“But we’ve got to keep going,” Biff insisted. “I saw four men leave the fire and come after us.”
“Fear not, my friend. I think I know who they are. But stay here, I’ll go back down the path and make certain,” the “cook” said.
The grandson vanished in the night. Biff felt sure that any moment the party would be jumped by pursuing guards. Then he heard voices. The grandson came back, followed by four men.
“My brothers and cousins,” the grandson said. “They are more grandsons of the Old Lord. One of them is brother to your friend Ling Tang.”
Muscles stepped into the group. “Sure, I know these guys. They’re okay. These are real members of the House of Kwang. I made that double-crosser Chan Li take me to them. We worked out the whole escape. This fellow,” Muscles pointed to the grandson-servant, “he started the whole thing. Set the kitchen on fire. Then he grabbed the keys, and led me to your room. The others stayed back to watch the guards. Held some of them back all right. Must have been more than twenty on duty.”
“We can go on now,” the grandson said quietly. “The Ancient One has rested.”
Two grandsons came to the side of the old man. Each placed a supporting arm around his waist. The party continued on its way.
Except for short, regular rest periods, they kept going all night. As dawn broke, the party stopped for a lengthier rest. All were near exhaustion from the excitement and the steady pace they had kept up. The Old One slept like a baby, held in the arms of one of his grandsons.
They rested most of the morning. It was far safer to travel at night. On the second day, as they reached a safer distance from Jaraminka, they continued toward the plateau where Jack Hudson was to pick them up. In turn, the grandsons went ahead to make certain no one was lying in wait for them.
“Biff, are we anywhere near the spot where you saw all that construction?” Uncle Charlie asked.