Page 110 of Tiger's Voyage
Kishan answered, “Yeah. It’s a tail.”
Our blue dragon was wrapped around a castle ruin on top of the island, snoring. Puffs of fog streamed out of its nostrils as it slept. We all stood there in silence, staring at the snuffling blue dragon.
“What are we supposed to do?” I asked.
Kishan shrugged. “I don’t know. Should we wake it?”
“I guess we have to. Otherwise, who knows how long it’ll sleep.”
I shouted up at the creature, “Great dragon! Please awake!”
Nothing happened. Ren shouted, “Wake, dragon!”
Kishan cupped his hands and hollered, bellowing in a deep voice. He switched to a tiger and roared so loudly, I pressed my hands to my ears. We tried shouting together. We tried both Ren and Kishan roaring. Finally, Mr. Kadam went below and rang the ship’s foghorn. The blast of noise was loud enough that rocks tumbled from the top of the mountain.
A great, rumbling bass voice echoed the foghorn as it reverberated in our heads.
What … do you want?it said grumpily.Can’t you see you’re disturbingmy res-s-st?
The mountain vibrated, causing the water at the bottom to ripple.
Ren shouted, “Your brother, Lóngjn, has sent us. He said we must seek your aid in retrieving Durga’s Necklace.”
I don’t care what you seek. I’m tired. Go away, and bother me no more.
Kishan stepped forward. “We cannot turn back. We need your help, dragon.”
Yes. You do. ButIdon’t needyou.Leave me now, or suffer the wrath of Qnglóng.
I answered, “Then we must risk your wrath, Qnglóng, for we can’t leave. But perhaps, there is something we can do for you, something to make helping us worth your time.”
And what couldyoudo forme,little girl?
The mountain rumbled as the blue dragon unwound its upper body from the tower and dropped down closer to us. Though similar in size to its brother, this blue dragon looked different. Its head was longer, narrowing more at the nose. Instead of a black beard, its cheeks and brow were covered with feathers that swept away from its face and shimmered like fish scales in brilliant blues and purples.
Similar feathers flowed down the spine of its back and fanned out at its tail and limbs like the hair around a Clydesdale horse’s hoof. Sharp golden talons gripped the air, opening and closing while it swayed back and forth above us like the tail of a kite caught in a tree. Its scaly skin was brilliant blue, and as it hissed in vexation, the feathers along its back and the top of its head stood up like a crested cockatoo’s.
Yellow eyes peered at me and a purple tongue pressed against long white teeth as it spoke again in my mind.
Well? Are you just going to stand there like a fish with its mouth openingand closing, or are you going to answer me?It suddenly jerked closer and bit the air near us. Its jaws snapped together like a bear trap, and I heard its laughter.That’s as I thought. You’re too weak to do anything for me.
Ren and Kishan immediately responded by leaping in front of me and changing to tigers. They both roared and swiped claws angrily near the dragon’s nose.
It wasn’t enough to frighten the dragon, but it was enough to catch its interest. It leaned closer and puffed foggy air over us. Cold dew settled over my skin, and I shivered. Ren and Kishan changed back to men but continued to stand in front of me. I stepped between them.
“Give us a task to prove ourselves,” I suggested bravely.
The dragon clicked its tongue and twisted its head.What could youpossibly accomplish, young woman?
“You’d be surprised.”
The dragon grunted and yawned.Very well. Your challenge will be tomake the journey up to my mountain temple. If you can do that, I will helpyou. If you can’t … well … let’s just say you won’t be worrying too muchabout the Necklace anymore.
It rose in the air and began to coil around the temple again.
“Wait!” I shouted. “How do we get up there?”
There is an underwater tunnel with steps leading up, but you must getpast my guardian first, and it’s not as … accommodating as I am.
