Page 101 of Half Dead

Lady Wang stood sentry at the foot of the bridge. She looked nothing like the deities in my neck of the underworld. She sported a mouthful of teeth that belonged in a tiger. Her tail was surely a leopard’s. Her charcoal wings… I had no idea whose wings they were, but I was, admittedly, mildly envious of those.

“Lady Wang,” I said, striding forward. “I am Melinoe, daughter of Hades and Persephone. This is my travel companion, Bruce Huang.”

Her amber eyes tracked my movements. “You may halt right there, daughter of darkness.”

I stopped and bowed.

She narrowed her eyes at Bruce. “You have finally come to join us, I see.”

“He only wants a temporary visa,” I said. “He isn’t ready to be a permanent resident. We seek a tablet that we have good reason to believe is in Feng-Tu. We’re told that the god of mercy can help us.”

“So much for seeking forgiveness, not permission,” Bruce muttered.

Lady Wang gave my companion an appraising look. “You will cross the bridge with your companion, Bruce Huang?”

“I will honor my vow to help her recover the tablet. She saved my soul. I owe her that and more.”

Her mouth curved in a malevolent smile. “Very well then. Be at peace.”

“No,” I objected. “No peace. Just passing through on an errand.”

She inclined her head. “As you say.”

“See?” I whispered as we crossed the bridge. “No soup for you.”

Two cloaked figures awaited us on the other side of the bridge.

“Who are the greeters?” I murmured.

“Demons.”

Well, I had plenty of experience with those. I plastered on a friendly smile and sauntered toward them. “Gentlemen, it’san honor and privilege to meet you both. I appreciate your willingness to help us out in a pinch.”

The demons exchanged baffled glances.

“Lady Wang hasn’t told you?” I groaned my dismay. “Typical underworld bureaucracy, am I right?” I managed to coax awkward smiles from them. “We’re here to see the god of mercy. Lady Wang said one of you can leave your post to escort us.”

The demons immediately began to argue over which one would get to do the honors. I’d fight for a side trip, too, if I had to stand at the foot of a bridge all day greeting clueless souls.

The demon in the green cloak was the winner. He guided us along a pathway of black stones, chatting amiably as he pointed out landmarks like a tour guide. I blocked out the chatter in an effort to stay focused on the next stage. If I couldn’t convince the god of mercy to help me, I would need a backup plan, which wouldn’t be easy now that we’d crossed K’u-ch’u K’iao.

“And here we are,” the demon said with a sweeping gesture at a nearby building with red walls and yellow tiles on a sloped roof. “You’ll find him inside.”

“Thank you. Take your time heading back,” I told the demon. “Tell them we kept pestering you with questions and wouldn’t let you leave.”

He flashed a mischievous grin. “I like your style.”

I cast a sidelong glance at Bruce. “Ready?”

“Maybe you should go in alone. I’m not a deity. He might be offended.”

“Bruce, there’s nothing to worry about. You’re already over the bridge and didn’t have to drink.”

Silently, he followed me inside the building.

The god of mercy was alone. He sat hunched over a table, making notes on a long scroll.

“They have these handy things called computers in the modern world,” I said.

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