Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park

families knew each other in Korea? He is
a few years older than I am, and he went to school with my oldest brother. How is he?" Again without waiting for an answer, he continued, "You must give him my regards. Tell him to come to the museum sometime, and to bring your grandmother, and I'll give them a private tour."

    "Thanks, I'll tell him," Kevin said politely.
    "Oh, and of course the invitation is open to you and your parents, too." Mr. Lee smiled and nodded.
    "Thanks," Kevin said again. What was it with grownups and chitchat—why couldn't he just find out what he needed to know and get out of there?
    "Your project," Mr. Lee said. "Something for school?"
    Kevin didn't want to lie. "No, not exactly. Just something I'm—I'm interested in."
    "About Korean history. Well, well." The professor leaned back in his chair. "I must say, I'm very pleased to see a young person such as yourself taking an interest in your heritage."
    My heritage? Oh, brother. I couldn't care less about my heritage—I'm just trying to help Archie.
    "Um, yeah. And I've been on the Internet, and to the library catalogs, but I guess the—the area I'm researching is pretty obscure. There doesn't seem to be much information about it."
    "Which area is that?"
    Kevin took a breath. "I want to know about a guy—I mean, a king. I mean, um—"
Gosh, I'm messing this up.
"He was this historical figure. Named Chu-mong."

    Mr. Lee sat up and beamed. "Chu-mong!" he exclaimed. "What an extraordinary coincidence! Kevin, Korean royalty is a special interest of mine. Tan-gun, Chu-mong, Ki-ja—all the legendary kings of Korea. I have studied them for years! Lucky boy, you've come to the right place. Now, what is it you want to know?"
    "Er, well—" Kevin stopped.
Heck, I don't
know
what I want to know! Everything? Anything?
    Fortunately, the professor had that helpful habit of not waiting for answers to questions. "Chu-mong was much beloved by his people. Do you know how he gathered support for his kingship? He walked throughout the kingdom, and wherever he went he talked to people. Ordinary people. When the time came for him to create a ruling council, he chose not only government officials but also a farmer and a fisherman to guide him."
    Maybe there's a clue in there somewhere. You know—like I have to find a farmer and a fisherman to help out.
    Kevin squirmed a little in the chair. That was like hoping for a magic word again, as if this were some kind of video game.
It's not like that. Not one bit. I don't have any idea how Archie ended up in my bedroom, so how
could I possibly have any idea how to send him back?

    "There are also many legends about him," the professor went on. "In the Korean imagination, he is rather like King Arthur. A man who really existed but who was so revered that he became the subject of many tales of magic and mystery."
    "Magic?" Kevin said, sitting up straighter.
    "Yes. During Chu-mong's time people held a great belief in magic. It helped explain many things they did not understand." Mr. Lee smiled. "There are times when I regret that there is so little belief in magic in our day and age. I think a bit of mystery enriches our lives. Wouldn't you agree?"
    "Um, yeah," Kevin said.
But too much mystery can sure confuse a person.
    "I'm sure you've already learned what a remarkable archer he was," the professor said. "In his time, Korea became known as a land of great archers. Oh, and here's something you might not know: He's supposed to be the one who introduced the use of chopsticks to Korea."
    "Really? How did people eat before that?"
    "Probably with their hands. Chopsticks are a Chinese invention, and Chu-mong's family came to Korea from China, so it is thought that he is the one who made it a Korean custom as well."
    Well, that was pretty cool. Probably made it less messy for people not to have to eat with their hands all the time. Still, it didn't seem to be the kind of information that would help get Archie