Free The Tiger-Headed Horseman by Chris Walker

family tree going back in time. This paper here shows Chinggis's family tree down through the generations. I drew it up myself.’
    ‘It is so complicated,’ said Odval.
    ‘Chinggis had many children,’ said Tengis. ‘By my reckoning he fathered thousands as he built his empire across the world. That is why I must be related to him. Some of the children must have been in Ongolium. One of them must have had a child who had children and grandchildren of whom one was my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather. I just have to find the link.’
    Tengis stared hard at the papers in front of him. The family tree for Chinggis measured four metres wide, and Tengis's writing was so small as to be barely legible. He pored through the names, sporadically shifting focus to his own more modest tree.
    ‘Have you found anything?’ asked Odval. She was a little concerned that Tengis was taking his link with Chinggis too seriously. She knew that the chances of finding a link were slim at best; she knew that finding proof that he was a reincarnation of Chinggis was utterly impossible, wasn't it?
    ‘There is nothing on my mother's side,’ said Tengis. He excitedly explained the maternal family history. It dated back to the correct epoch but there was little grandiose about it. ‘The voice insists that the connection is on my father's side.’ Tengis had not even met his father, yet he ardently awaited his return. Until then there would be no means of finding any informationthat could shed any light on his claim. Tengis frantically searched the papers looking for clues, his hands moving from entry to entry on the page.
    ‘Tengis,’ said Odval, ‘are you sure about this? Have you been working too hard or something? I'm a little concerned – shall we go back to your mother?’
    ‘Shut up!’ barked Tengis, suddenly losing his cool. ‘Stupid little rich girl. I have never been more sure of anything in my life. It is plain and simple. I am Chinggis Khaan. The voice in my head has told me so.
I am Chinggis!
’
    ‘I want to help,’ said Odval. Tears began to fill her eyes. She had never had reason to doubt her friend. She knew that he was not being logical and he had always been logical. Tengis's actions and apparent delusion bore no logic whatsoever. Odval wanted him to stop. ‘Please, let me take you home and we can talk about it there.’
    ‘What do you know?’ ranted Tengis. ‘You have always been spying on me, trying to steal my ideas, my thoughts. You're jealous of me. You might have all the wealth and riches that make you popular in this hellish place but secretly you have only ever been my friend so that you could rob me of my philosophy and ideology. Well, you can't! I'm glad I've had a chance to finally see you for who you truly are. I am Chinggis Khaan and
you
are my enemy.’
    A chair scraped gently behind them. Turning, Tengis and Odval saw Bankher craning forward to look at the papers, a wide smirk upon his face.
    ‘Very interesting,’ said Bankher calmly. ‘Voices in your head? And you think you're Chinggis, do you? That
is
interesting.’
    ‘I am!’ yelled Tengis, squaring up to Bankher across the desk. ‘I am and you will come to regret your doubt. Both of you.’ He stood rooted to the spot, staring madly at them both. He was ready to attack either or both of them.
    ‘Good,’ replied Bankher. He casually flipped a coin and put it in his pocket. ‘Very good. Let's see what the good people of Baatarulaan think about your claims. I'm sure the Fun Brigade would love to hear about this heresy, too. I think you'd best contact the Post Office. You're going to need to get your mail redirected to the House of Fun. Have a nice day now, freak.’
    ‘You wouldn't?’ said Odval.
    It was too late. Bankher had speedily crossed the floor and flown through the classroom doorway. Odval stared pityingly into her friend's eyes. Tengis was seething with rage and ready to