Chapter 44
Tigerstar and Scourge grab the first taxi of their group. After trying to communicate with their taxi driver and getting very frustrated that he does not understand English, they both hop out of the car and run back to the airport. Scourge remembers seeing an Information Desk sign and Tigerstar asks for him to direct them there. While this is happening, Lionblaze and Crowfeather get a taxi. Lionblaze had done some research and remembered reading that the taxi drivers do not speak much English in China. He took out his Mandarin Chinese-English dictionary and tried to explain in Mandarin that they needed a taxi to Yuyuan Gardens. Despite his broken Chinese and mispronunciation of some words, the taxi driver seemed to understand. Crowfeather whispered to Lionblaze, "What if you are wrong and he takes us to the wrong place?".
"I don't think he can understand us, so you don't have to whisper and I am confident", said Lionblaze.
"I hope so. I don't want to hear otherwise", growled Crowfeather.
When Tigerstar and Scourge arrived at the Information Desk, they found a helpful woman who told them about a taxi company that had English speaking drivers and that she would call one for them. Scourge asked for her to wait a minute and Tigerstar and Scourge went aside to talk.
Scourge whispered, "Do you think that is a good idea. We may have to wait a long time for the taxi. Maybe the lady could write directions in Chinese for us to give to a driver?"
Tigerstar said loudly, "Fine ask her for directions".
"You don't have to talk so loud, but ok", said Scourge.
He asked the lady for directions and she gave them to him. They rushed to get a cab. Shortly before this, Leafpool and Hollyleaf decided to find out if there was a subway system. They found the information desk and the lady told them about the subway and how to catch it and what stop to take. They rushed off to get the train.
Since Squirrelflight and Bramblestar found a translation button on the site for Chinese to English and vice versa, they were able to give the Mandarin version to the cab driver. It worked because they arrived at the correct destination. They found the clue box and read the clue. We see Autumnsplash saying, "Teams must go to the Shanghai Museum and complete a puzzling challenge". When Squirrelflight and Bramblestar were looking around they spotted a sign for the subway.
"Do you think we should take the train instead? It may be easier to navigate than trying to figure how to talk to the taxi drivers who don't speak English", said Squirrelflight.
"It looks like the sign says the station is just a few blocks that way", said Bramblestar. "I say we try it". As they go off to the train station, Reedwhisker and Mallownose arrive. It turns out the driver was able to figure out the directions and get them to the right place. They read the clue and was wondering how they would translate it to the taxi driver. Reedwhisker said, "Maybe we can try to pantomime that we need the phone and get directions that way?"
"Or there is a sign for the subway", said Mallownose. "What do you think we should do?"
"Let's try the train", said Reedwhisker. They go off to the train. By this time Squirrelflight and Bramblestar arrived at the train station. They notice the signs are in Chinese. They are disheartened and confused. But they see an Shanghai expat, who they believe probably speaks English.
"Hello. We are part of a race and looking for the Shanghai Museum. Would you know what train to take?", said Bramblestar.
Surprisingly the expat did not look disturbed by the idea of a talking cat. "Yes, I know where it is", said the expat. He explained what line to take and what stops they would take. They smiled and said, "Thank you". Before they left, they asked about tickets and the expat was nice enough to show them how to do that too.
Reedwhisker arrived and looked for a map and found one with an English translation. It was a little hard to decipher but they finally found that they had to go to People's Square Station and figured out what lines and transfers they needed to make and stops too. They found a machine that had an English translation and they were able to buy tickets.
Bramblestar and Squirrelflight saw a train was approaching. They quickly looked around to see if Reedwhisker and Mallownose arrived but didn't see them. They got on. The train left and still Reedwhisker and Mallownose were not around. They came downstairs about 10 minutes later and got on 2 trains after Bramblestar and Squirrelflight.