William wasn’t particularly impressed with this small example of Huan Li’s prognostications. He stood, waiting for the old man to tell him something worth knowing. He kept his facial features smooth and unreadable. His eyes held no boredom or malice. He was like a statue listening to some old fool confess why he thought his life was where it was.
“But that wasn’t all, was it? You figured something out in that cold water. Perhaps you learned that the loss of some control was the true path to freedom.”
William almost lost control of his facial features as Huan Li spoke.
“William by coming so close to death, you gave up on yourself. In that singular moment in time, you were completely free. You were free from your stress, free from your responsibility to Aceso your alpha, free of your guilt from leaving your pack. You were free from all the material things of this world. And just for a moment you were free from yourself. Am I right?”
William couldn’t hide the shock from his face. He stared wide eyed at Huan Li as the old man described his personal emotions and thoughts exactly as they had happened. Does this guy have a summer home inside my mind? He couldn’t grasp how the Elder could know everything he had felt in that waterfall just before the change happened. He looked up at Ares. Ares was still standing against the wall. He hadn’t moved and his stare hadn’t lessened. His eyes held no sympathy or judgment. William knew that he wouldn’t find any help from him. He turned his attention back to the Elder.
Huan Li had turned his back on William and started to cross the room to where the paper lanterns hung from the ceiling. With his back to William, he gestured around himself with his cane.
“Do you know why I have kept these things?” Huan Li walked around the space of his room pointing to various artifacts and objects that adorned his room. “I have kept these things to remind me where I have come from.” He pointed to the lanterns. “I keep these to remind me of the culture of my heritage. These scenes of enforcers on horseback, they are Mongols fighting against the Chinese army, before the Great Wall was built by the first Emperor Qin Shi Huang.” Huan Li looked at William. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that I am of Chinese descent. I’m sure the look gave it away.” He smiled.
William was a little irritated at being so brazenly upbraided. “Yes, Elder, I noticed that your ethnicity was of Eastern Asia origin. I wasn’t sure if you were Chinese or Hmong, or Korean.”
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“Korean?” He looked up at Ares. “Ares? Has any pup ever said that they thought I was Korean?”
Ares didn’t change his stance and his lips parted just enough to allow a “No.” to escape.
Huan Li turned back toward William, “That is a new one. I will make a note of it. The pup, William thought that I might be Korean. I’m sure Jacob will get a kick out of that.”
William felt his cheeks growing warm from being embarrassed by this old man. He wanted to attack him and make the old fool respect him. He wanted to storm out of the room. He wanted…to stop allowing himself from being influenced by his other. His anger and embarrassment had awakened the lump of emotions in the back of his mind. This attack was much more subtle than the first one had been.
William looked inside his mind and tried to reason with the knot of corded emotions that was now constantly fighting him. You were quiet and seemed very happy when we only changed on the full moon. What has happened to make you so blood thirsty? What have I done to allow you to influence my thoughts and emotions?
William focused on Huan Li again to find the Elder studying him very closely. He looked over to see that Ares had pushed himself away from the wall and was in his battle stance that he had used earlier in the lake cavern. William took a very slow, deep breath and let it out. He felt his other awake and very active but at least he had full control over his emotions.
“So, it is that serious.” Huan Li looked over at Ares. “I’m sorry old friend, but I had to see it for myself.” Huan Li looked around his room. “William, do you want to kill me?”
William shook his head. “No, No, I don’t want to kill anyone.”
“That’s good. I may look old, but you will find that I am more than a match for how you are right now, even though I was reborn under the gibbous moon. Traditionally we, Scouts are physically weaker than the full moon born Enforcers, but I could still kill you very easily, pup.” Huan Li gestured to Ares. “And if you somehow got the upper hand against me, Ares would die before he let me die by yours or anyone else’s hand.” Huan Li turned back toward his treasures. “As I was saying, my great grandmother was a Mongol. Her and my great grandfather came here in the mid eighteen hundreds. He died digging the tunnels for the great cross-country railroad, or the grand title that some newspaper man gave it, The Transcontinental Railroad.” Huan Li’s shoulders seemed to droop for a moment and all the strength seemed to leave his back and his arms hung limp at his sides. He turned back to face William. “I have come to hate that name. It is the one transgression against my people that I have never been able to forgive this country for.” Huan Li stepped closer to William and inhaled William’s scent. “I know you have hatreds of your own.” Before William could interject Huan Li continued, “If you don’t, you soon will.”
William watched as Huan Li turned back toward his dresser and he picked up the plastic snow globe. He tipped it upside down and then right side up. He watched as the fake particles rained down on the Golden Gate Bridge.