White Tiger

  He chuckled. ‘Yeah, sure. We know she’s not a demon.’

  ‘Oh yes, she is, you have no idea.’ ‘I believe it.’ He was silent for a moment. ‘Mr Chen’s here—he can mind Simone. Where are you?’

  ‘Times Square.’

  ‘I’ll pick you up. I can check at the same time, be doubly sure. Be there in twenty or thirty.’ He hung up.

  ‘Leo will be here in twenty or thirty minutes,’ I said.

  ‘Let’s go across the road to look at the shops while we’re waiting.’

  ‘Oh no. No way. Last time I went shopping with you we spent two thousand dollars each and you blamed me for the next six weeks for forcing you to spend your money.’

  ‘No idea what you’re talking about,’ she said, eyes full of mischief.

  ‘At least you don’t wear those business suits all the time like April.’

  ‘These jeans cost eighteen hundred dollars,’ Louise huffed.

  ‘Finished?’ I asked. I nodded to the waiter and he started to come over, but I drew a circle in the air with my finger and he nodded and turned back to get the check. I pulled my wallet out to pay, opened it and slammed it shut again.

  Louise saw. ‘What?’

  I lowered my wallet so that she couldn’t see it.

  She snatched it out of my hand and checked inside. A huge grin spread across her freckled face. ‘I don’t think he’s really your type, darling.’

  ‘It’s a joke,’ I growled. ‘I’m going to get him.’

  ‘Let me have it, I have some ideas,’ Louise said.

  ‘No way.’

  I opened my wallet again and pulled out the money, Leo’s ugly face grinning at me from the photo pocket.

  We waited at a lay-by area under Times Square for Leo to pick us up. Louise nudged my arm.

  ‘Guys watching us,’ she said softly. ‘Shame they’re not too cute. They keep leering at you.’

  I looked around; she was right. A group of young Chinese men were watching us from across the road. They all had dyed hair—blond and red—and were wearing filthy cargo pants and white undershirts. One of them had tattoos all over his bare arms, disappearing under the shirt.

  ‘They look like triads,’ Louise whispered. ‘Why are they watching you?’

  ‘No idea,’ I said. ‘Maybe just because I’m cute.’

  ‘I’m cuter than you.’

  A huge black Mercedes blocked the view. ‘This is our ride,’ I said, and opened the back door for Louise to climb in.

  Leo put the car into gear, but I stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. ‘Leo,’ I said softly into his ear, ‘are those guys across the road what I think they are?’

  ‘What is it, Emma?’ Louise said.

  Leo studied them carefully. ‘At this distance it’s hard to tell. But it would probably be a good idea for us to get out of here.’ His voice went softer. ‘Don’t worry, Emma, as long as they don’t know you’re learning the Arts they’ll leave you alone.’ He pulled the car away from the kerb.

  I glanced through the back window. The young men watched us go, then casually strolled away.

  ‘Wait a second,’ Louise said at the lift lobby on the eleventh floor. ‘He has the whole top floor? How big is this place anyway?’

  ‘Big enough.’ Leo opened the gate and the front door for us. ‘Remove shoes, please.’

  Louise didn’t hesitate; she’d been in Hong Kong long enough to know.

  Leo bowed slightly to her, turned and walked away.

  Louise grinned at me. ‘Why do I get the impression that he doesn’t like me?’

  ‘He’s a complete bastard who doesn’t like anybody,’ I said, hoping he could hear me. ‘Come on, I’ll show you my room.’

  ‘This isn’t a room, it’s a suite,’ Louise said when we reached my room. ‘It’s nearly as big as our whole flat. Three generations of local people usually live in something this size.’ She moved closer and whispered, ‘Well, where is he?’

  ‘Probably next door with Simone,’ I said. I tapped on the door joining our rooms.

  ‘Come on in, Emma,’ Mr Chen said from the other side.

  I opened the door and Louise grinned with anticipation.

  Mr Chen was sitting on the floor with Simone in his lap, reading a book to her in Putonghua.

  ‘This is Louise, my Australian friend,’ I said.

  Mr Chen nodded to her and rose. ‘I have to make a call. Can you mind Simone for me? I’ll be here, so Leo can drive your friend back down the hill later.’ He nodded to Louise. ‘Nice to meet you.’

  Louise grinned. ‘Lovely to meet you too, Mr Chen. Emma has my number.’

  He stared at her for a moment, then smiled, shook his head and went out.

  ‘I cannot believe you just did that,’ I said.

  ‘Don’t know what you’re talking about. Hi, Simone, remember me?’

  ‘Yes,’ Simone said. ‘Louise. Emma’s silly friend. Can I draw while you talk about your boring stuff?’

  ‘Sure,’ I said.

  Simone went to her little desk and pulled out her drawing equipment. Louise and I sat on the floor on the pink rug.

  ‘Why haven’t you made a move?’ Louise whispered. ‘The guy’s gorgeous, rich and available. I saw the way he looked at you; all you have to do is take the step. What the hell is wrong with you?’

  I moved to sit closer to her so that Simone wouldn’t hear. ‘He won’t take it further. I’ve made it completely clear that I’d like to, but he just won’t go there.’ I dropped my head with exasperation. ‘I really like him. Really like him. It’s obvious he feels pretty much the same way, but every time we get close he pulls back.’

  ‘Push him,’ Louise said.

  I glanced up at her. ‘No. I respect his feelings, Louise. If he wants to keep it professional, then it’s his choice.’

  ‘God, you are a stupid bitch, Emma.’

  ‘He might feel it’s too soon after his wife died.’ I gestured towards Simone behind me. ‘And there’s Simone’s feelings to think about.’ I dropped my head again. ‘And there’s something else too.’

  ‘What?’

  I spoke very softly. ‘He’s dying.’

  She put her hand on my arm. ‘He isn’t. He looks fine.’

  ‘He is. He has a few years, no more than that.’

  ‘Plenty of time,’ Louise said. ‘Don’t be stupid. Don’t throw something good away just because it’s not going to last forever, Emma. Nothing lasts forever anyway.’

  ‘I know.’ I shrugged. ‘He’s made his choice and I have to respect it.’

  Louise smacked her forehead with her palm. ‘I don’t know which of you is stupider.’

  I smiled with misery. ‘You know what? Neither do I.’

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Monica looked after Simone before dinner while I had a session with Mr Chen. I stopped dead halfway through the set I was working on; I’d forgotten the next move. I frantically searched through my memory, but I couldn’t remember what came next.

  Mr Chen waited quietly next to the mirrors. He would only help me if I asked.

  I took myself two steps back through the set and performed the moves again. Again I stopped.

  I dropped my arms and sagged. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t remember what comes next.’

  ‘Your performance of the set is very untidy, as well,’ Mr Chen said. ‘You should be practising more.’

  ‘I can only practise when Simone’s doing something else. It’s hard to find the time.’ ‘What about the evenings?’

  ‘Hey, that’s my time,’ I snapped. ‘You have no right to ask me to work then.’

  He wasn’t fazed by my outburst. ‘I’ve seen you come in here in the evening.’

  ‘Yeah, okay, I practise in the evenings sometimes,’ I said. ‘But most of the time Simone’s worn me out by the end of the day.’

  Mr Chen watched me silently for a while, then Leo tapped on the door and entered. He saluted Mr Chen. ‘I can take Simone sometimes, not a problem.’
r />   ‘Emma, arrange a roster with Leo for him to care for Simone so that you can practise,’ Mr Chen said. ‘If you are to gain this useful skill, you will need to work with it. Practise at least an hour every day.’

  ‘You sure that’s all right, Leo?’ I said.

  ‘Not a problem. The more skilled people, the better.’

  ‘I’ve been called,’ Mr Chen said. ‘Emma, stay here and practise the set while Simone is with Monica. Leo, Emma was about halfway through a level six Southern Mantis set—remind her of the next part.’

  ‘My Lord,’ Leo said, and both he and I saluted Mr Chen. He nodded to us and went out.

  ‘You should have mentioned it if you didn’t have enough time to practise,’ Leo said. ‘Start from the beginning, see how far you go.’

  I moved through the first part of the set. ‘I don’t like taking so much time off work to do this.’

  Leo nodded as he watched me. ‘Very nice. It’s not time off work, it is work. If you are skilled enough then you can defend Simone as well as I can.’

  ‘Oh come on, Leo. I’m just a tiny woman. How could I possibly be as good as you?’

  ‘Wing chun was invented by a woman.’

  ‘That’s one of the most lethal styles of all,’ I said with wonder. ‘A woman? Really?’

  ‘That’s the story.’ Leo moved forward to correct my stance slightly. ‘Women are smaller and faster. In battle you have the advantage over someone bigger like me, because I have to come down to you.’

  ‘Do you think those guys this afternoon were demons?’

  ‘Hard to tell. But as long as they don’t know you’re learning the Arts, they won’t come after you.’

  ‘That’s reassuring,’ I said. ‘I’ll just have to make sure they never find out that I’m learning.’ ‘It’ll be fine. Don’t worry.’

  ‘I’m not worried about them coming after me,’ I said. ‘I’m thinking of Simone’s safety. If they don’t know I’m trained, I’ll have the advantage of surprise. All the better for me to defend Simone.’

  ‘Excellent,’ Leo said.

  I stopped. ‘This is as far as I can remember.’

  Leo moved next to me, so I could see him in the mirrors, and took up the same position. ‘Okay, I’ll show you the next bit. Tell me when to stop.’

  ‘I really appreciate this, Leo,’ I said softly.

  He smiled at me in the mirror. ‘You’re kidding, right? It’ll be great to have somebody else in the household to practise with, who won’t always be knocking me on my ass.’

  ‘Down, Emma,’ Mr Chen said, gently pushing my arm down. ‘Don’t imagine your opponent higher than you are. You are smaller than most demons, you have the advantage. Make them come down to you.’

  I nodded and lowered my blocking arm, then spun and punched, punched with the other hand, and blocked again.

  ‘Good,’ he said. ‘Again.’

  I went through the set again. Step, punch, block, punch, punch.

  ‘After this week we can’t train on Saturday or Wednesday mornings,’ Mr Chen said, watching me. ‘Now that the weather’s cooler, I’m having my horse moved back from China, from his summer turnout. I’ll be riding with Simone twice a week.’

  ‘I didn’t know you had a horse,’ I said, blocking too high and correcting myself before he could do it for me.

  ‘I bought him for my wife; she chose him and named him Dark Star. He raced for a few years and was quite successful, but he pulled a tendon. They wanted to put him down but I wouldn’t let them; he’s all right as a saddle horse. I feel I owe him a decent life, after all the happiness he gave us.’

  I stopped with my hands still raised and grinned at him. ‘Your horse isn’t black too, is he?’

  ‘Of course he is.’ He moved beside me. ‘Add three palm strikes at the end of the last block.’ He demonstrated, moving with the fluid grace that always made me watch with awe. ‘Block. Punch, left, right, then three palm strikes.’ His hands were so fast they were a blur.

  ‘Again. I didn’t see your hands. Will you for God’s sake slow down for me, please? You’re just too damn fast.’

  He took my chiding with his usual good humour. He slowed for me, moving carefully through the strikes, then turned and grinned. ‘How about that?’

  ‘That’s more like it,’ I said, and moved through the set, adding the palm strikes.

  ‘Down, Emma,’ he said, reminding me.

  I performed the set again, adding the palm strikes lower, and he nodded with approval. ‘Well done.’

  ‘Can anyone ride there?’ I said.

  ‘No. Only club members are allowed.’

  ‘Damn,’ I said softly, performing the palm strikes and spinning to perform the set the other way. ‘All the places I’ve tried have waiting lists a mile long. The places that don’t have waiting lists are out in the New Territories, at least an hour and a half away.’

  ‘You ride?’

  ‘I had a pony I loved dearly back in Australia. I really miss him.’

  ‘Faster,’ he said. ‘Would you like to come along? I can arrange a school horse for you. That would be perfect—you can ride with Simone while I work Star.’

  I tried to control my huge grin but failed.

  ‘Do you have suitable footwear? Leo can take you to the tack shop in Star House if you don’t. Simone would love for you to come.’

  ‘Sure.’ I moved through the set again. ‘You spend a lot of time with Simone.’

  ‘I spend as much of my time with her as I can. I want to make every second count.’

  I deliberately did the block too high, and he put his hand on my arm, gently pushing it down.

  ‘You’re a wonderful father,’ I said without looking at him.

  He froze completely, his hand on my arm. Then he wrapped his other arm around me and pulled me into him, his chest against my back. I closed my eyes as my body responded.

  ‘You’re a wonderful nanny.’ He released me, moved back and spoke more briskly. ‘And very talented. You learnt that set very quickly. How about some weapons?’

  I turned and gazed at him. I knew what I wanted to do.

  And he knew it as well. He gestured towards the weapons rack. ‘Weapons, Emma.’

  I shrugged, went to the rack and pulled out my sword. If he didn’t stop giving me these damn mixed signals I was going to use my sword on him.

  I pulled Simone’s little jodhpurs over her bottom. ‘You’re getting too big for these already.’

  ‘Leo says I’ll be taller than him when I grow up.’

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  She threw her arms around my neck. ‘I’m glad you’re coming, Emma.’

  I pulled her close and held her. ‘So am I.’

  Mr Chen appeared in the doorway, wearing a black T-shirt and a pair of cream breeches. ‘Ready to go?’ I stared at him. ‘What?’

  ‘Couldn’t you find any black riding pants?’ He grinned. ‘No. I nearly had some made.’ ‘You should,’ I said. ‘You look strange in any other colour.’

  ‘Everything Daddy wears is black. He’s boring,’ Simone said.

  ‘You think I’m boring?’ he said with delight.

  She threw herself at him. He hoisted her to sit on his hip. She nodded, very serious. ‘Yes. Boring.’

  He squeezed her. ‘What colour’s your favourite pony?’

  ‘Black.’

  I went to them, put my arm around her, and pressed myself into both of them. ‘Then you’re just as boring as he is.’

  ‘You’re boring too,’ Simone said.

  ‘I don’t think you are, Emma,’ Mr Chen said. He put his free arm around my shoulders and guided me out. ‘Come on, ladies, our black ponies are waiting.’

  He held me around the shoulders as we waited for the lift. Neither of us said a word.

  It was delightful.

  Mr Chen drove us to the country club. I hadn’t been there before—Jockey Club membership was incredibly hard to come by.

  ‘How long have you b
een a member?’

  ‘I was one of the first Chinese to be nominated,’ he said. ‘Something over a hundred years, I’m not sure.’

  I choked back the laugh. ‘Sorry. How do you deal with the passage of time?’

  ‘I keep “inheriting” the membership—I have legal staff who handle that sort of thing for me.’

  He led us down the drive to the stables. The sparkling white building had a red tiled roof and seemed to stretch forever.

  A beautiful red-headed woman rode past on a spectacularly shining chestnut thoroughbred. She wore expensive breeches and a bright green cotton shirt. ‘Hello, John.’ She stopped her horse and bent to speak to us with a very cultured English accent. ‘Hi, Simone.’

  ‘Hello, Claudia. I’m going to ride.’

  ‘I’ll see you at the arena later then.’

  ‘Bye.’

  Claudia shot a sharp glance at me, from my feet to my head, and rode away.

  Mr Chen took Simone’s hand and we went into the complex, past a cleaner with a broom and dustpan who was carefully collecting every stray piece of hay or straw. We entered the stable building, with its large looseboxes on either side of the corridor. Fans on the ceiling kept the horses cool.

  ‘How many horses here?’ I asked.

  ‘About two hundred,’ Mr Chen said.

  I whistled under my breath. ‘And they’re all retired racehorses?’

  ‘There are a few riding ponies as well, for the children.’ He nodded to a Chinese man leading a grey thoroughbred through the stables. ‘It’s a shame, not many of the racehorses make it this far. By the time they finish their racing career, most of them are either lame or too unruly to be decent saddle horses. These are the lucky ones. The Jockey Club does its best for them.’

  ‘You’re not joking,’ I said. We passed a groom leading a wet horse that had just been washed and Mr Chen pulled Simone out of the way. ‘This is like the horsy Hilton.’

  ‘No turnout for them though,’ Mr Chen said. ‘There isn’t enough space. They’re in the stables all the time, except when they’re ridden or on the exercise machine.’

  ‘So your horse needs to be ridden every day?’