Monkey by Jeff Stone Read Free Book Online

instead of placing his hands shoulder-width apart like most spear users, he placed his hands side by side at the spear's center balance point. He crouched low and bent his elbows, bringing his arms in to his sides. He relaxed his wrists and his hands sagged. The spear hung loosely in his curled fingers. Malao looked exactly like a monkey that had paused while eating an extraordinarily long piece of fruit.
    Laughter erupted from the ring of bandits.
    “Look at him!” one of the men shouted. “That's hilarious!”
    Even Hung grinned. He stopped two steps from Malao's shivering body and lowered one hammer to adjust the pouches hanging from his sash. He raised the hammer again.
    “P-please, I don't want to hurt you,” Malao said. Nervous energy raced through his system. His teeth rattled.
    The bandits around Malao burst into laughter again. Hung's grin disappeared and he took an enormous breath. As Hung exhaled, he brought the hammers down a second time.
    Malao let out a terrifying screech and spun powerfully to his right, narrowly avoiding one of the heavy hammerheads. As he turned, he tucked one end of the spear under his right arm, locking it firmly in place with his elbow. Still in a low crouch with one full revolution nearly complete, Malao lunged toward his opponent.
    The swinging spear shaft connected with Hung's lead ankle. Hung howled in pain and tumbled to the ground face-first. Malao released the spear and sprang onto the enormous man. One of Malao's thighs landed on each side of Hung's head.
    Hung roared and stood awkwardly as Malao locked his legs around Hung's neck from behind. Malao began to pound Hung's temples with fierce, open-palm strikes.
    With another tremendous roar, Hung dropped the hammers and reached back, grabbing Malao's robe with both hands. Hung struggled to rip Malao from around his neck, but Malao's powerful legs held firm. Hung began to swing his gigantic fists, and Malao knew he had to think of something fast. He took a deep breath, straightened both his index fingers, and jammed them as hard as he could into Hung's ears.
    Hung screamed and the ring of bandits widened as every man winced and took several steps back. Hung grabbed hold of Malao's wrists and yanked so hard that Malao had to let go with his legs or risk having his arms ripped out of their sockets. Caught off guard by Malao's sudden release, Hung stumbled forward and let go of Malao in order to catch himself before his face hit the dirt a second time.
    Malao flew forward and tucked into a tight series of rolls. When he finally stopped, he spun around and saw Hung with his hammers in hand, trying to stand again on his one good leg.
    Malao launched himself at that leg.
    Hung hopped backward using one hammer as a cane. He raised the other hammer high and bellowed like a bloodthirsty beast. Malao landed short of Hung's good leg and threw himself forward onto one shoulder as Hung swung the raised hammer. When Malao felt the earth against his shoulder blade, he kicked straight up into the air with both legs.
    Hung's mighty blow stopped in midair as both of Malao's feet connected with Hung's groin. Hung's eyes crossed and he teetered for a moment before crumpling to the ground, immobilized. Malao barely had time to roll out of the way.
    Malao stood and backed away from Hung. Covered head to toe with dust and sweat, Malao looked over at Seh. Seh winked.
    Mong laughed and stepped forward into the ring with Malao.
    “Well done, little one!” Mong said. “To date, I'm the only one who's been able to put Hung in his place. It seems I must thank you for earning me a handsome sum from my friendly wagering with the men. You were a long shot, you know.”
    Malao shrugged. Mong reached out as if to lay a hand on Malao's shoulder and Malao took several steps back.
    Mong laughed. “There's no need to be nervous. At least not until Hung can see straight again.” Mong paused and rubbed his shiny, hairless head. “Speaking of Hung, I believe you