three in the morning.
    Beneath the olive tree, a small table had been set with wooden plates and bowls. In