"Citizens!" boomed the voice, more closely now. Wen had to struggle to get control of his eyes from the dockworker, but his was the stronger spirit—being the one actually alive in more than a magical-technical sense that only Daoists would care about—and after a moment he was not only able to see, he could move his head a little.
"Your governor, His Excellency Li Ling, has assembled you today in order that you bear witness to his success in ridding the waters of the Fusang coast of that most horrible scourge, the pirates." The herald couldn't hold a candle in the voice department to Foghorn; Wen suddenly found himself missing the crew as much as he missed the Jade Maiden and the freedom she had always represented to him. I really want this to work, he thought, stretching his arms again. Again the ropes held, and he bled a little more.
"You see before you," the herald continued, "the thief and disruptive influence who styled himself the notorious pirate Wen Xia! You see also that this man is helpless before the might of Governor Li Ling. It is Governor Li to whom you owe your safety, Governor Li who allows you to sleep peacefully in your beds at night without having to fear bandit raids."
"That's because he's already stolen everything of value you might have had," Wen said. Somebody in the crowd might have heard that, because a head or two at the front of the audience snapped suddenly to face him. Oho, thought Wen. This may well get even more interesting.
"Citizens," the herald shouted, "your governor is about to honor you by presiding, in person, over the execution of this dangerous criminal! Bow down before your heaven-blessed leader, Li Ling!" The crowd shuffled into something that only the most deluded might call a bow of respect. Wen, gritting his teeth against the pain, strained his arms again. Again, the ropes did not break.
Instead, they fell.
Must have stretched them, Wen thought, smiling. Oh, well: whatever works.
"My subjects!" Governor Li's voice sounded very near, and before he knew what he was doing Wen had cranked his head around to see. The governor stood on a platform that had been built out from one of the large docks at the government wharf on Jīn-sè Mèn Bay. In the corner of his eye Wen could just make out a hint of blue-jade colored ocean. Governor Li stared at him a moment, when Li realized that Wen had turned his head. Then he smiled, and turned to speak to someone behind him. Wen wasn't able to keep his head turned around far enough to see who it was, but he was pretty sure he recognized the massive bulk that was Chin Gwai.
"Before this wretched villain dies," Governor Li shouted, "you will hear for yourselves as he confesses, in his own voice, to the horrible crimes he has committed against you and, in my person, against the government and land of Fusang. Speak, villain!"
Wen felt his mouth open. You bastard, he thought.
Who, me? The dockworker's voice sputtered. Not my idea, boss.
His vocal cords stretched, a weird moaning sound building up behind his tongue. What are you doing, pig? This was a new voice, Wen realized. And it sounded familiar. Speak when you're commanded to.
Am trying, the dockworker said. He won't let me.
Who won't let you? And now Wen recognized the voice. It sounded a bit deeper, echoing inside his own head, and it had been some time since he'd heard it last. But now he knew who he was dealing with, and what had happened.
Hello, Liang Sheng, he said. What a shame to hear your voice again.
Wen Xia? But you're dead! How gratifying: even without seeing the little idiot Wen could sense his panic, and knew he was rubbing his hands together.
Funny, Wen said to him; I had the same hopes about you. I was sure that dragon had thrown you so far out to sea that you'd wind up being executed for arriving in the Middle Kingdom without a permit.
Dragon? You mean demon!
Some adept you are, said Wen, smiling. Can't tell the difference between a disguised dragon and a naked demon-lady.
"What the hells is wrong with you, Daoist?" Governor Li didn't sound very happy either. "You have missed your cue." But that's as good a cue as I'm ever going to get, thought Wen, and he pulled his hands free from the slackened ropes and raised them to his head.
The crowd was muttering as Wen pulled off his cheap golden helmet. Nice to see the sun, he thought, tossing the helm down into the fire-pit.
No! the dockworker cried. It burns!
Wen pulled the Dragon Emerald Eye from its clasp and tied it around his head, automatically fitting it into place. The scene before him blazed into completeness as the emerald activated. There, he thought. If you haven't figured out yet what's happened to me, this will tell you. He spun around to face Li.
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