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Tasha
GIRLS OF VIRTUE SERIES #4

A SERIAL NOVEL

by Danita Evangeline Whyte

Hey! What's up guys?

I hope your life is fantastic. I can assure you that mine
is; but before we go any further, let me introduce myself. My
name is Tasha Lu Solara. I am fourteen-years-old and I live
in Hacienda Heights near Los Angeles. Yep, I'm a Cali girl
through and through.
Here are a few things you should know about me that
most of my friends know about me: First, I love dance. Once,
I won a team ballet championship in New York City and went
on a world tour. I also love drama. I'm theater queen at my
high school, and star of the popular web-series turned TV
show, Code-Girl. Finally, I love fashion, and can hardly go
anywhere without my chic Forever 21 pairings and Boho
beads. Another thing you should know about me that almost
no one knows about me is that I love to code. HTML, CSS,
jQuery, PHP, Javascript the whole nine yards. Whenever I
tell someone this, I always get that annoying yeah right
look. To all those skeptics, I just say beauty plus brains make
for one lethal combination. But the most important thing you
should know about me is that I am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I accepted Christ into my heart when I was ten-years-old
after my ballet teacher invited me to her church. Ever since
that day I have had God's peace and joy, the hope of Heaven
to look forward to, and I have never been without a friend.
Even though most of my family members were either
atheist or Buddhist, I didn't tell them about Jesus for a long
time. Partly because I didn't know I was supposed to tell and

partly because I didn't know exactly how to tell. It wasn't

until I joined the ZOEgivers student club and ended up on a
trip involving murdered missionaries, a white tiger
prophecy, and an ancient sect of the Ming Dynasty, that my
perspective about talking to others about my faith changed.
Now I'm all about that go ye into all the world thing.
The truth of the Gospel is incredible! So incredible that the
whole world needs to hear about it. I hope my story shows
you why I'm as pumped as I am now about spreading God's
love.
Peace!
- Tasha

chapter one: just a dream

Somewhere in the Himalayas, a full moon sailed over a
tangled forest. Deep in the thick, damp undergrowth, Tasha
stood. Her eyes were wide open, straining to see through the
darkness of the trees. Her ears were alert to any sudden
movements. Her body tense in case she had to start running
again. She was sure her rapidly beating heart would burst out
of her chest any moment now.
Tasha was hungry, scared, and tired. She didn't know
how she had arrived in the forest. She didn't know how long
she had been there, but Tasha knew she had to get out. The
forest was full of white tigers. They had been stalking her for
what seemed like hours and now they were closing in for the
kill. Leaves rustled behind her. She spun around. It was only
a bird settling in for the night. A twig cracked. A low hanging
branch was pushed aside, and Tasha saw the shadow of a
tiger pass in front of her. The animal let out a menacing hiss.
The tiger was so close she could reach out and touch it
if she wanted. But Tasha didn't want to. She took a step
backwards, brushing against wet vines and setting off a fresh
rustle in the leaves. The tiger snapped its head towards her
and growled.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Tasha screamed as she
caught sight of sharp teethfangs. She turned away and
started running through the tangled forest again. Dark green
leaves and dark brown branches rushed past her as she ran.

Their sharp points scratched her cheeks and yanked her hair.
Once, she stumbled and fell, somersaulting into a patch of
gooey mud, but was back on her feet within seconds. A flash
of white whizzed past in the foliage to her right. Then
another, and another.
Tasha could feel drafts of fresh air cutting through the
muggy forest air. She guessed that she was near the end of
the forest and the tigers were running ahead to keep her
from escaping. One of them leaped over her head and landed
with a soft thump a few feet in front of her. Tasha slid to a
stop. The animal was huge; but unlike the other tigers its
movement was unnatural. It had no tail. Its front paws
appeared to be thick human knuckles with fingernails as
sharp as knives. Its shoulder and neck muscles bulged. Its
silver white hair was matted in some places and shaggy in
others. Dark eyes gleamed from under heavy black brows.
Shape-shifter, Tasha thought.
The huge tiger-creature paced the ground. It hissed and
growled low before letting out a loud roar. The entire forest
echoed as other tigers answered with roars of their own.
Tasha shivered. Then to her great horror, the huge tigeranimal reared up on its back legs and lunged straight at her
head. She let out a frightened scream that sent ripples
through the water in the glass fish tank on her bookshelf and
made her sit straight up in bed.

Fourteen-year-old Tasha Lu Solara took short, deep

breaths to calm herself. She wasn't in a forest after all. She

was safe in her own yellow-and-green-themed bedroom with

rose pink dcor. Disco ball lights hung from the ceiling. Her
walls were nearly covered with certificates she had earned
from Codecademy, posters of her favorite artists Charice
and the Backstreet Boys and her favorite quotes from the
infamous hacker group, Anonymous.
Tasha threw back her sheets. She jumped out of bed
and tiptoed across the rugs to her window where light from
the full moon made a silver patch on the floor. She pulled
down the blinds and closed the curtains. Just a dream,
Tasha whispered as she returned to her bed. Just a dream.

chapter two: state of unconsciousness

Morning, Tasha's uncle, Eric Solara, greeted her as
she descended the spiral staircase into the kitchen the next
morning. Did you have a good night? I thought I heard you
scream.
Yep, that was me, Tasha answered. She set her book
bag on the floor and took a seat at the marble island counter,
still pulling a comb through her jet black hair. That
screamItyou heard woke me up from a bad dream.
Eric grinned. Was my birthday clown chasing you
again? he asked.
You still remember that? Tasha groaned. I was six
when I had that crazy dream; and, no, that clown wasn't after
me. It was a tiger this time.
Eric's right eyebrow went up until it was touching the
bottom of his slick black hair.bangs. You and your dreams,
he sighed. The electric toaster beeped. He took the two slices
of bread that popped up and put them on a plate that already
held bacon slices, hash potatoes, and a lemon seed cake.
Butter or jam? he asked Tasha.
Both, she answered, whipping her hair through the
white scrunchie she held until it formed a neat ponytail. She
heard her grandmother's voice in the hallway and left the
counter to say good morning.
Shortly after she was born, Tasha's parents had sent

her from China to live with her grandparents, Alfred Astor

and Shan Zhen Lu, in California. Her parents had simply
disappeared and no one heard from them or saw them again.
When she was two years old, the sister of Tasha's mother, Ru
Yi Lu Solara, and her husband, Eric Solara, had adopted her
as their own daughter. Tasha had lived with her aunt and
uncle ever since and considered them her parents.
Shan Zhen Lu had been a part of the 1989 Tiananmen
Square protests. After surviving the bloody massacre, she
won asylum in America and married American scientist,
Alfred Astor. Together they had twin daughters, Ru Yi and
Hai Rong. Unfortunately, when the twins were nineteen,
Alfred was involved in an experiment gone wrong that made
him comatose.
Tasha stepped out into the hall. Her grandmother was
on the phone. I would like to keep him on the ventilator for
now, Shan Zhen said into the receiver. And please continue
physical therapy. There was a pause. Thank you, Shan
Zhen finally said. She hung up the phone.
Was it grandfather again? Tasha asked softly.
Shan Zhen nodded. Yes, Alfred is still in a state of
unconsciousness. The doctors don't think he will ever come
out of it. They want me to consider switching off his life
support machine.
But that would kill him, Tasha said.
Shan Zhen rubbed the space between her eyes before
pushing her burgundy colored glasses up on her nose.
Tasha, its been seventeen years now, she replied. You

weren't even born when Alfred went into this coma. Even if
he were to regain consciousness, it is very unlikely that he
would make a complete recovery. I'm beginning to agree that
it is time to let him go. I also think it's time for me to get to
work and for you to head to school. She picked up her
leather handbag from the phone table and bent slightly to
kiss Tasha's forehead. I'll see you tonight.
Shan Zhen went through the side door to the garage.
Tasha watched from the front hall window as her gray haired
grandmother pulled out to make her daily thirty-minute
drive to Pasadena where she worked as a community college
professor. Tasha's aunt, Ru Yi, also was a history professor at
the same college. She had left an hour earlier for work.
Someone's breakfast is getting cold, Eric called from
the kitchen. Tasha hurried back to the counter. She picked
up the lemon seed cake first and stuffed half into her mouth.
Did you hear what Gramma is going to do? she asked.
Eric didn't look up from checking unread texts on his
iPhone. Not going to do, he said. Gramma said she was
thinking about taking Grampa off life support. She didn't say
she was going to do it.
Well, when people think about doing something, they
usually follow through and do it, Tasha replied. But you
won't let her. Will you?
Eric was silent. Dad, you won't let her? Tasha asked
again loudly. You won't, will you?
Tasha, I'm only Gramma's son-in-law. Alfred is her
husband, and if she feels it's time to take him off, then she

has the legal right to do so, Eric said. He frowned at his

phone screen. Why are you so concerned about someone
you've never met before anyway?
I've seen pictures of him, Tasha said. Besides, it just
seems wrong. It seems to me that ending his life support
would be like killing him. I mean, he's not dead now; but, he
isn't fully alive either. He's somewhere in between. Right?

Right, Eric agreed slowly. He gave a half shrug. I'm

just afraid it's not that simple to label. Comatose patients are
a really complicated subject. I met Alfred several times when
I was dating Ru Yi. He was a man with a brilliant mind,
extreme curiosity, and a deep thinker. So deep a thinker that
sometimes I think he thought too much. Eric chuckled.
Tasha smiled. He was always busy on some scientific
project, Eric continued. There is a part of me that wants to
believe some light or switch is still on in his body, but I don't
know. Gramma deserves credit for holding on as long as she
has. I think she's slightly afraid of what might happen if he
suddenly does wake up.
What might happen? Tasha asked.
He might not remember her, Eric answered. And
that would devastate her.
A sharp car horn sounded outside. There's my ride,
Tasha said. She hurriedly ate her second slice of toast, stood
up from the counter, and swung her book bag over her
shoulder. See you after school?

Sure thing, Eric answered. Then he snapped his

fingers. No sure thing, he quickly said. Almost forgot I
have a nine o'clock flight to Las Vegas for DEFCON. I
probably won't be back until next week.
The car horn honked again. Tasha headed for the hall
and the front door. Whatever, she called back to him. See
you whenever, then. Bring me back some notes.
Sure thing, Eric said. Sure thing.

chapter three: ain't what it used to be

Due to the fact that their jobs as college professors
required them to leave early on weekdays and Eric's job as a
game developer often had him at conventions and expos on
any given day, Tasha's grandmother and aunt had hired a
chauffeur to drive her to school and the other places she had
to go. Even though she looked forward to the day when she
would be granted her license, Tasha enjoyed being driven
around.
Anywhere special? Al Grace asked as she slid into the
passenger seat of the black BMW. He wore shades even
though the sun was not up yet.
Just school, Tasha answered. I think we can skip the
donut shop today.
Al smiled. To school it is, he said. Besides being
Tasha's chauffeur, Al Grace was a retired Los Angeles
Philharmonic violinist who still had a passion for good
music. He had tried unsuccessfully to teach Tasha the flute.
As they pulled out of the driveway of Tasha's taupe-colored,
two-story home, Al Grace kept turning the dial on the radio.
He drove down the quiet, tree-lined street of the Casablanca
Estates neighborhood toward the gated entrance that led to
the main road. Streaks of pink and orange were just
beginning to brighten the early morning sky.
Al switched the stations furiously. My goodness, he
sighed. Music these days just ain't what it used to be. I

should have brought my polka collection. One hasn't truly

lived until they've heard some live polka, danced to salsa,
and fallen asleep to Requiem Mass in D minor.
Mozart? Tasha guessed.
Exactly! Al Grace pumped one fist enthusiastically.
At least all my teaching hasn't gone to waste. I'll make a
proper music appreciator out of you yet. Sometimes, Tasha, I
wish it were the sixties all over again. That was the golden
decade of music and the Beatles were king at that time. You
could hardly go anywhere without feeling the beat in the
ground and rhythm in the air. Some real rock, too. Gritty
and genuine. The entire world was dancing. Funk. Jazz.
Moving to the sound of rhythm and blues. Psychedelic. Folk.
Pop wasn't bad either. None of this auto-tuned dubstep stuff.
We had pure pop sunshine and bubblegum. And I haven't
even mentioned cha-cha-cha.
That sounds like some dog, Tasha said.
It's Cuban, actually.
Well, the sixties might have had golden music, but it
didn't have iTunes. Even you like iTunes, Al Grace.
Yeah, I like it now, Al Grace agreed. But we didn't
need it back then. We had records. He spread both hands
over the steering wheel. Some nearly as big as this. Albums
and forty-fives were the thing. We spun those discs all day
long, grooving to The Stories and Cream, the Mamas and the
Papas. But The Doors were my favorite. Their concert was
the first concert I went to. I got to go backstage and have my
poster signed. I still have that poster, hanging somewhere in

my basement. I also loved Joplin. She was a crazy girl who

could sing. I cried my eyes out when she died. Next for me
would be Creedence Clearwater Revival, Beach Boys, whoa-
Whoa? Tasha mimicked. Whoa was a band?
Al Grace pointed to the line of vehicles ahead of them
on the road. We shouldn't have such heavy traffic this
early, he said. Al Grace slowed down until the BMW
stopped behind a white Mazda. Some people were standing
on the road beside open car doors, straining to see what was
happening on a small bridge that stretched over a foggy
river.
Tasha rolled down her window to get a better look. Two
cars had pulled off the road and were parked one behind
each other. The first car was empty. A boy had climbed onto
the roof of the second car and was calling to a man holding
on to the other side of the bridge. Tasha strained to hear
what they were saying.
Sir, please think about all you have to live for, the boy
said.
I have nothing. My boss just fired me. My girlfriend is
in love with someone else, the man said. His head was
hanging. The fingers that clung to the iron railings were
white. Stop talking to me. I'm going to end it now.
The boy glanced down at his mother who was standing
beside the car. He turned back to the man. I'll stop talking
when you come down, he told him. Things are going to get
better for you. I know they will.

The man shook his head. No, no, he cried. No one

cares what happens to me --
I care what happens, the boy quickly replied. And
God cares. He loves you, sir.
God? the man questioned, a hint of disbelief in his
voice.
Yes, He said so right in His Book that He wrote for
you. The boy flipped through a red Bible he was holding.
Let's see...okay...right here. For God so loved...uh...for God
so loved Cody Carter that He gave His only begotten Son,
Jesus the Christ, that if Cody Carter believes in Him, he
won't perish, but will have everlasting life.
The man's head jerked up. He looked over his shoulder
at the boy on top of the car. How did you know my name?
I told you God wrote a Book just for you, didn't I? the
boy answered. He held out the Bible. Let's do this. Before
you jump, you read this entire Book. If you still think God
doesn't love and care about you when you finish, the bridge
will still be here.
The man hesitated. The boy waved the Bible towards
him. Okay, the man agreed. Hand over hand, foot over
foot, the man made his way carefully back to the road. The
people standing outside their cars started clapping to
encourage him. Tasha clapped too. When the man was safely
back over the bridge, the boy jumped down from the top of
the car and hugged him. He gave him the Bible.
Slowly, the cars started moving again. Tasha rolled up

her window. Al Grace got back inside the driver's seat and
stepped on the gas pedal. People these days, he sighed.
They ain't what they used to be either.

chapter four: cassius

Honey, do you want chicken nuggets? the platinum
blonde haired lunch lady asked loudly over the cafeteria din
at Hacienda High. Tasha had just finished history class and
was standing in line behind a girl wearing an outdated Lizzie
McGuire t-shirt.
I'm allergic to chicken products, the girl answered the
lunch lady.
Well, hamburgers and pizza are also on the menu, the
lunch lady said. You can have chicken nuggets, a
hamburger, or pizza. Which one?
I don't eat pork, so the pizza is out, the girl said. Do
your hamburgers have pickles?
Yes, the lunch lady said. She was getting impatient.
Tasha sighed. Why did she always get stuck behind the
I'm-allergic-to-everything girl at lunch? The boy behind her
seemed to think the same. Hey, let's cut, he whispered.
She's taking too long.
Tasha moved ahead of the I'm-allergic-to-everything
girl who shot both of them a dirty look. Tasha ordered pizza.
She turned to the boy behind her and recognized him
instantly. You were on the bridge this morning, she told
him.
A hamburger and pizza, please, the boy told the
second lunch lady. He gave Tasha a puzzled look. What

bridge?
The one that the man was about to jump off of, Tasha
replied. I would know your hair anywhere.
The boy put up a hand and touched the top of his seven
inch high afro. Thanks, he grinned. I'm Cassius.
Tasha, Tasha returned. How come I've never seen
you here before? She picked up her tray and quickly spotted
two of her friends sitting at a table by the windows. She
headed toward them.
Cassius grabbed his tray and followed her. It's a pretty
big school, he said in answer to her question. I still don't
know half my teachers names and I started last year.
Hey Mads! Hey Collette! Tasha greeted her friends.
Fifteen-year-old Madisons face was framed by strawberryblonde hair, and she had nose freckles. Fourteen-year-old
Collette wore her bangs unevenly and bleached; Polo Prep
frames covered her deep-set gray eyes. Mads meet Cassius;
Cassius, Mads, Tasha introduced them. Collette, Cassius;
Cassius, Collette. All three exchanged hellos. When they
were seated, Tasha told Madison and Collette about the
bridge incident.
Neat-o, Collette said when Tasha had finished. Wish
I had been there to see it.
Madison nodded. But you must have been nervous
guessing his name like that. Cody Carter does not sound like
a name that would be in the Bible.
Cassius stuffed his fries into the middle of his

hamburger. He put the top bun back on and took a bite.

Mustard smeared around his mouth. Well, it sorta is, he
said. John 3:16 says for God so loved the world. The world
includes Cody Carter, so it's a sensible substitute. And I
didn't guess. I saw his Wal-mart name tag.
Oh, Madison laughed. She tapped the stack of papers
he had set down with his black messenger bag. Do you
mind?
Cassius shook his head. No, I'm passing them out.
They're fliers for the new club I'm starting tomorrow. It's
called ZOEgivers. Zoe means life. It will be Hacienda High's
first faith club where students can come and discuss God and
pray together and stuff like that. So far there's me, Shannon,
Jamie, and Enrique.
I'll join, Tasha and Madison both said together.
Cool, sign here, Cassius said. He slid them one of the
fliers and looked at Collette.
I don't know, she shrugged. I'm already a member of
three clubs. Maybe later.
A shrill scream caused the four kids to jump. The
cafeteria noise was immediately silenced. Is that someone's
creepy grandpa? a voice called out. The eyes of Madison and
Collette, who sat facing the long window, widened. Cassius
and Tasha turned slowly around in their seats. On the other
side of the window stood a man. He was thin. His hands were
bony with nail-less fingers. His feet were bare. A knee-length
hospital gown blew around his legs. His face was gaunt. His
hair was graying and wild. His eyes wilder, and he was

staring straight at Tasha.

Cassius' mouth fell open. A pickle slipped out.
Ebenezer Scrooge? he whispered.

chapter five: weird and weirder

You are so not going to believe this! Tasha exclaimed
to Al Grace as they drove out of Hacienda High's parking lot
after school.
Al Grace squinted behind his shades and motioned for
her to continue.
We were having lunch in the cafeteria when this crazylooking old man suddenly appeared outside, Tasha said.
He wouldn't stop staring at me. He even tapped the window
glass and pointed right at me. Tasha jabbed a green
manicured thumb at her chest. Right at me, she repeated.
And then when the hall monitors went outside to ask what
he wanted, he kicked both of them and ran away. They
haven't found him yet.
Was he wearing a hospital gown? Al asked.
Either that or a lady's nightgown, Tasha answered. I
couldn't tell which.
I might have seen that same guy on my way to pick
you up just now. He was walking in and out of traffic.
Weird, Tasha sighed. This day has been weird.
Tasha told Al Grace about Cassius and his new club as they
drove to Strontium Studios where she filmed Code-Girl.
Strontium was owned by film producer, Walton K. Sakoda,
who had named the place after his home village of Strontian
in Scotland. After following Tasha's web-series on YouTube,

he had contacted her to see if she would be interested in

turning it into a television show. Of course, Tasha had
jumped at the chance. So, along with her long-time show
sidekick, Buddy Peace, the second week of production was
now underway for season one.
A vacant apartment building that stood on the grounds
of the Strontium Studios complex was being used to film
several television shows. The third floor was where Tasha
and the Code-Girl cast rehearsed, performed show runthroughs, filmed actual episodes, and met for brainstorming
parties. The Code-Girl floor featured colorful lighting, lots of
beanbag chairs and exercise balls, striped stairs, camera
equipment, arbitrary props, and a Broadway-themed cafe. It
even held a vintage subway car and a large replica of the
TRS-80 home computer. A secret room could be revealed by
tapping in the correct password to a hidden door made to
look like an iPhone.
Heeeeeeeere's Tasha! Buddy called, wheeling himself
down the hall in an office chair. His dark hair was spiked,
and acne spots freckled his forehead. He waved as he sped
past the opening elevator doors. Hey, Buddy. You look
different, Tasha said. She caught sight of white teeth as he
blurred past crashing into an unsuspecting cameraman. They
both tumbled to the floor with the chair landing on top of
them.
Ow! the cameraman groaned.
Ow, Buddy repeated. Sorry about that, but thanks
for the soft landing. He rolled the chair away and picked

himself up off the cameraman. The cameraman picked

himself up off the floor. I do look different, Buddy turned
back to Tasha. My braces came off today. See! His wide
grin showed a perfect set of spotless teeth.
Walton K. Sakoda emerged from behind the secret door
laughing. I know we're only rehearsing for episode three of
season one, but season two is going to be a doozy, he told
them excitedly. Tasha took the red plastic clipboard he was
holding and quickly flipped through some pages. App
attack? she questioned out loud. Wii the Geeks? Whoa!
You've got stuff planned out until season ten in which Buddy
becomes Mac-obsessed and works to convert everything over
to Apple.
Buddy snatched the clipboard. Never, he said. I'm a
loyal Microsoft guy. Always will be.
I'm ready to start rehearsing, Maya Mobberly, CodeGirl's engineering whiz said. She proudly held up a light
brown and white guinea pig. This is where Max Mobberly
makes his special guest appearance for the first time.
And hopefully for the last time, Walton quickly said.
He frowned at Max. I hate small, furry, cute rodent things.
The feelings are mutual, Maya replied. Max hates
big, hairless men things.
Tasha and Buddy both laughed as Tasha walked off to
change clothes. Very funny, Walton smiled. He handed
Tasha an envelope before she left the room. Here, this came
in for you earlier. Some crazy-looking guy delivered it.

Hospital gown guy again? Tasha said taking the white

envelope. He must be following me.
Walton shrugged. Probably just a secret admirer, he
grinned. Cameras are on in ten.
Tasha ran the rest of the way to her dressing room.
After changing clothes, she examined the small envelope. No
address or name was written on it. She opened the adhesive
flap and pulled out a smaller piece of paper. On one side in
red ink was drawn two Chinese characters.
Oh, great, Tasha said to her reflection in the mirror.
Just because Im Chinese doesn't mean I speak it. Even
though her grandmother had wanted her to, Tasha had never
felt the need to learn to speak Chinese. She could hear
Walton calling on the set, And one, and two, and three...
Tasha narrowed her eyes at the red characters on the
small paper. This day just keeps getting weirder, she
sighed. Her reflection in the mirror sighed with her.
Walton's voice called again, Ready...set...
Tasha crammed the note in her pocket and dashed out
the door.
And...action! Walton called.

chapter six: givers of life

It was Monday when Tasha and Madison joined
Cassius' club. On Wednesday, ZOEgivers met for the first
time in Art Room number 3 at Hacienda High. Hey
everyone, Cassius began as the last members filed in and sat
on the floor mats or in folding chairs. My name is Cassius
Jackson. I'm so thrilled to have all you-- He paused and
glanced at the faces in the room. So thrilled to have all you
girls join. I guess I'm the only guy for now.
Some of the girls laughed. Besides Tasha and Madison,
there were thirteen others in the room. Enrique's coming,
fifteen-year-old Shannon Vasquez spoke up. She had straight
waist-length brown hair. A Bible lay open in her lap. He has
basketball practice, remember?
Oh, yeah, Cassius said. He looked relieved. Well, do
you girls have any boyfriends, because--
Of course, Shannon Vasquez spoke again. Her face
brightened. Jesus is my boyfriend.
No, He's N-O-T, the hot pink lip gloss wearing girl
sitting behind Tasha said. Her name was Porschia. She was
Hacienda High's cheer squad captain and had a habit of
spelling things out.
Oh, yes, He is. And do you know why I love Him so?
Shannon asked and then answered before anyone else could.
Because He first loved me.

Porschia rolled her eyes.

He's more just like your Savior, Tasha said.
Porschia popped her pink bubblegum loudly. Shannon
is a H-O-L-Y-R-O-L-L-E-R, she whispered.
Shannon looked at her serenely. I heard you and I
forgive you, she said.
Am I late? Enrique asked, pushing the Art Room door
open. His hair was shaved short in a buzz cut. Have you
guys started?
Barely. Just discussing whether Jesus can be
someone's boyfriend or not, Cassius answered.
Enrique gave him a confused look. He left his gym bag
by the door, zipped his jacket up over his sweatshirt, and sat
down beside Madison.
Now that we're all here, Cassius began again. As I
said before my name is Cassius Jackson. Welcome to
ZOEgivers. I want to thank everyone for joining, and I want
to encourage everyone to tell your friends about our club and
invite them to come. You don't have to be a Christian or
anything to join. You just have to be a student of Hacienda.
Since this is our first meeting, we're not going to have a long
Bible study but there are some important things we need to
get straightened out. He pointed to a girl with sunspot
speckled cheeks and wavy hair. Jamie, why don't you
explain our name first.
Sixteen-year-old Jamie Jiao came to the front of the
room. Zoe is the Greek word for life, she explained. The

reason Cassius and I chose this for the club name is because
all of life, whether physical or spiritual, always comes from
God. Remember Genesis 1:1? In the beginning, there was
nothing but emptiness and darkness until God came along
and created stuff and gave us the breath of life. Jesus the
Christ called Himself the way, the truth, and the life.
Somewhere in John, I think--
John 1:4, Shannon suggested.
Yeah, thanks, Jamie said. In John 1:4, it's written
that in Jesus was life and that life was the light for the whole
world. Wherever God is, there is life. He offers us eternal,
everlasting, abundant, vibrant life, and we want to be givers
of that Zoe or life. So that's how we came up with the name.
Fabulicious! Porschia applauded.
Is that even a word? Enrique asked.
It is since I said it, Porschia answered. F-A-B-U-L-IC-I-O-U-S! What's next?
Leaders, Cassius said. He pulled out his Adidas
encased iPhone and tapped open a page. We need a
president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, events
director, and someone to be in charge of volunteers. Since
Enrique is the oldest, I say he should be president; or
Shannon. She's good at Bible stuff.
Not Shannon, Porschia said quickly.
Madison raised her hand and waved it eagerly. I vote
Enrique, she said enthusiastically. Who's with me?
Me! several other voices agreed. Half the girls raised

their hands with Madison.

No offense, but I think Cassius should be president,
Tasha said. He started it. Jamie should be vice-president.
Enrique nodded. I agree. He pulled a stack of purple
construction paper from a desk and started writing the roles
down. Cassius for president; Jamie for vice-president. Who
will be secretary?
Madison, Tasha suggested. She's a fantastic
organizer. Everyone was in agreement with this. Enrique
wrote her name down. Treasurer? he asked.
Holly, a girl in leather pants and a red bandana
answered. Why not you? Your dad's a Wall Street CRO.
He's retired now and that doesn't make me good at
money.
You raised almost ten thousand with your Battle of the
Bands idea at last year's fundraiser, Madison reminded him.
And you won Hacienda's financial literacy award for the
second time, so I say Enrique for treasurer. Who's with me?
Everyone was.
Alright, Enrique agreed. Treasurer I am. He wrote
his name down beside his role.
I think Tasha should be in charge of events, Cassius
said. We'll need posters and fliers to promote ZOEgivers
and Tasha does fantastic computer work.
Maybe you can promote us on your web show,Jamie
added. She cupped her hands around her lips and mouthed,
I'm a BIG fan.

Tasha grinned. Thanks! I'll build an app for our club

so everyone can stay connected and updated.
Awesome, Holly said. Enrique wrote Tasha's name
down. The last role that needs to be filled is for
volunteering. I think Shannon should do that, he said.
Everyone, except Porschia, agreed to this. I shall do all
my duties to the glory of God, Shannon beamed.
Now that ZOEgivers had its leaders, the members
turned to when they would meet. Since Tasha had filming to
do on Mondays and Tuesdays, Porschia and Madison had
cheer practice on Mondays, Enrique had basketball practice
every afternoon Tuesday thru Thursday, and some of the
others had either sports or after school activities on those
days, they decided to meet on Tuesday mornings and Friday
evenings. On Tuesdays, they would meet for prayer in Art
Room number 3 before classes started. On Fridays, they
would meet at each others homes for Bible study groups. If
ZOEgivers grew really big, they would consider meeting on
Saturdays too.
What book should we study first from the Bible?
Jamie asked.
Numbers, Madison suggested. She cast dreamy eyes
at Enrique. I was looking through it the other day and didn't
see your number in there. Tasha and Porschia both
laughed. Enrique shook his head. Why don't we just do
Solomon's Book of Love Songs?
I vote we stay as far away from that book as possible,
Cassius said.

What about Psalms? Holly asked.

Too long, Cassius answered.
Job? Shannon said.
Really, really depressing, Jamie answered. I was
hoping we could start with something more positive.
Why don't we just start with Genesis, Tasha said.
Then after Genesis, we can study Matthew and go back and
forth between the Old and New Testaments.
Cassius and Jamie looked at each other. Sounds good,
they said. Before Shannon could do it, Tasha quickly
volunteered to host the first Bible study group at her house
on Friday at 6 pm.
Final question, Holly said as the first ZOEgivers
meeting ended. Who's in charge of snacks?
Porschia blew a large bubble before popping it. I've got
that covered.

chapter seven: fig leaves fashions

Friday evening came fast. Tasha's aunt arrived home
from work the same time Al Grace dropped Tasha off from
school. Together, they prepared snacks before the other
members of ZOEgivers turned up. Do you think any of your
classmates will want dinner? Ru Yi asked, arranging small
cups of iced mint tea onto a tray.
Oh, no, Tasha answered. Porschia is bringing pizza.
Alright, you can take these drinks into the sitting
parlor. I'll pour some fruit punch and finish getting the
pretzel mix ready. Ru Yi pushed the tray across the counter
before straightening her shoulder length black bob cut.
What are all of you meeting for? Just homework or another
fund-raising idea?
Uh, Tasha hesitated. She picked up the tray of iced
mint tea. Its for a new club that just started. This is only our
second meeting.
Ru Yi nodded. She looked like she was going to say
more, but a scene on the muted television screen by the
refrigerator caught her attention. She turned the volume up.
Tasha hurried to set the tray in the parlor that led to the
home library where they had already set bowls of
butterscotch pudding, a huge bag of butter popcorn, and
stacks of chips. When she returned to the kitchen, a news
reporter was speaking.
Three

inmates

are

believed

to

have

altered

identification badges in their escape from the Twin Towers

Correctional Facility of Los Angeles. All have a history of
mental illness, have been treated with psychiatric
medications, and may be dangerous if encountered. Anyone
with information about their whereabouts is requested to
contact police immediately. The screen switched to show
mug shots of the three escaped inmates. Tasha gasped as the
doorbell rang twice.
Something wrong? Ru Yi asked.
The one in the middle, Tasha replied. She pointed at
the screen as she headed for the front door. He was the one
outside my high school on Monday.
Shannon arrived first with her Bible. Jamie Jiao was
right behind her. One new student had joined ZOEgivers
since Wednesday. He arrived last with Enrique and Madison.
Hey, Nick, Tasha greeted when she opened the door,
recognizing him from theater class. Nick Crotty had sandy
brown hair and wore green contact lenses.
Hey, Nick returned following Madison and Enrique
inside. Cassius was telling me yesterday about the different
things you guys are doing in the club. At the end of each
meeting, he said I could tell some jokes. I know some really
good Bible jokes.
Can't wait to hear them, Tasha said.
Just when everyone had settled into their seats, and
Jamie started to pray, the doorbell rang again. A stocky,
curly-haired fifteen-year-old was standing on the porch
when Tasha opened the door. Isn't ZOEgivers meeting here

tonight? he asked.
Yes, Tasha answered. Are you a member?
Not yet, but I want to be, the boy told her. He showed
her a sheet of paper. I got a flier in my locker today.
Come in. We just started.
Cassius frowned when he saw who was following Tasha
when she returned to the parlor. Joshy? he asked. What
are you doing here?
Joshy caught sight of the snacks table and headed for
them. He smiled at Cassius and waved his flier again. I got
one of these today. You said all students are welcome to join,
didn't you? Don't I look like a student? Well, here I am.
Whatever, Cassius sighed. But there's a no-tolerance
for troublemakers. One wrong move, Joshy, and you're
gone.
Joshy's mouth was full of popcorn. He swallowed hard.
Sure that's not a rule you just made up, preacher boy?
Cassius' frown deepened. Don't start calling me that.
The name's Cassius. Joshy just laughed. He put three slices
of Porschia's pepperoni pizza on a paper plate and found a
spot on the sofa beside Tasha. I mainly came for the
goodies, he whispered.
After Jamie prayed for God to bless their time together,
the kids took turns reading the first three chapters of the
book of Genesis. Most of them had notebooks to take notes
or were using their smart phones. Joshy was starting on his
fifth cup of punch when they finished. That wasn't too bad.

A lot more interesting than diagramming dopey English

sentences, he said with a full mouth. Let's keep reading.
We can read some more next week, Shannon said.
Let's all discuss what we've read tonight. Does anyone have
any questions?
Holly nodded. Since God made everything else, what
made God? she asked.
Good question, Cassius said. It really has a simple
answer. No one did. God has always been in existence.
Holly looked unsure. I thought something can't come
from nothing, she said.
It's probably better to understand it this way, Enrique
explained. The universe needed a cause to exist, right? That
cause was God. But if God had needed a cause to exist, He
could not be God. There has never ever been absolutely
nothing; there was always something. Even before the
beginning of time that something was God. To have been
able to create an entire universe and everything in it, God
had to be uncreated.
I have a question, Joshy said seriously. Why did God
create Adam and Eve naked in the first place? That's what I
want to know.
Some of the kids laughed. Probably because He had a
long way to go until Ralph Lauren came along, Tasha
smiled.
Fig Leaves Fashions, Nick laughed. Y'all want to
hear another Adam and Eve joke? On the first day before

Christmas, what did Adam say to Eve?...It's Christmas, Eve!

That's a good one, Joshy said, slapping Tasha's arm.
The kids started laughing again. What's going on in
here? Tasha's grandmother interrupted them. She had just
arrived home from work and was standing in the door of the
parlor, her hands resting on her petite hips. Homework?
Study party?
No ma'am, just Bible study, Cassius answered.
Shan Zhen's smile disappeared. Why?
It's for our new faith club that we started at school,
Jamie said. We would let you join, but it's only for
students.
Who said you could meet here? Shan Zhen asked
sternly.
Everyone looked at Tasha. I asked Mom, she
answered quickly. She said it would be alright.
No, it's not alright, Shan Zhen shook her head. I
don't want any Bible studying going on here. You can have
them some place else, but not here.
Why not? Shannon asked. We just read God's Word
and pray together. In fact, I can pray for you right now if you
would like.
I wouldn't like for you to, Shan Zhen answered firmly.
God talk is not allowed in my house. I'm afraid I'll have to
ask you all to leave. She backed out of the doorway and went
up the stairs. Ru Yi! she called for her daughter.

We were almost finished anyway, Madison said.

Joshy scooped up the last handful of popcorn on his way to
the front door.
I'm sorry, guys. I didn't know she would react that
way, Tasha sighed. Jamie patted her arm. Don't sweat it,
she said.
We'll talk tomorrow, Cassius told her.

chapter eight: a beautiful thing

Come in, Tasha called as a knock sounded on the
door of her bedroom. Ru Yi turned the handle and came
inside. Here, she said, holding out Tasha's pink covered
Bible. You left this downstairs. I think you might want to
keep it with you from now on.
Tasha took her Bible and set it in the top drawer of her
computer desk. Thanks, she said.
Eric's coming home on Tuesday, Ru Yi said.
I know. He texted me. Tasha slid over on the yellow
leather ottoman so her aunt could squeeze in beside her. Her
eyes didn't leave the Macbook Pro screen she was working
on. What are you doing? Ru Yi asked.
I'm making an app for ZOEgivers. Should be done
soon. There was silence between them then Tasha asked,
What did Gramma tell you? After the last members of
ZOEgivers had left, Shan Zhen and Ru Yi had a long talk
together in the library. Tasha had not stayed downstairs to
find out what they were saying.
Ru Yi now ran a hand through her hair. Well, she said
slowly. Gramma wants me to find out how deep you are in
this?
Tasha squinted her eyes at the screen. In what?
The Christian-God-thing and the Bible and all that. I
know you stopped coming to the temple with Eric and me

when you were ten, but I thought it was because you had so
many other things going on like your show, a new school,
ballet, friends-
Coding competitions, Tasha reminded her.
That too, Ru Yi nodded. But I guess those weren't
the only reasons, were they?
Tasha shook her head. She thought back to a few years
ago when she had just celebrated her tenth birthday. Her
French ballet teacher, Norma Jerileen, had invited her to
attend church more than once. Up until that time, Tasha had
attended children's Sunday school every weekend at
Hacienda's Hsi Lai Temple while her aunt and uncle went to
the chanting service. But ever since Tasha had gone to
Norma's Christian church, she had not wanted to go back to
the temple. The story of how God came to earth as a man,
Jesus the Christ, and showed His love by dying just for her
had deeply impacted Tasha. One evening, after finishing her
ballet lesson, she had asked Norma to pray with her and had
invited Jesus to live in her heart. Both Eric and Ru Yi had
been fine with her no longer going to the temple with them.
Besides Norma and some of her friends, Tasha had never
told her aunt, uncle, grandmother, or anyone else about her
conversion experience.
Tasha stopped working on her Macbook and turned to
look at the expectant face of Ru Yi. I became a Christian
when I was ten. That's why I stopped going to the temple,
she told her. I didn't tell you because I don't know how to
tell you. I wasn't sure how you would respond.

Oh, Tasha! Ru Yi gave a small smile. We aren't like

that. She hesitated. At least, Eric and I aren't like that. I'm
a firm believer that people should follow their bliss. What
would the world be like if our differences suddenly
disappeared and we all believed the same things? If
Christianity is the religion that makes you happy and you're
one hundred percent certain of it, then you should stick with
it. In the future, your beliefs may change again. Who knows?
But, one thing you should know, Tasha, is that Eric and I
love you for you. You could do anything, and we would still
love you. Our love is not based on a certain belief system or
religion. That's not what makes us a family.
Okay, Tasha said.
Faith, when it is not abused or used for selfish gain,
can be a beautiful thing, Ru Yi continued. Now Gramma is
a different matter. She wasn't always so anti-religious. She
used to be Buddhist, but after Grampa had gone into a coma
and after my sister and her husband disappeared, she didn't
want to have anything to do with religion. She lost her faith,
so it might be best not to talk about Christianity around her.
Just keep it to yourself for now.
Tasha nodded that she understood.
Ru Yi hugged her. She stood up from the ottoman seat
and kissed the top of her head. Don't let that app keep you
up too late, she said. Get some sleep. Good night, Tasha.
Night, Tasha replied.

chapter nine: evangelism

What was it with her? Cassius asked. He pushed a
medium-sized Cinema Snacks drink cup under the soda
fountain machine at the AMC Theater and watched as it
filled with 7-Up. He was waiting with Tasha and Jamie in the
lobby for their Saturday movie to start. Tasha had also
invited Buddy Peace to come to the movies with them, but he
had not yet arrived.
Jamie shook up her bag of buttered popcorn. Her
grandmother is an atheist, she told Cassius. And her
parents are Hindu.
Buddhist, Tasha corrected her.
No wonder she wanted us to leave, Cassius said. You
should have told us. We could have met some place else.
I didn't think it would be a problem, Tasha shrugged.
Don't they know you're a Christian? Cassius asked.
They do now. They didn't before.
You mean you've never told them? Jamie looked
incredulous. That's something all Christians have to do.
Guys, you're acting like I just broke one of the ten
commandments or something.
Well, telling others about Jesus is a command,
Cassius said. You can't keep Him to yourself.
Tasha pointed a finger at him. You sound like

Shannon now, she frowned.

Matthew 28:16-20, Jamie added. I can quote it for
you.
Tasha switched her finger to Jamie. You sound like
Mila.
Who?
Forget it. She's a friend of mine in New York, Tasha
said. But just how easy do you think it is for me to walk up
to Gramma and tell her I believe in Someone she doesn't
believe in and has no interest in believing in. She could
throw me out of the house, you know.
Seriously, Tasha? I doubt she would do that, Jamie
said. Don't worry, though, I wasn't always comfortable
talking to people about my faith. I was so worried I would
lose friends or offend someone.
I talk to people all the time at my parent's Skid Row
mission, Cassius told them. Which gives me an idea. There
are probably a lot of ZOEgivers members just like you. He
looked at Tasha. Besides Bible study, we can start doing
evangelism.
Evangelism? Tasha repeated. I've never heard that
word in my life.
It's just a big word for telling others about Jesus,
Cassius said.
We can get Enrique to help, Jamie suggested. He
already co-leads evangelism outreach at our church. They
all looked around the crowded lobby for Enrique and

Madison, who had been waiting with them a few minutes

earlier. Where did those two go? Jamie asked.
Cassius shook his head. Probably went to see some
dumb rom-com, he said.
Through the rotating glass doors of the movie theater,
Tasha saw a black car pull up. There's Buddy, she said.
C'mon, our movie's waiting.

chapter ten: a gibberish message

Tasha closed her Bible. Sunday's church service, which
she had attended online, had just ended. Now it was time for
breakfast. Going downstairs, she found her grandmother
sitting at the counter, eating an egg omelet and breezing
through a newspaper's crossword puzzle. Tasha wished Ru Yi
had not left for the temple so early.
Morning Gramma, Tasha greeted. She took out a
bowl and pulled a box of blueberry muffin cereal down from
the cabinet.
Char-la-tan, Shan Zhen said, circling another word.
She looked at Tasha over the tops of her glasses and smiled.
A late good morning to you. I saw your billboard for CodeGirl on my way to water aerobics class yesterday. I
remember when you started filming that show in the garage
with Buddy and Maya. You've come so far since then, and
I'm proud of you.
Thanks, Tasha grinned. She finished pouring milk in
her cereal, picked up the bowl, and started for the living
room.
Tasha! her grandmother called after her.
Ma'am?
Shan Zhen pointed to the chair on the other side of the
counter. Come and sit down, she instructed. I want to
talk. Tasha retraced her steps and sat down opposite her

grandmother. She wondered if this might be a good time to

start doing that evangelism thing Cassius and Jamie had
been talking about.
Cat-a-ract, Shan Zhen said, circling another word.
She set her pen down. I want to apologize about Friday
night. I didn't mean to come off so belligerently in front of
your friends, Shan Zhen started. I was just quite taken
aback that you were no longer practicing Buddhism and were
studying...the...Bible.
It's fine, Tasha said. She added, I'm a Christian now,
Gramma.
Ru Yi told me, Shan Zhen nodded. I don't want you
to think I'm mad at you. From the time you were very young,
I always knew you would have a different belief system than
me and eventually your parents. Remember when you
wanted to have a Nativity for the holidays because Madison
had one?
Yes, and you told me the holidays were about family
and friends and gifts and good food, Tasha answered.
They still are, Shan Zhen replied. I have tried to keep
you away from as much religious dogma as possible. I didn't
even want Eric and Ru Yi to take you to the temple until you
were old enough to think for yourself. I didn't want you to
believe something or not believe something based upon us.
Children have a tendency to have confidence in many unreal
things fairy tales, God, Santa Claus. However, you're
fourteen and old enough to think critically about things
before placing your faith in them.

I've never believed in Santa Claus, Tasha protested

loudly. She almost choked on a spoonful of cereal and spat
the milky goop back into her bowl. But, God, she
continued. He's real.
Of course, to you He is. Eric believes aliens are real.
What is the difference?
Tasha looked down at her soggy cereal. I don't know
exactly what you're trying to say.
I just want you to make sure you are one hundred
percent certain of your decision. Shan Zhen reached over
and took her granddaughter's free hand.
I'm one hundred and ten percent sure, Tasha
answered confidently. I don't know all there is to know
about Christianity, yet; but I'm learning. God found me when
I wasn't even looking for Him. I know that He loves me, and
for now that's enough for me.
Shan Zhen pulled her hand away. Stop. You're free to
believe what you want, Tasha, but I don't want you
propagating it around here. You're going some place I can't
follow and have no need to follow. You're going to have to
travel this religious road you've decided to take on your
own. Shan Zhen's fingers found her pen. Cor-ri-gen-dum,
she said, circling the word in the puzzle.
Tasha sighed as the doorbell rang. She quickly left the
counter and went into the hall to answer it. Her mouth
dropped when she opened the door and saw who was
standing on the porch. The wild-looking man who had
appeared outside of the cafeteria at Hacienda High on

Monday stared back at her. His skinny legs were still covered
with the hospital gown which flapped in the slight breeze.
Mickey Mouse! the man yelled in a high-pitched nasal
voice. His arms flew out and formed a wide circle, then a
triangle. The rest of his yelling came out as gibberish. Tasha
was only able to catch a few words amid his feverish hand
movements. Fly to sleep! Fly to sleep! he yelled. Gothagib!
Gothagib! He held his neck and gasped for breath. He burst
into raspy laughter and twitched his head. It was always
Buffy! He pointed at Tasha and repeated, It was always
Buffy!
More raspy laughter. Then, Gothagib! he exclaimed.
Goth-a-gib! Gib! Gib!
Tasha, who is it? Shan Zhen asked from the kitchen.
Behind the man, Tasha saw her aunt pulling into their
driveway. Ru Yi wasted no time in getting out of her car, her
face aghast at the scene on the porch.
Tasha screamed as the man's arms flew forward and
grabbed her shoulders. Fourteen moons! he yelled. Tiger
born of man. His fingers felt like metal pincers. He
stumbled backwards as he released her, striking his head on
the stone porch steps. He lay still. Tasha and Ru Yi both
looked at each other. Ru Yi took a step forward and nudged
the man with her shoe.
He's dead, she said.

chapter eleven: the GOD project

The moonlight streaming through the open curtains of
Tasha's bedroom made shimmering patterns on her
bedspread. She lay wide awake staring up at the dark ceiling.
Fourteen moons; tiger born of man. Fourteen moons;
tiger born of man. Fourteen moons; tiger born of man.
The words of the crazed man who had collapsed and
died on her front porch earlier that morning kept running
through her head. What in the world did it mean? After Ru
Yi had called 911, a squad of police cars and an ambulance
had arrived at their house. They identified him as Raju Chan,
one of the three inmates who had escaped from the Twin
Towers. Tasha remembered the note Walton Sakoda said
Raju had left for her at Strontium Studios. She wondered if it
was connected to the words he had been yelling.
Tasha folded back the sheets and climbed out of bed.
She rummaged through the dirty clothes basket until she felt
the slip of paper in the pocket of the lime green cardigan she
had been wearing the other day. She pulled it out. The red
ink Chinese characters showed faintly in the dim light. If
only she could find out what they meant. Along with English,
both Eric and Ru Yi spoke Mandarin Chinese. Her
grandmother was the only one who still spoke traditional
Chinese. Tasha thought about asking her for help with the
note, but was reluctant to do so. Ever since their
conversation that morning, Shan Zhen had been giving her

the cold shoulder.

Taking the note with her, Tasha went downstairs. The
meditation music her grandmother played nightly to help
her fall asleep floated quietly down the hall. She passed
through the dark parlor and pushed open the door to the
home library. I might be able to find something here,
Tasha said to herself, turning on a side table lamp. The
shelves of books and dictionaries were instantly illuminated
by the light.
Tasha pulled down several encyclopedias on Chinese
language and linguistics. The thick books were packed with
pages and pages of tiny text. Rows and rows of characters.
Rows and rows of pronunciations. Rows and rows of
translations. Rows and rows of definitions. Tasha looked at
the paper in her hand. She looked back at the open
encyclopedias. Mandarin. Cantonese. Hakka. Gan. Min. Wu.
Xiang. Which dialect was the right one? They all looked the
same. Tasha shut the books. Bobby pin in a wig pile, she
sighed.
A sharp pop made Tasha look up at the wall in front of
her. A long crack had appeared in it. The picture hanging on
the wall was slanted on its nail. Tasha walked closer. She
bent down and peered through the slender crack with one
eye. A musty odor tickled her nose. Tasha pushed her fingers
in the crack and pressed both ways. The left side gave way
and began to slide open. The crack grew wider. Tasha caught
the picture as it fell and leaned it against the wall. Blinking
several times, her eyes quickly adjusted to the blackness of
the room before her.

The air inside the room was muggy and smelled of

mold and dust. There were shelves overflowing with books
that spilled onto the floor. Reams of yellowing paper were
stacked in leaning towers on tables. A slow-turning Earth
globe hung from the ceiling over a cluttered desk. There were
numerous other objects in the room. Tasha recognized an
Orion Solar telescope, a pool table with a 3D layout of the
entire periodic table of elements, a labware set, and dozens
of tubes and vials filled with ancient-looking liquids. A silver
framed picture on the desk of a smiling man, woman, and
two girls let Tasha know what room she was in the office of
her grandfather, Alfred Astor. Tasha remembered Eric telling
her that Shan Zhen had the office locked up after Alfred went
comatose.
Tasha opened one of the five filing cabinets that stood
against the wall nearest her. It was filled with color-coded
folders labeled with handwritten titles that read SPIRES
experiment / Approved / Completed or IS-EIR /
Approved / Incomplete and so on. The second, third, and
fourth filing cabinets held the same type of folders with
different title labels. Tasha was amazed at all the
experiments and projects her grandfather had been a part of.
The last filing cabinet was nearly empty. It contained only
one folder. The title read The GOD Project / Approved.
The third slot was blank.
Tasha flipped the cover open. If God seeks for man to
know Him, she read from the typed text on the second
page, why does He go to such great lengths to hide Himself?
Should not a Creator be near His creation? Or has the

supposed deity simply abandoned us? Does God even exist

at all? There were black and white photos of the nine
scientists who had been working on the project. Tasha stared
at their confident faces. Since an accident had put Alfred
Astor in a coma, she wondered what had happened to the
other eight. Had they continued the project? They were
searching for God, Tasha whispered. She traced a finger
over the pictures before closing the folder and returning it to
the file. She backed out of the dusty office, slid the wall back
into place, and hung the picture up over it.
Turning the light off in the library, Tasha tiptoed up the
stairs to her bedroom. She had someone to call.

chapter twelve: mila

The phone rang three times before it was picked up.
"Hello?" a voice said groggily on the other end.
"Mila!" Tasha answered. "It's me, Tasha! Are you
awake?"
"I wasn't until a second ago." Mila said moaning. "Don't
you know what time it is?" Fifteen-year-old Mila Alexandria
Michelle Munroe lived on the other side of the country in
New York City. She and Tasha had met the year before at the
Junior Ballet Talent Show Championship in New York City.
They had been on the same team, and their performance
of The Sleeping Beauty had helped them win the
championship and sent them on a world tour together.
Because of her love for the Bible and ability to quote tons of
Scripture passages, Mila was often called Biblegirl by her
friends.
"It's almost two in the morning," Tasha told Mila.
"You're three hours behind us. Even though it's five
over here, it's still too early," Mila said. "Haven't you read in
Proverbs 27 that if anyone loudly blesses their friend early in
the morning, it will be taken as a curse?"
Tasha laughed. "Really? Can't say I remember that
one."
"Well, it's in there," Mila said. "Now what are you
calling for anyway?"

"Two things. First, isn't there someone in the Bible who

tried to see God, but got killed for it?"
"I don't think killed," Mila answered. "Moses asked to
see God, but he was only allowed to see the back of Him.
Then there was the tower of Babel. A group of people were
building a city with a tower that would reach Heaven. When
God saw what they were doing, He didn't like it so He
confused their language so they could no longer work
together. That was the end of that."
"So if someone tried to see God today, would they get
hurt?"
"How would I know? I have absolutely no idea, but I
guess something bad could happen. What's the second
thing?"
Tasha quickly told Mila about the sudden appearances
of Raju Chan and the note he had left before he died. "I want
to find out what the characters mean." Tasha finished.
"I know you know I don't know Chinese," Mila said. She
thought for a minute. "There is a person on the first floor of
our condo who might be able to figure the message out. His
name is Kwong. He is very fluent in Chinese, owns a
knickknack shop in Chinatown, and he's teaching Mickey
karate." Mickey Munroe was the youngest of Mila's four
brothers.
Tasha took a picture of the note with her smart phone
and sent it to Mila to give to Kwong. "Okay, thanks, Mila.
There's one more thing before we hang up," Tasha said. "I'm
the only Christian in my family. My parents are still

supportive, but my gramma is not so much. I really need for

you to pray for mefor us."
"You know I will," Mila replied. "Now go back to bed."

chapter thirteen: making disciples

ZOEgivers quickly grew to fifty members. To
accommodate all the students, Friday's meeting time was
moved to Saturday. Cassius and Jamie decided to have it at
Guppy House restaurant instead of someone's house. Along
with their study of Genesis, Enrique and Jamie began a
discussion on evangelism. "Whenever a member here has a
problem, we're going to try our best to help them resolve it,"
Enrique said. "Tasha's grandmother is atheist and her
parents are Buddhist. She wants to know how to talk with
them about her faith."
"My!" Shannon exclaimed. Her hand flew to her chest.
"My! They definitely need Jesus."
"Not anymore than you did before you met Him,"
Porschia told her.
"After they accept Christ, a lot of young Christians don't
tell others about Jesus because they don't know that they
should, or they don't know how," Jamie said. "Of course,
evangelism would not be necessary if we had not been given
the Great Commission. Does anyone know where that is
found in the Bible?"
Nick raised his hand. "In Matthew," he said. "Jesus told
His disciples to go and make more disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit."
"Right," Jamie nodded. "It doesn't seem like we have

much of a choice. That verse doesn't say if you feel like

making disciples or if you want to make disciples, then you
can. It only says make disciples. That makes it a command,
not a choice."
Enrique added, "Along with evangelism not being a
choice, it is also not just passing on information or based on
your personality. You don't have to be afraid of sharing your
faith. God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and
love; so we don't have to be ashamed of Him. The main
reason we must evangelize is because Jesus told us to.
Another reason is because people are lost, and they need to
be found. Many people are broken and discouraged. They
need help. They need hope. We have seen the light of Christ
and have heard the good news. Now we must tell others."
Holly scrolled through the Bible app on her iPhone.
"But didn't this just go for the apostles?" she asked. "We're
all just regular kids. God can't expect us to evangelize."
"The Great Commission is for all of Jesus' followers,"
Jamie answered. "Kids, teens, adults, it doesn't matter."
"That's kind of like asking if the Ten Commandments
was only for the Israelites in the Old Testament," Cassius
spoke up.
"Who are the Israelites?" Joshy asked. He was
munching his way through his second bag of cheese puffs.
"We'll get to them soon," Enrique said. "Holly, the
disciples may have been the first evangelists, but God
certainly didn't intend for them to be the last. We can't really
call ourselves followers of Jesus if we aren't obeying Him.

The Great Commission is not a suggestion, but a command

to be obeyed no matter what."
"Even if people get angry?" Tasha asked. "I don't think
my gramma wants to hear what I have to say about Jesus."
"Probably not," Enrique shrugged. "But the least you
can do is tell her. Respect her opinions and non-belief, but
also let her know that there's a better way."
"Talking to anyone about Jesus once made me
nervous," Jamie said. "I thought no one would want to listen
to me. I worried I would offend someone who believed
differently than me. Only when I realized that evangelism
wasn't something I had to do on my own but that God was
with me and would give me the right things to say, did it
become easier."
"I'm sure we all have some friends or family members
who don't know Jesus. Maybe they'll never know until we tell
them," Enrique said. "Since we're just starting, why don't we
list their names and ask God to help us share Jesus with
them. Next week when we meet, we'll see how everyone did."
Tasha pulled out her yellow notebook. She wrote down
the names of her grandmother, uncle, aunt, and another
friend, Collette. "Who do you have?" she asked Madison as
they left Guppy House.
"Both of my brothers and Sawyer Piper. I live across the
street from her," Madison answered.
Cassius showed them his paper. "Joshy?" Tasha read.
"He doesn't seem to like you very much."

"That's because I made him go to the principal's office

last week when I told our teacher he had spiked her coffee,"
Cassius said. "He's been trying to get back at me ever since.
Plus, he won't stop with that annoying nickname. Like I'm
going to be some preacher." Cassius looked incredulous.
"Me? I want to be a DJ."
Madison waved goodbye to them as her dad drove up to
take her home. "Godspeed," she said.

chapter fourteen: decoded

Mila called Tasha back as Al Grace drove her from
Guppy House to her Casablanca Estates neighborhood.
"Kwong was able to figure it out," she told Tasha after she
picked up. "He said the first character stands for fourteen
years and the second character stands for tiger-son-crossman."
"That sounds an awful lot like what Raju was yelling:
fourteen moons, tiger born of man," Tasha said.
"The last part is supposed to mean a human couple
gave birth to a tiger baby."
"What? How is that even possible?" Tasha suddenly
remembered the dream she had nearly two weeks back of
being chased by tigers through a forest.
"I don't know," Mila was saying. "Sounds weird, but
that's what Kwong said. He nearly hit the roof when I told
him about you."
"SoKwong knows me?"
"Yep. He said he was a close friend of your parents
before they died as missionaries in the Himalayas. I tried
telling him that you lived with your parents, but he wouldn't
listen."
"Well, technically, he's right," Tasha said. "My gramma
told me my parents disappeared in China right after I was
born. I was sent to live with her. When I was two, my aunt

and uncle legally adopted me as their daughter. Since they

are the only mom and dad I've known, I've always considered
them my parents."
"I guess Kwong knows what he's talking about," Mila
admitted. "Anyway, he's flying out to Los Angeles tomorrow.
He can't wait to meet you."

chapter fifteen: the Ming Dynasty

Do you know what he looks like? Al Grace asked. He
was standing with Tasha at LAX's Terminal 4 Gate 44
waiting for Kwong's Allegiant Air flight to unload.
He's Chinese, Tasha answered, squinting through
Sunday's late morning sunlight glistening on the tarmac.
Al Grace rubbed his neck. Obviously, Tasha. So are
you and half the people in here. Besides, who else would
have a name like Kwong? Tasha pulled out her phone and
texted Mila. In a few minutes, she had a reply:
dark hair in ponytail; nose scar; jeans
They waited some time longer, scanning the faces of
people as they streamed by. See him! Al finally exclaimed.
He pointed at a figure in the crowd. Tasha waved. The figure
waved back and came towards them. True to Mila's scanty
description, Kwong's long, shiny black hair was pulled back
in a ponytail. A scabbed over scar ran diagonally from the
top of his nose to his high cheekbone on the left. He was
dressed in a blue polo sweater, dark jeans, and rugged work
boots.
Tasha Lu! Kwong exclaimed, dropping the single
suitcase he was holding and embracing her. Words fail to
exclaim how delighted I am to see you again. He held her at
arm's length and smiled. You're so big, though I should not
be surprised. And how you do look so much like them!

My parents? Tasha asked.

Oh, yes! Kwong tapped her head. That forehead is
your dads for sure. But those eyes and this nose is
completely Hai Rong. She was your mother. He turned to Al
Grace and grabbed his hand. You are?
Al Grace, Al said. Her personal driver.
Pleased to meet you, pleased to meet you, Kwong said
genuinely. He turned back to Tasha. I have so much, SO
much, to tell you. The three found seats at Sammy's
Woodfired Pizza inside of LAX. Al ordered them all a New
York style pizza and romano cheese truffle fries.
For almost fifteen years I wondered where you were,
Kwong stated. He looked at Tasha and his narrow, dark eyes
glimmered with tears.
Why? Tasha asked.
Kwong waved a hand. I should start from the
beginning, he said. In 1368, Ming Taizu (now better known
as Emperor Hongwu), founded the Ming Dynasty. After his
death, the dynasty had a total of fifteen other emperors.
Unfortunately, like several empires before it, the Ming
Dynasty was prosperous and successful in the beginning, but
in the end a series of disasters and rebellions led to its fall.
There were numerous large earthquakes. One of which killed
about 800,000 people. Then, there was a little ice age and
large floods which stopped crop production and led to
famines. The Ming Dynasty launched costly wars against the
Japanese. Finally, there was the extremely deadly bubonic
plague that claimed thousands of lives. All of these disasters

led the people to believe that the Ming rulers had lost the
Mandate of Heaven.
All over the empire people began forming rebel
groups. The Ming army did nothing to stop these rebellions.
In fact, many of the soldiers participated in a mutiny and
opened the gates of the Great Wall. This allowed the
Manchus to come in and conquer Beijing in 1644. The last
Ming emperor committed suicide by hanging himself on a
tree. In a few more years, the Ming Dynasty had come to an
end.
But it really hadn't, Al Grace guessed. He was clearly
interested.
Right, Kwong nodded. A peasant sect from the
Mings survived. They went deep into the forests of the
Himalayas and all but disappeared. Tasha Lu, this is where
your parents come in. Fang Kai-liang Lang, your father, and
Hai Rong Lu Lang, your mother, met in college where they
were training to be missionaries. They were undecided about
where God wanted them to serve when they heard reports
about a forgotten sect of the Ming Dynasty. It seemed God
was calling them to go to the Himalayas. I went with them as
a translator. Another friend, Raju Chan-
The man who left the note, Tasha interrupted.
Kwong continued. Yes, Raju was an ex-Ming who had
fallen out of favor with the sect leaders and had escaped. He
agreed to be your parent's guide. Now your grandmother,
Shan Zhen Lu, was highly opposed to your parent's mission.
At the time, she didn't believe in God-

Still doesn't, Tasha interrupted again.

Alright, she doesn't believe in God, Kwong said. An
accident had just put her husband in a coma and you had
just been born. She didn't want her granddaughter to be
taken among an unknown people in a foreign country. But
your parents went anyway and took you with them. We were
with the Mings for a little over one year. I can't say we had
much success for they were slow in responding to the Gospel.
Eventually, the Mings began to grow hostile toward us. Your
parents gave you to me to take back to the mainland until
they were sure it would be safe for you to return. You were
one year and three months old then. Your mother was nine
months pregnant with your brother. I told her she should
come back with us, but she refused to leave your father.
Tashas eyes widened. She looked at Al Grace. I had a
brother, she said. I can't believe it. She fell silent and
stared down at the half-eaten pizza slice on her plate.
I brought you back to California, and your
grandmother...she kidnapped you from me, Kwong paused.
What? Tasha gasped.
Kwong wiped at his eyes. I promised Fang and Hai
Rong that I would take care of you...and...I...I...failed them.
Kwong bowed his head. For a minute, he was silent. For
Tasha, the news that she had a brother was a shock. Equally
shocking was the news that her grandmother had kidnapped
her from Kwong against the wishes of her parents.
Kwong raised his head again. He reached down and
pulled out a faded newspaper clipping from one of the zipped

compartments in his suitcase. The China Daily, he said,

pushing it across the table. This report came out a few
weeks after I left.
Al Grace and Tasha both leaned forward to get a better
look. The faded headline read: U. S. MISSIONARIES TO
MING SECT MISSING; BELIEVED TO BE DEAD.
Tasha could barely make out her parents' features in
the bleached out picture on the clipping. What about my
brother? she asked.
You're fourteen, right? Kwong asked.
Tasha nodded.
Fifteen in two weeks, Al Grace added.
Kwong hesitated. He looked at Tasha. He looked at Al.
He looked back at Tasha. Well, if it is true, Kwong sighed.
There is a slight possibility he might be alive.
What is it? Tasha asked.
Kwong's eyes darted around the busy restaurant. He
leaned closer over the table. The tiger blood prophecy,
Kwong whispered.

chapter sixteen: where was He?

Just in time for dinner! Ru Yi sang as Tasha dashed
into the kitchen. Eric turned off the karaoke tape they were
dancing to. I made shrimp stir-fry, he said.
Smells good, Tasha said as she stood uncertainly in
the doorway. Where's Gramma?
Right here, Shan Zhen answered. She entered the
kitchen by way of the staircase and plunked a stack of papers
on the countertop. I finally caught up on checking these
papers, she sighed. College students grammar is
atrocious.
Tell me about it, Ru Yi laughed.
You kidnapped me, Tasha said abruptly. Ru Yi
stopped laughing. All three adults stared at her. Tasha
walked fully into the kitchen. You always told me my birth
parents sent me to live with you before they disappeared. But
they didn't. They gave me to Kwong, and you took me from
him. Gramma, why?
Eric and Ru Yi turned to look at Shan Zhen. Despite
approaching the age of sixty, her creamy skin was as smooth
as silk and barely held a wrinkle. Eric's raised eyebrows were
touching the ends of his hair. Gramma? he asked.
Shan Zhen was quiet. She took off her glasses and
rubbed the space they had been resting on. How did you
find out? she finally asked.

I met Kwong today. He said my parents were

missionaries. Is that why you didn't want me to be around
them?
Returning her glasses to her face, Shan Zhen pointed to
a chair. Sit down, Tasha, she said. Tasha did. She crossed
her arms and waited for her grandmother to continue.
Whatever it is that Kwong told you is probably true, Shan
Zhen sighed. However, I took you from him for your own
good. As your grandmother, I felt responsible for you. I did
try talking Fang and Hai Rong out of becoming missionaries
because they were acting with bad judgment. I tried to
persuade Hai Rong to stay here where she would have more
security like her sister. Shan Zhen nodded to Ru Yi. But
they refused to listen. I knew there was only a small chance
that I would see them again. Alfred had just gone into his
coma. I didn't want to lose anyone else close to me. After
your parents disappeared, Tasha, I couldn't bear the thought
of losing you too.
Tasha felt Eric's hand on her shoulder. They all
remained silent for some time then Shan Zhen said, I also
didn't want you to be raised around your parents religion.
Even though now it seems you have found their God of your
own accord.
It's the other way around, Tasha said. God found
me.
Shan Zhen's face muscles tightened. I look forward to
the day when you come to realize that God is no realer than
ghosts are, she said.

God is not a myth, Gramma, Tasha replied.

Is He not? Shan Zhen asked. Then you tell me where
He was when Fang and Hai Rong were killed in some
desolate forest? I know my daughter and son-in-law must
have cried out for Him to help them. Why didn't God protect
those claiming to be serving Him? And where was God when
my mother was violated in Tiananmen Square? My brother
was shot. Did God care that I had to hold him and watch him
bleed to death? Alfred was searching for God when he
became comatose. Why couldn't he find Him? Why?
Shan Zhen's voice had risen slightly. Her eyes glinted
with anger and grief as painful memories from events she
would rather forget flooded back.
Tasha could feel her own eyes tearing up. She stared at
the swirled patterns on the counter below her. She looked
back up at her grandmother and shook her head. I don't
know why. I don't have answers for all your questions. I wish
I did, but I don't, Tasha said. All I know is that God is real,
and He loves you. Gramma, He loves you.
Shan Zhen's smile was forced. If God loves me, why
has He done absolutely everything to hurt me?
Tasha focused back on the counter. Now would be a
good time to have Shannon around, she thought.
This is enough, Ru Yi spoke up. Gramma, Tasha,
please.
Dinner? Eric reminded weakly as Shan Zhen left the
kitchen.

I'm no longer hungry, she answered.

I think I'll eat later, Ru Yi said. She pressed her
fingers to her forehead. I need to meditate.

chapter seventeen: an interesting Person

Eric fixed two plates of lukewarm white rice and shrimp
stir-fry for himself and Tasha. They went into the parlor to
eat. Don't be hard on Gramma, Eric said to Tasha after
swallowing a few forkfuls. As wrong as it was to take you
from Kwong, I can assure you she had no evil intent. And I
can't say I'm not glad she did because I would never have had
a daughter of my own.
Tasha smiled. I can't say I'm glad my birth parents
died the way they did, but I am glad we're together you,
me, and Ru Yi. Tasha did not want them to think she was
ungrateful for all the years they had taken care of her. She
picked up a shrimp and waved it at Eric. You make for one
fabulous cook.
Eric laughed. I do my best, he said.
I'm beginning to think I shouldn't have told Gramma
that I became a Christian. She isn't like you or mom about it.
We used to get along great. Now every time we talk, it ends
in an argument. We don't spend time together like we used
to.
I did think I saw tension clouds starting to swirl
around your heads back in the kitchen, Eric grinned.
Tasha frowned. It's not very funny. I don't want our
relationship to be like this.
She'll come around, Eric said. I'm sure she will.

But you aren't upset about it, are you? Not even that I
don't go to the temple anymore?
Eric shook his head. No. I didn't even go with Ru Yi
this morning.
Why not? Tasha asked.
I'm beginning to have second thoughts about it, Eric
answered, setting his empty plate on the table beside him.
When I was a child my entire family was Buddhist. We
always have been, ever since-- He shrugged. Ever since the
beginning, probably. Our house was even like a little temple.
We chanted, meditated, burned incense. That was just the
way things were. My parents trained me to think according
to the Four Noble Truths. I never questioned why we did
what we did or believed the way we believed, and I didn't
hear about or consider any other religions until I left for UC
Santa Cruz at eighteen.
A lot of the guys in my dorm were Christians. I found
out they weren't crazy. Eric looked at Tasha. No offense,
but that's how I had always seen them portrayed narrow
minded, always harping on sin and hell or whatever. But
these guys were different. They cared about things I cared
about and had been taught to pursue wisdom, discipline,
showing compassion to others, and having a purpose to live
for. Sometimes we talked about our faiths. I even attended
some of their gatherings. Jesus was an interesting Person to
me, but I was too busy to think about Him for too long. Last
week, when I was at DEFCON, remember?
Tasha nodded.

One of my old dorm mates was there, Eric continued.

He said he had been praying for me and gave me the Gospel
of John. I read the whole book on my flight back. Eric's eyes
brightened. It was unlike anything I've ever read before, he
said. Jesus seemed to be talking directly to me.
Tasha could hardly believe what she was hearing.
Finally, someone else in her family was interested in Jesus
the Christ. That's great, she smiled. John is my favorite
Gospel.
Even though I was raised with it, Buddhism has never
been in my heart. I know a lot of Buddhist deities; yet, at the
same time, I don't know them, Eric said. I don't have a
relationship with any of them. I'm not sure any of them know
me either. But you...you are certain you know your God?
Yes, Tasha answered. And He knows me by name, as
well. I think our relationship is the most important one I
decided to have.
Well, I'm not saying I'm ready to place faith in Jesus
just yet, Eric said. I want to do some more research on my
own, but I might need your help. Okay?
Okay, Tasha agreed as the doorbell rang.

chapter eighteen: believe

Hey! Cassius greeted Tasha when she opened the
front door. Are you busy doing something?
Not really. Do you want to go somewhere?
Cassius motioned down the street. Got to go talk to
Joshy about Jesus. Thought you might want to come, he
said.
Sure, Tasha agreed. After letting Eric know where
she was going, they left her driveway and started down the
sidewalk. I didn't even know Joshy lived on this street,
Tasha said.
He's four blocks down from you, Cassius informed
her.
In a few minutes, they reached a two-story house that
looked similar to Tasha's. Cassius rang the doorbell. Joshy's
nineteen year old brother opened the door. If you're selling
something, we don't want it, he said. If not, how can I help
you?
We're classmates of Joshy, Cassius said. I called
and told him I was coming by. I have something important to
talk to him about.
Oh, come in. Joshy's brother opened the door wider
and closed it again behind them. Joshy! he yelled up the
stairs. Your friends are here. When there was no response,
he turned back to Cassius and Tasha. He might have his

headphones on. You can go up. Third door on the left.

Tasha and Cassius found Joshy sitting on the floor in
front of his bed. His back was turned to them, and silver
headphones covered his ears. The skittish figure of Captain
Jack Sparrow was running across his television screen.
Joshy's bedroom walls were covered with posters of LA Kings
and LA Lakers players. Spotting the remote control, Tasha
picked it up and clicked the screen off.
Wha-? Joshy jumped up in a spray of Chex Mix bits
and pieces. He yanked off his headphones. What are you
doing? This is my favorite part.
I called, Cassius reminded him. We've come to tell
you about Jesus.
That figures, preacher boy, Joshy smirked. He
stuffed the fistful of Chex Mix he was still holding into his
mouth. Make it quick. I have a movie to finish.
Cassius pulled out his iPhone. He clicked on a
bookmarked Bible passage. Look, he said, pointing at a
verse. This is Romans 3:23. Why don't you read it?
Joshy looked down at the screen. For all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God, he read quietly.
That means everyone in the entire world has sinned,
Tasha explained. We've all done bad things me, you, and
Cassius, too. None of us are perfect. She looked over at
Cassius, who switched to a second screen.
This is Romans 3:10 and this is Romans 3:12,
Cassius said pointing at the verses. Would you read them

for us?
Joshy looked down at the screen again and started
reading, As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not
one; and the second one says: Therefore, just as through
one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and
thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.
That's right, Cassius said. Since we all have sinned,
no one is good in God's sight. We're constantly messing
things up. Even when we do our best, our best is still not
enough. Because of our sins, we have to die. Let's see. He
switched to another verse, This is Romans 6:23.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, Joshy read.
Our sin has to be punished, Tasha said.
That punishment is death, Cassius added. Not just
death in this life which is physical death, but eternal death.
What's that? Joshy asked.
Tasha and Cassius both looked at each other. That's
hell, Cassius said.
Like Night on Bald Mountain in Fantasia with the
ghosts and demons and hags? Joshy asked.
Yeah, Tasha answered. Except it's much, much
worse.
Joshy sighed. He swallowed hard. But I don't want to
go with the bad guys when I die.
Cassius tapped the Romans 6:23 verse on his screen.

Read the last part of this verse again, Joshy.

But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord, Joshy read.
That is what saves us from having to go to hell,
Cassius said. The bad news is that we all have sinned, and
our punishment is death. The good news is that Jesus the
Christ died for us and our sins. Cassius swiped to Romans
5:8.
Joshy knew what to do. He read, But God
demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.
God loves you, Cassius said.
So much, Joshy, Tasha added. That's why He sent
Jesus to die for you. He didn't want you to spend eternity
with the bad guys. Do you have another verse?
Cassius turned to Romans 10:9 and 13. Joshy's face
was serious as he read, That if you confess with your mouth
the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised
Him from the dead, you will be saved. For whoever calls on
the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Since Jesus died for us, all we have to do is believe in
Him, and we will be saved, Cassius said. Now, let me ask
you a question. Do you believe that you are a sinner, Joshy?
Joshy nodded. Yeah, he said quietly. I've done
some pretty bad stuff. Everyone knows that.
And do you believe Jesus died for your sins the bad
stuff you've done? Cassius asked.

Joshy nodded again. Yeah. Tasha silently prayed for

him to make the right decision.
Cassius had another question. Do you want to ask
Jesus into your heart? Would you like to be saved right
now?
Joshy nodded. He looked at Cassius in his eyes. Yes,
he said.
Tasha put an arm around Joshy's shoulders. All you
have to do is believe, she told him. You can let God know
you want to be saved by praying to Him.
That's it? But I've never prayed before.
We'll help you, Cassius said. I'll say a part out loud.
If you agree with it and believe it, you can pray it out loud to
God. He'll hear you.
The three kids knelt down on the floor beside Joshy's
bed. Dear God, Cassius started.
Dear God, Joshy repeated. His voice sounded shaky.
Tasha opened her eyes and peeked over at him. Tears ran
down his cheeks. She patted his shoulder softly.
I realize that I am a sinner, Cassius continued.
I realize that I am a sinner, Joshy repeated.
I believe that Jesus died for my sins, Cassius said.
I believe Jesus died for my sins, Joshy prayed.
I believe He was buried and rose again.
I believe with all my heart that He was buried and

rose again, Joshy prayed.

Please forgive me of all of my sins.
Please forgive me of all of my sins.
Please come into my heart and save my soul,
Cassius said.
Please come into my heart and save my soul, Joshy
repeated.
I want you to change my life.
I want you to change my life, Joshy prayed
sincerely.
I believe you heard my prayer, and I am now saved,
Cassius said.
I believe you heard my prayer, God, Joshy repeated
confidently. I am now saved. Thank you.
Amen, Cassius finished.
Amen, Joshy and Tasha said together.

The sun had disappeared, and stars were beginning to

twinkle in the dusky evening sky when Tasha and Cassius left
Joshy's house. Cassius had promised to get Joshy a Bible and
give it to him on Monday at school. Joshy had agreed to start
going to church with Cassius. When Cassius and Tasha got to
the end of the block, Tasha gave a fist pump. Yes! she
exclaimed.
Yes! Cassius grinned. He looked around like he was

in a dream. I can hardly believe it. The next second he was

running down the sidewalk rivaling the birds in their noise.
Joshy got saved! he shouted. Joshy got saved!

chapter nineteen: white tiger prophecy

With one hand, Tasha yanked a brush through her
hair while pulling out of her shoe closet a pair of buckled
cutout booties with the other. She mentally went over the
trigonometry problems she thought would be on the weekly
pop quiz that her math teacher gave every Monday at
Hacienda High. The weekend had been so unexpectedly busy
that she hadn't had time to study properly, but Tasha was
sure she would still do well. She dropped both the shoes and
brush as her phone rang and went to answer it.
Hello? Tasha said. A cacophony of Chinese flooded
her ear from the other end. She recognized the voice.
Kwong! Tasha said loudly. English only, please.
Oh, my apologies, Kwong replied. Let me start
again. On yesterday, after we departed the airport, I spent all
night researching the prophecy. It has been so long that I
wanted to make sure I had the facts right before telling you
anything. But Tasha Lu, it is all just as I remember.
So my brother is still alive? Tasha asked.
If nothing has happened, then yes, Kwong said.
Now, listen, because if we're thinking about trying to find
him, I'm afraid we don't have much time. When the
ancestors of the Ming sect that is still in existence today fled
the invading Manchus, one of the items they made sure to
take with them was the jade ewer of the first emperor,
Hongwu. This ewer was made to ensure that if the Ming
Dynasty were to fail, there would be a chance it would one-

day rise again.

When the jade ewer is filled with the blood of the
white tiger and poured into the Yellow River all that the
water touches will be made gold. When the white tiger is
killed on a jade altar, the Mings will be restored to glory. And
this white tiger is no ordinary one. It must be fourteen
moons. It must be born of man.
Tasha thought of Raju's note. But what does it have
to do with my brother? she asked. And how in the world
can a human give birth to an animal?
Tasha Lu, don't you understand? Kwong sighed.
Your brother is the tiger.

chapter twenty: austin

Collette was waiting on the front steps of Hacienda
High when Al Grace dropped Tasha off. That all sounds too
freaky to be true, he had said after she told him what Kwong
had told her. But with all that he said on Sunday, I'm
inclined to believe him.
We're going to be late for class if we don't hurry,
Collette said, following Tasha into the main hall. You know
how Drac is about late students. He'll make us clean the
entire classroom instead of going to lunch.
Drac, short for Dracula, was the nickname they had
given to their math teacher. Once, he told the class he drank
piranha's blood while on a trip to the Amazon and found it
tasty. For good luck, he kept three drops of his dead mother's
blood in a tiny vial around his neck. I know, Tasha said.
She fumbled with the combination on her locker before
placing her book bag inside and pulling out a red notebook.
Are you still a part of that new club? Collette asked
as they started down the hall.
Yeah, we meet on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It's pretty
cool, Tasha answered. Do you want to join?
Not yet, Collette said. She bit down on her bottom
lip. Do you guys pray in there?
Yeah, sure, Tasha answered. Why?
Can you pray for my brother? He ran away last
night.

Tasha stopped walking. She remembered Collette's

fraternal twin brother, Austin. He had stopped attending
school with them in elementary when his CU behavior
reached erratic levels. Ever since he was three, Austin's
periodic rages had baffled his parents, sister, teachers, and
psychologists alike. Frustrated doctors had labeled him
ADHD, extremely depressed, OCD and several other
disorders. But none of them really knew for certain what
made Austin fly into sudden fits of anger, punch holes in
walls, lie screaming on the floor for hours, tear out his hair,
and repeatedly open and slam doors until the knobs broke
off. His parents had pulled him out of school and now kept
him home while seeking the best treatment for him.
Do you have any idea where he went? Tasha asked.
Collette shook her head. He was at home last night.
When we woke up, he was gone, she explained. I'm just so
worried he'll end up hurting himself. Or even worse,
someone else. My dad did alert the police, however. I hope
they find him soon.
Tasha reached out and gave her friend a tight hug.
They will, she said in her most hopeful voice. Hold a sec.
Tasha turned and ran back the way they had just come to her
locker. She unzipped her book bag and pulled a 3D paper
bracelet out. Here, she offered joining Collette again. I
meant to give it to you earlier. I coded it myself.
Jesus loves you, Collette read taking the bracelet.
She slipped it on her left wrist and smiled at Tasha. Thanks!
That's good to know; I think.

Drac greeted them with pure delight when they

entered the classroom. His mouth was curved into a wide
smile, and his narrow nose twitched. Young ladies, you're
late! he said. I trust you'll be ready to wipe the marker
boards, clean out desk bubblegum, and re-stack the books
while your on time classmates are at lunch.
Tasha and Collette both groaned as they quickly found
their desks.

chapter twenty-one: lycanthropy

You're shining so bright over there I almost thought
you were an angel, Enrique called across Art Room number
3 as members of ZOEgivers came in one by one. It was early
Tuesday morning. They were meeting for prayer before
classes started.
Madison ran a hand through her strawberry-blonde
hair waves and flashed her best smile. Maybe
I'm your angel, she winked.
Shannon shot both of them a disapproving look.
Since everyone is here now, shall we pray? she asked.
The members of ZOEgivers gathered in a wide double
circle and held hands. Does anyone have any special things
to pray about? Cassius asked.
Yes, Tasha spoke up. Please pray for my friend,
Collette, and her parents. On Sunday, her brother ran away.
He's mentally challenged, and they're really concerned about
him.
Okay, Jamie said. Keep praying for my dad. Last
week he was stationed at a new base in Japan. Pray for God
to keep him safe, along with all our troops.
I would like everyone to pray for me to grow in
Christ, Joshy said next. Thanks to Cassius and Tasha I'm
really new to this Jesus thing, but I want to do what is right.
So you guys pray for me.

Shannon prayed first, followed by Jamie, Cassius, and

Porschia, who ended her prayer with, In the name of J-E-SU-S we all pray. Amen.
Amen! the others echoed.

During PE after lunch, the students of Hacienda High

took turns walking laps on the track around the football field.
Cassius left his class group to walk with Tasha, Madison, and
Collette. I wonder if they ever found that Scrooge-looking
guy, he said.
Don't you keep up with the news? Madison said.
They found him dead last week.
On my front porch, Tasha added. Cassius looked at
her in disbelief. I forgot to tell you guys about that, Tasha
continued. He left me a note, too. You probably won't
believe all I've learned about my family the past few days if I
told you.
Try us, Collette said.
Wait for Enrique, Madison said. She waved as he
jogged from the parking lot onto the track. When he caught
up with them, Tasha started from the beginning. She told her
friends about her parent's fateful mission trip to the Mings,
Kwong, Raju Chan, and her brother who was supposed to be
a tiger. She also told them about the prophecy. Kwong
believes my brother might still be alive, Tasha finished. But
according to the prophecy, we don't have much time to find
him. He turns fourteen in less than two weeks, the same time

I turn fifteen.
Ow didha bowtha cum ouch asa tiger? Joshy's voice
asked. He had walked up behind them and heard the last
part of Tasha's story.
Collette turned. What? she asked.
Joshy swallowed a bite of the pretzel filled with cream
cheese he was eating. How did your brother come out as a
tiger? he repeated. You clearly aren't a tigress.
I don't know, Tasha shrugged. Kwong's not certain
how it happened either, but he's pretty sure the prophecy
isn't talking about anyone else.
I heard of a woman who gave birth to rabbits, Joshy
said.
Was this in one of your pseudo-news sci-fi
magazines? Cassius asked.
Joshy shook his head. No, this one was real, he said.
It happened in London, long time ago.
I don't know about that, Enrique said. He scratched
his head and looked at Tasha. Maybe your brother just has a
serious form of lycanthropy.
Which means? Tasha asked.
Lycanthropy is an ailment that causes one to have
delusions in which the affected person believes they are an
animal. Most times the animal is a wolf, but I guess in your
brother's case, he would believe himself to be a tiger,
Enrique explained. It is a real thing. Remember in Daniel in

the Bible, King Nebuchadnezzar started acting like a beast.

He ate grass like a cow, grew hair like eagles' feathers, and
his nails became as long as birds' claws.
Whoa! That's in the Bible? Joshy's eyes were wide.
That sounds better than Wolverine. I'll have to read that.
Yeah, it's pretty interesting, Cassius said. King Neb
wasn't an animal, but he thought he was one and started
acting like one.
Enrique continued, There was this professor who
finally identified Nebuchadnezzar's behavior as clinical
lycanthropy.
Can it be cured? Collette asked.
King Neb was cured, Cassius said. Enrique nodded.
That sounds like the best explanation for a tiger
being born of man, Tasha said. I'll have to tell Kwong after
school. Right now, we have to get back inside. Half of the
track was already empty as students made their way back
inside. Tasha, Enrique, Joshy, Cassius, Madison, and Collette
followed the laughing stragglers to the side double doors.
Hey, Tasha, Cassius said before they separated to go
to different classes. If you go looking for your brother, tell
me. I want to come.

chapter twenty-two: stars, the

moon, thousands of galaxies
I'm leaving this Friday to try to find your brother,
Kwong told Tasha over the phone as Al Grace drove her
home from school. I feel obligated to do so. After losing you
the way I did, it's the least I can do for Fang and Hai Rong.
I'm coming with you, Tasha said. And I have a
friend who wants to come.
Kwong hesitated. Only if your folks agree. I don't
want to get into any trouble with them.
Tasha had not thought about that. She was positive
her grandmother would not let her go to the Himalayas with
Kwong. Ru Yi would probably be undecided about it. She had
the best possibility of getting approval from Eric. Tasha
decided to ask him.
So you're going to try to find this brother of yours?
Al Grace asked after Tasha got off the phone with Kwong.
Yeah, if I'm allowed to go, Tasha answered. I think
Eric will say yes. Kwong only needs to find a private pilot
willing to take him. He doesn't want to fly commercial.
Cassius said he would ask his older brother about taking us,
but I doubt he'll agree since he only just got his license.
Al Grace straightened his shades. Well, if it doesn't
make any difference, he said. I flew fighter jets in Vietnam.
Didn't get to see much action, but I think I still know how to
steer a plane--

Tasha cut him off. You're perfect! she exclaimed as

they pulled into her home drive. Why didn't you say
anything before?
You never asked, Al Grace smiled. Now, you tell
Kwong I'll see him bright and early Friday morning. We're
going to have a grand, old time flying over to China.

Tasha found Eric in his computer room at the back of

the house. A pyramid constructed of empty Diet Coke bottles
greeted her when she walked in. Granola bar wrappers
littered the floor. His desks and neon lighted work shelves
were home to many miniature movie figurines. Gandalf was
wielding his staff. Gollum sat crouching with a fish.
Superman was giving Batman the evil eye. Thor slammed his
hammer like there was no tomorrow. Bumblebee raced after
an evil Decepticon.
Eric was sitting in a nylon office chair working on a
game's user interface. How was school? he asked Tasha.
Normal, Tasha answered. She came inside the room,
slid King Kong over on the desk, and sat in the space. I have
a very important question to ask you, Dad.
I have something important to tell you as well, Eric
replied. But, go on. You first.
Kwong is certain my brother is still alive, but he
might not be for much longer, Tasha said. He's leaving on
Friday to try to find him. Al is flying out with him. I would
like to go with them.

I don't think you've been paying attention to your

English teacher, Eric said. He gave her a stern look. You're
being declarative, not interrogative.
Could I please go with Kwong to the Himalayas?
Tasha tried again.
Now that is a sentence that demands an answer,
Eric said. He leaned back in his chair. I have a feeling you
know what your mother and Gramma would say about this.
No? Tasha suggested.
That's right, Eric agreed. However, I know this
matters a lot to you. If our positions were switched and I had
a chance to find out about my real family members, I think I
would do so. You have my permission to go, especially since
Al will be with you. Don't worry about Gramma and Ru Yi.
I'll let them know about everything after you've left. But if
you aren't back in a week, I'm coming after you.
Yes! Tasha cheered. She swung off the desk towards
the door. Thanks a bunch! The familiar sight of her pink
Bible lying on a chair made her stop. You've been reading?
she asked picking it up.
Oh, yes. I meant to buy my own. Eric smiled. That
was the important thing I had to tell you. Last night, on my
way home from the gym, I found myself speechless when I
thought about the God Who made all this. Eric's fingers left
his computer mouse to wave around in the air. Stars, the
moon, thousands of galaxies, he said. God still has the
heart to love me. That has to be the most amazing thing,
right? So, I pulled over. I couldn't keep saying no to Him. I

asked Jesus to be my Friend. I can't explain it all, but I feel

different. I know He is here. Eric's hand was over his chest.
My heart is at peace.
Tasha's eyes burned as they filled with tears. She
walked back across the room and hugged Eric. I'm so happy
for you, she told him. In fact, besides the time I got saved, I
don't think I've ever been happier.
Me neither, Eric said softly. Me neither.

chapter twenty-three: speaking of Tasha

Ru Yi smoothed the emerald-green gown she was
holding one last time before handing it to Shan Zhen. Just
perfect, Shan Zhen complimented. I don't think I could
have done better. Tasha will love it.
Speaking of Tasha, she ought to come and try it on to
make sure it fits right, Ru Yi said. Have you seen her?
Haven't seen her all day, Shan Zhen answered. Her
forehead creased as she thought. In fact, I haven't seen her
since yesterday morning.
Eric was in the living room playing a Saturday
afternoon round of bowling on the Wii. Have you seen
Tasha? Ru Yi asked him. Eric's arm stopped mid-swing. He
frowned as the ball on the screen rolled into the gutter.
Uh...no, he answered. Why?
The premiere for Code-Girl is next week. I need for
her to try on the dress I made.
Oh, about Tasha...I meant to tell you she went on a
little trip, Eric said.
For school? On Saturday? Ru Yi asked.
She left yesterday, Eric said. He looked past Ru Yi to
Shan Zhen standing in the hallway. And it isn't exactly
school related. She shouldn't be gone long.
Ru Yi had more questions. Where did she go? Why
didn't she tell us first?

Eric, this had better not be what I think it is, Shan

Zhen said sharply.
If you're thinking she went to the Himalayas. In
China. With Kwong. And Al. And Cassius. To find her
brother. Eric nodded. Then your thinking is correct. I gave
her permission to go.
Shan Zhen gasped. Ru Yi dropped the pair of heels she
was holding. ERIC! they both yelled.

chapter twenty-four: the roof of the world

Tasha awoke early Saturday morning with Cassius
elbow jabbing into her side. Oww, she groaned, pushing
him away. Slide over. The door to the small Cessna
airplane they were in stood open and a cold breeze blew in.
Where in the world are we? Cassius asked groggily.
Probably at the bottom of the Pacific, Tasha said.
We were flying over that ocean forever.
Yeah right. Cassius unwrapped himself from his
blanket and leaned out the door. The time on his sports
wristwatch read 3 A.M. It was dark. Stars twinkled faintly
overhead alongside a crescent moon. Al Grace and Kwong
were standing a few feet away wreathed in mist. A third
figure was with them. The shaky light the person was holding
barely illuminated sharp features in a gaunt face. A
lantern? Cassius said. Man, I thought those things were
extinct. Tasha flicked on the LED-powered flashlight she
had packed. Both of them climbed out of the plane.
Where are we? Tasha asked.
Welcome to the Roof of the World, Al called turning
towards them. Weve landed on the edge of the Tibetan
Plateau. As soon as it gets light, were heading that way. He
pointed South. Well travel through the Himalayan range
until we reach the Shao-Ren forest. Rinchen said we will find
the Mings there.
Kwong motioned to the third man standing with
them. This is Rinchen. Hes an ex-Ming and has agreed to

take us to his former village. Rinchens face was etched with

wrinkles; his hands polka-dotted with age spots, and his
worn skin marked with blemishes. Underneath his short,
thick chuba he wore sheepskin pants and woolen shoes over
his feet. His white hair was cut unevenly short. Rinchen
nodded to Tasha and Cassius.
He doesnt speak English, Kwong explained. Ill be
translating for him.
After leaving Friday afternoon from Los Angeles, Al,
Kwong, Tasha, and Cassius had flown for nearly fifteen hours
before they landed on the Tibetan Plateau. Al, who had
remained awake the entire time, now went to sleep by a
small fire Rinchen had built. Tasha, Cassius, and Kwong
each ate a cold chicken wrap and waited for daylight to
arrive.
I feel dizzy, Tasha said taking a sip of water.
Kwong tore a piece from his wrap with his fingers.
Its the altitude, he said. The air is thinner up here. Youll
get used to it.
Rinchen looked with interest over Cassius shoulder at
his glowing smartphone. Eventually, he turned the screen
off. No signal, Cassius sighed.
The crescent moon vanished. The stars disappeared.
Slowly, the sun came, struggling to cut through the mountain
mist. Soon the entire gray, brown, and pale green grassland
was ablaze in morning light. Tasha and the others
shouldered bulging backpacks, left the plane behind, and
headed to the base of the Himalayas. They reached it by midafternoon, stopped for a short rest and lunch, and then

pushed into the moist broadleaf Shao-Ren forest.

The forest growth was dense and thick. The air was
muggy. Rinchen led the way, expertly hacking away with a
sharp machete at stubborn vines and branches. Their tough
boots did the rest of the work; trampling down twigs and
leaves, crunching unsuspecting bugs underfoot. Tasha and
Cassius started sweating under their blue and green jackets.
Numerous birds flitted in the treetops overhead. The more
curious ones dipped down to inspect the strange faces
making their way through their home. Gray-bellied
partridges and long-tailed cheer pheasants remained hidden
in the underbrush. Twice they sensed a larger animal moving
somewhere around them, but no one ventured away from
their path to find out what it was.
As the afternoon turned into evening, the dim forest
grew dark. The higher the group climbed, the steeper and
rockier the ground became. When they finally stopped for
the night in a small clearing, Tasha dropped to the ground.
Im beat! she exclaimed. Im positive Ive never walked so
long at one time in my life.
I bet youre glad we didnt let you bring those heeled
booties, Al teased. Feet killers for sure.
Tasha looked down at her muddied knee-high boots.
Durability over style, she said. At least for now, out here in
the wild.
I think a forest is trying to grow up here, Cassius
said. He pulled a fistful of twigs and leaves out of his matted
afro. I also think Ive borrowed the appetite of Joshy. Totally
starving.

Kwong built another fire. Rinchen went to scout out a

bit, he told the others. He believes we will arrive at the
village in a day and a half. Its built around a waterfall. We
should hear it before we even see the place.
Tasha and Al set out the bagel sandwiches with meat
and cheese, dried fruit, and granola mix they were having for
dinner. Cassius switched on their flashlights to provide more
light. Once we get to the Ming village, whats the plan? he
asked. Im sure we arent just going to barge in there yelling
we want to take a tiger.
No, we arent going to do that, Kwong answered. I
have a couple of ideas. One, if the Mings have already
captured the tiger (and that is highly likely), we work to free
it before they kill it. Two, if the Mings have not yet captured
the tiger, we need to get to it before they find it. Rinchen is of
the mind that the Mings have already commenced the
hunting of the white tiger.
Can we please stop calling him a tiger? Tasha said.
Hes my brother.
Cassius jumped as Rinchen quietly emerged from the
dark forest into the circle of fire and flashlight. He pulled out
the hand drawn map he had been using and made a mark on
it with the stub of a charred ember. He started talking in a
hoarse, breathy voice. The white tiger born of man reaches
fourteen moons in nine more days, Kwong translated for
Rinchen. I see signs that the Mings are on the hunt for it
already. They are searching far and wide. We are here.
Rinchen pointed to the mark he had made on the map.
Kwong continued translating, We have another days worth

of walking through the forest if we start early tomorrow. We

will keep climbing higher. Then we will come to a series of
small streams that will lead us to the waterfall.
What if my brother doesnt want to come with us?
Tasha asked.
Rinchen turned towards her. He stared at her face in
the pale light. A solemn expression came over his own
wrinkled face. The next second he was kneeling on the
ground, his hands covering his eyes and his words coming
out between sobs. Whats wrong? Cassius asked. Whats
he saying?
Tasha reminds him of the cross-woman, Kwong
translated. Her mother, who he helped kill.

chapter twenty-five: sacrifice

After dinner was over, Tasha and Cassius rolled up in
their sleeping bags. Al, wrapped in a dark purple fleece,
leaned against a massive trunk. The trees were so thick
overhead, the full moon that was out could not be seen. The
mountain air grew chilly as Rinchen began to tell of his time
in the Ming village. Kwong translated for him. The Mings
who survived the fallen dynasty and fled to this forest
numbered in the thousands, he began. However,
throughout the years, disease, famine, and inside hostility
caused us to dwindle quickly. When I left eleven years ago,
the village population was down to five hundred people. It is
probably less now. Anyhow, we had no contact with the
outside world. If an unfortunate rice farmer or herdsman
happened to find his way close to our village, they were
immediately captured, tortured, and killed. We would hack
the body into pieces and sacrifice it to Mother Earth.
In order to keep Mother Earth pleased, four human
sacrifices had to be made each year. One for each season, two
males and two females. Anyone could be chosen except the
sick, deformed, or very elderly. Everyone had to participate,
even family members. Rinchen stared down at his bony
fingers. I participated in sacrificing my brother, Kwong
continued translating. And I watched my mother burn alive.
These sacrifices must go on until the final sacrifice is made.
Courtesy of the white tiger? Al interrupted.
Kwong and Rinchen both nodded. Yes. That is what
the Mings believe. That is what I used to believe too, Kwong
translated for Rinchen. But now I believe differently

because of the cross-man and cross-woman. One day, they

bravely walked into the Ming village with a young you.
Rinchen pointed to Kwong. And a tiny you. Rinchen
pointed to Tasha. They spent months getting to know us
and giving small gifts. They even brought with them miracle
potions that restored many of the sick to health. When they
saw the sacrifices we did, they spoke against them and said
the ultimate sacrifice had already been made. They told us
that a God-man called Christ had been killed and buried. The
most unusual thing about this God-man was that He had left
His grave. The Mings, including me, found this hard to
believe. Our village leader warned us not to believe the crossman and cross-woman. If we stopped the human sacrifices,
Mother Earth would become angry and swallow us up. Our
village leader had a vision that the cross-woman was carrying
the long-awaited white tiger. In order to get it, he said she
must be killed.
Tasha pulled her sleeping bag tighter. She didnt cry,
but she felt sad. She never thought her missionary parents
had died in such a vicious manner.
Kwong continued translating after Rinchen. We
attacked them at night with lances, he said. We stabbed
them again and again. Even when their cries stopped, we
kept stabbing. The tiger baby was cut out of the crosswomans stomach and left at the edge of the village. In the
morning, it was gone.
We burned the bodies of the cross-man and crosswoman. The next day we had a great rain that swelled the
waterfalls river. Our village leader said it meant Mother
Earth was very pleased. I did not feel pleased, however. I felt

much guilt. When I told the others I did not wish to continue
sacrificing, they turned on me. That is when I ran away. Once
on my own, the God-man came to me in a dream. He showed
me the way to the Sky Kingdom. Rinchen stretched out both
his hands in front of him. The gateway to the Sky Kingdom
is narrow, and the path is straight, but I am walking it. With
the help of the God-man, I am walking it.
Everyone was silent after Rinchen finished. Rinchen
covered his eyes again and dropped his head. His next words
were whispered.
Kwong looked over the dying fire at Tasha. Rinchen
says Im sorry, he told her.
Tasha gave a small smile. Its okay now, Rinchen,
she said. Youre proof that my parents did not die for
nothing.
Rinchen lifted his head. His wrinkled face smiled at
Tasha.
Are you alright? Cassius asked Tasha after the other
three had gone to sleep.
Tasha turned in her sleeping bag towards him. Yeah,
she said. I thought my parents had been unsuccessful in
their mission to the Mings, but they werent. They were brave
to do what they did. Im proud of them. Tasha paused
before continuing, I cant believe Ive been slow in telling
others about Jesus back home while my parents died trying
to share the Gospel.
Hey, at least youre doing it now, Cassius reminded
her. Eric got saved and Joshy, too. Rinchen was the only one

to accept Christ through your parents efforts. I know Heaven

rejoices over one sinner who repents, but imagine what kind
of party there would be if all the other Mings came to believe
in Jesus. Know what Im thinking?
Tasha nodded. My parents mission is now our
mission, she said.

chapter twenty-six: over the waterfall

Al Grace had to pull Tasha out of her sleeping bag the
next morning. It seems like I just fell asleep, Tasha
yawned. Where is the sun at?
Its pretty hard to see underneath all these trees, Al
said. I doubt its even up yet, but we have to get moving.
Rinchen is already a mile ahead of us. Tasha and Cassius
stuffed their blankets into their backpacks, pulled on their
boots, and raced to catch up. Too bad we didnt think to
bring ours, Cassius said after they had walked for a while.
He pointed the oatmeal breakfast bar he was eating at the
back of Al, who was a few feet ahead of them behind Kwong
and Rinchen. Al had buds in his ears, and now and then
pumped a fist into the air.
I dont believe Al could live long without music,
Tasha said. Hes always listening to something.
What? Cassius asked. Rap remixes?
Mostly polka, sometimes salsa, Tasha answered.
And always sixties rock.
By mid-afternoon, the group had cleared the trees.
Standing on the edge of the tangled forest, the suns rays
were fully able to reach them. Rocky ground, dotted with
green grass and patches of mountain flowers, rose into steep
cliffs. Rinchen pointed ahead, and Kwong translated for him.
Cant you hear it? he asked. The waterfall is opposite those
cliffs that drop down into the valley. The Ming village is built
around it.

It looks like we can reach it by late afternoon, Al

said. He pulled out the earbuds and stuffed them into his
jacket pocket.
Rinchen knelt on the ground. He moved his hand in a
circle and pointed to a patch of matted grass. A second patch
of matted grass was not that far behind it as if someone had
been walking there. Some sort of animal, Kwong
translated.
Cassius bent down and picked up a sharp metal piece.
Whats this? he asked.
Lance head, Kwong answered. He looked uneasy.
Someone else is here.
Tasha shouted in surprise as Al lunged at her. His
arms embraced her, and they both fell down and hit the
ground hard. Rinchen, Kwong, and Cassius ducked as irontipped wooden lances sailed out of the forest trees over their
heads. Missing their intended targets, the lances pierced the
rocky earth and stayed there quivering. Seven men dressed
in coats and helmets of stone armor emerged from the forest
and surrounded the group. Their eyes were dark. Their
naturally pale faces were suntanned and hard. Battered silver
shields were slung across their backs; half carried crossbows
while the rest held lances.
For a minute, they stood and stared at one another,
then one of the armored men thumped his chest and shouted
at his companions in a high-pitched voice. Tasha winced as
callous fingers pinched her wrists and pulled her up. Looks
like the Mings found us, Al whispered as they were shoved
roughly forward. After much pushing and poking and high-

pitched exclamations over Cassius dark skin and hair and

Rinchens familiar face, the group was moving again. The
man who had pounded his chest and appeared to be the
leader went first, followed by Tasha and Al in between two
Mings. Cassius and Kwong came next in between two Mings.
Rinchen was last with the final two Mings. They kept up a
fast pace over the rocky cliffs for what seemed a long time.
The sun was disappearing behind the surrounding
mountains when they came to the last cliff and looked down
into a lush valley glowing in the warm evening light.
If Tasha hadnt been so exhausted, she would have
been awestruck at the valleys beauty. A thundering waterfall
poured from the highest cliff to merge with the rushing
bluish-white river below. The steep valley sides were dotted
with precariously perched south-facing houses made of
earth and wood. People dressed in traditional Hanfu
garments and headgear moved in and out of the buildings.
Whoa, Cassius breathed. Tell me we havent
suddenly been transported to Pandora.
I would be wondering the same if it werent for
them, Al said. He eyed the Ming nearest him who promptly
grabbed hold of his arm again and steered him after the
leader who had suddenly turned off the path. It appeared
that they were going to walk right into the face of the cliff
when at the last minute, the Ming leader pushed against the
stone, and they entered a dark, narrow space. When they
were all inside, the secret stone door was shut again, and
they were left in complete darkness. A striking sound was
heard. The Ming leader held up a flickering torch. Cassius
reached behind him into his backpack, pulled out his

flashlight, and turned it on. The seven Mings staggered back

at the unexpected brightness but quickly recovered from
their shock.
Hey! Cassius exclaimed as one of them snatched the
light and handed it to the Ming leader. I hope you have
every intention of giving that back.
Rinchen mumbled something behind him, and Kwong
translated. They think youve stolen a bit of the sun, he
said.
The Ming leader put out his torch. Bobbing the
flashlight up and down, he started walking again. Everyone
fell in step, single file, behind him. They were moving down a
narrow, long set of stone steps. Tasha heard the muffled
sound of the waterfall falling outside of the cliff wall. Down,
down, down, she whispered.
Hungry, hungry, hungry, Cassius whispered after
her.
If it wasnt for these stairs, I bet we would all be
falling like Alice in Wonderland down the rabbit hole, Tasha
sighed.
Cassius laugh was cut short by the Ming behind him
who gave his back a sharp jab. Oomph! Cassius groaned as
he tumbled forward into Tasha. Tasha braced herself against
the wall to keep from tumbling into Al. They continued down
the stone steps. Down, down, down. Down, down, down.
Down, down, down.
When they finally reached the bottom, the Ming
leader made a sharp right turn. Leaving the inside of the cliff,

they returned outside to find the sun gone and the sky a deep
blue. Sometime before they had been at the top of the
waterfall, now they were at its base. In a large cleared square
space beside the stream, all of the Mings seemed to be
gathering. They stood in a semicircle around a jade altar. The
smell of incense sticks burning hung heavy in the air. Tasha
estimated there were about three hundred people as they
were led past the Ming group to a nearby cave.
The armored men pushed their captives inside, drew a
wooden bar-gate over the opening, and latched it shut with a
crude, double knotted rope. Wait! Cassius called as they
hurried away. He peered through the tiny spaces in the bargate. Bring back my flashlight!

chapter twenty-seven: razor sharp

Tasha shrugged out of her backpack. She sat down on
the cold ground and leaned against the cave wall. Now
what? she asked.
Step one: panic, Cassius said. Just kidding. He ran
a hand over the bar-gate. This rope lock looks pretty flimsy.
We could try breaking out.
And once were out, how do you suggest we get past
that huge Ming group? Tasha said. She looked down at her
grimy hands before touching her face. It felt dusty and
sweaty. If Mads or Collette could see me now, she sighed.
I must look horrible.
I second that, Cassius replied grinning. Tasha
frowned at him. Just trying to bring humor into a dark
situation, Cassius said. He sighed also and sat down beside
her.
Lets not forget why were here, Al told them. We
have to stay focused on finding that tiger.
Everyone turned to Rinchen, who had pulled out his
machete and started talking. Kwong translated. He says we
can get out, but the rope will take some time to cut through.
Ming ropes arent like ordinary ones. Also, there is no need
for us to look for the tiger. The tiger will be brought to us.
Why else do you think the entire village has gathered around
the altar? I think it would do us all good if we said a prayer
ourselves.
Good idea, Tasha and Cassius said together. They

moved into a close circle and held hands. Heavenly Father,

Tasha prayed. You know what we came here to do. Thank
You for bringing us this far safely. Please give us wisdom as
to the next steps we should take and grant us success in our
mission. Even though we are among strange people in a
strange place, we know that You are near us even here.
Amen.
Amen, Cassius, Al, and Kwong said. Rinchen moved
toward the entrance of the cave. He began cutting at the rope
with his machete. Tasha turned on her flashlight. She took
out crackers, meat slices, peanut butter, and carrot sticks for
everyone to eat.
They had just finished eating when a loud cry from the
gathering of Mings sounded from outside the cave. Whats
happening? Kwong asked straining to look over Rinchens
shoulder.
Its too dark to see anything, Tasha said. She picked
up her flashlight and aimed it at the spaces in the bar-gate.
The light blinded instead of illuminated. Hes almost got the
rope off, Kwong translated Rinchen as saying. Theyve
brought back the white tiger.
The next step is to kill it, right? Cassius asked. We
have to get out of here. Tasha and Cassius hurriedly
repacked their backpacks. They crouched behind Rinchen at
the entrance of the cave. Rinchen gave one final hack at the
rope, and the bar-gate fell backwards. Turning off her
flashlight, Tasha led the way out of the cave.
The sky was black. The smoke from the many small
fires made it difficult to see. The smell from the burning

incense was strong. Stepping carefully, Tasha and the others

made their way away from the cave until they were a couple
of feet behind the gathered Mings.
Both Tasha and Cassius gasped as they caught sight of
what was on the jade altar. Bound with ropes lay an
unearthly, massive creature. The half-man, half-beast had
front paws that appeared to be thick human knuckles with
curved fingernails as sharp as talons. Its back was humped;
its shoulder and neck muscles bulged. It was covered in dirty
white hair that was matted in some places and shaggy in
others. Yellowish brown eyes gleamed from under heavy
black brows.
Standing over the tiger creature was the leader of the
Ming village dressed in a flowing silver robe with a silver
sash and wide sleeves. His raised hand held a razor sharp
knife.
Rinchen covered his eyes and turned away as the
Ming leader brought his hand down. The blade pierced the
shoulder of the tiger creature who let out a spine-chilling
roar. Its massive frame writhed in pain. Thick, red blood
flowed from the cut into the waiting jade ewer that would
fulfill the prophecy and restore the Mings to glory.
Tasha heard the storm before she felt it. A bolt of
lightning flashed across the dark sky and briefly illuminated
the entire valley in brilliant light. A low rumble of thunder
followed. Then came the rain. It started out as a sprinkle but
quickly became a full downpour. The water drops fell swiftly
to join the already swelling river that ran straight through
the village.

chapter twenty-eight: tremor

We have to stop them, Cassius said. He looked
around frantically and picked up a medium-sized rock off the
ground.
No! Kwong warned. But it was too late. The rock
sailed through the air and hit the helmet of an armored
Ming. The armored Ming turned towards them. He peered
through the smoke and rain until he spotted their figures in
the shadows. He made a signal to some other armored Mings
who moved away from the main group and headed for Tasha
and the others.
We need to separate, Kwong said, talking quickly.
Ill go with you two. He nodded to Tasha and Cassius. Al
and Rinchen create a distraction. Well get to Tashi.
Tashi? Tasha questioned.
Thats the tigersI mean your brothers name,
Kwong explained. Fang and Hai Rong said if their baby was
a boy they would name it Tashi. I know, a very fine time to
tell you, but I just remembered.
The armored Mings were closer now. We have to get
moving, Cassius said.
Al went right with Rinchen. He gave a low whistle to
get the attention of the armored Mings.
Kwong led Tasha and Cassius backwards until they
were out of the light. Then they circled around to reach the
other side of the jade altar. Meanwhile, the silver-robed Ming
leader had taken the jade ewer and was climbing the many

stone steps to the top of the waterfall. Tasha noticed the

faces of the Ming group were all lifted expectantly upward.
Look! she whispered to Kwong and Cassius. Her finger was
pointing to the top of the waterfall where the Ming leader
had just reappeared. He was small and dark against the light
of the full moon.
Cassius shielded his eyes against the rain as he looked
up. What now? he asked. The Ming leader lifted the ewer.
He tipped it and poured the blood into the water.
Its supposed to turn gold, Kwong said. Tasha
glanced at the nearby river. The rain had caused it to reach
the bank, and it was still rising. It was only a matter of
minutes before the river would begin to overflow. A moving,
pounding sensation brought Tashas attention back to the
waterfall. She thought it was another rumble of thunder,
then realized it was coming from the ground and not the sky.
The pounding got stronger. The ground shivered and
convulsed.
Tasha grabbed hold of Cassius arm to keep from
falling. He felt the shaking too. Earthquake, Cassius said.

chapter twenty-nine: implosion

As quickly as it had started, the shaking stopped. But
the slight earthquake had frightened the Mings. Some of
them hunched over on the ground by the jade altar. Others
tripped over one another as they moved away from the jade
altar.
The Ming village began to implode on itself. Large
rocks and waves of dirt rolled down the valley sides. They
smashed against several houses, causing them to collapse
and slide forward towards the river. A big tree branch fell
into the water with a loud splash. Gold! Cassius exclaimed
as the spray settled. Realizing he had spoken out loud,
Kwong covered his mouth with his hand. Gold, Cassius
voice came out muffled. All the water is gold.
The Mings noticed it too. Forgetting about the quake,
several of them rushed forward into the river, only to turn
back as the first ones to reach the water were turned to gold.
They stood like yellow statues as the glinting yellow liquid
swirled around them. The swollen river spilled over the
banks and started to flood. The Mings cried in bewilderment
at the gold rush. Looking back up to the top of the waterfall,
Tasha saw that the Ming leader had also turned to gold. He
gleamed in the light of the full moon.
Thats the first of the prophecy, Kwong said. When
the blood of the white tiger is poured into the Yellow River
from the jade ewer all that the water touches will be made
gold. Now for the second part of the prophecy: when the
white tiger is killed on a jade altar the Mings will be restored
to glory.

Thats the one we have to stop, Tasha said. On the

altar, the tiger creature was hissing and straining against the
ropes that bound him. Tasha flattened herself to the wet
ground as a spear sailed over her head. Some of the armored
Mings grabbed their spears and, taking aim, threw them at
the tiger creature. One of them found its mark and buried
itself in the tiger creatures chest. It gave an animalistic
groan. Beside Tasha, Cassius winced in pain as a lance point
grazed his cheek. He put his hand up and felt a thin line of
warm, sticky blood.

Amid the confusion, Rinchen and Al had lost sight of

Tasha, Cassius, and Kwong. The remaining Mings were in
panic as they scrambled to get away from the flooding river
while avoiding the spears. None of them noticed the
strangers moving toward the altar to free the tiger creature.
Spotting the bloodstained knife on the ground, Tasha
grabbed it. With a boost from Kwong, she climbed onto the
jade altar and slashed at the first rope. It easily cut in two.
With a sharp hiss, the tiger snapped its head toward Tasha.
They were so close she could see his yellowed fangs and
smell his foul breath. Its okay, Tasha whispered. She
hoped she sounded calm and comforting, but her hands were
shaking and her heart was beating loud and rapidly.
Grabbing a fistful of shaggy hair in her left hand, Tasha
tightened the fingers of her right hand around the knife
handle and slashed at the second set of ropes.
Hurry! Cassius called up from the ground below her.
Tasha inched to the other side of the tiger creature.

Just one more, she said.

Tasha Lu, watch out! Kwong yelled. A lance whistled
through the air and flicked her shoulder. Slicing through the
last rope, Tasha fell backwards in pain. She landed in the
patch of dried blood from the tiger creature. Rolling away
from the freed beast, she ignored the cut in her shoulder and
moved quickly to the edge of the altar. Kwong and Cassius
reached up to help her down.
The huge tiger creature let out a loud roar; and then it
reared up on its back legs and lunged straight at the head of a
soon-to-be-dead armored Ming.
Are you alright? Kwong asked.
Fine, Tasha answered. She felt exhausted. Shrugging
out of her backpack, Tasha let it drop to the ground. I think
Im going to have to leave this here.
We have to get out of here. The river is still flooding,
Cassius said.
What about Al and Rinchen? Tasha asked.
Kwong glanced around the panicked scene. Ill find
them, he said. You two follow Tashi. He pointed towards
the tiger creature who was on all fours and had almost
reached the starting line of the valley forest. Cassius and
Tasha hesitated. Kwong gave them a little push. Go! he
ordered. They took off running after the tiger creature.

chapter thirty: gold rush

Tasha tried not to look back as she ran, but the loud
screams and other noises forced her to do so. The golden
river water was lapping at the base of the jade altar. She
nearly stopped running as the altars green color turned a
glittering gold. Cassius grabbed her arm and pulled her
forward. Dont stop, he said. Were losing him.
Tasha forced her feet to keep moving. God, she
prayed quietly. Please help Al to get out safely; and Rinchen
and Kwong too.
Tasha and Cassius lost sight of the tiger creature.
When they reached the beginning of the forest, they spotted
the space where its huge body had pushed past tree branches
and crushed down bushes. Tasha and Cassius didnt try
running into the forest. They walked past the dark trees,
their breath returning slowly in ragged gasps. It must be
after midnight, Tasha said. She jumped as a cluster of vines
suddenly moved behind her. The moon only provided faint
patches of silver light where the tree tops opened to reveal
the sky. Even though their clothes were still damp, Tasha
was relieved the rainstorm had stopped pouring. It was only
drizzling now.
Cassius looked down at his watch. The small display
screen was cracked. He shook his wrist to get the water out.
I dont know, he replied. My watch is shot. Its probably
early morning. After pausing to catch their breath, Tasha
and Cassius continued on through the dripping trees. They
had barely gone a few steps when the large figure of the tiger
creature loomed in front of them. It had stopped, crouched

low to the ground and was using its mouth to try and pull out
the broken lance lodged between its wounded chest and
shoulder.
Stepping forward cautiously, Tasha and Cassius
noticed several things that assured the creature was not fully
a tiger. It was missing a tail. Underneath its shaggy hair was
thick skin and its paws resembled bent knuckles; yet it
moved on all fours, and its face had the distinct markings of
a big cat. Ive heard about werewolves before, Cassius
whispered to Tasha. But weretigers? Never.
We have to make it understand, Tasha whispered
back. Its human.
Hearing them, the tiger creature turned. It rose from
its crouched position and gave a low growl. Cassius stepped
back. Tasha did the same. Grabbing hold of the low hanging
tree branch they were standing under, she gave it a sharp
tug. The branch came loose. Tasha held it straight out in
front of her. The tiger creature moved forward. Just as it
seemed about to pounce, Tasha heaved the branch upward
and brought it down on the creatures head. There was a dull
cracking noise as the tiger creature staggered back, stunned.
Tasha knelt in front of it. Listen! she said firmly.
You are not an animal. You are human. Tasha pointed at
herself. You are my brother. She pointed at the tiger
creature. You are Tashi. The fierce glint in the eyes of the
tiger creature flickered for a moment then died out. Its
hostile stare shifted, and it lowered its huge frame onto the
ground.
Thats it, Tasha said encouragingly. Its okay. Now

this might hurt a bit, but youll be okay. She gripped the
broken lance and yanked. It came out with a line of fresh
blood. Tashi hissed but made no move to attack.
Oh no, Cassius said. Tasha turned. Some distance
behind him there was a shiny glow. The trees at the
beginning of the forest were turning gold. Tasha stood up.
She motioned to Tashi. Come on, she said. We have to
keep going.
Tashi didnt get up. He raised his head from licking
his shoulder wound and jerked it towards his back. Come
on, Cassius repeated. Lets go. Tashi jerked his head again.
His eyes widened, and he gave an unintelligible sound.
Wait, Cassius said. I think he wants to give us a ride.
What? Tasha said.
Hes certainly big enough, Cassius said. And its not
like we can outrun this gold flood on our own, I dont think.
Tasha looked at Cassius. Cassius looked at Tasha. They both
looked at Tashi. You first, Cassius said.
Tasha climbed onto Tashis huge back. She held
tightly with both fists to his neck hair. Cassius got on behind
her and held on to her waist. How could the water get up
here this fast? he asked.
It seeped underground, Tasha guessed. It didnt
just stay on the surface She was cut short as Tashi
suddenly powered forward. He knew the forest well and was
covering ground at an unbelievably fast speed despite the
added weight and thick growth. They rushed past damp,
dark green leaves and dark brown branches. Trees whizzed
past them. Swinging vines sprayed them with raindrops.

Several times, Tasha and Cassius had to duck their heads to

avoid being hit by forest foliage.
Drafts of fresh air began cutting through the humid
forest air. The drizzling had stopped. Storm clouds sailed
over the fading moon before dissipating as the night sky
lightened into a dark blue. Cassius glanced over his shoulder.
To his dismay, he found the gold moving nearly as fast as
Tashi. A flash of white whizzed past in the trees to their right.
Another flashed past to their left. Then another and another.
More tigers were joining them.
All of a sudden they emerged from the forest onto a
short stretch of low grass. Tasha screamed as Tashi skidded
to a stop at the edge of the grass which dropped about
seventy feet into a narrow gorge with steep rocky walls and a
stream running through it. The distance to the other side was
several feet across. That was close, Cassius sighed with
relief.
Too close, Tasha said.
Tashi backed away from the gorges edge. He retraced
his steps to the end of the forest. Tasha and Cassius felt his
body muscles tense. I hope hes not about to do what I think
hes about to do, Cassius whispered.
Oh, yeah, I think he is, Tasha nodded. She squeezed
her eyes shut. Her fists tightened around grasped hair.
Cassius arm stiffened. He held his breath.
Tashi took a few more steps backward then shot
forward over the short grass stretch. For a swift second, they
teetered on the edge of the gorge before Tashi leaped. The
thin air whistled through their hair and slapped their faces.

Overhead, faint stars floated away to make room for the

rising sun. Pink, orange, and yellow streaks of light pierced
through the dark blue of the night sky.
Tashi made impact hard as the ground on the other
side rushed up to meet them. The force of the landing threw
Tasha and Cassius onto the rocks. Tasha rolled over. She lay
on her back staring up at the ever brightening sky. Cassius
was the first to get up. Stepping to the edge of the gorge, he
gazed back at the chasm they had just come over. No way,
he said, looking at Tashi. Like, NO WAY!
We were literally flying, Tasha said. She smiled.
No one is going to believe us when we get back
home, Cassius replied. He tossed his head back and raised
both fists in the air. Wooooohooooo! he yelled.

chapter thirty-one: helicopter rescue

Eric looked out of the oval window of the red, white,
and black fifteen passenger Augusta Westland AW139
helicopter as it flew low over the Tibetan Plateau. He
squinted his eyes against the glare of the sun to better see
Als unoccupied small plane sitting on the grassland. Eric
rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand and sighed. A
full week had passed since Tasha and Al had left with Kwong
and Cassius last Friday.
Even though Tasha and Shan Zhen had been having
disagreements, Shan Zhen was still concerned about her
granddaughter. She hadnt been out of bed since Sunday. Ru
Yi had handled the news of Tashas trip better, but she was
also worried about Tashas safety.
Cassius twenty-three year old brother, DAndre
Jackson, was in the pilot seat of the helicopter. He wore an
aviation headset over his basketball orange ski cap. Hey,
wake up, DAndre said. He slapped the arm of the Chinese
tourist guide in the passenger seat who had started to nod.
We need your help. Look for the kids.
Aye, aye, the Chinese tourist guide whose name tag
read Deshi Tyler turned sleepy eyes to the window. He
looked back at Eric. Did they even know where they were
going? he asked. I mean, hardly anyone lives up here.
Al said they were going to the Shao-Ren forest, Eric
said. The Mings live around the Yellow River.
DAndre scrunched up his forehead. The dynastic
Mings? he said. I thought that group had perished a long

time ago. My middle school history teacher must have been

lying.
Deshi shrugged. He turned his iPad screen on and
brought up a map. Shao-Ren is that way, he said after a
while. Should see the Yellow River any second when we fly
over it.
DAndre expertly operated the helicopter controls as
the aircraft rose above the dark tops of the trees. They flew
over the forest for a long time. Then the trees ended
abruptly, and they were flying over rocky ground dotted with
green grass and patches of mountain flowers. The rocky
ground rose higher into steep cliffs. Looky there, Deshi
said pointing ahead. A waterfall that flows into the Yellow
River.
It has the right name, DAndre said as they headed
for the rushing gold water. Check out that statue. The
helicopter descended until they were flying by the golden
head of the Ming leader who still held the tilted ewer. Deshis
mouth gaped open. Its gold, he said.
Everythings gold, Eric said. The three of them
looked down in amazement at the golden trees surrounding
the golden river which was being filled by the golden
waterfall. They could make out a few tiny golden houses
hidden by cliff rocks. Eric pulled out a pair of binoculars and
trained them at the clearing around the stream. There were
several other golden statues of people stuck in the muddy
ground. He noticed the golden altar with golden weapons
stuck in its sides. There are people down there, Eric said as
he caught sight of movement at the edge of the forest.

Many of the Mings who had survived the gold rush by

hiding in the stone staircase behind the waterfall had
returned. They looked up when they heard the sound of the
helicopter blades, a mixed look of terror and surprise on
their faces.
Should we try to land? DAndre asked.
Not sure, Eric said. These people could be hostile
and I dont see Tasha or Cassius anywhere.
Deshi snapped photos of the glinting gold scene with
his iPad. Everyones going to want to see this when we get
back to civilization, he said excitedly. Imagine the amount
of people who would want to take tours out here. Lets land.
DAndre shook his head. He raised the collective to
make the helicopter rise again. They flew over the river and
the forest on the other side. The tops of the trees were no
longer green and dark. The golden leaves waved in the
morning sunlight, glistening and bright and dazzling. Gorge
ahead, Deshi said tapping back to the map on his iPad.
Eric looked down into the narrow space as they
passed over the gorge. A thin stream was running through it.
Looks like this is where the gold stops, he said. Only the
steep rocky wall on the left side of the gorge was gold. The
right wall was its natural color. There! DAndre and Eric
both noticed the two figures walking over the grass on the
right side of the gorge at the same time.
Eric looked through his binoculars again. His heart
rose. Its them, he smiled.
And what may those three animals that are walking

with them be? Deshi asked hesitantly.

Tigers, Eric answered.
Tasha and Cassius waved at the helicopter when it
came into view. They stopped walking and waited for it to
land. Tashi stopped a few feet behind them. The other two
tigers who had successfully jumped the gorge with them
watched warily from behind Tashi.
Eric was the first one out of the helicopter. Tasha!
he yelled running towards her. Since both of them had left
their backpacks behind, neither Tasha or Cassius had eaten
in over twenty-four hours. Their clothes had dried, but both
were hungry, tired, and far from warm. The spot in Tashas
shoulder where she had been knicked by a lance had scabbed
over. When Eric wrapped her in a crushing embrace, the
pain started again.
Owww, Tasha moaned into Erics Terminator shirt.
Are you alright? Eric asked. He released her, and
Tasha nodded. You wont believe what we have to tell you,
she said. Its better than any video game story line ever.
Well, well be eager to listen after this boy gets a
haircut, DAndre said. He started yanking leaves out of
Cassius disorderly afro.
We found him, Tasha said motioning behind them.
This is Tashi. We think the other two tigers may be his
friends, but Tashis coming home with us.
DAndre stared doubtfully at Tashi. He seemed
unsure, but Eric nodded at Tashas statement. Sure, he
said. Its a good thing we brought the big helicopter.

We have to get Kwong, Al, and Rinchen, Cassius

said. We got separated and we dont know if they made it
out with us.
Dont worry, Eric assured them. Theres a second
team out looking for them. Right now, lets get you twouh,
threehome.

chapter thirty-two: premiere

A day and a half later, Tasha awoke in her own bed.
She looked around through half-open eyes at her familiar
yellow and green themed room. She didnt want to get up,
but something had done her the disservice of waking her up.
There it was. Her phone rang for the fifth time. Tasha
reached for it.
Hello, she yawned after picking up.
Maya Mobberly was on the other end. Ciao, Tasha!
she greeted. Im sorry you couldnt attend theCodeGirl premiere on Friday because it was awesome. Wait, let
me say that a different wayit was beyond awesome! And
you wont believe who showed up. Guess, Tasha. Guess,
guess, guess.
Tasha was too tired to guess. Arrowhead showed up,
she laughed. I dont know, Maya. Just tell me.
Marissa Mayer! Maya exclaimed. You would have
loved her. I even got her autograph and it suddenly dawned
on me that we have the same initials. Isnt that cool? My
mind was completely blown; but, hey, I did save you some
party cupcakes.
Thanks, Tasha said as her phone beeped. Hold a
sec. Buddy was calling. She pressed a button to let him in on
their conversation. I hate to state the obvious, Buddy
started. But, Tasha, you should have been at Code-Girls
premiere. It was fantastic. Everyone loves you. Everyone
loves me

And me, Maya interrupted.

Oh, hi Maya, Buddy said. I didnt know you were
on. Of course, everyone loves Maya
Maya interrupted again. Tasha, you should have seen
the tux jacket I made for Max to wear, she said. He was
easily the most fashionably dressed.
Bet he was, Tasha said as her phone beeped. Hold a
sec. Walton K. Sakoda was calling. Tasha pressed a button
to let him join their call. Tasha! Tasha! Tasha! Walton
greeted. Congrats on your show launching. I just heard
about your trip to the Himalayas. It gave me an idea for
episode eighty-nine: Code-Girl goes to China!

chapter thirty-three: gone

After getting off the phone with Walton, Buddy, and
Maya, Tasha went back to sleep. She awoke some hours later
to someone knocking on her bedroom door. "Come in,"
Tasha called. The door opened. Eric entered, followed by Ru
Yi.
"Are you feeling better?" Ru Yi asked.
Tasha nodded. She pulled herself up into a sitting
position. Her pricked shoulder was covered with a gauze pad,
but it no longer hurt when she moved it. "I think I lost track
of what day it is," Tasha said. "How long have I been
sleeping?"
"Nearly fifteen hours. It's Sunday afternoon," Eric told
her. He dragged a bean bag chair over as Ru Yi sat on the
edge of Tasha's bed.
"I missed church," Tasha said. "You should have woke
me up."
"Don't worry about it," Eric said. "Considering your
recent little adventure, I thought it was important for you to
catch up on your rest. Besides, Ru Yi came with me."
Tasha's eyes widened. "Really? What did you think?"
"It was..." Ru Yi searched for the right word.
"Different," she finally decided. "Much different from the
temple services."

"She had a lot of questions afterward," Eric smiled.

"Some of which I still don't have the answers to."
They all looked toward the door as it opened again.
"Can I come in?" Cassius asked sticking his head in the room.
"Sure," Tasha nodded. "You look different. What
happened to you?"
Cassius ran a hand over his low, thick hair. "I got it
cut," he said. "You won't believe the number of worms and
forest insects that came out."
"I liked your big hair better," Eric said.
"Yeah," Cassius smiled. "Don't sweat it. It grows back
quick." His smile disappeared. "Have you told her yet?"
Tasha turned back to Eric and Ru Yi. Their faces were
suddenly serious too. "What?" Tasha asked. "Tell me what?"
"Well...," Eric hesitated. He stuck his hands into his
jeans pockets and sighed. "They found Al and the other
guy"
"Rinchen?" Tasha said.
"Him and Kwong," Eric continued. "Kwong is at the
UCLA Medical Center being treated for a head injury.
They're going to let him fly home to New York on Tuesday.
But Al and Rinchen...they didn't make it."
Tasha couldn't believe what she was hearing. "No,"
she gasped. "No, no, no. Dad...say you're wrong."
Eric shook his head. He left the bean bag to sit beside
Tasha on the bed. He pulled her close to him and hugged her

tight. "I'm sorry, Tasha," Eric said softly. "They found their
bodies...they were speared."
The story that Rinchen had told flashed back to
Tasha's mind. The Mings had killed him, and her goodhearted, music-loving friend, Al Grace just like they had
killed her parents nearly fifteen years earlier. She shuddered
as she thought of how they had almost killed her brother,
Tashi.
Hot, salty tears sprang into Tasha's eyes. They rolled
down her face until the front of her nightshirt, and the top of
her sheet was damp. This was the first time someone who
Tasha had been close to had died. Never had she thought she
would lose Al so soon and in such a violent manner. It felt
like someone had taken an irreplaceable part of her out. "He
shouldn't have come," Tasha cried. "I prayed, Dad...I prayed
for God to help them get out safely."
Ru Yi closed her tear-filled eyes. Al had been close to
all of them.
Eric squeezed Tasha tighter. He patted the top of her
head, smoothing her pillow tousled hair.
"We'll see them again," Cassius said quickly. Tasha
knew Rinchen had believed in Jesus, but she wasn't sure
about Al. Somehow the knowledge of Heaven didn't comfort
her as much as she thought it would.

chapter thirty-four: psychiatrist checkup

Ru Yi decided that Tasha did not have to go to school
on Monday. That was fine with Tasha, who stayed busy
helping the psychiatrist and home nurse Eric had hired for
Tashi's recovery. As soon as D'Andre had landed his
helicopter in Los Angeles, Tashi had been rushed to the
Solara's home in Hacienda Heights. Both Shan Zhen and Ru
Yi were initially shocked, but recovered quick enough to set
up a room for Tashi in one of the master spare bedrooms
upstairs. It was right across the hall from Tasha's bedroom.
With much persuasion, Eric had convinced his friend,
psychiatrist Lee Seung, to come and check Tashi out.
"Well, I've evaluated him, and he is very much
human," Lee Seung said after being in Tashi's room for a
very long time. "However, he has a severe case of
lycanthropy and it will be several months before he fully
recovers. The good news is that he is not a threat, so you
don't have to worry about him suddenly attacking someone
in your house. He completely understands all that is going
on."
"What are we going to do about his hair?" Ru Yi
asked.
Lee rubbed the knuckles on his left hand and cracked
them. "We're looking at a massive shaving job," he said. "It'll
take a few hours because we must be careful not to cut his
flesh. His hand and leg muscles will require surgery so he

will be able to walk upright and not go about on all fours. The
right kind of skin surgery will also remove his stripes. At this
time, it is best that you keep him away from contact with
other humans until he has been introduced to basic twentyfirst-century human necessities and until he has learned how
to communicate. He can't talk at all right now; his speech is
mostly limited to grunts and hisses. If you can find a tutor
who is willing to teach him, you would do well to hire him or
her."
"I can do it," Tasha spoke up.
"He is most familiar with you, isn't he?" Lee asked. He
nodded in approval at Eric and Ru Yi. "She might not be a
bad choice."
"I'm the best choice," Tasha said confidently. She
elbowed Eric, "You've just been hired as my assistant."
That evening, Tasha and Eric found themselves in the
kitchen mixing up the clear liquid prescription medication
that Lee Seung had instructed them to give Tashi three times
a day. The medication worked to clear Tashi's body of
unnatural foods he had become accustomed to eating and
improve his skin pigmentation.
"Now that some of the facial hair is gone, he's starting
to look a lot like you," Eric said stirring a glass of water.
"Especially his eyes and forehead. I'm not too sure about the
nose. It still looks very tigerish to me."
"I think he's homesick," Tasha said. She counted out
two blue capsules and four orange capsules. "I bet he's
missing the two real tigers we left behind."

"It'll take Tashi some time to get used to California,"

Eric said. "But as soon as he starts eating my steamy stir-frys
and finds out what a terrific big sister he has, he'll love living
here just like that." Eric snapped his fingers.
Tasha smiled. The doorbell rang, and she went out
into the hall to answer to it.
Madison and Collette were standing on the porch.
"We're so glad you're back," Madison said as they embraced
her in a group hug. "Don't bother closing the door, some
others are coming," Collette told her. In a few minutes,
Cassius, Shannon, Porschia, Joshy, Enrique, and a few of the
other members of ZOEgivers had arrived.
"Hello," Eric greeted all of them as they came into the
kitchen. Joshy spotted the batch of s'mores cookies Tasha
had helped Eric make that morning. "Can I have one?" he
asked eagerly.
"Sure," Eric said. The other kids looked at him
expectantly. "Well, can we see him?" Enrique finally asked.
"See who?" Eric popped the last prescription capsule
and stirred it vigorously into the glass of water.
"Cassius said you would let us see the tiger," Porschia
said.
"I said 'might,'" Cassius clarified. "And he's not a
tiger."
"His name is Tashi," Tasha told them.
"And he's off-limits," Eric added. "The psychiatrist
doesn't want him to have any human contact until he is fully

recovered. However, since Tashi is sleeping right now, I

guess we can make an exception and let you have a quick
peek." He eyed the smartphones Porschia and Enrique were
holding. "All those things have to be left down here. I don't
want anyone secretly snapping a photo and uploading it
some place on Facebook. We'll have the entire media
covering our house like it's a zoo."
The kids willingly left their phones in the kitchen and
followed Eric and Tasha upstairs. In Tashi's room, dark
curtains covered the windows to keep out all light. Tasha
switched on a lamp. "The dude's huge," Joshy exclaimed
staring at the bulge on the king size bed.
"Shhh," Eric said sharply.
Tashi was sound asleep with a purple argyle patterned
comforter pulled up to his neck. Only his pale white,
muscular, bulldog-like face showed. A faint black stripe ran
across his forehead. Another ran across his left cheek, one on
his right cheek and a fourth one across his chin. Freshly cut
stringy black hair was spread out across the pillow. "I would
say impossible, but I know better than that. All things are
possible with God," Shannon said.
"How can he be younger than you?" Collette asked in
a whisper.
"The nurse said it was the tiger milk," Tasha
explained. "He must have drunk tons of the stuff. The milk
tiger cubs drink from their mothers gives them body fat and
mass, protein, and calcium. That's why he grew so big and
strong so soon even though he is one year younger than me."

"It's sort of like when Peter Parker was bit by a

radioactive spider," Eric offered as an example.
"So does he have tiger senses?" Enrique asked.
"He can certainly jump like a tiger," Cassius spoke up.
"Yeah," Tasha agreed. She remembered their jump
across the gorge, but thinking of that made her think of Al,
and she fell silent. Eric picked up a clipboard that Lee Seung
had left on the yellow nightstand. "His saliva is antiseptic,"
he read flipping through the notes. "He also has whisker
hairs rooted in blood capsules that can help him find his way
in the dark. Of course, like other cats, he has phenomenal
night vision and check out the spots on the back of his ears.
They give the ability to hear low sounds that even regular
humans can't hear."
"Is he going to go to school with us?" Madison asked.
"No, not now," Eric said. "Probably not for a couple of
years. Tasha and I will be his teachers for now." After a few
more minutes, Eric waved his hand toward the door.
"God bless him," Shannon said sincerely as they left
the room.

chapter thirty-five: mind reader

"Wait up," Tasha told Collette as Collette retrieved her
phone from the kitchen and started for the door. They
followed Enrique and Madison onto the front porch. "Did
they ever find Austin?" Tasha asked.
"Oh, yeah, on Saturday," Collette smiled. "I meant to
call you and say thanks for praying. My parents and I prayed
too. We were that worried."
"So, he's okay now?"
"He's the same as before," Collette answered. "Right
now, he can't come home. His doctors think he could be
harmful to himself if left alone or be harmful to one of us.
They're keeping him in some special hospital. We only get to
see him once a week." Collette sighed. "My dad is so angry
about it. Last night, he suggested trying to kidnap him back."
"It wouldn't be exactly kidnapping," Tasha said. "I
mean, it's his son and your brother. People with mental
problems usually aren't kept from their families."
"That's just it. Austin doesn't have a mental problem,"
Collette replied. She leaned closer to Tasha and lowered her
voice. "I'm going to tell you what he told us but you can't tell
anyone else. Okay?"
"My lips are sealed," Tasha assured her.
"Austin can read the minds of people who come
within five and a half feet of him. That's why he didn't like

being in class or around large crowds because all the

thoughts of other people would register in his brain and
drive him crazy. He doesn't like it, but he can't help it. He
wants to turn it off, but he doesn't know how. My parents
and I all tested him, and he could tell us exactly what we
were thinking."
"No way," Tasha said.
"Way," Collette said. "He said it gets overwhelming
because some of the thoughts he reads are disturbingly
depressing. Besides, it's not very fun for him when he tries to
play a game with me and knows what move I make before I
make it. He thinks its cheating. Our mom doesn't like the
fact that he can eavesdrop on people's minds. Our dad thinks
it's some kind of special gift. Personally, I think it's flat-out
cool, kinda creepy, but still cool, and that's why we're all still
worried. If the wrong people hear about Austin, they might
take him away forever and perform some stupid scientific
test or medical research. They might lock him away in some
lab like a rat."
"Calm down, calm down," Tasha said hugging her
shoulders. "As long as you're his sister, I doubt that will be
happening. At least I know I'm not the only one with a weird
brother."
Collette smiled. "No joking," she agreed. "And you
should know, I was thinking about finally joining your faith
club. It looks like I'll be needing a lot more prayer."
"We both will," Tasha said. "See you at school
tomorrow."

chapter thirty-six:
as real as the sun
"Morning," Eric greeted Tasha early Tuesday. She was
headed downstairs with her book bag, and he was on his way
up with a bowl of steaming liquid in his hands. "Did you give
Tashi his first set of medications yet?" Tasha asked.
Eric nodded. "I have it all taken care of. He threw up
the ginger stir-fry we gave him last night so I think I'll stick
with my holistic four flavors Cantonese herbal soup until he
gets used to solid food."
"Your soups always work wonders," Tasha
complimented him. "However, we have a problem. When I
agreed to teach Tashi on Monday, I forgot about school. We
can't leave him alone at home."
Eric twisted the hot soup bowl around in his hands.
"Well, seeing I have several overdue projects to catch up on,
I'll be staying home this entire week," he said. "We'll think of
something for next week, but I won't let taking care of Tashi
keep you back from your studies. Gramma is waiting to drive
you to school."
"Doesn't she have to go to work?" Tasha asked.
"She has today off, and she's willing to make time to
drive you every day until we find another chauffeur," Eric
answered.
Tasha shook her head as she continued down the

stairs. "No one's going to replace Al."

"It's not about replacement, Tasha," Eric said. He
paused and shook his head. "We'll talk about it later. I put
your oatmeal in a jar so you can take it with you."
"Thanks," Tasha told him.
The mixed smell of peaches, cinnamon, and oats filled
Shan Zhen's car as soon as they pulled out of the drive, and
Tasha twisted open the mason jar lid. "I'm afraid glad is not
an accurate enough word to describe just how glad I am that
you came back unharmed," Shan Zhen said as they drove
down the quiet, tree-lined street toward the entrance of
Casablanca Estates.
"I'm glad I came back safe too," Tasha said. She stuck
a spoonful of delicious, gooey oatmeal into her mouth before
continuing. "Mainly so you wouldn't stay mad at Dad for the
rest of your life. He said you didn't talk to him the entire time
I was gone."
Shan Zhen smiled. "I didn't," she admitted. "But I
think I had a good reason not to with my only granddaughter
on the other side of the world chasing some wild tiger
prophecy."
"A prophecy that turned out to be true," Tasha said.
"Yes, yes, but you had me on the edge of a nervous
breakdown," Shan Zhen said. "The minute I found out you
were gone, I called in sick to work, didn't eat, barely got out
of the bed, and promised Eric that if anything happened to
you, I would have his head."

Shan Zhen and Tasha both laughed. "I can't imagine

you turning into the Red Queen," Tasha said. "I would say I
had the time of my life...if Al hadn't died." She sighed. "I miss
Al."
"I know you do," Shan Zhen said. She took one hand
off the steering wheel to squeeze Tasha's arm. "The worst
thing you can do is pretend you don't miss him. Al was
special to all of us."
Tasha nodded. "It's just that I don't know-" she
stopped.
"Don't know what?" Shan Zhen questioned. Tasha
hesitated. She wanted to say she wasn't sure if Al Grace had
believed in Jesus, but she knew her grandmother would not
understand that. Tasha couldn't remember him ever talking
about trusting in Jesus for salvation. She had never tried
evangelizing him herself. "It's just that I don't know if I'll
ever see him again," she finally said.
"I don't believe so," Shan Zhen said.
"How do you know?"
"Death is the end," she said. "When people die, they
cease to exist. Of course...you probably think differently
since you're a Christian now."
"I believe there's an afterlife," Tasha said. "People
either go to heaven or hell when they die."
"And I suppose heaven is where God is?" Shan Zhen
asked. Tasha nodded. "Then why would anyone want to live
with a deity who is responsible for taking away a close

friend?"
"God didn't kill Al," Tasha said.
"But you believe your God is all-knowing, Tasha,"
Shan Zhen said. "If God exists and if God knew Al would be
killed, why did He not prevent it? If your God is all-loving,
why is He letting you...us...his family...go through the pain of
losing Al? If He is so much in control, why is there much in
the world that is out of control? This is what I don't
understand. Thousands of accidents take place every day
resulting in the deaths of millions of people. Perfectly
innocent children are born with incurable diseases. Does He
not see this? And if He does, does He not care to do
something about it?"
Tasha stared out the window at the other cars moving
past them on the freeway. She had learned about the
sovereignty of God in church, and the questions of Shan
Zhen made sense. Since God knows all things, He knew
ahead of time that Al would die by traveling with her, Kwong,
and Cassius to the Himalayas. But God had let Al go on and
die anyway which made Him responsible for His death. "I
don't know," Tasha finally sighed. "I don't know why bad
things still happen even though God is good. All I know,
Gramma, is that we do have a good God. And I believe He's
just as real as me and you and...and..." Tasha's eyes searched
for something else. "The sun," she said motioning towards its
rising rays. "On rainy days, we don't stop believing in the sun
just because we can't see it shining. I'm not going to stop
believing in God or His goodness just because Al died.

"And if we're going to blame God for all the bad stuff
that happens to us, then I think He needs to get some credit
for the good stuff," Tasha continued. "Thousands of cars or
planes may crash, but what about the thousands more that
arrive at their destinations safely? What about the millions of
kids who are born perfectly healthy? Yeah, Al died, and I
wish that he hadn't. I miss him now, and I'm going to miss
him driving me around and playing his music forever. But at
least I still have Dad and Mom and you. Gramma, I hope I
have you for a long time."
Shan Zhen smiled. She squeezed Tasha's arm again.
"Yes, I hope we're together for many more years too," she
told her. "But I'm not ready to believe in a God like you and
Eric have done. I doubt I'll ever be ready, so let's just agree to
disagree on this matter and try to have fewer conversations
like the one we just had. I don't want religion to ruin our
relationship."
Tasha set the now empty mason jar on the floorboard
of the car. They had arrived at Hacienda High. "I'll try not to
talk about my faith anymore," Tasha said. "But I'll be praying
for you, Gramma. No matter what, I'm always going to love
you, and you should know that God loves you more."
"Bye, Tasha. I'll see you after school," Shan Zhen
replied.

chapter thirty-seven:
keep on sharing
Collette was waiting with the other members of
ZOEgivers when Tasha joined them in Art Room number 3.
"Welcome back," Holly and Nick Crotty greeted her. "You
and Cassius both missed our meetings last week."
"At least we had good reason to," Cassius said. He
pulled a printed out copy of The China Daily out of his book
bag and waved it around. Jamie Jiao grabbed the sheet.
"Mysterious golden forest baffles scientists," she read.
Underneath the headline was a picture of an aerial shot
Deshi Tyler had taken of the Shao-Ren forest from inside of
D'Andre's helicopter. Jamie kept reading, "Gold spot is
believed to be guarded by an isolated indigenous people from
the Himalayas. It was discovered when Great Wall of China
tour guide, Deshi Tyler, was searching for four missing
Americans."
"Tasha and I were two of those 'four missing
Americans,'" Cassius interrupted. "And we discovered it, not
Deshi."
"So it was real gold?" Porschia asked. "G-O-L-D?"
"As real as it gets," Tasha answered. "What did you
guys talk about when we were gone?"
"We gave reports on our evangelism efforts," Enrique
said. "We all know about Joshy coming to Jesus. I've talked

with my parents about their salvation. So far, they've only

agreed to go to church with me but both of them are showing
real interest and asking questions. Madison has seen great
success. Both of her brothers and her across the street
neighbor, Sawyer Piper, all asked Jesus into their hearts last
week."
The ZOEgivers clapped and cheered.
"When my brother saw me reading the Bible, he asked
to join me, so we've had devotionals every day together,"
Joshy said. "Our mom is a devout New Ager and our dad
could care less about getting religious right now."
"I'll be sure to pray for them," Shannon said.
"What about you Tasha?" Madison asked.
"Well, first the good news," Tasha started. "One of my
best friends, Collette, has joined our group and I'm very
happy she decided to." The ZOEgivers clapped some more.
"Also, my dad came to Christ. My mom hasn't, but she no
longer goes to Hsi Lai Temple and this past Sunday she
visited church. My Gramma still doesn't see any reason to
believe in God."
"If we all keep praying for her, I'm sure she will one
day," Shannon said. "With God, no one can ever be written
off."
"That's right," Jamie said. "God's not willing that any
should perish. He wants all people to be saved. The
important thing to remember in evangelism is that we don't
actually save anyone, it is God Who does all the saving. We're

simply commanded to tell others about the Gospel."

"Everyone is not going to want to hear what you have
to tell them about Jesus," Enrique added. "The youth leader
at my church said that he hated Christianity before coming to
Christ. When Christians tried to share their faith with him,
he would shrug them off or make fun of them. Some of those
people probably walked away feeling like they had failed, but
they hadn't. Tasha, you aren't a failure at the Great
Commission just because your grandmother rejected your
message. You're a success because you shared your faith.
And whatever the future results may be, you should keep on
sharing."
"Never give up," Cassius agreed. "When it comes to
sharing Christ, there is no such thing as trying. Either you do
it, or you don't."
"Or as Jedi Master Yoda would say," Joshy said. He
folded his hands across his chest and tried his best to look
wise. "Do, or do not. There is no 'try.'"

chapter thirty-eight:
the light of lights
Kwong flew home to New York on Tuesday evening.
Al Grace's funeral was on Wednesday. Eric, Ru Yi, Shan
Zhen, and Tasha all attended. They stood beside Al's widow,
Pina Grace, in the front row of about one hundred people
who surrounded the open casket. Al's face was pale. He was
dressed in a black suit. He was wearing a new pair of dark
shades. The entire ceremony was sad and short, but Tasha
barely heard any of it. All she could think about were the
many days he had driven her to and from Hacienda High, to
and from Strontium Studios, to and from a million other
places. Several times, he had eagerly rushed her to the donut
shop before school started. Many times, he had patiently
waited for her to finish one of her frequent mall trips.
Tasha remembered how Al had given her the
collection of all the Beach Boys albums on her thirteenth
birthday. "I like the Backstreet Boys," Tasha had complained.
"The Backstreet Boys, not the Beach Boys."
Al had just laughed. "You'll fall in love with them too."
Tasha had only been able to make it through one album, but
now that Al was gone she decided to listen to the entire
collection in honor of him.
Pina Grace tapped Tasha on the shoulder as the
funeral ended and they turned to leave. "Here," Pina said
holding out a notebook paper folded three times. "I was

going through Al's things and found a bunch of letters he had

written to people, but never delivered. One of them was
addressed to you."
Tasha took the letter. "Thank you," she said. "You had
a fantastic husband, Mrs. Grace. Thanks for letting me
borrow him as much as I did."
"It was nothing," Pina smiled. Tasha followed Eric and
Ru Yi to Eric's car. She sat in the back seat with Shan Zhen
and immediately opened Al's letter to her. It read:
Dear Tasha Lu,
I was recently thinking of how I might die.
Morbid, I know. I often thought I would die during my
Vietnam years, but seeing I have survived I think I
would not mind passing in a more peaceful manner.
So in case I fall to my death after missing a step while
salsa dancing, I'm writing letters to all the people who
mean something to me. My life has been eventful (to
say the least), but those events haven't come without
sad times too. I left my parents behind in Cuba when I
came to the States alone and was never able to see
them before they died. I lost many good friends during
the war. When she was three, my only daughter died.
Shortly after that I began to lose my eyesight (hence
the shades all the time). When Pina fell sick, I won't
ever forget how you promised to pray for her to get
better. I made a deal with God that if He answered
your prayers for Pina, I would give the rest of my life
to Him. God did answer your prayers. Pina did get

better. I gave my heart to Jesus. I know we never

talked about spiritual matters, but your faith has not
gone unnoticed. Indeed, it has helped me to find a
faith of my own. Tasha Lu, you are a light and inside
of you is the Light of all lights the light of the world.
Don't ever let your light go out, Tasha. Ever.
Singing ceaselessly,
Your friend,
Al
"Huh?" Tasha jumped as she heard Eric call her name
after re-reading Al's letter for the third time. They were
sitting in the garage at their house. Ru Yi and Shan Zhen had
already gone inside. "Everything okay?" Eric asked looking
through the interior rear view mirror at her. "The funeral
didn't get to you that much, did it?"
Tasha shook her head. "No, I'm fine. What were you
saying?"
"Before Kwong left yesterday, he said he had been
invited to return to the golden forest with Deshi Tyler.
They're planning a trip next month," Eric said. "He said we
could come if we wanted. I thought this might not be a bad
time to finish what your parents started. Deshi and the group
of scientists are only thinking of the gold, but the Mings need
Jesus. I know I'm pretty young in Christ, and I'm not much
of a missionary, but I believe this is something that has to be
done. If we don't do it, who will?"
Tasha folded Al's letter over. "Awesome minds think

alike," she smiled at Eric and gave a thumbs up. "Next

month, you and I are so there."

Hey guys!
As you can probably imagine, I was relieved and
totally elated when I found out that Al Grace was in a better
place. I know that I will see him again. Right now, Dad and I
are planning for our new trip to evangelize the Mings. We
leave with Kwong in a few days, and Cassius is coming with
us again. My mom and Gramma have agreed to take care of
Tashi while we're away. Tashi is recovering well and even
faster than the psychiatrist expected. He has had two
successful skin surgeries to remove his stripes, is walking
upright, has an unbelievable appetite and is starting to
communicate using words. My friend, Collette, made the
decision to accept Christ at our last ZOEgivers meeting. Mom
has stopped chanting mantras and going to the temple. Even
though she has not accepted Christ, she likes to attend
church with Dad and me, and often prays for Jesus to bless
us. Gramma is still unmoved but has become more tolerant
of me sharing my faith. I'm praying for both of them to find
God the way I did.
Even over verbally telling the Gospel, I've learned that
evangelism is a lifestyle. Enrique likes to remind ZOEgivers
that the Gospel is something we live, not just something we
speak. As followers of Jesus, our lives should be different
radically different from those who are not saved. The Bible
calls us 'the salt of the earth' and 'the light of the world.' To
me that means we should always be shaking and shining for
Jesus. Get it? The salt shakes and the light shines!

The fact that bad things happen is proof that the

world needs a Savior. If we don't tell others about the good
news of Jesus, who will? You are a light. You were made to
shine bright. And no worries, Al. I have no intention of ever
letting my light go out.
Shining ceaselessly,
- Tasha

THE END