Do you like stories with mystery and suspense? Strange and “wyrd” ones? Well, if you do, keep reading and enjoy Eggcentricsagas. If you are just joining Eggcentricsagas, you might want to start from the beginning: A La Mano: Part 1-The Treasure
It was the longest three days in my memory. Between her visits to the church, Mrs. Tilsby did little else except pace and wring her hands constantly. I even took over the cooking of the meals which pleased my fellow boarders immensely. Finally, the day arrived; Jim and I boarded the streetcar to Chinatown with great hopes.
The shop was quiet and empty when we arrived. “Dr. Wu?” Jim called out. At the side entrance, the pretty Chinese girl appeared. Jim addressed her. “Daiyu, where is Dr. Wu?”
Instead of answering, she giggled and pointed backwards. Then she turned and hurried off to find him.
While we were waiting for the alchemist, I walked around the room before stopping at a small table holding some items. One of them was a painted egg housed in a glass box. I bent down to examine the picture closer. A Chinese brush painting, it depicted a bluebird perched on a plum tree branch.
“We focus on the blossom but without the rugged branch there would be no delicate loveliness. The beauty lies in the contrast.”
I turned to see Dr. Wu walking towards me. He came and stood beside me and looked down at the painted egg. The wise man continued, “The plum represents undying love and courage. It blooms in winter; adversity does not deter inner beauty from springing forth. Instead, it encourages faith and hope in one’s character.”
“Did you paint it doctor?”
“No. It was done by my laoshi, Da Li.” A look of nostalgia passed briefly over his face. “He was a great man.”
At that moment, a jingling was heard. Daiyu had entered with Mr. Fu; the bell tinkled on his collar as he wriggled around in her arms. She placed him on the floor. He ran to me and jumped at my legs; his tail wagging furiously. I was overcome with surprise and joy. Mr. Fu had never greeted me before with such enthusiasm. I bent down and petted him. Very excited, he ran around us in circles. In the meantime, Daiyu had brought in his basket and set it down. Seeing it, Mr. Fu leapt into it and barked at us.
“I guess he’s ready to go,” Jim commented.
Amazed by Mr. Fu’s transformation, I eagerly asked Dr. Wu about it.
Smiling, he answered, “You can thank Daiyu, my plum blossom, for his healing.” Turning to her, Dr. Wu bowed his head and then looked at me. Understanding his gesture, I turned to Daiyu and bowed to her. She bowed back, giggled nervously and, quickly retreated out the way she came in. The alchemist added, “My cathartic tonic also helped,” and dug into his pocket. “I have something for you.” He brought up his hand and opened it for me to see what lay inside. Sitting on his palm was the accursed golden leaf with its two remaining pearls.
My shock and horror at seeing it again must have shown on my face as the herbalist chuckled softly. “So you recognize it. This is why I had to part company with Mr. Fu. He likes to eat; even things that disagree with him.” He motioned his head towards the red lacquer Chinese apothecary chest behind the counter.
Then Dr. Wu held the brooch out to me. I shook my head no. “You keep it as payment,” I said.
Before I could stop him, the sorcerer grasped my hand, placed the leaf in it and, closed my fingers over it. “No. I have enough ghosts to contend with; I don’t need a talkative red-head.”
With an expression of supplication on my face, I looked at Jim for help. He didn’t like the reappearance of the pin either; his face held a grimace of loathing. Then he brightened as a thought occurred to him. “I think I might know someone who would want it.” He turned to Dr. Wu. “What do we owe you for your services?”
The druggist pointed to Mr. Fu’s collar. “Daiyu wanted to keep the pearl charm. Mr. Fu didn’t seem to mind.”
I reluctantly placed the brooch in my pocket and walked over to Mr. Fu’s basket and picked it up. He wagged his tail and licked my hand. I told Dr. Wu, “That’s a fair trade.”
The magician approached Jim and whispered something in his ear. A broad smile broke out on Jim’s face. He nodded in affirmation and agreed with the alchemist. “Dr. Wu, you’ve done it again.”
*************************
I arrived home and wiped my feet on the new mat before stepping in. Mrs. Tilsby sang out a welcome from her kitchen when she heard me enter. Mr. Fu greeted me with enthusiasm and I petted his head before straightening up. Inhaling, I was overwhelmed by the tantalizing aroma that wafted into my nostrils from Mrs. Tilsby’s stove. My mouth watered thinking of the delicious dinner that awaited my consumption.
You see, with the aid of Jim and Dr. Wu, I found a buyer for my golden treasure. And then, at their suggestion, I had contacted the owner of The Old Poodle Dog; the famous French restaurant that had been introduced to me by the girl from Madame Mariposa’s sitting room. For a sum, over the last six months, he had been teaching Mrs. Tilsby how to prepare French cuisine. Daiyu had also agreed to share her Chinese cooking skills. Many pleasant dinners had occurred with the delightful company of Jim, Dr. Wu and Daiyu at the Tilsby’s household. Everyone was content especially me. The red-headed spirit no longer disrupted my sleep.
Next: The Mysterious World of Dr. Wu: Part 1-At the Foot of the Mountain
