Team Seven of Heroes Chapter 29

29.

The view from the dirigible carriage was magnificent and cannot be compared to the one they took over the Alpine. The dirigible was piloted by a seasoned Captain who took them past the lower peaks and then passed the higher ones. The air was thin so everyone had on an oxygen mask with the canister. Their conversation was minimal with their rest time extended.

The Himalaya name was derived from the Sanskrit word which means the Abode of Snow. The range included over a hundred mountains exceeding twenty three thousand feet in elevation. It was challenged only by the Aconcagua in the Andes at over twenty two thousand feet. The Himalayan range is bordered on the northwest by the Karakoram and Hindu Kush, on the north by the Tibetan Plateau and on the south by the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The range was the source for Indus River, the Ganges, and the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra. The rivers were to serve over six million people with its streams and rivers. The climate range of the range varies from its tropical forest at the base to the icy snow clad at the higher elevations. The pilot directed the dirigible past the range into the edge of the Tarim Basin with the Kunlun Range as his guide on the right and the Basin on the left. He piloted the ship until he was in sight of the Sichuan Basin and from there to the North China Plain.

That was his flight plan.

“We have a problem.” The Captain of the dirigible voiced out. His voice sounded hoarse from the intake of oxygen through the mouth then motioned to Sherlock the threat ahead.

“The wind there is too strong. We need to land. And then take alternate route.” The view was shared with the others and the decision was made to land nearby. The dirigible landed at the plain and then balloon collapsed. The Captain then led the seven of them with the baggage carried by the crews to a nearby town. The Captain although he was German managed to secure passages for the seven travellers.

Their route was to the city of Chendu.

“There is a train service there.” The Captain then waved them off on their trip by the two secured double wheel wagons pulled by the single horse with the local guide. The seven guests did not see the exchange of gold pieces by the local warlord to the pilot who immediately readied his dirigible for a quick exit. The ride was scenic but there were also sights of depressing people holding out for assistance. Sherlock saw the dried fields and deducted that the drought had plagued the province. The ride was long and hard when they then found themselves stopping before a tall and huge gate. The gates opened and the wagons went in.

Sherlock stepped out and saw the siege of armed oriental guards with rifles.

“Welcome to my home. We are secured here.” The person who spoke was German and he was not alone. He was with an official dressed in the Government attire with the broad sword on his waist belt. “My name is Wolfgang and I am your …probably friend here.”

“Why are we here?” Mycroft tested his German language but it came out in cracked syllable. “May you speak in English?”

“I would for your convenience.” The ascent was vividly London. “I was raised in London before migrating back to Munich and then to this great land.”

“You father was a missionary and he brought you here.” Sherlock gave out his honest opinion on the person. The reaction was natural and Sherlock gave him his concluding facts.

“You wore a cross on your neck and your choice of dressing displayed your oriental stay. Your ascent was London which were distinct tell me that you still see your friends here from London. Your appearance with the official tells me that you are connected but I will say it will be more inclined to the Mandarin than the Imperial Army.”

“Your reputation precedes you, Herr Holmes. I am not with the Imperial Army although Cheng here is one. We are sworn brothers to the Mandarin circle.” Wolfgang explained. “There is an event that going to erupt here. The Mandarin sent us to save you.”

“I am not surprised. The Mandarin must had known that we were coming and will probably meet us.” Sherlock added in his assumptions.

“You are not wrong but the event I mentioned made all of you undesirable to walk on the street.”

The next day, hordes of fighters who were trained to fight in the pugilistic skills had swarmed the foreign quarters in the main capital then. They had earlier appeared with the placards and banners condemning the foreigners. They ran amok on the streets and tore up the notices that were for the foreigners. Foreign establishments were besieged and then looted.

Then the ruling elites made the crucial move.

War was declared on the foreigners but the Imperial army was split into two sides.

Most of the fighting was focused on the capital and the surrounding areas with many foreigners then massacred. It triggered the declaration of war by the eight nations that have armies on the land. It was no different at the mansion at Chengdu.

“Have you not considered that we are attracting one too many sieges in the last weeks?” Mycroft cursed while he loaded the rifles. They were Type 30 rifle nicknamed the Manchu Arisaka. The rifle was bolt action with a five round internal magazine. It fired the six point five cartridges and fired at ten rounds per minute. The mansion held forty guards with the official and twenty servants with their eight guests. The Chinese fighters were just outside the walls with their overturned wagons to form their own walls. The distance separated the two walls was about a hundred feet or the width of the street.

Wolfgang had on a Luger in the shoulder holster and the same rifle he held in his right hand with the bandolier of cartridges across his chest. He carried in the case containing the ceramic round pots filled with gunpowder and the wick that will blow it.

“Each of these is hand sized and enough to blow a roomful of people.” Wolfgang told them. “We can’t fight them with just our fists.”

“握住墙” (Hold the wall) The Imperial Officer called out the order while the guards climbed on stacked up boxes to look over the walls.

“他们在外面露营”, (They are camped outside). The guards reported back. Just then another guard came to report that they were more at the rear. 

“We are trapped then.” Wolfgang relayed the message to the others. He then told them of the next plan. “If we can make it to the train station, we can take the train out.” 

“Through that mob? You must be nuts.” Mycroft replied. “I will stake my chance here.” 

“We have an escape route. The official here had a tunnel which we can leave for the station.” Wolfgang assured him. “Take your belongings and the needed rifles.”

“Well we are in his home, so we will adhere to his wishes.” Sherlock added in. The guests were then taken to the main hall and into the rear pavilion. There the official indicated to the covered well. It was seen to be a dry one but upon descending the rope, they saw there was a crawl space into a tunnel. The official took point followed by the others and soon they found themselves climbing up some wooden bamboo steps into another backyard. Lord Greystoke who had followed behind the official found the official had just slit the throat of an elderly man there. The dead man was headed for the doorway when the official killed him. 

“There is no one and we can leave now.” Just then a group of five Chinese men burst into the backyard holding weapons. 

“By golly, they are here too.” Mycroft sounded and leveled his rifle to be stopped by Wolfgang. 

“No shooting. We will fight them with fists.”