"Remember Hunter you must dunk the vessel in water from the very heart of the ocean it will help you on your journey" the old Witch Doctor said as he handed me an old glass bottle with metal reinforcements right before I hopped on the steam ship to leave for the United States
"Your name and ticket sir" the ticket master says as I get to the bottom of the gangplank
I answer him " Kian Vos" as I hand him my ticket and adjust the bandages covering my left eye to be more comfortable
The ticket master stamps my ticket and says "I apologize in advance sir but you will be sharing your cabin with another gentleman for the trip a wealthy oriental fellow if that isn't an issue"
"Not really as long as we get to the United States at some point "
"Well that's good to hear no one else wanted to bunk with the chinaman so now we don't have to move either of you "
"So which cabin will I be staying in for the trip"
"You will be staying in cabin 4 enjoy your trip sir"
I nod to the ticket master and make up the gangplank and find my cabin where I see that there is another man in the cabin putting his trunk at the foot of his bunk who looks up and says "Ni Hao Sir I am Yuan Ming you may call me Ming if you like"
Before I answer back I notice that Ming is a short bald man with a monkey tattoo on his neck and a nice black silk shirt with open sleeves and after I finish looking at him I say "Hallo friend you can call me Kian "
"So if you don't mind me asking why are you going to the United States friend "
"I need to see a doctor for my eye and try to find work how about you Ming"
"Im trying to get into America to find my family and peddle my wares"
"What is it you sell my good man"
"Knives and blades of varying type all made with my own two hands" he says as he opens his trunk to show an assortment of knives, daggers, and even a short sword "see anything you like my African friend "
"Well I would be lying if I said I didn't like this one " I say as i point to a long bladed dagger with a curved edge and handles made of some kind of polished bone
"OH that's a nice choice those are butterfly swords used by my countrymen against the British in the Opium wars " Ming says as he picks it up and pulls two blades from the scabbard and holds one in each hand to show me the blades which have some kind of animal expertly etched on them
"What kind of animal is that it looks like a unicorn"
"Ah yes I've heard that before it is actually a Qilin a being of pure good that protects the innocent and punishes the wicked , if you like I could teach you to use those so you can use them properly in a fight"
"Sounds good to me how much for the knives and training " I say as I pull out some gold
"The knives and training are free but I will come to ask you for 3 favors in the near future and if this arrangement works for you I will also throw in some hand fighting training as well"
I nod my assent and Ming leaps across the room and places his right thumb on my forehead and his left thumb on my chest send a strange sensation crawling to my limbs and right as it hits my head I lose consciousness
I awaken later to one of the crewmen on ship shaking me awake and as he see my eyes open he say in a thick accent "Oi you alright mate looks like you took a nasty knock on ya noggin" he offers me his right hand and helps me to my feet "Alright steady as she goes mate let's git you some grub eh" he says as he leads me to the dining room on the ship where he introduces himself as Colin and if I need anything just shout for him
After Colin leaves I tell the waiter to get me a Filet mignon and his recommendation for a wine and some ice for my head
After eating my food I go back to my cabin and rest after having the ships doctor take a look at my head