Read Online Moon Princess by Barbara Laban - Free Book Online Page B

this mood, she felt very alone. ‘Or don’t you care about your brother?’ she threw at him in frustration.
    But this time, Feng didn’t argue. He breathed out heavily and fell silent.
    â€˜Feng, what is it?’ said Sienna, softening her voice. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.’
    â€˜The temple … it’s the place where Gege disappeared,’ he said. He spoke very quietly now, his eyes filling with tears as he glanced up at Sienna and back at floor, as if ashamed. ‘I know we should go but … bad things must be happening there. I’m afraid.’ Feng swallowed. ‘I can’t go. I’m too scared of what might happen. Pleasedon’t tell Zou.’
    Suddenly Sienna understood and her anger evaporated. She sat down beside Feng on the floor and took his hand. At that moment, Zou came down the stairs.
    â€˜Why are you both looking so sad?’ he said. ‘Shouldn’t you be on your way to the temple?’
    Feng opened his mouth to reply, but Sienna spoke instead. ‘I’ve decided to go on my own,’ she said. ‘Only … I don’t know the way.’ She blushed, feeling a little foolish, but Feng glanced across at her gratefully.
    Zou’s eyes passed from Sienna to Feng and back again. ‘Very well,’ he said slowly. Somehow, he appeared to understand. ‘Why not take Bai tuzi? He knows how to get there. He knows a surprising amount of things! And he can help you if you need to ask questions.’
    Zou took the white hare on to his arm and stroked him affectionately. Sienna saw sparkly dust rise from the hare’s fur into the air, and she glanced at Feng’s glum expression. He was probably feeling guilty. She would be sorry to go without him, but she had to go to the temple.
    â€˜Thank you,’ she said to Zou, standing up. Baituzi hopped towards her, and she reached a hand out to stroke the animal’s soft ears. Then she quickly got changed into her travelling clothes, hiding her blonde hair carefully under the headscarf.
    The white hare and Zou nodded to each other, then Bai tuzi jumped on to Sienna’s shoulder.
    â€˜That tickles,’ she laughed, as the hare gently rubbed his nose against her ear. She waved goodbye to Feng, who was slumped in his seat, and went downstairs with Zou.
    Sienna was glad when they finally reached the temple. The man she’d sat next to on the rickety bus had stared at her for the entire journey. Finally he started to bombard her with all sorts of questions, but luckily, with Bai tuzi by her side, she was able to answer. Eventually the bus driver called out the name of her stop and she jumped off, relieved.
    The air was hot and dry, yet when she spotted the temple on a hill in the distance, a shiver ran down Sienna’s spine. So this was where Mum had spent so much time. And this was where shemight find out what happened to her. With a determined sigh, she began to climb the rocky hill.
    She first spotted the pagoda of the temple. Several groups of people were gathered around with their tour guides, who held umbrellas up in the air. Making her way past the pagoda and the tourists, Sienna came to an inner courtyard. At its centre, an old well was sunk into the ground, surrounded by a crooked stone wall. A miniature pagoda protected it from the elements. Behind her was a hall with steps leading up to its entrance. The hall doors and windows were latticed with wooden carvings, and up on the roof Sienna could make out two red dragon statues. She stood still, studying the statues.
    â€˜Can I help you?’ a voice behind her suddenly asked. Startled, Sienna whipped round. In front of her stood a young man wearing a yellow-brown robe. He was Chinese, but he had addressed Sienna in English. He eyed Sienna searchingly through his silver-coloured glasses.
    â€˜No … um …’ she stammered. ‘I’m just looking around.’
    The monk