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CHAPTER ONE
 
Caravan leader Ko stood in the doorway of the kitchen courtyard and eyed the clouds piling up on a darkening horizon. The big man exuded strength and confidence, but his lined, normally good-natured face was troubled. “Couldn’t be snow, but looks like it—and feels like it,” he murmured thoughtfully.
 
He turned to eye the maids, who were hurrying past on their way to breakfast, screeching because of the wind in their faces and the ice underfoot. “You there,” he shouted to the nearest one. She was clutching a coat over her head, and lifted it reluctantly.
 
“I?” Nurse Wang asked chidingly.
 
“Who else?” Ko was disappointed that he had gotten the older woman. “You look as if you know what goes on around here.… Will you tell me where to find the masters?”
 
Nurse Wang nodded and pointed with her chin. “There,” she said.
 
Ko aimed his eyes at a couple of vehemently arguing figures standing toe-to-toe at the far end of the court. “Those are the masters?”
 
“Those,” she sniffed and hurried on.
 
He’d started toward the two men, when he was nearly knocked off his feet by a boy who slipped on the ice. Another small figure crashed into the first. “Here now, you two, watch where you are going!”
 
“ ’Scuse,” panted the boy
 
“Yes, pardon us, lauban. Did we hurt you, sir?” asked the girl, breathing heavily as she scrambled to her feet. Unabashed, she erupted in laughter, dimples appearing enchantingly under red cheeks and sparkling black eyes.
 
“Are you calling me lauban!” Ko exclaimed, pretending to be affronted.
 
“No, no. You are certainly not old,” the boy said quickly. “She means to be polite, but she is only a girl and makes mistakes, and so what can you expect?” He was tall for his age, small-boned and wiry, with quick, inquisitive eyes. “Are you the caravan leader?” he asked impatiently.
 
“How did you guess?” Ko replied, looking with amused interest into two pairs of dancing eyes.
 
“From your nose. Like a hawk’s beak, different from Chinese noses,” the boy answered. “But what we want is to see your famous camel.”
 
Ko raised his eyebrows and frowned. “My nose? Ah yes, my handsome nose … thanks for your compliment! As for the camel, difficult. Yes, very difficult, I must think about it. Who are you? I don’t show my priceless camel to just anyone.” He looked solemn to tease them.
 
“We aren’t just anyone,” the boy protested. “I am Dee Jenjer of the Taiyuan Dee family, and here is Wu Jao of this household. She’s important too—I’m not sure why. You are taking her to the Inner Palace in Changan. So now will you show us your camel?”
 
Ko stared at the girl, enchanted. Young as she was, her beauty was electrifying. Every feature was exquisitely proportioned to grace a piquant, small face; and her figure, apparent even through her layers of quilted jackets, was already mature. Her movements were graceful and the proud way she held herself made her seem older and taller than she was.
 
Ko recalled himself abruptly. “Dee? Your family is illustrious. Are you going to be a magistrate like your father?”
 
“It is to be expected,” jenjer replied. “Now you should tell us your name and who you are.”
 
Amused, the big man responded patiently and politely. “I am Ko, from Tunhuang oasis. We are camel owners and caravan conductors, the best in the business. That’s why I am here now. All my camels are good, but my lead camel, Desert Runner, is special. He and I grew up together. I would trust him with my life … have done so several times. Is he the one you want to see?”
 
“I have heard about him,” Jenjer said solemnly, “and that’s why I’m asking.”
 
Ko pondered, then agreed, nodding importantly. He led the way across the court to the stable and through the heavy door. Inside, a line of feeding camels raised their heads suspiciously.
 
Ko passed a soothing hand over the rump of the nearest camel. “This is Desert Runner,” he said simply The camel was a champion, and looked it. Over a hand taller than the other camels, Desert Runner had a coat glossy from brushing. Even his hooves were free of dirt. He eyed the children and planted his feet as if to let them know that he was aware of his superiority. Ko gazed at him with pride, while the young ones stared, awestruck.
 
“There. That is where you are to ride … up there,” Dee muttered to Jao.
 
She directed a somewhat intimidated smile at the animal, who, ignoring them all, had returned to his meal. “I’ll love it,” she said.
 
Jenjer stared. “Aren’t you afraid?”
 
“Should I be?” she asked.
 
“Yes,” he said flatly. “You can see for yourself, Desert Runner isn’t for girls.” He turned to Ko.
 
“Do you know why they are sending this kuniang here to Changan in such style?” he asked, referring to Jao as a young woman, and trying not to show his jealousy Ko scrutinized him and then Jao. She was the same height as Jenjer, although, at thirteen, she was five years older.
 
“She is important,” Ko said, “because she has been chosen by the emperor for the palace.”
 
With this new insight, Jenjer looked at Jao consideringly, but shook his head. “I don’t see it. Why should she get to ride on Desert Runner? He looks mean, and it’s a long way down and she might fall off.” Dee sounded as if he hoped she would.
 
Jao’s laugh rang out, startling the camels. “I won’t fall because I’ll be sitting in a basket saddle. What a glossy coat Desert Runner has, no saddle sores or patches of hair falling off.”
 
“Not on my camels there aren’t,” Ko replied. “Camels like mine have to be cared for like kings. They will carry heavy loads if they are happy and are taken on interesting expeditions, but only because they like to travel. A camel like mine does what he wants to do, but nothing else. Fact!”
 
The children studied the camel curiously and keenly, but Desert Runner was not friendly in return. He was snapping his jaws and shifting his feet ominously.
 
“See,” Jenjer said, backing off. “He’s dangerous, I tell you!”
 
“Hold still,” Ko commanded, and Desert Runner, understanding that he was not to stamp on visitors’ feet, gave them a menacing look and went back to feeding.
 
“Why did you say that you can trust him with your life?” Jao asked after moving judiciously back.
 
“Because in the huge deserts that we cross, killer sandstorms arise in seconds, and if it were not for a camel like Desert Runner here, we would all be suffocated. Only the experienced camels know when such winds are about to fall on us. The camels snarl and bury their noses in the sand. We cover our own noses and mouths. The winds whirl madly for what seems an endless time and then are gone. If it weren’t for the camels, we’d all die.”
 
The children fell silent, staring avidly, and Ko chuckled. “Have you seen enough? If so, please go out in front of me.”
 
He opened the door and the three of them went out into the yard. It was empty now except for the two masters of household, who looked up when the stable door squeaked noisily on its ancient hinges. Jenjer started to laugh. “Look at your brothers! They glare at us the way the camels did. And their lips are long and chew sideways like the camels, and they sway their heads.… so.” He imitated, thrusting his thin neck in and out.
 
“Don’t!” Jao said giggling. “The Elders will hear you …”
 
Ko gave a crack of laughter, which he quickly swallowed. “I must leave you now,” he said hurriedly.
 
“Then we must go,” Joa said. “Wanfu! A thousand thanks for your courtesy!”
 
The caravan leader salaamed in farewell, and Dee saluted, gratified. Ko said to Jao, “I hope to see you again in a few hours, the fewer hours the better, as I shall be in charge of your safety until you reach the palace.”
 
“Why do you say ‘the fewer hours the better’? When do we really leave?” Jao called to his retreating back.
 
He paused. “Hard to say …”
 
Jao persisted. “Why hard to say? You are the caravan leader. How can you say you don’t know?” she asked in a soft voice.
 
Ko turned again, to look into bright, appraising eyes. “We have to wait for someone to decide the lucky hour, the most propitious hour,” he stated stiffly.
 
“What do you think is the lucky hour, then?” Jao responded.
 
“Today … tonight … as soon as the men and animals are fed and rested, at the most ten hours from now,” he said impatiently.
 
Jao counted on her finger. “Ten hours, the hour of the bull. Why is that lucky?”
 
“Er … because the bull is tough and enduring, of course, and that’s what we need on a trip like this one.” He eyed her curiously. She looked a child, and yet her questions were not childish. “Because the wind has shifted and the air is heavier. We should get out of here and down into the protected Fen Valley as soon as possible. Seven hours for rest, one for feeding, and two for loading. Yes, the hour of the bull is the lucky hour.”
 
Jao nodded. “Our family soothsayer is my friend. Shall I ask if the hour of the bull is lucky? And get him to explain to Elder Brother?” Her expression was bland.
 
“Would you?” Ko replied, pleased.
 
Jao showed her dimples. “I will go now. And I’ll give him a package of the new ginger tea, which he loves, and a jar of honey because he has no teeth.”
 
Ko grunted appreciatively “It would be a good thing to have the masters know the lucky hour, but … would knowing it hurry them?”
 
Jao threw her heavy braid over her shoulder. “If Ko can handle Desert Runner, he can handle Elder Brother. After I have done my share …” she said sedately as she walked away.