Year of the Golden Dragon by B.L. Sauder Read Free Book Online Page A

its occupants seemed to fade away. Hong Mei no longer heard Madam Ching’s voice.
    Behind Hong Mei’s closed eyelids, she began to see the colour red. Not the lustrous New Year’s red that went with pretty gold writing. Neither was it like the lanterns that hung in the doorways of restaurants, nor the embroidered red of a bride’s silk wedding gown. No, this was black-red. Dark and thick, it flowed like a sluggish river.
    As Hong Mei’s vision continued, she knew instinctively that what she saw was blood. The red current spread over cobbled streets and dirt roads. Then she saw people, dead or dying, moaning and crying for help.
    Hong Mei felt as if she were going to collapse.
    She began to hear Madam Ching’s voice again as the woman recited other lines of the poem that Hong Mei knew so well:

    Hail, Black Dragon. I’m Emperor of this land.
    What? Dragon hissed, tail swishing in the sand.
    Chaos made me ruler of land and beasts.
    I did not see you at that happy feast.
    True, said the Emperor, ’twas before my time.
    The world has since changed, land and men are
    now mine.
    ’Tis the first I’ve heard of this, Black Dragon said.
    Deep within his heart he felt the fist of dread.

    The horrible scenes that had rushed into Hong Mei’s head began to ebb, but they left in her mouth a taste of old metal and rust. She wanted to spit.
    “Miss Chen?” asked Madam Ching. “Shall I continue?”
    A chill raised goosebumps on Hong Mei’s arms. She hugged herself for warmth and shook her head.
    Madam Ching leaned forward slightly and dropped her voice as if she were sharing a secret. “You know about Black Dragon’s jade, do you not?”
    Baba’s story couldn’t be true, could it?
    “We know who you are,” Madam Ching said. “It is going to be all right, for we are here to help you. You realize, of course, that you are one of the heirs chosen to return Black Dragon’s jade?”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “I think you do.”
    Hong Mei was scared. “I want to see my father.”
    “Oh, you will,” Madam Ching purred, looking nonchalantly at her extremely long, red nails, “as soon as you fulfill your obligation.” She smiled. “The scroll is proof that Black Dragon existed – and most likely still does, since dragons live for hundreds of years. He is probably close to the age when a dragon must, how shall we say, expire . According to the pact between Master Chen and Black Dragon, we know what the monks and your father have always known – you are the one chosen to give back the jade to Black Dragon before he dies.”
    Hong Mei shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t know anything about any jade. My father only told me I would be meeting Black Dragon some day.”
    Madam Ching narrowed her eyes. “Don’t be coy. You must know where part of Black Dragon’s jade is. Your father wore it for years!”
    Hong Mei fought the urge to put her hand into her pocket and hold the stone. Baba’s jade belonged to Black Dragon?
    Sighing heavily and scowling, Madam Ching said, “Perhaps we should contact the authorities and get them to question your mother –”
    “No,” Hong Mei said, feeling her temperature rising. “She doesn’t know where the jade is, but –”
    Madam Ching smiled very slowly. “But you do, don’t you, Miss Chen?”
    Hong Mei felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach. Her shoulders sagged and she let her head drop.
    “Now, now. There’s no need to feel bad,” Madam Ching said as she clapped her hands twice. “You should be excited, young lady. This is an honour!”
    The rest of the people at the table slowly rose and filed out of the room. When only she and Hong Mei remained, Madam Ching said, “We have discovered that the other two pieces of Black Dragon’s jade are with the Emperor’s heirs.”
    “Other pieces? Emperor’s heirs?”
    Madam Ching ignored her and continued. “The heirs are on their way to Hong Kong as we speak. All you must do is