Shadows on Water
"He wished to remain here and remain here he shall!" you say, with unwished for anger. "We've done our job. He only wanted to live his life in peace. It's in our power to preserve his good name. He will be buried with his ancestors"
"But what will you say to the emperor...?"
"I'll say he agreed to come back with us, but we were attacked by bandits. That way we can fulfill our duties to the emperor and Huan Tan," you say.
"So we leave the body and go," says Ling sceptically.
"Not yet, brother. I want to satisfy myself that this thing goes no deeper."
"The body?"
"Help me take it inside."
You and Ling bring the rain and blood soaked body inside, lay it on the floor in the study, and cover it with a white bedsheet. Looking around you see dozens of scrolls. Could some of these scrolls point to Huan Tan's guilt? Or even, it pains you to wonder, his innocence? A strange murder story this, where the killer is known to you, but the motive is unclear. Perhaps it would be best if the past were buried with him.
"But what will you say to the emperor...?"
"I'll say he agreed to come back with us, but we were attacked by bandits. That way we can fulfill our duties to the emperor and Huan Tan," you say.
"So we leave the body and go," says Ling sceptically.
"Not yet, brother. I want to satisfy myself that this thing goes no deeper."
"The body?"
"Help me take it inside."
You and Ling bring the rain and blood soaked body inside, lay it on the floor in the study, and cover it with a white bedsheet. Looking around you see dozens of scrolls. Could some of these scrolls point to Huan Tan's guilt? Or even, it pains you to wonder, his innocence? A strange murder story this, where the killer is known to you, but the motive is unclear. Perhaps it would be best if the past were buried with him.