Page 103 of Tiger's Voyage
I approached the dragon’s eye and bowed my head respectfully. “Lóngjn, may I climb onto your back?”
The dragon opened its mouth and tinkling laughter sounded in my head.So polite. Yes, my dear. You and your tigers may climb upon my back.But I warn you now. If you fall, I will not catch you. Make sure you aresecure. You may hold onto the spikes on the back of my head if you wish.
When the red dragon lowered its head, I stepped forward and touched a reddish-black spike that had been hiding in the coarse hairy tendrils trailing from the dragon’s cheeks and head. The spike was actually more like a horn. There were two—both protruding from the back of the head. They were soft and rounded at the tips and covered in a black velvety coat that reminded me of new antlers growing on a young deer.
Ren stepped forward and climbed onto the dragon’s back. Kishan sat behind him but left enough space to pull me up between them.
Ren examined the horns until he found a good place to hold. With a sudden jolt, the dragon lifted its head and body from the ship. We rose several hundred feet into the air in just a few seconds and then plummeted toward the ocean just as quickly. I locked my arms as tightly as I could around Ren’s waist and pressed my cheek against his back, but I still felt my weight lift into the air as we dropped.
I had an epiphany during our downfall and mentally asked the Divine Scarf to tie our bodies to the dragon. I couldn’t hear the whispering of the threads over the shrieking of the wind, but I felt the fabric circle my waist and press down on my thighs as it strapped me to the dragon. It was just in time too, because after the dragon had freed its body from the ship, it dipped and swirled in the air at frightening speeds.
My stomach lurched as we soared up into the sky then flipped upside down and hung there several moments before turning in spiral freefall. It was like riding the scariest roller coaster in the world, and the only thing keeping me from sure death was the strong grip of the men holding me and the threads of the Divine Scarf.
The air became colder the higher we went, and soon I could no longer tell where we were. My breath frosted and hung in the air. I pressed myself closer against Ren’s back, grateful for the warmth of both my tigers. The ocean was so black and clear that it looked like the sky. We were riding the winds of the universe, dragonback, surrounded by winking stars.
As we went higher, the stomach-wrenching maneuvers of the dragon slowed, and it stayed right-side up as it wound back and forth through space. I thought it must look like a giant anaconda weaving its lazy way through a black river. I began to shiver, and my breathing became shallower. Kishan scooted closer and pressed his warm cheek against mine. Because we were moving slowly now, he let go and ran his hands up and down my bare arms.
“I wish I would’ve brought that sweater.”
Tinkling laughter rippled through my mind.
The stars are bright but cold. While I am with you, you will not freeze.Look there. That is my palace, it voiced with pride.
I looked up and saw that the red dragon was heading for a bright cluster of stars. It surged ahead with increased speed, and Kishan leaned forward again, grabbing onto Ren’s waist, crushing me between them. The head of the dragon angled upward, and I slid back into Kishan’s chest as the dragon flew straight up in the air. The Divine Scarf’s ties pulled against us, threatening to tear. Ren’s arms strained as he held the weight of all three of us, and I felt Kishan’s legs tighten as he gripped the dragon between his thighs. I could do nothing but lie against Kishan’s chest and hope the two of them had enough strength to keep us from falling.
Finally, the dragon evened out again, and Ren leaned forward heavily, panting. He was probably also sick now from my close proximity. He briefly looked back at me over his shoulder. His face was pale and clammy. His arms, slick with sweat, shook with tremors.
I felt a kind of weightlessness.This must be what zero gravity is like, I thought. My hair began to rise, and my arms were light as if the buoyancy of the ocean was holding my body afloat. I became very aware of the movements of the dragon. I could feel its smooth muscles roll under us. Its tail seemed to be propelling it forward now. It twisted back and forth like a shark and rolled the rest of its body from side to side.
The star cluster was much closer and brighter now, brighter than anything I’d ever seen before. It radiated energy and pulsed softly like a beacon. As we neared, my mouth fell open in awe. The dragon’s palace was like a diamond mansion hung in the sky. It gleamed and reflected light from its many facets. When the dragon neared, a door opened to a room big enough to house a couple of airplanes. The dragon slid along the clear diamond floor on its belly, circling back so its sinuous body was folded in half, and came to a stop.
At Kishan’s whispered request, the Divine Scarf undid our bands, and he jumped off the beast. I slid down into Kishan’s arms, and then he turned to Ren, who staggered off the dragon and stooped over, clutching Kishan’s arm for support. I moved away several steps, and after a moment, Ren nodded to Kishan and stood.
The dragon shivered, and its body began to convulse. It started shrinking; its long shape diminished and twisted. Then with a snap, it disappeared, and a man stood in its place. He was black skinned and beautiful with red eyes and red robes. His white teeth were brilliant against his skin. He bowed briefly.
“Welcome to my sky palace. Perhaps I could interest you in a game? Refreshments?”
Kishan shook his head. “We’d like to get what we came for.”
“Ah, yes. Forgive me. It’s been so long since I’ve had visitors.” The dragon man smiled toothily. “Come. I will show you the item you will need.”
He guided us through his diamond mansion. Everything sparkled and reflected back our images. I felt like I was in a hall of mirrors. I would have quickly become lost if not for our guide. He led us to a pedestal, on the top of which rested a diamond object. I squinted in the light, trying to recognize the shape.
Kishan hefted it in his hands and said, “A sextant.”
Inching closer to inspect the heavy apparatus, I saw a sparkling telescope mounted onto a pie-wedged diamond frame. Numbers were etched into the arc along the edge. What parts would normally be made of glass and metal were instead made of priceless polished gemstone.
“Yes, a sextant,” said the red dragon. “It will guide you to my brother. Now for the agreed upon price.”
He led us to a door that opened to a balcony—and beyond that, space. He pointed up at a pair of stars. One was dim and the other bright. “You agreed to fix my star.”
The four of us stared at the stars for a while, and then the dragon went inside while we quietly brainstormed on how to repair the star. I tried to use my lightning power, but it couldn’t cross the distance. Kishan wanted to throw thechakram, but I was worried about losing it in space. Not coming up with any other ideas, Kishan disappeared inside to talk with the dragon about other options and shortly returned.
“Lóngjn has agreed to play a game of chess with one of us instead. If we win, we get the sextant. If we lose, one of us must remain behind.”
“That’s no good,” I said. “I’m terrible at chess.”
Ren and Kishan stared at each other for a second, and then Ren said, “You’re the better chess player. Kadam only wins most of the time with you.”
