Blue Dragon

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

After I’d finished the tea my parents gave me the grand tour of their apartment. It was a luxurious two-bedroom suite with all mod cons, even air conditioning. Amanda and Alan had a four-bedroom apartment next door, and Jennifer and Leonard had something similar across the outdoor breezeway.

The Tiger had placed my family in a guesthouse complex slightly away from the main palace, joined by a covered walkway that meandered through the desert gardens with their many fountains. They had their own grassy lawn, a leafy glade of shady trees, a small swimming pool, and a playground for the boys, all surrounded by a large red stone wall. On the other side of the guest complex was the large school and crèche buildings for the Tiger’s many children.

‘These weren’t here last time I was here,’ I said, studying the new electrical appliances in my parents’ apartment. ‘I don’t even think the room I had was wired for electricity.’ I glanced at my father. ‘You did this, didn’t you? You haven’t been able to stop working.’

My father smiled and shrugged. ‘Have to keep busy. You should see what I did in the women’s quarters. Those poor girls were suffering horribly in the summer, so I put a reverse-cycle ducted air-con system in for them. They all love me.’

‘The Tiger lets you in with the women?’ I said with disbelief.

‘Sure,’ my father said, confused. ‘Why?’

‘I wonder how he generates the power,’ I said, almost to myself. ‘We’re on the Celestial Plane.’

‘This place is really incredible, Emma,’ my father said. ‘There is no generator. I just wire up the appliances and they work. It’s like there’s electricity in the air.’ He rose and went into the living room, returning with a light bulb and a length of copper wire. ‘Watch this.’

The wire was about forty centimetres long. He touched an end of the wire to each contact on the bulb and it lit up. He removed the wire and the bulb went out.

‘As long as the wire is long enough, I can get anything working,’ my father said with pride. ‘And I can’t be electrocuted, it’s like the voltage can’t hurt me. But sometimes when the Tiger’s in the room, everything goes haywire. I’ve had to put in overload circuits, because just his presence blows things up.’

‘Do you think it’s him generating the power?’ I said. ‘He’s Metal, you know.’

‘I’m damn sure it’s him,’ my father said. ‘When he’s away for more than a couple of weeks we have a definite brownout in the supply. But there seems to be enough lingering electricity to keep everything working for a while.’

‘Dad’s keeping himself busy. Are you okay?’ I asked my mother.

‘We’re all fine,’ she said with a smile. ‘I made friends with some of the wives, the ones who are slightly closer to my age. I joined a few of the clubs—mah jong, the book club, and the needlework club. I’ve made some really good friends; some of the wives are delightful.’ Her eyes sparkled at me. ‘I’m having a great time actually. Amanda’s helping in the crèche, and Alan’s negotiating some travel insurance policies for the travelling wives.’

‘What about Jennifer and Leonard?’ I said, more softly.

My parents both laughed. ‘Jennifer’s having a ball,’ my mother said. ‘She’s acting as liaison between the Tiger’s clothing stores here in the palace and the fashion houses on the Earthly Plane, flitting backwards and forwards between here and Paris and Rome and New York, having the time of her life. Leonard’s doing some legal work for the Tiger that he said should have been sorted out over five hundred years ago.’ She shrugged. ‘Everybody’s happy and busy.’

Her face went strange and she glanced at my father. My father’s face went rigid as well and I looked from one of them to the other. ‘What?’

They didn’t say anything.

‘What?’

My father looked down at his hands on the table. ‘We were making plans to retire anyway, Emma. We’re thinking about staying here.’ He glanced up at me. ‘There’s precedent, you know: there are a few human families here, helping the wives run the palace. It’s a big job. We love it here. There are some…’ He hesitated, and took a deep breath. ‘Some advantages to staying here, as well.’

My mother looked down too. ‘We never get ill. We’ll live about twice as long as ordinary people—’

‘You’ll live longer on the Celestial Plane?’ I said sharply, interrupting. ‘I didn’t know that.’

Both of them nodded. My mother looked up at me. ‘Of course, that means that once we reach a certain age, if we return to the Earthly Plane it will kill us.’ She smiled and shrugged. ‘Shangri-La. “Lost Horizon”.’

‘I am going to kill him,’ I said. ‘He never told me that, and if I can live longer then there’s more of a chance for us.’

My parents were obviously amused at my reaction.

‘We’d like to stay here,’ my mother said. ‘What do you think?’

I stopped to consider what this would mean for us. I’d still be able to visit them; they seemed truly happy; and I was planning to move to the Mountain on the Celestial Plane myself, eventually, anyway.

I shrugged. ‘If that’s what you want, I’m happy for you. You can go home any time you like if you change your minds. We will look after you. What about Amanda and Jennifer and their families?’

‘Amanda and Alan want to go home,’ my father said. ‘Jennifer and Leonard want to stay here, but Leonard says it’s up to John, because he’s John’s Retainer.’

My mother became very serious. ‘We didn’t realise when we met John. He’s so…’ She searched for the word. ‘He’s so powerful. Everybody speaks his name, “Xuan Wu, the Emperor Zhen Wu, the Dark Lord”, with awe. I mean, the Tiger’s a god, but Xuan Wu’s…’ Her voice drifted off.

‘John’s like more than a god,’ my father finished for her. ‘Some of the things he’s supposed to have done over the centuries defy belief. He’s supposed to have defeated an entire demon army single-handed. He’s the Tiger’s boss, and the Tiger himself is incredibly powerful. The Tiger says he would be deeply honoured to have us stay here, as your parents.’

‘John’s a force of nature,’ I said. ‘And a normal sweet guy.’

‘They say things about you too, Emma,’ my mother said, studying me.

‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘I know there are stories about me.’ I smiled. ‘I had lunch with Louise a couple of days ago. She had a bet running with the other wives that the stuff I’ve done is true. The other wives didn’t believe it.’

‘That’s part of the reason we want to stay here, Emma,’ my mother said, and she shared a look with my father. ‘Being your mother makes me royalty. Everybody treats us like we’re something very special.’

‘They couldn’t believe I was just an ordinary Australian electrician,’ my father said with amusement. ‘They thought I had to be a demi-god or something, to have a daughter like you.’

‘You are,’ I whispered.

‘Do you think you could manage a walk through the gardens?’ my mother said. ‘You could come and visit Amanda in the crèche, see Jen in the shops. The Tiger has a complete shopping mall attached to the palace—’

‘Full of women’s shops,’ my father said grimly. ‘Not a single hardware store there. Going to fix that as soon as I’ve finished the air con in the women’s quarters, and then I’m wiring up that mall so you can actually see when you’re in there. A couple of sons have asked to come along and learn from me. I have apprentices.’

‘I thought you were planning retirement,’ I said with amusement as I rose, leaning on the back of the chair. My mother moved to help me and I waved her away. ‘I should be fine to walk around. If I’m too weak I’ll let you know.’

‘For your father,’ my mother said, linking her arm in mine to help me anyway, ‘this is retirement.’

I didn’t hear the Tiger appear as I sat on the viewing podium watching the show-jumping competition. Michael was competing and they’d put me in the VIP box, right in front of the arena. A smiling demon waiter made sure that I was well cared for with cool drinks and vegetarian snacks. I hated receiving special treatment, but at least the competition was good.

‘Lady Emma Donahoe, chosen of the Dark Lord,’ the Tiger said, lounging next to me as if he’d always been there.

‘Lord Bai Hu, Emperor of the Western Heavens,’ I replied, watching the riders.

‘You’ll be terrific in Court,’ Bai Hu said.

‘Oh, thanks a lot.’

He turned and grabbed a tall drink of something cold from the demon waiter who had appeared next to him. ‘Your family is great. Your dad has already wired up nearly half the women’s quarters. Your mother has made friends with just about everybody. Your sister Jennifer can be a bit hard to take sometimes, but the other one—I don’t remember her name—she’s a cutie. I offered her half a million US dollars for that Southern stone Shen and she wouldn’t take it, despite its protests. She said it was worth more than money to her.’

‘Amanda,’ I said. ‘I can believe that she wouldn’t take money for it; it’s saved her family’s lives more than once. But the stone tried to convince her to take the money?’

‘I think it was planning to sneak back to her after I’d paid for it,’ the Tiger said with amusement.

The loudspeakers crackled to life over the arena. ‘Two Nine Seven, riding Sun Bird.’

A young son of the Tiger, slim and well-built with mid-brown hair, rode a large strong chestnut horse into the arena. He came to the front of the box and saluted us with his whip. The Tiger and I nodded back, the Tiger raising his drink. Two Nine Seven then faced the judges and saluted, and the bell rang for him to commence his round.

‘And you keep your paws off my sisters, they’re married,’ I said.

‘You’re not married,’ the Tiger said softly, watching the young man take the horse over the jumps. A rail went down and he winced.

I sighed. ‘We’ve had this discussion before, Bai Hu. And if John knew, he’d pull your whiskers out one by one.’

He shrugged. ‘Can’t blame a guy for trying.’

We watched the rider in silence for a while. He finished the round with eight faults—two poles knocked down—but he had the fastest time.

‘Good horse,’ the Tiger said. ‘He’s done well with it.’ He didn’t turn away from the arena. ‘Is it all right if your family stay? I’d be truly honoured by their presence. I would be able to keep them safe for you.’

‘If that’s what they want, I have no problem with it.’

A group of gorgeous young wives appeared, escorted by a couple of guards. They sat in the stands and waved cheerfully to the Tiger. He waved back.

‘Three One Five on White Flame,’ the announcer said. Michael rode out on a small grey horse, only about fifteen and a half hands. He stopped and saluted us in front of the podium. As we nodded back he went rigid, then relaxed.

‘Michael MacLaren on White Flame,’ the announcer said, sounding unhappy.

The Tiger made a soft sound of amusement as Michael turned away to salute the judges.

‘What do you do if one of the sons has a fling with one of the wives?’ I said.

‘Doesn’t happen,’ he said firmly.

‘Oh, come on,’ I said. ‘There are supermodels, actresses, the whole works in there. A smorgasbord for any red-blooded guy. You can’t tell me it doesn’t happen.’

‘Doesn’t happen,’ he repeated. ‘Not red-blooded guys.’

I inhaled sharply with horror. ‘Oh my God, you don’t. Not any more. Tell me it doesn’t happen any more.’

‘Yeah,’ he said with a grin. ‘Used to happen. I never did it to them, they’d do it to themselves. Stupid bastards. I kept telling them it’s a waste of time, you can’t kill all the hormones, all you can do is make yourself useless, but they wouldn’t listen. Being a member of the Seraglio Elite Guard is one of the greatest honours in the West. So they did it. Cut everything off. And so, as much as I hated it, I had to give them a job. It was a vicious cycle. Same as in Beijing.’

‘But you have stopped it now?’

‘Of course.’ He shrugged. ‘Found a clever way around it. One of the wives thought of it. When they turn twenty, they can apply. A Shen inspects them. If they show no interest at all in chicks, and they have the talent, they’re promoted. The numbers are just right: about one in ten. The situation works well.’

I was speechless, a huge grin on my face.

He continued with a perfectly straight face. ‘They all go out clubbing together. I think they have more fun in Gay Paree than the wives do.’

I collapsed over the railing laughing. When I’d regained control I wiped my eyes. ‘If Leo knew about it he’d be here with Michael every Sunday. Some of those Elite Guards are incredibly cute.’

‘Oh, Leo knows,’ the Tiger said. ‘But he is completely devoted to his Lord, his Lady and their child. He never wants to be too far from you. He told me that himself.’

‘She’s not our child,’ I said softly. ‘She’s his child.’

‘Yes, she is, Emma,’ the Tiger said. ‘She’s yours just as much as she’s his. One day you guys must make it formal. You could make a declaration at Court after you’re married. Permit me to arrange it for you when the time comes. I’d love to see it.’

I hesitated. It was disrespectful to Michelle’s memory for me even to consider this.

‘Michelle would have wanted it, Emma,’ the Tiger said.

‘You knew her?’

‘Clear round for Three…’ the announcer said, his voice trailing off as Michael glared at him. ‘For Michael MacLaren.’

‘That’s an exceptionally talented little horse he has there,’ the Tiger said. ‘Yes, of course I knew her. I was best man at the wedding.’

Everybody applauded and Michael gave me a cheery wave. I waved back.

‘If you guys have a Western wedding, though, I’m not coming,’ the Tiger said. ‘Western weddings are as boring as hell. Those things take forever, altogether too much ceremonial garbage. The Chinese way’s much better. Serve tea to the elders, have a big dinner, lock the bride and groom away to do their thing, and then play mah jong for the rest of the night. And a few days later have a declaration in Court, making Simone your own.’

It made my heart ache to think of it. We’d be a family. John would be my husband. Simone would be my daughter. A family. And then a chill went through me.

‘What if I’m the White Snake?’ I said.

‘You can’t be,’ he said. ‘Ah Wu and I discussed it. The Pagoda has not fallen. The Red Snake has not appeared. You are not the White Snake.’

‘What would happen to his vow to marry me if I was the White Snake? If I was his daughter?’

‘How do you know she was his daughter?’

I smiled grimly. ‘I saw the look on his face.’

‘He vowed to marry you. It would happen. If you are the White Snake, you would not discover it until after you are wed. That is the nature of a vow such as this. I felt it when he made his oath to you, all the way from here. Such a vow from one such as he is a thing of incredible power.’

‘What would be our punishment for marrying in a situation like that?’

‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Something like that has never occurred among us. And it’s already too late, you know that.’ He suddenly appeared wistful. ‘The White Snake was a delightful girl. A loving wife, faithful, everything a man could want. Her human husband was very lucky. What they had together was a rare and precious thing. Even after he discovered her Serpent nature, he still loved and trusted her.’

I tried to control the bitterness in my voice. ‘And a Taoist priest convinced her husband she was evil. Just because she was a snake.’

He smiled gently. ‘There is nothing evil about snakes. They are just cold-blooded.’

‘And eat babies. Alive.’

He shrugged. ‘Young antelope are the best. Sweetest.’

‘But serpent Shen in human form can’t do the things that I can do,’ I said. ‘I checked.’

‘Is it true that you lifted Leo one-handed?’ he said softly.

I didn’t reply.

‘Ah Wu is not concerned, but I have to admit that I am. That is more than Serpent nature, Emma. Do you thirst for blood? Do you have dreams?’

I dropped my head. ‘Yes.’

‘Clear round for Two Eight Seven,’ the announcer said. ‘With the fastest time, Two Eight Seven is now in the lead.’

Everybody applauded.

‘Do you harm any of them in your dreams?’ the Tiger said.

‘No.’ I glanced at him, trying to hold my emotions in. His golden face was full of sympathy. ‘One Two Two and Kitty Kwok had me for a year. They experimented on me, I know they did. The Serpent is probably a result of that. If it is, then it’s demon, it’s inside me, and they may be able to bring it out.’

‘Shit.’ He looked away. ‘Shit.’

‘I dream I’m a Mother.’

‘Having children is life’s greatest gift.’

‘I dream I’m a Snake Mother, Bai Hu.’

His voice was almost a whisper. ‘Shit.’

I ran my hands through my hair. ‘I vowed to Simone that I would never take my own life. I promised her.’

He looked into my eyes. ‘You have wanted to?’

‘When I see what’s inside me, sometimes, yes.’

He turned away. ‘I wouldn’t blame you.’ He sighed, his shoulders moving. Then he held his hand out. A bright glow appeared in his hand, and coalesced into a large silvery claw, gleaming on his palm. He held it towards me. ‘Take this.’

I lifted the claw out of his hand. It was about ten centimetres long and the point was sharp. It appeared to be made of platinum.

‘It’s one of mine,’ he said. ‘If you feel that the dark urge is too strong, hold it in your hand and concentrate on me. I will come.’

‘Thank you.’

He turned back to the arena. ‘Time to present the trophies. Will you do them the honour?’

I checked the board. ‘Michael came second. I’d love to give him the trophy. But we’ll need to find a place to put them soon; his room is full of them.’ I glanced at the Tiger. ‘What would Xuan Wu do if you had to kill me to protect Simone?’

‘He is not vengeful by nature, Emma. But his grief would be punishment enough.’

Both of us rose, smiling, to present the riders with their prizes.