Mark’s voice went hoarse. ‘And you think what we went through down there didn’t cause permanent damage?’
John looked him in the eye. ‘I know it did.’
‘Can you erase our memories back to the moment before we were taken?’ Andrew said.
‘I want my little brother back,’ Colin said, desperate. ‘I hate to see him like this.’
‘I hate being like this,’ Andrew said.
Should I do it, Emma? It would spare them much suffering.
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘It’s worth the risk. Despite what you think, John, you’re the best telepathic healer that’s ever been in my head.’
Mark sagged with relief. ‘Thanks, Aunty Emma.’
‘Is this what you want as well?’ John asked the boys’ parents.
‘I honestly wish I could join them in forgetting. I don’t know how Emma does it,’ Allan said.
‘I want it too. I want my Andrew back,’ Jennifer said.
‘Ditto for me,’ Amanda said. ‘I hate seeing Mark like this.’
‘Very well,’ John said.
‘Yes,’ Andrew said softly.
‘It will take an hour for each boy. I’ll examine them carefully before I do anything to them,’ John said. ‘When are you planning to leave?’
‘However long you need, take your time,’ my father said. ‘Do it right.’
‘Will it hurt?’ Mark said, suddenly unsure.
‘No,’ John said. ‘When I am done, it will be as if all of this had never happened.’
Mark nodded once, sharply. ‘Then that’s what I want. I’ll go first.’
‘Finish your food, then we’ll go somewhere quiet to do this,’ John said.
I’ll have to make contact with their heads on both sides and that means removing the bandage, he added silently to me. They won’t see it, but anyone else present will, and that’s not good. So I’ll do this somewhere out of view.
‘I understand,’ I said. I turned to my father. ‘He has to be alone and private, and undisturbed, to do it.’
‘As I said, whatever it takes,’ my father said.
We did Andrew first, in his own bedroom where it would be more reassuring for him. It was a typical boy’s room: the floor covered in suspect clothing, school notes and books, with a collection of remote-control cars and Warhammer miniatures neatly lined up on his bookshelves. A set of cardboard boxes sat on the floor, ready for the items to be packed.
John needed me there to help him remove the bandage from his arm. The physician had done a fine job: he’d folded the skin over as much as possible, and sealed the blood vessels. I sat Andrew down in front of John, and John put his hand and stump on the sides of Andrew’s head, then dropped his own head.
Andrew jumped as John made the contact.
‘Are you okay, Andrew?’ I said.
Andrew’s face lit up with a sly smile. ‘I’ve never seen his True Form before, Aunty Emma.’ His smile widened to a grin. ‘He’s really ugly!’
‘That I am,’ John said.
‘It’s so cold,’ Andrew said, more plaintive.
‘I am the essence of cold,’ John said. ‘If I hurt you or I’m too cold, let me know.’
‘Okay,’ Andrew said.
‘I will examine him extensively first,’ John said with his eyes closed. ‘Then I’ll make the changes. I’ll call you telepathically when I’m done, Emma. Go talk to your parents.’
Neither of them noticed me walking out.
John didn’t call me telepathically when he was finished. Instead, he brought Andrew back into the living room with his arm around Andrew’s shoulders. They went to the couch and sat across from the rest of the family.
John leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees, clasping his hand to his roughly bandaged stump. ‘I can’t do it. I’m sorry.’
‘He says it would break me too much,’ Andrew said, miserable.
John nodded, his face full of similar misery.
‘So what do we do?’ Jennifer said.
John glanced up at her. ‘Seek counselling for them. I can arrange it for you, if you like.’
‘We’ll be fine, Mum,’ Andrew said with forced brightness.
‘I think everybody should leave now so we can pack,’ Jennifer said. ‘I’ll see you all later.’ She walked out of the room without looking back.
‘You’ll all still join us for lunch?’ I said.
‘We will, don’t worry,’ Greg said. ‘We’ll see you at the pool later.’
The Tiger cleared the pool area for us to have lunch together there before my family left. Louise’s two children, Simone, and all the parents, including the Tiger himself, came along too.
The Australian kids taught Simone and Louise’s kids to play Marco Polo in the pool; and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves until Lucas, Louise’s son and the youngest there, ran to us to complain.
‘Simone’s cheating,’ he said. ‘She can breathe underwater and she won’t come up.’
‘Don’t play with her then,’ my mother said.
He opened and closed his mouth a few times, then ran back to the pool.
‘He is such a chronic tattle-tale,’ Louise said with amusement. She leaned to grin down at the Tiger, who was stretched on the pavers in True Form. ‘He gets it from you.’
The Tiger rolled onto his back with his paws in the air. ‘Never told a tale in my life; you can ask my boss.’ He flicked one paw at John. ‘You, Louise, on the other hand … I seem to recall you running to me when you suspected that one of the harem guards was playing up.’
‘Was he?’ Amanda said with interest.
‘Nope,’ the Tiger said, then rolled onto his belly and stretched, scraping his claws on the concrete. ‘They know better.’
‘I remember,’ John said, leaning his chin in his hand over his half-empty plate of barbecued vegetables. ‘I remember once, about five hundred years ago, a little tiger thought that one of his neighbours in the Celestial realm had encroached on his boundary. He scurried to the Jade Emperor himself, requesting an audience, and loudly squealed —’
‘I don’t squeal!’ the Tiger said.
John glanced down at him with amusement. ‘I didn’t say it was you.’
‘I know what you’re talking about, I remember it too,’ the Tiger said.
‘He reported to the mighty Jade Emperor that his neighbour’s army was massing on his borders.’
‘Well, they were,’ the Tiger said. ‘Black banners and all.’
‘The Jade Emperor told the Tiger to return to his Palace, and this time to read the scroll in the red box before sending it back.’
‘How was I to know that the damn box had an Edict in it?’ the Tiger said.
‘Why were you massing on his borders anyway?’ Louise asked John, fascinated.
‘It was joint exercises,’ John said. ‘His own army was involved, but they hadn’t arrived at the training ground yet.’
‘And he never knew?’ Louise said, full of mischief.
‘Oh, thank you very much,’ the Tiger said, and pulled himself lazily to his feet and strolled towards the pool.
‘Nope,’ John said. ‘Completely unaware of what his own army was doing. All the paperwork was sitting on his desk unread.’
The Tiger jumped into the pool and chased the children around, growling at them, his claws carefully sheathed.
John studied them as they splashed. ‘They don’t seem terribly scared of the Tiger. I wonder what they’d think of a Turtle in there as well?’
‘A sea turtle?’ I said.
He nodded.
‘Can you swim with one flipper missing?’
‘I can get around.’
Louise grinned at him. ‘Can you give them rides?’
He seemed surprised at that, then smiled gently. ‘I suppose I can.’
‘Then what’s stopping you? They’d love that.’
John didn’t reply; he just stood and strode to the pool, changed to a Turtle and slid in. The smaller children sq
uealed when they saw him, then began to argue about climbing onto his back.
‘Seemed to be a completely new idea to him,’ my father said, bemused.
‘Probably is,’ I said. ‘You know how big he is. Louise is probably the first person who’s ever had the nerve to ask him.’
‘If he’d been the combined creature, they would have been out of the pool in two seconds flat,’ Greg said.
‘Have you seen it?’ Jennifer said.
Greg nodded. ‘About thirty or forty years ago, when he returned from Europe. Ask Gold to tell you that story — a very funny thing happened. But the combined creature, the whole Xuan Wu, that is not something a child would ever want to ride.’
There was a rush of air and an explosion near the gates. Michael, in Celestial Form, charged towards us, his golden face a mask of fury. He was two and a half metres tall, his skin was a deep rich gold and his hair shone blinding white in a short ponytail. He was wearing the robe that had materialised on him in Court Ten.
He stopped at the edge of the pool and pointed at John. ‘You said she was dead!’
‘Get the kids out of the way,’ I said, rising to talk to him.
John and the Tiger took human form and floated out of the pool. John stood in front of Michael, his expression full of remorse. ‘I did.’
My parents and sisters pulled the kids out of the pool and rushed them out the gates. The Tiger followed them, guarding the rear.
‘I’m not going to hurt little kids,’ Michael said. ‘Who do you think I am?’
‘Of course you won’t hurt them,’ Simone said, climbing out of the pool, still in her pink candy-stripe bikini. ‘But we think you’ll say some things that they shouldn’t hear.’
‘Damn straight I will,’ Michael said through clenched teeth. He stared directly into John’s eyes. ‘You told me she was dead. You’re the goddamn fucking God of War, you used to be a demon yourself, and you were wrong.’
‘I was wrong,’ John said. He fell to one knee and bowed his head. ‘I most sincerely apologise for my misjudgement, sir, and seek to compensate you.’
‘Your head would be a good start,’ Michael said. ‘She won’t even talk to me. She blames me for all of this — she can’t even hold a pen! She’s living in constant pain and her life is ruined. She’ll never work again — hell, she may lose her sight.’
John rose and saluted Michael. ‘What can I do to make this up to you?’
I moved to stand next to John. ‘Michael, why are you blaming John for this? He didn’t do this to her.’
Michael glanced quickly at me. ‘I would have gone in for her —’
‘And been killed. Multiple times,’ I said.
‘At least she would know that I tried!’
‘Conceded,’ I said. ‘But the ones to go after are the Death Mother and Kitty Kwok. They’re the ones that did this.’
‘They’re next,’ he said.
John spread his hands. ‘If you want my head, it is yours.’
‘Please don’t kill him, Michael, I only just got him back,’ Simone said softly.
Michael appeared to see Simone for the first time, and his expression changed when he saw what she was wearing. He pulled himself together. ‘It wouldn’t achieve anything.’
‘That’s a good start,’ I said.
‘And a finish. I’m done with you,’ Michael said. He turned and went to the Tiger, who was guarding the gates the families had gone through. He fell to one knee in front of his father. ‘I accept the post of Number One. Please use my skills as you see fit.’
The Tiger hesitated for a moment, then said, ‘Present yourself to the Quartermaster and the Master at Arms. They have been informed and are expecting you.’
‘Can I talk to Clarissa for you?’ I called to Michael.
He turned and glared at me. ‘Sure. Go ahead and make it worse. Oh, never mind, you can’t.’ He disappeared.
Simone went to her father and put her arm around his waist. ‘Well, that ruined that.’
The Tiger came to us. ‘Your family have started organising the demons to pack for them. Go to their residences and say goodbye. Michael ruined it for everybody.’
Greg and Jennifer had already finished, and were helping my mother and father direct the demons who were putting everything in boxes for them.
‘Oh,’ my father said, and pulled out a large photo album. ‘This is for you, Emma. Where we’re going we’re not Donahoes any more, so you might as well take this and do what you like with it.’
I opened the book on the kitchen table. It was the family-tree research that my father had done.
He pointed to a copy of an old document. ‘The first Donahoes came over to Australia from Cardiff as free settlers. Oddly enough, they chose Queensland rather than Sydney, where most of the settlers headed.’ He turned the page. ‘They were originally from Holyhead —’
‘There’s that place you were talking about,’ Simone said with wonder.
‘That’s right. They were originally from Holy Island, but they seemed to have roots going even further back than that — in Ireland. Anyway, even though they were put on the boat to Australia as free settlers, there was some sort of trial in Holyhead that resulted in them being shipped to Cardiff and then Australia.’
‘That doesn’t make sense,’ I said.
‘It gets even stranger,’ my father said. ‘I finally received the parish records after weeks of waiting for them. There’s notice of a trial in the parish register, but the charge isn’t listed. Only that the young couple — Iain Donahoe and his wife, Brede — were found guilty of “unnatural acts”. The ruling — by Judge Sean MacLaren — says that if they ever returned to Holy Island they’d be hanged.’
‘Brede’s maiden name was O’Breen,’ my mother said. ‘We were related to the O’Breens after all.’
I closed the album. ‘I’ll look further into this. Thanks, guys.’
My mother’s voice broke. ‘I’ll miss you so much, Emma.’
I threw myself into her arms. ‘I’ll miss you too, Mum. Keep in touch, please. Email if it’s safe.’ I turned to hug my father. ‘Dad. Thanks for putting up with me.’
‘I’d put up with anything for my little girl,’ he said gruffly into my shoulder. ‘Look after her, John, she’s very special.’
‘I will,’ John said. ‘I know.’
‘I’m going to miss you too,’ Simone said, tears running down her cheeks. ‘You’re the only grandparents I have.’ She hugged my mother. ‘I love you, Nanna.’
‘I love you too, little Simone,’ my mother said. ‘Be good for your daddy and Emma, okay?’
‘Okay,’ Simone said, but it came out a gasp.
The Tiger and a few of his sons turned up to take them all down to the Earthly. We had another round of hugs and they were gone.
‘Let’s go check on Ben and Tom,’ I said.
John studied me carefully. ‘Are you sure? I would understand if you needed to take some time.’
‘They’re not dead. I may see them again; things change. They’ll be safe. Besides.’ I took a deep breath. ‘I think I need to keep busy.’
‘I do too, I have homework,’ Simone said. ‘I’m heading home, okay?’
‘We’ll see you back home later,’ John said.
Simone hugged us and was gone as well.
‘I’m sure you’ll see them again,’ John said.
‘Funnily enough, I am too,’ I said.
CHAPTER 29
The Tiger drove us to his research facility on the Western Plain. John clutched the side of the jeep with his good hand and eventually spoke up.
‘You drive like a maniac, Ah Bai.’
‘That’s because I am one.’
‘May I remind you again,’ I said from the back seat, ‘that I’m a lowly mortal, and if you roll this thing I’m dead.’
He slowed to about a hundred kilometres an hour. ‘Keep forgetting. Sorry.’ He grinned over his shoulder at me. ‘Roll bar will keep you safe, don’t worry. I b
uilt it myself.’
‘Now we have even more reason to worry,’ John said.
The Tiger skidded to a halt at the front of the facility and we hopped out.
‘Do you have an ultrasound facility here?’ I said as we went inside and down to the genetics lab where his son was working on my blood.
‘In the hospital, yes,’ the Tiger said. He looked sideways at me, then broke into a huge grin and grabbed John’s hand to shake it. ‘Congratulations! It’s about fucking time, you two.’
‘I’m not pregnant,’ I said. ‘Kitty took one of my ovaries for experimenting, and I want to make sure the other one’s still there.’
He dropped John’s hand and turned away. ‘Look after it.’
‘After I’m sure it’s there,’ I said.
‘We’ll check after we’ve said hello to your people,’ he said. ‘One Twenty-Eight can’t wait to talk to you. He has a whole lot of shit to tell you that I don’t understand. You’ll probably get it first time though.’
‘Of course she will. She didn’t have half her intelligence removed with her right gonad,’ John said.
I turned to look at him; he kept his expression carefully neutral.
The Tiger didn’t look back. ‘I resent the implication that I have intelligence,’ he said, opening the door and leading us into the lab.
One Twenty-Eight stood at a laboratory bench surrounded by biological testing pipettes. He turned and grinned his father’s grin when he saw us, then fell to one knee and saluted. ‘Dark Lord, Dark Lady.’
‘Hey, One Two Eight,’ I said. ‘Where’s Ben and Tom?’
‘Resting. I put them through some stress tests.’ He jumped to his feet, excited. ‘Do I have some fascinating findings for you.’
He waved us to the end of the lab where he had a small glassed-in office. He sat behind the desk and spun the monitor so we all could see it.
‘Okay. Now, Tom is fairly typical for a high-level demon, but he should be a Number One. He has blood, internal organs — everything.’
‘A Number One? There can’t be more than one Number One, that’s the way it works,’ John said, fascinated.