Thanks again to all my reviewers and readers

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The Next Dragon Warrior

Chapter 17

“Lunch and the List”

Master Crane walked down the path to the Bunkhouse. He had just checked to make sure all the campers were in their cabanas. Usually going this long a distance at the Jade Palace, he would have flown but the few close trees near the bunk house made it hard. Not that he wouldn’t be able to do it. He had flown through tighter obstructions before. He smiled remembering the obstacle course at the Lee Da Kung Fu Academy. The course that had made him an official student.

But he was still tired after a long day and didn’t feel like wasting his energy maneuvering around obstacles if they weren’t trying to kill him.

As he approached the Bunkhouse he saw Master Tigress on the porch resting against the wall.

Tigress, what are you still doing out here?

“Waiting for you.” she said matter-of-factly

“Me?”

“I was visited by Master Oogway last night.”

“Really? Why don’t you tell Master Shifu.”

“I’m going to tell him tomorrow when we have our meeting, but I need to tell you about it tonight.”

“Okay……What exactly?” Crane was confuse what he could do about it now.

“Do you still have the list Master Shifu gave you at the beginning of camp, of campers in the room groupings?”

“I think so, Why?”

“Leave it out while you sleep for the next few nights.
Master Oogway told me he can still only sense the right student but, I got from him that if he’s shown the campers name he might be able to reveal who it is to us. Shifu was right. He’ll know the camper by his name.”

“I’ll go look for it now. Thanks for telling me.”

He passed by her into the bunkhouse. As he walked in he heard a loud snore come from one of the rooms. Crane sighed “How does that kid Jo sleep sharing a room with Po snoring that loud?” Then he realized the snoring was coming from Master Shifu’s room.”

* * *

I spun the noodles in my bowl of soup absentmindedly with my chopstick as every stir released more wafts of steam.

“Are you gonna eat your lunch or just keep stirring it?” asked Lucas.

“Just letting it cool.” I said looking at the steam lingering over the surface of the soup like ground fog.

Dew was stirring his too but was taking occasional bites.

“Learn any more with the bo staff in Monkey style yesterday?” I asked them.

Dew swallowed a small mouthful of noodles. “Just practicing the same moves as before.”

“I don’t see how I could ever go as fast as Master Monkey,” Lucas said “but it’s getting simpler.”

I said. “Well we’ve been in these Kung Fu style lessons for over a week now. Things will be getting easier soon enough.”

Lucas continued. “Crane style and Monkey style couldn’t be more different.

“Master Crane is always saying Crane style is meant to look “effortless and balanced” and Master Monkey says Monkey style is supposed to look “unpredictable and energetic.”

“So Master Crane isn’t teaching yall how to fly.” I said with joke disappointment.

“At this point, it would probably be easier.” Lucas said effetely.

I looked down at my food. My soup had reduced to a dull simmer so I took a few slurps of the noodles.

After a second Lucas asked “What’s Panda style been like? Have you managed to break the wood yet?”

“Not yet. I’m afraid I’ll end up breaking my hand before I break the wood. Po says it’ll take a while. Lately he’s been giving me more quick thinking exercises to keep me on my toes. Sometimes he’ll randomly lunge at me during the lesson just to see I can block him.”

“What’s it like being the only student?” Dew asked “I guess you don’t have to fight for Po’s attention.”

I smiled remembering some of Po’s antics. “Even though it’s just me, Po sometimes starts off the lesson saying ‘good afternoon class’.”

Lucas and Dew both laughed.

“I suppose overall I’m doing well with Panda style, but I still want to improve my Leopard style.”

“Come on Jo,” Dew said skeptically. “You’re one of the best in Leopard style. Even Master Shifu’s commented on it.”

“He’s commented on Park too.” I said dismally.

I wondered if any one else had noticed. Park was excelling in Leopard style, but some how he didn’t seem better but……. Different. He seemed to know things that neither Shifu or Master Tigress taught. Stuff that looked like complex Kung fu.

“Don’t let Park get you down. He just knows a bunch of advanced "flashy" moves. Kung Fu builds on itself. Without mastering the beginner’s moves first he can’t have a solid foundation. And we’ve got that over him.”

That made since, I guess. Kung Fu did build on itself. But I still wondered. Park didn’t seem like the type to research Kung Fu like was. Where was he learning these advanced moves?

***

I was relieved that night when I heard Po quietly sneak out our room when he thought I was asleep. They hadn’t had one of their secret meetings in a while, I started to worry they weren’t having dreams anymore.

Once I figured it was safe I carefully padded down the hall, but in the silent hallway my soft footsteps seemed to creek every floorboard in the whole bunkhouse.

When I got to the Shifu’s room I found the door wasn’t as open as it normally was. The crack in the door was less than an inch wide. I had to put my eye right up to the crack to see anything inside.

“-so I had told Crane about it last night.” Master Tigress said to Master Shifu.

Shifu turned his head in the opposite direction of Tigress. “Well then, Master Crane, did Oogway visit you last night?” Master Crane was just out of view of the peek hole but I could catch his gestures as he started talking.

“Yes, but he didn’t come to me in a dream.” Crane said. “I woke up this morning and saw this.” He held up a paper and placed it in the center of the table.

“What is it?” Master Shifu said eyeing it with interest.

“The list you gave me at the beginning of the year with the camper’s rooming arrangements. When I woke up I saw this.” He pointed at something midway down the list.

The rest of the Five and Po leaned in for a closer look as they each uttered sounds of amazement. Crane went on “It’s some kind of strange burn mark around this room number.”

Which room?

“Tigress said “I think he’s selected this room because he senses the right camper in this room.”

Say which room already!

I got my answer. Monkey concluded “So the camper that we’re looking for is in Room 4.”

I backed away from the door till I felt my back meet the wall. My feet gave out beneath me and I sank to the floor with my knees up to my chest and my arms hanging down lifelessly.

No

“This narrows it down to just three campers,” Viper said thrilled.

“Two actually,” Crane pointed to a name on the paper “this one never showed up the first day.”

Shifu got off his cushion seat and stood. “As soon as we find the means of figuring out who the camper is we’ll see both of these campers.” Shifu looked at the names on the paper. “We’ll have to arrange to meet with Lucas Everette Zhangji and Park Garfniec Ciepfoe.”

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