I had intended to submit this to a contest, but time got away from me and I dropped it. But still, I thought this was a fun little story and I wanted to make it available to you for free. This was written to emulate the sort of thing you would have read in an old Pulp Magazine. I hope you enjoy it!
The desert was silent but for the shriek of terror that pierced the night. Red threw open the flap of the tent, rifle in hand, and found Faye lying on the ground, clutching the body of her father in her arms. The archeologist's quarters had been overturned, and Dr. Denver lay on the tent floor, rigid, with an expression of horror on his lifeless face. Red lowered his rifle and placed his hand on the sobbing woman’s shoulders.
“Tell me what happened.” Red said, the lamp light casting shadows over his hardened features.
“I came into the tent to check on him,” said Faye, “and he was dead! The room has been ransacked.”
“Has anything been taken?” asked Red.
“I do not know.” Said Faye, who then wrapped her arms around Red’s neck and wept. He held her tenderly for a few moments.
“There are only five of us in the camp.” Said Red, “I will find who did this. Stay here.”
Red left Faye alone and stepped out onto the sandy desert floor. The dunes of the Taklamakan Desert were black against the shining stars. Red wasted no time as he ran across the sand. He approached the workmen’s tent and flung open the flap. Red aimed his Winchester rifle at three shocked men, each sitting cross-legged on the floor, eating rice.
“On your feet!” shouted Red.
“Mr. Houston?” asked Shuo, peering at Red from behind round spectacles, “What is this?”
“Dr. Denver is dead.” Said Red in a grim tone.
Shuo translated Red’s message to the other two men, whose faces turned pale.
“Tell me, Mr. Houston, what has happened?” asked Shuo.
“Faye found her father dead in his tent. It has been ransacked. I know one of you has done this.”
Shuo told the other two men what Red had said, and they began to protest in Mandarin.
“Mr. Houston!” shouted Shuo, “I have been here with these men the entire time!”
“Lies!” said Red, “This is one of the reasons I told the Dr. we needed a bigger crew. More men means more eyewitnesses. You are all thick as thieves.”
Red pulled the lever on his rifle and chambered a round. He glared at the men, who gasped in horror. One man dropped his bowl of rice on the tent floor and began begging with his hands and speaking hastily.
“What is he doing?” asked Red.
“He is telling you that he is innocent, Mr. Houston.” Said Shuo.
“Why are you covering for these men?” asked Red, “Faye and Dr. Denver both vouched for you.”
“Because I am telling you the truth.” Protested Shuo, who then turned to silence the begging man. Red did not waver. He kept his aim and his eye on the three men. He instructed them to empty their pockets and ordered Shuo to search the other two men for any weapons.
“On your feet.” Red barked, “You are coming with me to see the body. I bet you will confess when you look Dr. Denver in the face.”
“Mr. Houston!” protested Shuo, “This may be the way you do things in America, but in China, we do not make baseless accusations. This is against the law.”
“We are in the middle of nowhere.” Said Red, “Out here, I am the law. Now move, and don’t try to run. I will shoot and I never miss.”
The four men emerged from the tent, and into the inky night. The moon cast long shadows over the sand, and the four men walked like a funeral procession at gunpoint. Red kept Shuo close and made the two other men walk in the front of the line. They arrived at Dr. Denver’s tent and entered to see Faye, sitting in a chair, weeping.
“Red?” Faye asked, “Why did you bring them here?”
“Because it is harder to lie when you have to face your victims.” Red said.
Faye held a photograph in her hand. A picture of her and Dr. Denver in Egypt. In the photo, Faye sat on the back of a camel, as Dr. Denver pointed towards the pyramids.
“This is my only picture of him. He hated cameras.” Faye said.
Red pointed the men toward Dr. Denver, whose body lay on the floor undisturbed. His face was still fixed with horror at some unseen assailant. The men quivered, fearful. Shou took off his spectacles and shook his head.
“He was a good man.” said Shuo.
“He was, and his life was stolen by one of you.” Said Red.
One of the workers began shouting in Mandarin and pointing at Faye
“He says that she could have done it. She was the one who found the body.” Translated Shuo.
Red tightened his square jaw, “She wouldn’t kill her own father.”
Faye shook her head and glared at the men, “It was one of you. I know it was.”
“How can you say so?” asked Shuo.
“Because I was with…” Faye started, and then she looked up at Red.
“She was with me in my tent.” Red said, “She left just before she found the body. It had to be one of you.”
Red instructed Shuo to take some nearby rope and bind the other two men. Shuo obeyed, and then Red bound Shuo with rope as well and ordered the men to sit on the floor. Red inspected the tent.
“Is anything missing, Faye?” Red asked.
“Not that I can tell.” She said, “But they knocked over my dad’s desk, his bed, and all his papers have been thrown about.
“Let's set it straight. It may give us some clues.” Said Red.
The two of them began to sort through the mess. Red sat all the furniture upright, and Faye began sorting papers. They found nothing in the way of a clue, but Faye did recover her father's journal, numerous maps and schematics, and his Tobacco pipe from the floor.
Faye wept at seeing the pipe. She rubbed her thumb over the briarwood bowl, smelled it, and sat it on the desk. She then rummaged through several of his notes, bills, and other documents that had been tossed about the tent.
“Nothing is missing.” She said, “The mess must have been the result of a struggle.”
“I don’t see any blood.” Said Red, “Not even a drop. I need to take a look at the body, check for bruises, signs of trauma.”
Faye nodded in agreement, trying not to look at the body, and began to rummage through more of his belongings. She folded his coat, and his bedding, and then noticed something tucked away behind a wooden crate. A leather satchel.
She tried lifting the satchel and was surprised by its weight. Heaving it onto the bed, she opened the satchel and gasped. Her eyes went wide in amazement.
“Red.” She called.
Red had just knelt to inspect the body, but he came to her after hearing the tone in her voice. He looked over her shoulder and furrowed his brow. Strands of black hair hung over his forehead, and he squinted in the lamplight.
“I don’t remember this being among the cargo.” Red said.
“Neither do I.” Said Faye.
“I wonder if this is why he was killed.” Said Red.
“Wouldn’t they have taken it?” asked Faye.
“Mr. Houston,” Said Shuo “What have you found?”
Red reached his hand into the satchel and held up a shining gold coin. The men's jaws dropped. Red dropped it into the satchel.
“How many are there?” asked Red.
“Maybe hundreds.” Said Faye, stunned.
“Shuo, come over here.” Called Red.
Shuo stood to his feet, his hands still bound, and made his way across the tent. He looked down through his spectacles and was amazed at the treasure.
“This was not on the manifest.” Shuo said, “I do not remember Dr. Denver having this among his possessions.”
Faye grazed the coins with her fingertips. She tilted her head in curiosity. Looking around the tent she remembered her father's journal was resting on the desktop. She picked it up and began flipping the pages.
“What are you doing, Faye?” asked Red.
“My father kept morning and evening entries in his log.” She responded, “I wonder if he wrote anything about these coins.”
Red rubbed his neck and looked about the tent. He then looked over toward the men sitting on the floor with puzzled looks on their faces.
“Shuo, I am going to untie you.” Said Red, “We are going to search the tent, and see if there is anything else that shouldn’t be here. If you try anything, just remember I never miss a shot.”
“Mr. Houston,” said Shuo, “Shooting me will not be necessary. I will cooperate. I am curious about the coins as well.”
“Good.” Said Red, “I wouldn’t want to waste a bullet.”
The two men began to overturn the room. Red opened up the wooden crate and began looking through books and archeology tools. Shuo found the professor's backpack and retrieved a few dusty artifacts and pieces of pottery.
“We dug these out of the sand yesterday.” Said Shuo, “The professor said they were not what he was looking for, but he would keep them for research.”
Red looked at the artifacts. “He told me we came to Niya for research. He didn’t mention that he was looking for anything at all.”
“That’s what he told me, too.” Said Faye, “This is why he insisted on such a small crew. He said he didn’t expect to perform a full excavation.”
Red turned to Shuo, “What did Dr. Denver say he was looking for?”
“He did not say,” replied Shuo, “only that he wanted to find something special. I never thought to mention it. Why would he keep that from us?”
Red shook his head, “He told me I was here for security. I expected a bigger team, but when I saw such a small crew I was confused. This does not make sense.”
Red looked all over the tent and found nothing else of interest. He returned to Dr. Denver’s body and examined it.
“There are no wounds.” He said, “No cuts, scrapes, or bruises. He was not strangled, bludgeoned, or shot. Still, the room was wrecked. This doesn’t add up.”
Shuo picked up a bottle of brandy stashed away beneath the bed. He uncorked it and sniffed, “Maybe he was poisoned?”
“Maybe,” said Red, “But he doesn’t smell like he's been drinking. His expression is one of terror. Whoever killed him, he saw it coming.”
“His body is already stiff.” Observed Shuo.
One of the workers began to shout, stretching his hands out in front of him and making a hopping motion. The other worker responded, and the two men began to shout at Shuo, urgently.
“What are they yapping about?” asked Red.
“A Chinese superstition.” Replied Shuo, who then began to speak to the two men. They became more and more animated. The two workers argued back and forth with Shuo before he finally approached them and shouted something in Mandarin. The two men ducked their heads, whispering to one another.
“Shuo?” asked Red.
“I am sorry, Mr. Houston.” Shuo said, “These two are like children, believing in ghost stories. Many people in China are superstitious.”
“What kind of superstition?” asked Red.
“One that dates back to the Qing dynasty. It concerns a man who would not die.” Shuo repeated.
“A ghost story? Hogwash.” Said Red, “I have heard tall tales in America, but you Chinese have as many legends as you do rice paddies.”
“I found something here.” Faye said. Her brown eyes filled with tears. Sticking a finger in her father's journal, she continued, “It isn't good.”
“Well, let's hear it.” Said Red.
Faye’s lip quivered and her dainty nose crinkled. She looked down at Dr. Denver's body and burst into sobs. Shuo folded his hands and bowed his head in respect and Red looked over to Dr. Denver’s body, only just realizing that Faye could not stand the sight of it. He took a sheet from the bed and covered Dr. Denver. He came and sat on the bed next to Faye and put his arm around her, his rifle resting over his knee.
“I am sorry.” Faye said, “I just can’t stand seeing him like that.”
“I know. I know.” Said Red, “Take a breath.”
Faye composed herself. She dried her tears, “It isn’t just that. What I just read is terrible. Dad wrote months ago that he wanted to come to the ruins of Niya. He said there was something out here that could change the course of history, change the human experience.”
“What was he looking for?” asked Red.
“He did not say, not yet. But he was not honest with us about why he brought us to Niya. He writes that he wanted security, which is you, Red. He said he needed me here to be his research assistant, and he would need a translator and two men.”
“To dig up an artifact?” asked Red.
“No. He did not bring us here to dig. That was just a ruse.”
“Then what for?”
“To die.” Faye said, “Whatever he was looking for was meant to kill them.”
Red furrowed his brow and put both hands on his rifle, “Some conspiracy? A strange animal? What was meant to kill them?”
“He hasn’t said yet.” Faye replied, “But he did not plan to pay us. None of us.”
“No pay?” asked Shuo, “No Pay!”
Faye shook her head and hid her eyes.
“Dr. Denver led us across the globe and into the desert to die?” Red asked, “If he was not going to pay us, then what were the coins for?”
“I do not know yet.” Said Faye.
Shuo was trembling with anger, “This is dishonorable. Your father has deceived us, Ms. Denver. And Mr. Houston, You hold us at gunpoint and accuse us of murder?”
“I did not know, Shuo.” Said Red, “Besides, Dr. Denver is dead and we are alive. Maybe one of you knew about his scheme.”
“We knew nothing!” shouted Shuo.
Red stood and held the rifle near his hip. He locked eyes with Shuo and the two stood watching each other.
“Go explain it to your men.” Said Red.
Shuo took a deep breath, removed his spectacles, and cleaned them on his shirt. He shook his head in disgust. “I do not know why Dr. Denver lied to us. I do not understand why you have threatened us with violence. But I made an agreement. I am a man of honor, and I will fulfill my contract. Mr. Houston, you also have a contract to fulfill, to keep us safe. I wonder, if you had been doing your job instead of enjoying Ms. Denver’s company if Dr. Denver would still be alive.”
Shuo went to his men. Red looked to Faye, who was trembling, afraid.
“Shuo is right.” Red said, “I agreed to keep you all safe and so far I failed.”
“You could not have known, Red.” Said Faye.
Red looked over at Shuo and the workers, who reacted with shouts of anger at what Shuo had to tell them. Shuo shook his head as one of the men gestured at Red and Faye as if they had known what Dr. Denver had been planning. Red began to pace a bit.
“One of them had to know.” Red whispered to Faye, “We are the only people here for miles.”
“Why would they have killed Dad and then stuck around?” asked Faye.
“Maybe they wanted to kill us.” Said Red, “Maybe they knew about the coins and decided to kill us all and leave us in the desert?”
Faye shook her head, “But how did they kill him? How could they have known about the coins when even Shuo did not know?”
Red scratched his head. The mystery was beyond him, and none of this made any sense. He had known Dr. Denver and Faye for years and had never known Dr. Denver to be a dishonest man. He took a breath.
“I never imagined that your dad would have set us up like this.” He said, “Whatever he was looking for, he knew it could kill us. He risked our lives without our consent.”
“He brought you along,” said Faye, “He expected you to keep us safe.”
“Maybe just himself.” Red said, “He put you in danger too. His own daughter. Why would he even invite you out here if he wanted you safe?”
“Archeology is never safe. Especially for a woman. I knew the risks.”
“But did you expect your dad to willingly put you in harm’s way?”
“I always traveled with Dad. Besides, if he expected all of us to die why didn’t he just bring his own gun?”
“He also did not plan to pay me.” Red said, “And instead of a gun, he brought treasure into the desert. This is all so backward.”
Shuo stood and began shouting at the workers. He folded his arms and returned to Red and Faye.
“These men are foolish.” Said Shuo, “Going on and on with their folk tales.”
“They still think it was a ghost?” asked Red.
“Not exactly,” said Shuo, “But they insist that you and Ms. Denver are not trustworthy.”
“Easy to see why, given that Dr. Denver lied to us.” Said Red.
“Shuo, tell me more about this superstition.” Said Faye, who was looking intently at the pages of her father’s journal.
“There is no reason to discuss fairytales.” Said Red.
“I must agree.” Said Shuo, “We must remain vigilant, keep watch. Dr. Denver’s killer is still unkown.”
“Shuo!” Faye said, “Tell me more about this superstition.”
Shuo blinked. He peered at Faye through his spectacles.
“Ms. Denver, why?”
“Because it sounds an awful lot like something Dad wrote in his journal.”
Shuo and Red exchanged suspicious glances.
“What did he write in his journal?” asked Red.
“Something about a creature.” Said Faye, “He called it a… I hope I am pronouncing this correctly, Jiangshi?”
“Jiangshi!” Shouted one of the workers, “Jiangshi!”
Shuo immediately began shouting at the man in Mandarin, but it was no use. The man stood, hands bound, and ran out of the tent and into the night. The other worker looked at Shuo and Red and decided to sit still. Shuo began to leave the tent to pursue, but Red stopped him.
“He cannot go far.” Said Red, “If he does escape, he will die in the desert. If not, he will come back when he finds his nerve.”
“But he is afraid, Mr. Houston.” Said Shuo.
“He could have stayed here where it was safe. He chose to run away when he wasn’t in danger. Cowards always run, even if they aren’t being chased.”
Red and Shuo turned their attention back to Faye.
“Dad writes that he first heard of the creature 20 years ago after they did the first excavation of Niya. That there were rumors that something supernatural had been unearthed. He thought nothing of it until he received a letter from a colleague, an expert on the occult and the paranormal. He says that the reports of supernatural occurrences in Niya were true. It seems that Dad believed him.”
Red let out a laugh, “So, Dr. Denver lost his mind, eh?”
“I do not mean any disrespect,” said Shuo, “But Jianshi is just a story. Dr. Denver could not have truly believed it.”
“He wrote it right here.” Faye said, “He must have believed in it enough to have brought us all to the Taklamakan Desert. Shuo, What is a Jiangshi?”
Shuo sighed. He gave Red and Faye a pensive look. He pulled over a nearby chair and took a seat.
“In China, there are many legends. The Jiangshi is a person who died without honor. He was murdered, or perhaps he killed himself or suffered a horrible fate. As a result, his spirit refuses to leave his body. He returns to life, but he is no longer as he was. Now he is a creature of darkness who hides from daylight. The Jianshi feeds on the living, stealing their life force.”
“This is nonsense.” Said Red.
“Red, please.” Said Faye, “Go on, Shuo.”
“There is more than I could tell you in one sitting.” Said Shuo, “But Ms. Denver, these are what you Americans call bedtime stories. Designed to frighten and amuse children. It is not possible.”
A shriek was heard outside the tent. Red, Faye, Shou, and the worker all jolted at the violence of the scream. Red grabbed his rifle and aimed at the tent’s opening.
“Faye, take the satchel of coins.” He said, “Whoever the killer is, they are after it.”
He then burst through the door and into the desert. A pink hue was on the horizon, dawn was near. Laying on the sand was the corpse of the workman who had fled the tent, and kneeling beside him was the shape of a man. Red aimed his rifle.
“Stand up!” he shouted, but the man did not reply.
Shou emerged from the tent, followed by Faye and the other workman, still bound at the wrists. They all stopped in their tracks, shocked at the sight of another man in the desert.
“Shuo, Tell him to stand up.” Said Red.
Shou spoke to the man who moved in frail, jerking motions. He produced odd creaking sounds as he stood up, slowly. Finally, standing straight, the mand stood motionless and stared back at the crew. Faye opened the tent flap and retrieved a lamp from within.
Now revealed in the light was a man dressed in traditional Chinese clothes. His face was pale and gaunt, and his skin was cracked. His eyes were opened wide, and he had a fearsome expression on his face. He hissed through his teeth and glared at Red.
“Jiangshi!” cried the workman, who stepped back in fear.
“I don’t believe it.” Said Shuo.
“Neither do I.” Said Red, who pulled the trigger and shot the man between the eyes. The man’s head snapped back. He staggered for a moment and then fell to the ground.
“Like I said before,” said Red, “I never miss. I guess that solves the case of Dr. Denver’s murder.”
Red turned to look at Faye, and then he heard a creaking sound. Faye, Shuo, and the worker all began to stammer as they watched the thing stand once again to its feet.
“What in the name of God?” Red asked.
Faye let out a piercing scream. Shou stood motionless and the worker began to cry out.
“Jiangshi!” cried the worker.
“I don’t believe it!” yelled Red, who fired another round into the man, this time into his gut. It staggered a bit and straightened itself out.
“No blood!” said Shuo.
The Jiangshi sprang into the air with incredible speed. It flew across the sand and tackled the worker, whose hands were bound. He fought and struggled, but soon the Jiangshi had caught his eyes. The man fell into a trance-like state and both his and the Jiangshi’s eyes began to glow. He opened his mouth wide, a look of horror on his face.
A shot rang out. Red caught the creature in the side of his head and he fell over into the sand. Shuo ran forward to grab the man and drag him to safety. He was groaning, in pain, but otherwise unharmed. Red stepped around the thing, inspecting it.
“Bullets will not work, Mr. Houston.” Called Shuo.
“Bullets always work!” Red responded.
The thing began to move again, letting out the same creaking noises as before. As it stood, Red attempted to bludgeon it with the butt of his rifle. It hardly responded, and continued to stand on its feet.
“Red, get out of there!” called Faye, “It will kill you!”
Red took a step back, his eyes set on the creature. It stood and looked at Red, hissing through its teeth. Then it sprang once more through the air and landed right in front of Red. It grabbed Red’s arm with an iron grip and tried to pull him to the ground. Red managed to fire another shot through the chest of the creature, which caused the creature to release him.
Red ran away from the creature but looked over his shoulder in time to see the thing hurtling through the air. It went over Red’s head and landed in the sand right in front of him. Red responded by ramming the barrel of the gun into the creature’s belly and then stepping further away.
“Red!” Fayes shouted, “We have to help him, Shuo!”
Shuo was slapping the cheek of the worker, trying to make him alert. He looked up to see the creature leap toward Red, who ducked and rolled out of the way. The Jiangshi landed on one of the tents, knocking it to the ground. Red regained his footing.
“I am not sure what we can do, Ms. Denver.” Shuo said, “This is beyond any of our understanding.”
“Do your legends describe how to kill it?” Faye asked.
“Many ways,” said Shuo, “But it is hard to know which one is true.”
The creature crawled out from the wreckage of the tent and stood once more on its feet. Red fired yet another round at the thing, again it merely stammered and remained unaffected. It sprang toward Red and knocked the rifle from his hands. Red retaliated by unleashing a flurry of punches on the Jiangshi’s chin.
“Shuo!” cried Faye.
“Most of the legends I know say the sun will kill it.” Shuo responded, “But the sun is only just beginning to rise. I am afraid it will finish us before dawn.”
Faye was breathing quickly. She watched Red deliver one punch after the next on the Jiangshi, who was unbothered by the attacks. Faye looked on without hope until she saw Red’s Winchester rifle lying on the sand. She felt her instinct for survival flare up within her.
“If we’re going to die, it won’t be without a fight.” She said and then took off across the sand. She picked up the Winchester and hurled it through the air and into Red’s hands. He chambered a round, aimed, and fired once more. The creature stumbled backward and fell on its rump. Red approached it and set the barrel directly between its eyes.
“Let’s see if I can split that ugly head of yours.”
He fired the gun and the Jiangshi fell backward, where it lay perfectly still for a moment. Then, its fingers twitched. Red went to beating the Jiangshi with his rifle but was soon out of breath. Faye took his arm and led him away from the Jiangshi.
“It won’t die.” He said.
“Shuo says the sun will kill it.” Faye responded.
“We won’t last that long, Faye.” Red said, “I will lead it out into the dunes. You, Shuo and the worker will run west. With any luck, I can at least distract it and buy you more time.”
Faye was about to speak when the Jiangshi fell out of the air and tackled her. She screamed, and Red grabbed the Jiangshi and pulled with all his might. It was no use, he was too tired and the Jiangshi would not let go. Faye fought back with everything she had, but it was no use.
During the struggle, her father’s satchel fell open. Gold coins spilled out into the sand, and the Jiangshi came to a halt. He released Fay and picked up the coins. Red saw what was happening and grabbed the satchel. He tossed it into the air, spilling out hundreds of coins onto the desert floor.
The Jiangshi was fixated on the coins. He slowly counted each and every one, carrying them one at a time to the satchel. The four people stood perplexed, watching this play out. Shuo peered through his spectacles.
“Maybe this is why the Dr. Brought the satchel?” he said, “Maybe he had heard that the Jiangshi is distracted by shining coins?”
“It could be.” Said Faye.
“I still can’t believe this.” Red said, “A ghost story that’s true.”
The Jiangshi was almost done picking up the coins when the sun appeared on the horizon. A golden sheet of light reached over the dunes and pushed back the darkness. The Jiangshi froze in the light. He hissed and lept forward into the sand, attempting to dig a hole.
“No sir!” Red cried, “I did not waste my bullets to watch you live.”
He ran over and grabbed the Jiangshi by the legs. He heaved it backward across the sand and into the sunlight. It shrieked as the sun met its eyes, and began to writhe, kick, and flail. He became reflective like a mirror, light bouncing off of him in all directions. Then, he cracked open like an egg and fell apart, ashes drifting away in the wind.
The Jiangshi was gone. Faye stood speechless. She dropped to her knees and sat in the sand, admiring the sunrise. Her thoughts turned to her father.
“Who will believe this?” she asked, “That Dad discovered proof of life after death?”
“We do not even have the evidence of it.” Said Shuo, “But we have two dead bodies. How do we explain that?”
“Easy,” Red said, “Your father was murdered, and we killed his killer. No one needs to know the details.”
Shuo explained everything Red said to the worker, who had regained his senses. Faye looked toward the sunrise and nodded in agreement.
“I supposed people will accept that a bit better than the truth.” She said.
“But we have nothing to show for our expedition.” Shuo said.
“What are you talking about, Shuo?” Red said, picking up the satchel of coins, “We got paid after all. We are rich beyond our wildest dreams!”
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