box which contained the saltwort powder.
“Well, it… contains some special and precious herbs which, we think, the Khan would like to see!”
The guard grew less suspicious. “Hmm. Well, both of you’ll still get to see the Khan. This
way,” the guard coughed harshly and led them into the yurt.
The Khan was enjoying his ‘suutei tsai’ tea as the men came in. The guard introduced the
‘ambassadors from China’. “… They would like to show you some special herbs,” the guard finished.
Glancing at Worto, Alt held out the box as a tribute to the Khan. “We would like to give these
herbs to Your Highness as a tribute,” lied Alt.
The Khan was confused.
“I’ve never seen this kind of herb before in my empire,” he muttered.
All of a sudden, the Khan screamed. “ARGH! THEY ARE CARRYING SALTWORT!”
The guards leapt into action. Worto yelled, “Don’t move! Or we shall unleash our supreme
‘saltwort weapons’!”
“Who on earth do you think you are?” shot back the guards.
“I am Worto, S. Worto!” retorted Worto. Alt rolled his eyes at his companion’s silliness.
The generals whipped out some more saltwort powder and spread them over the interior of the
yurt. Alt blew the powder from the box he had been holding onto the Khan’s face but accidentally
slipped on some wet sand. He tumbled backwards through the layer of cloth covering the yurt.
“Aww, come on,” Alt groaned.
“Wow, Alt,” praised Worto sarcastically as he himself was trying to cover the guard’s faces
with saltwort powder. He pulled out a small branch and threw some saltwort powder onto the
sand. He set fire to the powder, filling the inside of the yurt with saltwort-scented smoke.
“Hope you enjoy our premium ‘saltwort incense’,” sneered Worto.
“Ah…AHTISCHOO!” sneezed the Khan. “AHTISCHOO! Ah…Ah...”
“How dare you?!” yelled a bearded guard as he scratched his body whilst doing some sort of
weird dance. Other guards were doing the same thing. “This is so itchy!”
Suddenly, strong hands grabbed the two generals from behind. Alt slipped again, tripping
Worto, and the men toppled over each other.
“Oww! What was that for?” mumbled Alt beneath Worto.
“Take it easy, mate,” said a gruff Mongolian voice. “You’re going to jail.” Reinforcements for
the Khan had come!
“What?!” whined Alt and Worto in unison.
“Better not underestimate the Mongol Army next time,” announced the Khan as he coughed
faintly. Unknown to all his enemies, he had produced a secret bottle of saltwort antidote made
from saxaul tree roots. He sniggered while he slowly drank it.
