More oohs of delight as several of the kids with pails raced over to the lake to fill them up.
“How did you get water with the kappa in the lake?” Kira asked.
“We have a well in our village, but sometimes it runs dry or tastes too muddy,” the first little girl said. “Then we come down to the lake in groups and half of us tease and bait the monster, while the other half get water.”
“Weren’t you ever scared?” Kira asked.
“As long as you aren’t alone, it’s pretty safe,” the little girl said. “And the monster doesn’t like noise or dogs.”
Kira looked at them in approval. “You kids are smart.”
“Who are you anyway?” the little girl asked.
“I am Kang Kira, from Hansong,” Kira replied. “That big boy over there is Kim Jaewon from the Kaya kingdom. What’s your name?”
“Lee Gina. Your hair is so short. Are you a girl or boy?” she continued.
“I’m a warrior,” Kira answered with slow and deliberate intent.
“Your eyes are strange. Why are they yellow?”
“They let me see demons.”
“What do demons look like?”
“Ugly. And they smell real bad.”
“Kind of like Chul,” one of the boys in the back yelled out.
The kids laughed, as the boy who must be Chul protested vehemently.
“Why are you here on Jindo?”
“I’m looking for my young cousin. He’s on the island and I have to find him soon.”
“How old is he?”
“Almost thirteen.”
“Why’s your hair so short?”
“I had to give it as an offering to the River God’s daughters, in order to ride their underwater boat.”
All the children oohed in delight. They clapped their hands and edged closer to Kira, causing her to step back in alarm. She was not used to the undivided attention of little children who seemed determined to touch her for some strange reason. She glared at Jaewon, who wasn’t even trying to hide his amusement.
Gina suddenly smiled and ran forward, pushing both the kids and the dogs out of the way.
“Wow! You are awesome!” Gina said. Clutching Kira’s hand, she started leading her away. “You must come to our village!”
Kira balked. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said. The children protested and tried to persuade them to come. They all began yelling louder and louder. The excitable dogs barked and howled in encouragement. The ruckus was becoming unbearable. She sent a beseeching look at Jaewon, who was grinning broadly at her predicament.
“Children! As much as we’d love to come to your village, we are trying to avoid being seen by the Yamato,” he said. “It wouldn’t be safe to go with you.”
“But there are no Yamato in our village,” Gina said. “They only stay in the coastal villages.”
“That’s not true,” Kira said. “We came across a Yamato patrol about twenty li from here.”
“Yes, but we are too close to the temple,” Gina said. “The Yamato are really superstitious and scared of the Tiger’s Nest monks. They won’t come this far in.”
At her words all the kids shivered, looking around them nervously.
“Gina, don’t talk about them. What if they hear and come for us?” a little boy said, his voice frightened.
“I’m not afraid,” Gina said, still casting a wary eye about her.
“Are the monks scary?” Kira asked.
One little boy came up close, tugging at her jacket. “So scary,” he said in a hushed voice. “They ride tigers and kidnap children and eat people!”
“They ride tigers?” Kira was surprised. “I wonder how they do that. I would love to ride a tiger.”
“Didn’t you hear the part about kidnapping and eating people?” Gina asked in exasperation.
“Oh yeah,” Kira said, looking very serious. “That’s definitely bad stuff.”
The little boy tugged on her jacket again. “They’ve got tigers’ teeth and claws and they hunt at night. They like to kidnap the naughty kids because they taste better. But first they shave off all their hair and fatten them up by making them eat only chicken anuses and grubs!”
“Hey, Chul likes eating chicken anuses! Maybe the monks will take him!” a boy yelled out, causing gales of laughter and angry cursing from Chul.
Kira bit the inside of her mouth, trying not to laugh.
“So you must come with us to our village,” Gina interrupted. “It’s not safe for you out here.”
Jaewon turned to Kira and arched an eyebrow.
“Might as well go,” he said. “It’s not like they’re going to keep us a secret. And maybe they can help. Besides, I bet they have rice.”