Blue Dragon

gestured towards the jetty. ‘After you.’
    A number of grinning locals stopped to watch us as we disembarked. The Dragon greeted them casually and they waved and smiled.
    ‘What are they all smoking?’ Leo growled.
    ‘Leo!’ I said. I dropped my voice. ‘Please. Not in front of Simone.’
    ‘They are smoking fresh air, a relaxed lifestyle and a friendly culture,’ the Dragon said. ‘But be careful not to tread on any toes.’
    ‘None of them are smoking, silly Leo,’ Simone said impatiently. ‘Hardly anybody here smokes, not like China. It’s really good.’
    ‘You are quite correct, Princess,’ the Dragon said.
    I held Simone’s hand and helped her off the boat, and the Dragon caught her from the jetty. ‘Let’s go onto the beach.’
    We had a choice. To the right was a narrow sandy beach facing Gaya Island, shaded by huge trees. To the left was a wide beach without shade, ending in a tiny promontory covered in jungle and petering out intorocks that jutted into the water. The beach on the right was packed with screaming Hong Kong tourists. The beach on the left was nearly deserted.
    As a group, and without saying anything, we all turned left.
    There was a single shady spot under a huge tree. Some American tourists had set up there and were munching on snacks, their snorkelling gear strewn around them.
    ‘Watch this,’ the Dragon said, and concentrated.
    ‘Don’t you dare!’ I cried, but it was too late.
    A troupe of small brown macaque monkeys descended on the tourists. They pulled at the snorkelling gear, approaching quickly and then darting away as the tourists gathered the gear closer. A larger male, about the size of a corgi, came down from the trees and sauntered over to the tourists. He opened his mouth wide, revealing long gleaming fangs, and approached them menacingly.
    As one the Americans grabbed all their stuff and fled.
    ‘What a rotten thing to do,’ I said. ‘Please don’t do that again.’
    ‘They were only Americans,’ the Dragon said, and Leo stiffened. ‘Come.’
    The monkeys disappeared into the trees and the Dragon’s staff laid the mats out for us in the shade.
    The Dragon didn’t sit. ‘I’ll stay on the boat, it’s more comfortable. I have some calls to make,’ he said. ‘If you need anything, tell the demons. I’ll leave one here for you.’ He gestured. ‘Nelson here.’
    The demon appeared as a youthful Malay who grinned and bobbed his head.
    The Dragon turned towards the water. Kota Kinabalu was clearly visible across the ocean, with Mount Kinabalu jutting out behind it. ‘These rocks on the right,’ the Dragon said, pointing, ‘lead to a rather nice small reef. Follow the rocks out to the end, go about three, four more metres. You are on the reef.’
    ‘Thanks, Dragon,’ I said. ‘But please don’t do that to the other tourists again.’
    ‘They were only Americans,’ the Dragon said mildly.
    ‘The Black Lion is American,’ I said.
    ‘Oh, is he?’ the Dragon said, amused. ‘Then I shall make him an honorary Japanese, as I am.’ He bowed mockingly to Leo. ‘You are now a real person.’
    Simone got to her feet. ‘You are being mean to my guardian, Qing Long, and I don’t like that. If you don’t stop tormenting Leo, I will have a serious talk to my father about you.’
    Qing Long stiffened, his expression rigid. Then he grinned and chuckled. He bowed to Simone, then saluted her. ‘As you wish, my Lady. I will in future treat the Lion with the utmost respect.’ He turned to Leo and saluted him. ‘Lion. My apologies.’ He saluted Simone again. ‘My Lady. By your leave.’
    Simone turned away and sat, ignoring him.
    The Dragon chuckled again, saluted me, and turned to walk back to the boat.
    What a creep , I signed.
    With you there , Leo signed back.
    ‘Is that sign language?’ Simone said.
    ‘Yes,’ I said.
    ‘What did you say to each other?’
    ‘Grown-up stuff,’ I said.
    ‘Bad words about the Dragon,’ Simone said with confidence.
    ‘Exactly,’ Leo said.
    ‘I want to learn too,’ Simone said.
    ‘You don’t need to, pet,’ I said. ‘You can talk right into our ears anyway.’
    Oh yeah . Simone switched back to out loud. ‘Who’ll go out to the reef with me?’
    ‘Have you ever used a snorkel before?’ I said.
    ‘No, is it hard?’
    ‘It takes some getting used to. We’ll practise here in the shallow water, then see how we go.’
    ‘Okay.’
    I fitted Simone carefully with the goggles and flippers. She