Henry drove the carriage through the circle drive and stopped between two stately pillars. A porter waited at the bottom of the steps to open the door and reached out to help Albert exit. He shook his head at him. The man nodded and stood at attention.

Albert navigated the step down and paused to study his surroundings. White stone glistened under the flickering lamps. As the door opened, music drifted out. He resisted the nervous temptation to adjust his coat and tie. That was already done by Henry’s professional touch.

His cane tapped each step as he climbed up. A man, anticipating his entrance, swung open the door. Another took his top hat and cane.

The room he entered was brightly lit. Incandescent bulbs replaced candles in the overhead fixtures. People wandered around talking in groups. He was directed to a receiving line on his left.

A booming voice behind him proclaimed, “Dr. Albert Timmons.”

Silence in the room followed the announcement. A short dark-haired man broke from the line and approached him. “I am Tateno Gozo, Ambassador from Japan. We are honored by your presence.”

“I am honored by your notice.” Albert bowed.

“Emperor Meiji sent me correspondence about the mechanical dragon and his amazing birthday celebration. He was sorry that you left so quickly and wanted me to convey his thanks.”

Albert chose not to respond and bowed again.

“Come, meet my family. Afterward, my attaché, Eiko will introduce you to everyone.” He rejoined the line and indicated for Albert to stand by his side.

When the last visitor made it through the receiving line, he stepped out and paused, unsure of what to do next. People surged toward him with eager questions.

A thin, bald man waved them away. “I am Eiko, Ambassador Gozo’s aide. I will introduce you.”

They drifted around, stopping to talk with dignitaries. Eiko kept him moving, not staying too long with each person. He waved a waiter over for food and drink before going on to the next group.

After an hour of this and light-headed from the champagne, Albert said, “I need to find a corner and rest, eat a little more.”

Eiko smiled and led him to a bench. “I understand, there is discomfort from your foot.”

Albert started to deny this but decided it was a valid excuse. He sat with his foot extended.

Eiko nodded at two porters who moved in closer. “They will keep you private. Ayame will bring you food.”

At his words, a small girl stepped forward with her head bowed. “Father, I will do as you asked.”

At first, he thought she was a child with rings of curls around her face, but in the light, her clothes revealed a young woman. When she looked up, he was stunned to discover bright eyes, the color of the green stones, staring at him. She moved with the grace of a geisha, but in the Westernized dress, promised much more. He almost blushed when Eiko cleared his throat.

“I, ah –,” Albert stuttered.

The man smiled and nodded. He seemed to understand his immediate attraction.

Ayame returned, followed by a waiter carrying a tray laden with food. She indicated a small table next to the bench.

“I must leave you; the Ambassador requires my presence. Please let my daughter know if there is anything you need.” Eiko walked off without a backward glance.

As the girl handed him a plate piled high with food, Albert blurted out the first thing on his mind. “Your eyes, I have only seen that color once before in a monk.”

“Uncle Ko, on my mother’s side. He included a personal letter to father along with the correspondence between Emperor Meiji and Ambassador Gozo. You showed great kindness to Yuso.”

“Is the dragon still running alright?”

“Yes. Uncle has a personal contact with one of the emperor’s engineers. He comes over and adjusts it when needed. Yuso parades up and down the halls of the monastery.” She started to say more but stopped when a guest approached them.

At home, Albert pulled off his tie, shrugged out of his coat, and kicked off the offending shoes. He padded down the hall in his socks and entered the first-floor lab. An interesting evening, not what he expected. Since returning from Japan, he had not felt inspired but meeting the green-eyed girl caused a spark to flare inside him. Pulling the stones from his safe, he laid them out on the table.

Harris cautioned him about handling the stones with his bare hands, so Albert pulled on a pair of gloves. Holding one up to the light, he studied it from all angles. Feeling brave, which was probably a mistake, Albert picked up a chisel and hammer to tap on a protruding corner. A spark of energy shot out as a small fragment broke off.

Hm. The chisel must have transferred energy to the stone. He studied the larger piece for more reactions. Satisfied that was the only one, Albert wrapped the bigger pieces back up and tucked them in his safe. Turning back to the fragment, and not sure why, he was driven to feel its texture. He pulled off his gloves and picked up the chip.

The end of his nose started itching. He set the broken piece down and scratched at the offending spot. Weird sensations flowed through him. He was exhilarated with no sense of fear. The muscles in his arms tightened. For a moment, he felt like flying from the roof of his house.

The image of Ayame materialized in the room. She reached out and stroked his arm. “The power is strong. You are not ready for this.”

Her soothing touch brought him back to reality. He looked around and discovered she was gone. On weak legs, he stumbled over to a chair.

What just happened? It seemed so real. Suddenly tired, he leaned back and fell asleep.

A cramp in his foot woke him. At first confused, he recognized his lab. The memories of what happened flooded back. Was Ayame really here? He struggled up and stretched. His stomach growled. My mind must have played tricks on me, too much champagne, and the nibbles were not that filling. Had to be a weird dream. He looked at the green chip on the worktable. Deciding not to take chances, he pulled out his handkerchief and picked it up. Locking it in the safe with the rest of the stones, he wandered to the kitchen in search of food.

On Saturday with no classes, he strolled the sidewalk glancing in store windows. A display at the bookstore caught his attention. He started in the engineering section but ended up scanning travel books. Ayame came around the corner clutching a book. Today dressed for walking with a thick coil of black hair at her neck, she appeared more alluring than in a ballgown. He wondered how long her hair was, if he could just remove a couple of pins to find out.

She looked up and smiled at him. Albert nodded and hurriedly turned to scan a row of books.

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“Are you planning a trip to Greece?” she asked with an amused tone.

He answered, “Er, no. Just curious. If it is not too forward, would you accompany me to the coffee shop around the corner?”

“Yes. First let me buy this book,” Ayame smiled and walked up to the store clerk.

Finished with her purchase, she nodded, and Albert guided her to the coffee shop. To his surprise, she matched him pastry for pastry until the plate was empty. Not sure what to say, he sat in silence and played with a napkin.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, excuse me. I have so many questions and don’t know where to start. Do you have time for a stroll through the park?”

They walked for a while, until coming to a shaded bench. Ayame sat and motioned him to follow. “You probably want to know about the green stones.”

“That, yes. But how were you with me last night?"

She did not pretend to misunderstand him. “We are linked by the stones. You were in trouble.”

“I’m an engineer. I study how things work and design machines. This bit about being linked, my mind will not accept.”

“If I tell you the history of the stones, maybe you will understand. It started many generations ago when my ancestor uncovered a cache of them.”

************

Hoko brewed rice beer for money but drank more than he sold. Minna his wife grew frustrated and demanded his help around the house. Her garden needed watering. He was told to either carry buckets of water or dig a trench from the river.

“Those buckets look heavy.” Hoko dug his toe into the mud leading to the river and decided what to do. Picking up a stick to dig with, he made a small hole. Water quickly flooded it. Satisfied with the results, he jammed in his stick and pulled it toward him. Foot by Foot the trench formed.

Walking backward, he was not concentrating on where he stepped. A jutting stone threw him off balance. Landing in a growth of reed, he sat stunned for a moment. Water swirled around him.

“Stupid rock.” Hoko kicked it. Loosened by the flowing water, the stone moved. His muddy hand gripped the stick and pushed it out of the way. By midday, the trench was finished, and water flowed into his wife’s garden. Not caring how dirty he was, Hoko sat under a tree and finished off a jug of his rice brew.

Minna stood over him and shook her head. She called to her son, “Ko, go finish what your father started. Throw rocks along the bottom to keep it from washing out.”

Twelve-year-old Ko nodded. He finished a lot of what his father started. Coming to the hole where his father shoved the stone aside, he noticed something strange. The water glowed green in that spot. Reaching in, Ko pulled out a bunch of small green stones, but digging down further, his hand found a huge one. Almost too heavy to lift, he waded into the water and tugged it out.

The pile was fascinating, glowing in the sunlight. Ko out of curiosity picked up a tiny pebble and bit down. It broke apart, and in surprise, he swallowed it.

They were not precious; he could tell from how easily it broke apart. He put a couple of stones in his pocket and buried the rest in a hole under an overhanging boulder. Kicking dirt in, he threw rocks and twigs in to hide it.

Finished, standing to look around, for a moment the air was covered in a green haze. Next, it felt like his body would explode. Ko was filled with energy. He started pitching in rocks and pebbles at the bottom of the trench at an inhuman speed. Finished with that, he hoed the garden and planted seeds. A couple of bushes needed to be cut down and stacked for firewood. The pile grew, but he continued to chop until there was no visible sign a tree ever grew there.

Lightheaded and starving, he went in search of food. Mother’s loaf of fresh bread sat on the table. Ko gobbled it down. Contrite because he ate the family’s evening meal, he put together the ingredients for two more loaves. While they sat on the table, rising, he wiped the kitchen and swept the floor. Restless, and filled with a desire to keep working, he went outside. “Mom, I ate the bread but made two more loaves. Can you put them in the oven when ready? I’m going to hunt for small game to add meat to our meal.”

Minna watched him walk off. Her mouth hung open, and eyes were huge with shock.

His hands were quick. He trapped two rabbits before they could run off. Skinning them, he brought his catch in, built a fire in the yard, and started roasting the meat on a spit.

Minna watched him with a scared expression. He glanced up at her and grinned.

“Your eyes, why are they green?”

“Are they really?” Not having anything for reflection, it was hard for him to tell.

“And today, you did a week’s worth of chores.”

“Don’t know why. Just have a lot of energy.”

It was hard to sleep that night. His mind kept coming up with things he could do. Muscles flexed. His breath deepened. Charged, he was ready to jump off his mat and work. The only thing that did not change was his heart rate. It beat in a natural rhythm. Ko was scared about what was happening to his body. He closed his eyes and the green haze returned.

The next morning, while washing up, the sun hit the water just right, and he saw his reflection. Bright green eyes stared back at him. He decided not to mention swallowing one and held out his hand. “Mom, yesterday I found these green stones.”

She turned to give him a plate of rice, bread, and meat left over from last night. “Is this part of how you acted yesterday?”

Before he could answer, Hoko sleeping on a mat rolled over, and sat up. “Green stones? Are they valuable? Give them to me.”

Ko dropped the two stones he kept for souvenirs into his father’s open palm. They gleamed in the morning light.

“I must take these to Warlord Ki. Were there more? We are going to be rich.” He grabbed the jug of rice beer and finished off the contents. The stones were dropped in his pocket. He shuffled to the door, slipped on his sandals, and staggered down the road.

A couple of hours later, horse hooves pounded the ground.

Minna whispered, “This is not good. You must hide. We can’t allow the warlord to capture you. Your green eyes, the stones did something to you.”

“Come with me.”

“No. Could be nothing. Keep your distance and watch. Run!”

He ran out the door, across the field, and climbed the mountain. Hidden in the brush, Ko waited. He heard his mother cry out and then smoke rose.

From Ko’s hiding place, Warlord Ki looked like a small doll as he stood in the field and glanced around. He signaled his men to spread out and search. They set the crops on fire, hoping to drive him out. More men stomped along the watering trench and kicked it apart while swinging swords at the shrubs.

Ko’s body went into warrior mode. His mind planned each move for the kill in rapid sequence. He jumped down and attacked. Moving so fast, his image was a blur. He grabbed the first man’s sword and sliced it across him. After that, Ko chased them down the mountain, killing each one. Now in an exposed position, he faced Ki and more soldiers.

Ko turned and ran back up the mountain. Ki’s horse and men could not catch him. After fighting his way through brush and over rocks, for what seemed forever, he finally collapsed exhausted in a small cave.

Something poked his shoulder. He woke to discover a beggar prodding him with a stick.

When Ko moved, the man held out a cup of water. “Drink. I have cooked rice also." He opened a wooden box.

Ko sat up and took the water. “Who are you?”

“Not a friend of Ki’s for sure. Word spread in the villages that he was looking for a boy. I watched you from a distance fight your way through the underbrush. When you disappeared in the cave, I waited to make sure no one followed.”

“My mother and father,--” his voice broke.

“I know, but that is past. Not sure why he wants you, but the man acts scared, something about a legend. The only way to survive is to hide in plain sight. Two beggars making their way through the country. Your eyes are so bright and light up the cave. Everyone will notice them. So, we will be a beggar with his blind boy. Here,” he pulled out a dirty rag and tied it around Ko’s eyes.

Ko tried to stand and tripped. “I can’t do this.”

“You’ll get used to it. I’ll get you a stick for guidance. We’ll have to lose the sword. A pity, it could be sold for money but also raise a lot of attention.”

Over the years, his ability to work long hard hours kept them fed. He functioned better pretending blindness than with his eyes opened. People were amazed to watch him cut wood, landing the axe dead center on the log each time. He hoed straight furrows and evenly spaced the seeds.

Of course, the inevitable happened, Ko fell in love. He asked the beggar, “Should I tell her the truth or walk away?”

“You are a healthy male, so I knew this day would come. I considered all the options. The Warlord Ki is dead. Nothing more is asked about ‘the boy’. Can she accept the fact you are able to see, and those bright green eyes? If you tell her, our disguise is uncovered. My protection will be finished, and I must move on.”

“Can’t you stay with me?” Ko asked with a confused expression. He had never questioned how the man first appeared or his dedication.

“No. I am a wanderer and must keep traveling. Besides, there are others that need my help.”

Ayame came to the end of her story. “The green eyes appear in each generation, always with a Ko. I am the only female in the line. My uncle told me, ‘It must be a sign’. Since no one else discovered the energy properties, he said I must contact you.”

“The miniature dragons?”

Ko went back as an old man and retrieved the cache of stones. Over the years, the dirt had washed out and exposed them. He discovered dragonflies swirling around. As each one lit on a stone, it turned into a real dragon. That is where they started. Through the generations, a Ko has always protected the small dragons.”

Albert commented, “I broke a small piece off. When I picked it up in my bare hand, something of the same sensations that Ko first experienced flowed through me. And no, I did not swallow any of the dust, though may have rubbed my nose after holding it. Could have had some residue on my fingers.”

“Any thoughts on why we connected?”

“I have a strong idea about that,” Albert grinned.

She delicately glanced away, but not before smiling.