Blue Dragon

time?’ I said.
    ‘Three.’ Martin smiled gently. ‘Me, my father and the girl.’
    ‘What about your partner?’
    ‘Moved on a long time ago.’
    ‘You have nobody?’
    Martin shook his head. He glanced up at me. ‘It would be good to be able to talk to my father again.’ He sighed and turned back to the sea. ‘I miss him. And very soon, he will be gone.’
    ‘You’re a turtle, you’ll be able to see him once he’s gone,’ I said.
    ‘No, I won’t.’ He didn’t look away from the sea. ‘It won’t work like that. When he’s gone, he won’t be talking to anybody for a long time.’
    I rose. ‘Let’s go and see him.’
    Martin didn’t move. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
    ‘Do I have precedence as his chosen?’
    Martin eyed me expressionlessly for a moment, then nodded once sharply.
    ‘Good. Come on then.’ I held out my hand. ‘Let’s go and fix this up.’ I smiled wryly. ‘That’s an order.’
    ‘Damn.’ Martin pushed from his knees and threw himself upright. ‘I don’t think even you can sort this one out, my Lady.’
    ‘That was exactly the wrong thing to say,’ Leo said as he rose to join us.
    I grinned. ‘A challenge.’
    ‘She can’t resist a challenge.’
    ‘Let’s get these two turtles together,’ I said cheerfully, linking my arm in Martin’s. ‘And then Leo and I can go and work out which one of you is stupider.’
    ‘That will take some working out, my Lady,’ Leo said.
    The three of us went into the business centre. John and Simone sat together in front of a computer playing a children’s game. When Simone saw Martin she raced to him with her arms out. He lifted her to give her a hug, and she kissed him on the cheek again. The look of delight on his face was heartrending. Martin faced John, still holding Simone, who smiled happily with her arm thrown over his shoulder.
    John stood and glowered. He didn’t say a word. He scowled at me.
    ‘You are coming for a walk with us right now,’ I said.
    John stood unmoving, stubborn and dismal.
    ‘Don’t make me grab you and bring you along,’ I said.
    His face became expressionless. ‘You wouldn’t,’ he said.
    ‘I would,’ I said, moving closer to him.
    He moved away. He raised his hands in defeat. ‘All right, I’m coming.’
    Martin carried Simone and the five of us went out to walk along the edge of the water. The sky had turned a paler shade of lilac and the breeze had freshened, but it was still warm enough for us to be comfortable. The islands off the coast were dark shadows against the purple sky.
    ‘You will forgive your son right now and let him spend time with his sister,’ I ordered John brusquely. ‘You will apologise to your father sincerely,’ I said to Martin, ‘and then the pair of you are going swimming together right now .’
    Martin stopped and his face went rigid with horror.
    John’s face just went rigid.
    ‘ Now .’ I gestured. ‘John, you first.’
    Martin didn’t let him do it first. He gently lowered Simone, then fell to his knees in front of his father. He touched his forehead to the grass. ‘I most sincerely apologise for my mistaken behaviour, my Lord. Please forgive me.’
    I sighed with relief. Martin raised his head to look at his father, waiting with quiet hope.
    John stood with his face rigid for a long time. He glared sternly at Martin. He didn’t move.
    ‘I like him, Daddy,’ Simone said. ‘Please forgive him.’
    Father and son watched each other without moving.
    ‘You are forgiven,’ John growled. ‘Rise.’
    ‘Neither of you will ever mention this again, okay?’ I said. ‘Now go and swim together, get to know each other again, and I’ll see both of you at breakfast tomorrow. Understood?’
    Martin rose with a small smile. John still glowered at him. John was about five centimetres taller than Martin and had the edge on him in size; he was quite a lot bigger.
    Martin turned towards the water and gestured to his father.
    John glowered at me, then a small, fleeting smile lit up his face. He pulled off his black T-shirt and handed it to me. He turned to the water and they walked down to the shore together.
    ‘Make sure he stays in human form,’ I called toMartin as they walked away, and he gestured to reassure me without turning.
    ‘How many gold coins do you have now, Emma?’ Leo said.
    ‘Before or after the ones I get from this?’ I said.
    ‘Thank you, Emma.’ Simone’s voice was very small. ‘I like him a lot. Nearly as