The Tiger's Apprentice by Laurence Yep

Author:Laurence Yep
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2020-12-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

The Hsieh look like dogs with scales and tufts of hair like pig bristles.

—SHAN HAI CHING

Tom froze as the dog opened its mouth, revealing its sharp fangs; instead of growling, it let out a wail like an angry baby. The rest of the pack answered in kind so that the room sounded like a nursery full of crying infants.

“Run,” Mr. Hu roared as he twisted to strike at the dog that had gripped his hind leg.

“Räv, grab my hand.” As Tom started toward her, he felt a paw grab his ankle. Instantly the dog let out another wail and jerked back its paw. Against his chest, Tom felt the charm in the phoenix pouch tingle and grow hot. The dog came no closer. Tom realized the pouch was protecting him, and he tried to head for the girl.

The determined dog rose, shaking the dust from its head and shoulders as it blocked his way.

“Get away!” Tom yelled, kicking at the dog, but it ducked. In the meantime dogs were rising from the floor all around him, forming a wall of crying, furry bodies. Even though they were unable to touch Tom, he still couldn’t get around them.

Next to him, Mr. Hu was struggling to break free from the grip of the wailing dogs.

“I can’t move,” Mistral said, wriggling angrily; all her paws and her tail were being held by the dogs. And more dogs swarmed up from the floor to clutch her neck. The whole pack was rising around them.

“Change,” Monkey shouted.

Tom turned to see the ape holding what looked like a metal toothpick in his paw. The next moment it had changed into an iron staff with a gold ring at either end.

He swung it at one of the dogs, but dozens of them seized it in their teeth. “Let go or you’ll be sorry,” Monkey swore.

With a sudden jerk the dogs pulled Monkey down so that he sprawled on the floor. Instantly more dogs leaped on him to hold him fast.

Räv rose from the floor, her ankle miraculously healed and her hands freed. She had only been pretending to be tied up. “Don’t try to fight, Tom, or you’ll get hurt,” she urged.

He stared at her as she stood in the middle of the floor, untouched by the dogs.

Too late he realized his mistake. “You weren’t being chased at all. You’re one of Vatten’s stooges. And now you were just the bait for the trap.”

“And you brought the others in as well,” a lazy voice drawled. “You make a most excellent cheese.” Loo rose up beside Räv as if on an elevator. The dogs threw back their heads, but instead of baying in triumph, they made shrill, gurgling noises.

Räv clasped her hands behind her back. “You won’t believe me, but I really am sorry, Tom.”

“Let the boy go, Loo,” Mr. Hu roared anxiously. “Your quarrel is with me.”

“It’s Mr. Loo to you.” He frowned. “My orders were very specific: let none of you interfere with Lord Vatten’s plans—which have worked perfectly so far.

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