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Qi & Code
Chapter 8: Doctor Dou

Chapter 8: Doctor Dou

The hospice was the cleanest place that Kaelon had seen since coming to this world. It made his chest ache to think of the clear window-walls of his cubicle and the half-light of the day cycle. Still, this planet may be far from his idea of paradise, but it did have its own charm. The hospice was such a place and this planet’s equivalent of a medical droid was just as fascinating: Doctor Dou was a man of billowing light brown robes that hung off a thin frame. Being no taller than Old Ma, it made Kaelon wonder why so many non-human humans were so short.

Maybe it’s because they don’t eat nutrient cubes?

The doctor was fast on his feet, crossing the room in a dash and examining Kaelon’s grey clothes as he stroked his beard and made affirmative sounds.

“Old Dou, stop that. This is Kaelon.” Old Ma gestured with one hand in a show of introductions.

Doctor Dou ignored her and looked up at Kaelon’s face, from one eye to the other. “Hmm, curious. You wear the colours of a disciple, but you are so . . . mundane.”

“Old Dou!” Stomping her foot, Old Ma made a grumpy face.

The old man turned away waving dismissively in her general direction.

“You’re not afraid of me?” Kaelon asked.

“Afraid of you? Why? Because you wear grey? Anyone can wear grey, but not everyone can fly!”

Kaelon was speechless.

Old Ma sat on a short stool and looked up at the ceiling as she shook her head in exasperation. “You haven’t changed. Always talking about flying immortals!”

“It’s true! Immortals can fly!” Doctor Dou’s slippered feet pattered quickly as he rushed up to Kaelon and shook a finger at the ceiling. “They fly so high!” He made a pinching gesture in the air expressively. “They are like tiny little ants, so small up there. Hard to see—”

“You’ve never seen them!” Old Ma retorted.

“—but that doesn’t mean they’re not there. We would be like ants too but crawling on the ground. So small in this big world.” He seemed transfixed on something between his hands, but there was nothing there.

“Enough of that, we come but we have a problem . . .”

“Oh?” Doctor Dou turned to Old Ma, his hands behind his back.

“Kaelon must lay low, let things pass . . .”

“I must?”

Old Ma ignored him. “Too many eyes have seen what they should not,” she said, the hesitancy in her voice was not lost on the old man.

Kaelon didn’t know what to say.

Stolen story; please report.

Doctor Dou turned to Kaelon and narrowed his eyes as he surveyed him again. “The most dangerous place is the safest.”

“Uh, where would that be?” Kaelon asked.

The old man glanced at Old Ma as he sat on a mat by a rickety window and tucked his hands into his sleeves. “Among the immortals . . .”

“Old Dou!”

“It’s true! Hmm, but I see there is a need for a more immediate solution. Why not join the Black Rat Gang? They are good at hiding.”

“Uh . . .”

“Old Dou, the idea is to lay low not become a criminal.”

“Ah, well . . . there is—” Doctor Dou straightened, licked his finger, and held it up in the air. “There is a yin wind about. Strange.”

“Well? What about laying low?” Old Ma pressed.

“How about you join Feixing Martial Hall?” Doctor Dou brightened. “I can write a letter of introduction!”

“No one can read your writing,” Old Ma interjected, “I will write it.”

Doctor Dou spluttered indignantly. “The only thing being worse than blind is having sight but no vision,” he retorted.

Old Ma puffed up her cheeks in indignation. “Y-you!”

“Did the nag forget to bring its hay?” he barked back.

Kaelon was startled by their bickering. In the end, they had turned away from each other. Old Ma with her nose in the air; Doctor Dou blowing on the same cup of tea that had already gone cold.

“Maybe you could both write it?” Kaelon suggested.

“No!” they both shouted at him in unison.

“Old Ma, listen to this child trying to be wise!”

“Indeed! Gold cannot be pure, and people cannot be perfect.”

“Where did you find this one?

“Fell out of the sky,” she answered.

Kaelon felt his ears turn warm. These two were just bickering one moment, but now they were united. He wasn’t sure what was worse.

Doctor Dou stroked his beard. “Hmm, a favour for a favour.”

Old Ma nodded as if that made sense and joined him at the low table. She fumbled with the tea and poured herself a cup. She spilt some but the doctor paid it no heed.

Doctor Dou cleared his throat. “I will secure your entry into Feixing Martial Hall . . .”

“What price?” Old Ma asked.

The old man looked at Kaelon with eyes that were sharp and didn’t miss much. “You must show me a real flying immortal.”

Kaelon spluttered. He had no way of doing that let alone figuring out what the old man was on about. This sounded—

“Thank you, Old Dou!” Old Ma said firmly. “Thank the doctor!” she snapped.

Kaelon bowed slightly, cupping his hands.

The doctor nodded in approval. “Good. Good. Good.”

“But how will you secure his entry?” Old Ma asked, leaning forward on the table between them.

Doctor Dou jumped up and dashed over to a small, unobtrusive drawer. He opened it and took out a small pouch, which he threw to Kaelon. The doctor watched it hit him in the chest and fall to the ground. Rubbing his temples like he had a headache, the old man sighed. “I said I’d get you in, but whether you can stay there depends on your luck.”

Kaelon picked up the bag sheepishly. He opened it. Inside was a strange small orb.

Old Ma directed her vacant gaze in his direction.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Organic matter,” Kaelon answered.

Doctor Dou blinked. “It’s a pearl, boy! A pearl! Why are you so dumb?”

Old Ma gasped. “Thank the good doctor!”

“I just did.”

“Again! Thank him again! He has given you a treasure.”

Doctor Dou sighed. “Treasuring a jade—”

“—ring is a crime,” Kaelon finished, receiving two nods of approval.

“There is hope for you yet,” Old Ma smiled. “Come, I will take you there now.”

Finishing his tea, Doctor Dou looked at the bits of tea leaf stuck to the bottom of his cup. He pinched his thumb and forefinger, then pinched his thumb with other fingers. “Luck is on your side,” he said enigmatically, turning to Kaelon who was half out the door after Old Ma.

Kaelon looked back.

“But take your ghost with you,” the doctor grumbled.

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