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Foronemoment,itseemedMulan’sjobwasspplete.AsMulanstoodback,herfatherusheredthelastofthebirdstowardthecoop’sopendoor.Outofthecornerofhereye,Mulancaughtsightofalonechickenveeringfromtherestofthegroup.Mulanfrowned.Shelookedbackatherfather.Zhouwasdistracted,makingsureeachchickengotinside.Hedidn’tnoticetherewasanescapee.Alookofdeterminationcrossedherface.Quietly,sheslippedaway,duckingandweavingaroundafewneighborsasshefollowedthechickentowardtheroughwoodenbuilding.

Mulankeptherpacesteadyandherfootstepsslow.Inherheadsheheardherfather’svoiceashetoldher,notforthefirsttime,thetaleoftheturtleandthehare.Noonehadbelievedtheslow-moving,deliberateturtlecouldwinaraceagainstthespeedyhare.Yetwhilethehareranhimselfragged,theturtleslowlyandsteadilymadehiswayacrossthefinishline.Apartofherknewthatsheshouldbeliketheturtle:waitandallowthechickentorealizeitwashungryandgotothecooponitsown.Buttheotherpartofher—thepartthatwasvery,verybadattakingthingsslowandsteadyand,similartothehare,likedtosprinttotheend—didn’twanttowait.

Asshewatchedthechickenmovefartheroutofherreach,Mulan’sheartbegantopoundandherfingersbegantotwitch.Herpacequickened.Firstafasterwalk,thenaslowjog,untilshetookoffinasprintafterthechicken.HearingMulan’sfootsteps,thechickenletoutaloud

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Bwack!

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andranfaster,flappingitswingswildly,sendingfeathersflying.

Theracewason!

ThroughthecourtyardMulanchasedafterthechicken.Buteverytimeherfingerswerenearlycloseenoughtoreachoutandgrabthebird,thepeskyanimalwouldducktotheside,gainingfreedomforanothermoment.

Havingnoticedwhathisdaughterwasdoing,Zhoushouted,“Mulan!Forgetthechicken!”ButMulan’sstepsdidn’tslow.