Nine Pendants
by Chad Stevens Red breathed deep as he poured a fresh cup of tea. He loved the way the aroma filled him, but this blend didn’t smell right. “Hello, Tsai,” Red said, without turning to his unannounced visitor. “Shall I pour you a cup, too?” “They should call you Red Cat’s-Ears,” quipped Tsai. Red gave a short laugh. “Ears nothing. It’s those cigars you smoke. You couldn’t throw a worse scent if you wore a skunk around your neck. I