Xiao Li looked up at Ishihara and spoke.
“He suggests we sit down at a small corner stall near this spot to have some noodles or tea and wait,” said Ishihara. “He will take a quick walk up and down this block for us. If he doesn’t see Hunter or MC 5, we’ll all walk to the next block and repeat the pattern.”
“Tell him that’s fine,” said Wayne.
When Xiao Li had eagerly hurried off, Wayne shrugged. “Well, since we don’t have any money, we can’t buy anything. But I’m ready to sit down.”
Ishihara pointed to a large tree growing near the street between two small shops. One sold glazed pottery, while the other held cotton and silk clothing. “That spot should be relatively cool. It is not in anyone’s way.”
“Yeah.” Wayne walked over to the tree and sat down, leaning his back against it. His legs and feet hurt, and he would have a long walk back to that village, too, unless they were lucky enough to find MC 5 today. That seemed unlikely, but so far, he was optimistic about their overall chances here. For the first time, he had a team of people helping him to compete with Hunter’s team.
Ishihara stood next to him under the tree, looking at the people on the street.
A child’s excited shouts got their attention. Wayne looked down the street and saw Xiao Li running toward them with a big grin, waving and yelling as he dodged around other pedestrians. Wayne started to stand, then decided to rest his legs just a moment longer.
The boy stopped in front of them, talking quickly. Ishihara listened, nodding. When Xiao Li finished, he grabbed Ishihara’s hand and started pulling him.
“I suggest we go,” said Ishihara. “He reports that friends of his have seen Hunter and his team on the next block. In fact, Hunter has widely offered rewards to anyone who can bring them in contact with MC 5.”
“Oh, yeah?” Wayne got to his feet. “Well, let’s take a look. We still have to stay out of sight, though.”
As they started to walk, Ishihara spoke briefly to Xiao Li. The boy nodded and let go of his hand. He led them at a brisk pace, however.
“What did you say?” Wayne asked.
“I told him that running would draw attention to us,” said Ishihara. “I reiterated the importance of Hunter’s not seeing us until we were ready.”
“Good.”
Wayne could tell when they were nearing Hunter because Xiao Li slowed down and moved to one side of the street, furtively glancing ahead to the opposite side. Wayne lowered his head slightly so the broad brim of his hat would cover more of his face. Ishihara did the same. The crowd of people and carts on the street gave them plenty of cover.
Finally Xiao Li moved behind the corner of a small noodle shop and pointed diagonally across the street to an area that was shaded with trees. Wayne and Ishihara slipped behind him. Xiao Li spoke eagerly to Ishihara.
“Hunter and his team are drinking tea at a table in the shade,” said Ishihara. “I can see Hunter, facing slightly away from us.”
“Yeah?” Wayne looked around the corner carefully. He spotted Hunter easily, because of his height and blond hair. Jane sat next to him, blowing on her teacup. Steve sat across from her, next to a woman Wayne did not recognize. She would be the team’s historian for this trip, of course.
“See them?” Ishihara asked.
“Yeah.” Wayne grinned and gave Xiao Li a quick pat on the shoulder. “Tell him that he will have good luck for doing such a fine job.”
Ishihara spoke to the boy, who smiled broadly.
“Now what shall we do?” Ishihara asked. “We do not have any funds with which to match Hunter’s reward.”
“That’s right,” said Wayne. “That reward means real trouble for us. Now Hunter has a lot of people-an uncountable number-working for him now.”
“Your plan of distracting him in some way could still work,” said Ishihara.
“That’s true, I guess,” said Wayne slowly.
“I believe so,” said Ishihara. “If Hunter is busy and therefore difficult to locate, then his efficiency will still be lowered, even with many people helping in his search. We might increase our chance of finding MC 5 first.”
“Let’s make sure the story on the street is true,” said Wayne. “Tell Xiao Li to approach Hunter and ask about this reward.”
Ishihara spoke to Xiao Li, who looked startled. Wayne could see that he was not eager to go near Hunter. The boy turned and studied Hunter for a moment before answering Ishihara.
“He is frightened,” said Ishihara. “He is afraid of the bad spirit.”
“Remind him that Hunter is not an evil spirit. He’s just a good one who is misguided-he should not be doing what he is doing. Give Xiao Li our absolute guarantee that he won’t be hurt. Then see if he will talk to Hunter and report back without revealing us.”
Xiao Li listened carefully to Ishihara and nodded. Then he took another cautious look at Hunter and slowly walked forward. In the shade across the street, Wayne saw Steve pouring tea again for everyone.
Once Xiao Li reached the tea garden, the traffic on the street blocked Wayne’s view of him. After only a moment, however, the boy came hurrying back with a big smile of relief. He dodged the people moving up and down the street and trotted up to Ishihara, reporting breathlessly.
Wayne drew back around the comer of the shop, out of Hunter’s sight. “What’s he saying?”
“He says it’s true,” said Ishihara. “Hunter has offered a stepped system of rewards based on how much help he gets. Even the top reward will not make anyone rich, but it is attractive enough to have started many people talking about it on the street. They are searching for both MC 5 and the Polo family.”
“Polo family. You mean Marco Polo?”
“Apparently he is here with his father and an uncle, as well,” said Ishihara.
“Oh. Well, I don’t know much about Marco Polo. Just that he came here in Kublai Khan’s time from Italy and went back home to write a book about it.”
“I know no more about this than you do,” said Ishihara.
“This is the chance we wanted, though,” Wayne said suddenly. “Will you tell him to report to Hunter that the Polos have left town? Today, so Hunter thinks he has a chance to catch them. I don’t think you should have an objection under the Laws. Hunter will protect his own team.”
“Yes, I can tell him to do this,” said Ishihara. “However, Hunter will ask which direction they took. Do you wish to develop your ruse further? We have an opportunity to distract him.”
“Well, sure. But I don’t know exactly what to say. Where is there to send him around here? Someplace convincing that will take him out of way.”
“I am not certain. As I told you, I have little knowledge of this society.”
“Yeah…me, too.” Wayne thought a moment. “What do we know about this time? Marco Polo, Kublai Khan, printing, gunpowder…” He looked up suddenly. “Say-what about the Great Wall of China?”
“What about it?”
“Uh, where is it?”
“Perhaps Xiao Li knows.” Ishihara turned to the boy and exchanged a few words. “He says it is north of Khanbaliq.”
“How far? We want Hunter to go on a long diversion, not just a quick side trip.”
Ishihara spoke to Xiao Li again.
“He has heard that the trip takes a couple of days on horseback. Since he has never been there, he does not know for sure how far the Great Wall is.”