Chapter 20
Liao tried to stand, but the older man restrained him. “You must wait, Liao, until I have a chance to look you over and see what damage has been done. Now sit back while I examine you.” The old man’s task was meticulously accomplished. Slowly, thoroughly, he moved his hands first up one side then down the other, pausing only to ask a few questions as he went. “Does this hurt? Can you move this? How many fingers am I holding up?” Liao nodded in agreement or disagreement as the old man’s barrage of questions continued.
He was thorough, but he wasted neither time nor breath. It wasn’t long before Shui was able to determine what had taken place.
“How many were there, Liao. Did you see them?” the older man asked.
Liao was still a bit groggy but attempted to answer the other man’s
