White Tiger

by Kylie Chan

  He looked as if he was going to tell me off, then smiled. ‘Gambling for money is not interesting when money has no value. The Tiger and I occasionally game for much higher stakes than money.’

  ‘Thought so. Look at the Hong Kong Jockey Club—richest institution in Hong Kong.’

  He poured more tea. ‘We need to talk, Emma.’ He put the teapot down. ‘This is very hard.’

  ‘You should have told me!’ I yelled, and he jumped. ‘Or at least had Leo tell me. I don’t know which of you is more hopeless. Ms Kwan is right.’

  He gazed into my eyes. ‘She told you?’

  ‘Damn straight she did.’

  He studied his cup carefully. ‘You are dismissed, Emma. When we return to Hong Kong you will pack your bags and leave.’

  ‘Absolutely not.’

  ‘You should leave, Emma. I could hurt you.’ He sighed. ‘I am hurting you anyway.’

  ‘No! I love both of you too much to leave. I’m not going.’

  His head snapped up so that he could see me. ‘You love both of us?’

  ‘You think I don’t?’ I sighed with exasperation. ‘You think this will make any difference to me, John? You should have told me.’

  ‘I didn’t want to lose you.’

  I reached out to take his hand, then pulled back and held my teacup instead. ‘You won’t lose me. I’ll stay with you until you go. I won’t leave you.’

  His eyes glittered. ‘I am making you suffer. You should leave. I could hurt you. Even unintentionally, Emma, I could hurt you. Even now it would not take much.’

  ‘We’ll just have to be careful, John.’ I straightened. ‘Mr Chen. We’ll just be careful when we’re alone.’ I took a sip of tea. ‘We’ll be friends, we’ll care for Simone.’ I looked into his eyes. ‘I don’t need more than that.’

  ‘Eventually I will not be able to touch you at all.’

  I gazed into his eyes. Love me completely, and be unable to touch me at all. ‘Even if you couldn’t touch me at all, John, I still think I would be the happiest woman in the world.’

  ‘We are a pair of fools.’

  ‘I know. But I’m happy to be a fool with you.’ He poured more tea. I tapped the table next to my teacup.

  Mr Chen, Simone and I ate breakfast on the balcony the next morning. Simone had already pulled on her new swimmers and was chatting merrily about the beach.

  Leo stormed into the kitchen and towered over Monica. He was wearing just a pair of shorts, his dark muscular torso bare. Usually he didn’t come out until he was fully dressed in one of his sharp outfits.

  He hissed angrily at Monica. Monica protested just as softly. We couldn’t hear a word they said.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Simone said.

  Monica shook her head and turned away from Leo. He glowered down at her, then he straightened, looked out towards the balcony and saw my face.

  He walked to us with a great deal of aloof dignity. He came right up to me and towered over me, his face a mask of fury, but clearly couldn’t think of anything to say. He stormed back into the apartment without saying a word.

  I collapsed over the table, shaking with silent laughter.

  ‘What did you do?’ Mr Chen said.

  ‘I snuck into the laundry room while Monica was busy,’ I whispered, so softly Simone couldn’t hear. ‘All his underwear is pink.’

  ‘You are very evil sometimes. I look forward to seeing his revenge.’

  ‘I don’t.’

  The beach had already filled with people, most of them setting up their towels between the yellow and red flags.

  ‘There’s the flags, Daddy,’ Simone said, pointing. ‘We have to go there.’

  ‘Having the flags is a good idea,’ Mr Chen said.

  ‘Looks okay to me,’ Leo said, sceptical.

  ‘If you came here by yourself, and there were no flags, where would you swim?’ Mr Chen said.

  Leo looked up and down the beach. Then he pointed. ‘Over there. Looks calmer there. Don’t know why the flags aren’t set up there, there’s fewer waves.’

  ‘Most people who are new here think that,’ I said.

  ‘Leo, if you were to swim there, you would be quickly swept away and probably drown,’ Mr Chen said.

  Leo opened his mouth to protest.

  ‘Even with your strength, I don’t think you could fight the current there. It’s very strong. That’s where the water is going out, not coming in. That’s why it looks calmer.’

  ‘We call it a rip,’ I said. We all walked towards the flags together. ‘Last year a young backpacker from New Zealand hopped off the bus, dropped his bag in the hostel, changed into his shorts, walked into a rip and drowned. He’d been here less than an hour.’

  Leo studied the waves with new respect.

  ‘They are very useful,’ Mr Chen said.

  We dropped our stuff near the lifeguards’ tent between the flags and flopped to sit on our towels. I put sunscreen on Simone, then had Leo put some on my back. His huge hands covered me in no time at all.

  Mr Chen stood watching the waves.

  ‘Go!’ I said.

  He glanced down at me. ‘I may be gone for quite some time.’

  ‘How long, sir?’ Leo said.

  Mr Chen looked out at the waves. ‘A couple of hours?’

  ‘We’ll be fine here,’ I said. ‘Plenty of people around.’ ‘And we have Leo,’ Simone said.

  Mr Chen didn’t say anything; he just walked towards the water. ‘Mr Chen!’

  He stopped and turned. I gestured with my head towards the lifeguards’ tent. ‘The lifesavers here are professionals. Disappear quietly, otherwise they might try to rescue you.’

  He nodded, turned and walked down to the water. He waded into the breakers, then dived into one of the metre-high waves. He didn’t reappear.

  Nobody noticed.

  ‘How come he can swim like that?’ I said. ‘No idea,’ Leo said. ‘Something to do with his nature.’

  I raised the sunscreen. ‘Want me to put some on your back?’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ he said with scorn. ‘The sun’s much stronger here than in Hong Kong, Leo.’

  Leo rose and held his hand out for Simone. ‘Want to swim?’

  Simone jumped with excitement as she grabbed his hand. ‘Yeah!’

  At the edge of the water Simone shrieked with delight and ran away from the waves. I showed her how to jump over the small breakers and Leo watched with a huge grin.

  Simone threw herself at Leo with her arms up. ‘Carry me, Leo, I want to go deeper!’

  He hoisted her onto his hip, then waded into the deeper water. The waves broke around him but he didn’t seem to notice. Simone laughed and he laughed with her. He didn’t laugh often and it was wonderful to hear them together.

  Simone pointed to some children body-boarding. ‘Can I try that?’

  ‘You want a boogie board?’ I said.

  ‘That looks like fun. Can I try?’

  I touched Leo’s arm. ‘I’ll buy her one across the road at the shops.’

  Leo nodded agreement.

  I returned to our gear and opened the bag to pull some cash out. I nearly shrieked when I saw the cockroach sitting on the money. I loathed cockroaches and in Queensland they could grow enormous. Then I saw it properly and pulled it out. I looked up; Leo was grinning at me from the surf. This plastic one was going down the back of his technicolour shirt very soon.

  I walked through the park and across the road to the shopping centre. A store near the entrance sold small boogie boards and I bought one for Simone.

  As I walked back to the beach I realised I was being followed. I watched them out of the corner of my eye: two middle-aged male Chinese tourists, wearing slacks and polo shirts and carrying large leather bags. They were almost like twins, with identical plastic-rimmed glasses and unruly hair. The fact that they were by themselves was unusual enough to be noticeable; normally Chinese tourists travelled in groups and were bussed around. They didn’t f
eel like demons, and they were close enough that I should have been able to tell, but I could be wrong.

  I hurried back across the park towards the beach. They followed me, talking to each other loudly in Putonghua, making no attempt to hide their presence. They had the distinctive Beijing accent, rolling their r’s.

  I reached the wooden boardwalk at the top of the sand and walked out onto the beach. They stopped on the boardwalk; they wore shoes and socks and would have to pull them off to follow me.

  I glanced back. They were sitting on a bench on the boardwalk watching the waves. Waiting for us. Damn!

  I took the boogie board down to Leo and Simone. Simone jumped up and down, clapping her hands, then fell over in the water. She pulled herself up again, laughing.

  Leo saw my face. ‘What?’

  ‘How far away can she sense them?’

  ‘About three, five metres. You think we’ve got some?’

  I gestured with my head towards the top of the beach. ‘They followed me.’

  Leo looked up at the boardwalk. ‘Which ones?’

  I looked up as well. They were gone.

  I quickly checked the beach; they had taken off their shoes and socks and stood at the edge of the water nearby, grinning.

  I backed to stand next to Leo, facing them. ‘Those ones. Look like Mainland tourists.’

  Leo dropped to one knee and spoke to Simone. ‘Look at those men over there, Simone. Are they bad people?’

  Simone studied them, eyes wide, then grinned up at Leo. ‘Nope. Just people.’ She jiggled. ‘Let me try the board!’

  ‘You sure there’s none around here?’ Her eyes unfocused then she snapped back. ‘Let me try!’

  Leo shrugged and rose.

  I smacked my forehead with my palm. ‘I am so paranoid.’

  ‘It’s only being paranoid if nobody’s after you. In this case, I’d just call it being careful, and be glad that she has an extra pair of eyes watching out for her.’

  I sighed. ‘I suppose you’re right.’

  The tourists approached us, grinning broadly. They had rolled their slacks up and were holding their shoes in one hand. Both Leo and I readied ourselves without moving into a defensive stance.

  One held a camera out to us, bobbed his head politely and said something in Putonghua.

  ‘He says I’m beautiful, and you’re beautiful, and Australia’s beautiful, and he wants to take a picture with us,’ Simone said.

  Leo and I shared a look.

  The tourist bobbed his head again, still grinning. ‘Qing, piaoliang xiaojie.’

  ‘Please, pretty lady,’ Simone said. ‘Sort of.’ ‘Are you sure, Simone?’ Leo said. ‘Just people,’ Simone said.

  I nodded and smiled. The tourist passed the camera to the other man, and stood behind Simone and me. Leo moved out of the frame but the tourist beckoned for him to move back into the picture. He shrugged and turned to face the camera as well.

  The other tourist took the photo and the one behind us moved in front of us again. ‘Xie xie, xie xie.’

  ‘Bu keqi,’ I said, and he smiled even wider.

  The two of them waved and walked away.

  ‘That was extremely weird,’ Leo said, watching them.

  ‘Show me how to do it!’ Simone shouted, grabbing the boogie board.

  After an hour of body-boarding Leo and I had to stop; Simone was wearing us out. We built a sandcastle. Leo sat next to us and watched.

  Mr Chen waded out of the surf and flopped onto his stomach on the sand beside us. Simone squealed, ran to him and threw herself on top of him. He grunted and grimaced, and she quickly moved off. ‘Sorry, Daddy, I hurt you.’

  He sat up and put his arms around his knees. ‘I’m fine.’

  ‘Let me see,’ I said.

  He moved his legs down so that we could see his abdomen. ‘I’m okay.’

  Simone sat in his lap and he wrapped his arms around her. He kissed the top of her head. ‘Did you build that?’

  ‘Leo and Emma helped me. The funny men should have taken a picture of it. It’s really good.’

  Mr Chen glanced sharply at me. ‘What funny men?’

  ‘Some Mainland tourists.’ I shrugged. ‘Wanted to take our photo. All of us, even Leo.’

  Mr Chen shook his head.

  ‘Uh-oh,’ I said.

  ‘What?’ Leo said, concerned. He sat next to me. ‘Simone was sure they were just people.’

  ‘Did we do something wrong, Daddy? They were people, not…’ Simone dropped her voice. ‘Demons.’

  Mr Chen spoke softly and we all moved closer to hear. ‘Sometimes they have humans working for them. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s been known.’ He pulled Simone tighter. ‘Don’t ever let anybody take your photo, Simone. If they do, they can show other people what you look like.’

  Simone’s mouth flopped open and her eyes went wide. Then she turned to Leo and me. ‘That’s why they wanted your photo too, Leo.’

  Leo thumped the sand with his fist. ‘Damn!’

  Simone turned back to her father, very serious. ‘Don’t worry, Daddy. Leo will look after me.’

  ‘They could have been tourists, it’s possible it was all innocent,’ Mr Chen said. He shrugged. ‘Don’t worry about it. The reason they use humans here is because they are far from their Centre and very weak. An attack here is highly unlikely.’

  ‘Are you okay so far from your Centre?’ I said. ‘It applies to you as well, doesn’t it?’

  ‘Is that right, Daddy?’ Simone said. ‘You can’t leave China for very long?’

  He held her in his lap. ‘That’s right, sweetheart. Because I’m very big, I can travel and stay away from China, but I could never live permanently anywhere else.’

  He smiled. ‘Let me show you something. Do you want to come with me?’ She brightened. ‘Sure!’

  He rose, picked her up and put her on his hip. He turned to Leo and me. ‘Don’t worry about us, we’ll be fine. We’ll be in the water.’ He strode away towards the waves, with Simone talking excitedly into his face.

  ‘He’d better not waste any of his energy,’ Leo grumbled.

  ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘He’ll be in serious trouble.’

  Leo and I laughed softly together.

  Mr Chen carried Simone into the breakers until he was chest deep, then dropped straight into the water and they disappeared.

  ‘Whoa,’ Leo whispered.

  ‘Just when I thought he couldn’t astonish me any more,’ I said. ‘Me too.’

  They returned about half an hour later. Mr Chen carried Simone out of the water as if they’d been wading together. He sat on his towel, and Simone fell into the sand and dug a hole.

  ‘Where did you go, Simone?’ I said.

  Simone pointed. ‘Out there.’

  ‘What did you see?’

  She shared a smile with her father, then grinned at me. ‘Big fish.’ ‘How big?’

  Her eyes widened and she became serious. ‘Really, really big. Big enough to eat Leo.’

  Leo laughed. ‘Don’t be silly, Simone.’

  ‘Oh no, Simone’s quite right,’ Mr Chen said. ‘Some of them were big enough to eat you, Leo.’

  ‘You shouldn’t take her out if it’s dangerous,’ Leo growled.

  ‘She was in absolutely no danger. We were in the water.’

  Leo looked embarrassed. ‘Sorry.’

  The next morning Leo was so sunburned he could barely see through his swollen face.

  We went to the shops and left him at home to harass Monica. Mr Chen didn’t even offer to heal him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Simone shrieked when we entered the theme park. ‘I wanna go on that one!’ ‘I’ll take you,’ Leo said. ‘The roller coaster?’ I said. Both Simone and Leo nodded enthusiastically. ‘That’s as good as some in the States,’ Leo said. ‘Oh, thank you very much. Nice to know my homeland passes the Leo Alexander Roller Coaster Test of Civilisation.’

  ‘Yep.’ Leo grinned down at Simone.
‘You sure, sweetheart? It’s awfully fast.’

  ‘I’ll be okay if you go with me,’ Simone said. ‘Mr Chen, sir?’

  ‘You go,’ Mr Chen said. ‘I’ll stay on the ground and guard.’

  Leo grimaced. ‘That’s my job. You should take Simone.’

  ‘And spoil your fun? Besides, I think Simone would prefer to go with you.’ ‘Yeah, Leo, let’s go!’ ‘Emma?’

  ‘I’ll stay down here and keep Mr Chen company.’ Leo hesitated. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Go!’ Mr Chen and I both shouted together.

  They shared a huge grin and ran. We followed them at a more sedate pace.

  They returned to us, disappointed.

  ‘Simone’s too small,’ Leo said. ‘And I’m too big. They won’t let either of us on.’

  ‘Use your magic to make me bigger, Daddy,’ Simone said.

  ‘I don’t have magic, you know that,’ Mr Chen said.

  ‘Let’s go on that one instead,’ Leo said, pointing at the pirate ship.

  ‘Okay!’ Simone yelled and grabbed his hand.

  When we reached the priate ship Mr Chen and I sat on a bench where we could see them waiting in the queue. Simone waved to us, jumping up and down. Then she fell over. Leo helped her up, then put his hands on his hips and told her off, exasperated. She slapped him. He tickled her. She wriggled with delight.

  ‘Tell me about the Mountain,’ I said.

  He sighed. ‘What do you want to know? The damage is extensive.’

  ‘What was it like before the demons attacked?’

  He put his elbows on his knees and studied his hands. ‘The Celestial Mountain?’

  I nodded.

  ‘Wonderful.’

  ‘Tell me.’

  He looked up at Simone, wistful. ‘The base of the Celestial Mountain is always in clouds. There is no physical way down; you must be carried by a Shen. The top of the Mountain is covered in trees; not much lawn, it doesn’t grow well there.’

  ‘How many buildings?’

  ‘I have no idea.’ He smiled. ‘It would be like counting the buildings in the Summer Palace in Beijing. One leads to another. Walkways through mountain passes, between the peaks. Seven peaks. Arching bridges over the deep gorges.’