Blue Dragon

much as I like Leo.’
    ‘I’m glad,’ Leo said softly to the ocean.
    ‘They’re back,’ Simone said as we sat on the balcony eating breakfast. It was another splendid day; the balcony was damp from the overnight rain, but the sun had already become hot.
    The door opened and they entered. John went straight into his room; Martin came onto the balcony to sit with us.
    ‘Tea?’ I said.
    ‘Western, please.’
    I poured him some Ceylon tea and he nodded his thanks. He eyed the food spread out in front of us and selected a quarter of papaya. He picked up his spoon and attacked it with gusto.
    ‘There’s congee over on the side,’ I said.
    He nodded his thanks and returned to the papaya.
    ‘Are you starving?’ I said.
    He glanced up at me, his eyes sparkling. ‘Suddenly I am.’
    John had taken a shower and changed his clothes. He came out onto the balcony towelling his long hair. He threw the towel over the back of one of the chairs, quickly tied his hair back, then went to the congee. He studied it suspiciously. ‘Does this have meat in it?’
    ‘No, that’s mushrooms,’ I said.
    He ladled some into his bowl, grabbed a spoon, and plonked down at the table next to Martin. They didn’t look at each other.
    ‘All fixed?’ I said. They both nodded, still without looking at each other. I leaned over the table. ‘Tell me about your mother, Martin.’
    Leo made a quiet sound next to me, but didn’t say anything.
    John and Martin glanced at each other. John dropped his spoon and leaned back, expressionless.
    ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ I said impatiently. ‘I’m not jealous. This was a long time ago. I’d just like to know.’
    They looked at each other again and this time they went still.
    ‘Oh no, you don’t,’ I said loudly, hoping to block them from hearing each other. ‘ No secrets .’
    Both of them looked down at their hands.
    ‘God, you two are alike,’ I said.
    Leo chuckled.
    Both of them glanced up at me. John gestured towards Martin.
    ‘My mother is a turtle Shen,’ Martin said.
    ‘Where is she now?’
    They glanced at each other again, both of them expressionless.
    ‘Is she dead? Can you kill a Shen?’
    Martin sighed. ‘She has changed.’
    John shifted slightly, but didn’t speak.
    ‘Tell me,’ I said.
    Martin leaned back and studied me. ‘I think it would be best if I didn’t go into too much detail about this,’ he said, looking me straight in the eye.
    John visibly relaxed.
    Martin gestured towards John. ‘One of my parents is him, the Xuan Wu Turtle Shen. I have had very little recent contact with…’ He hesitated. ‘With the other.’
    ‘ The Xuan Wu?’ I said.
    ‘Like the Bai Hu, the Qing Long. The Xuan Wu,’ John said, ‘it is the correct name for it.’
    ‘It is a very strange creature,’ Martin said softly.
    ‘They’re always saying that,’ I said, looking at John, ‘but I think that at its core it is just the same as everybody else.’
    John looked down, then up into my eyes and smiled affectionately.
    I raised my hands in defeat. ‘All right, all right, whatever. I’ll find out all about it eventually anyway.’
    Martin smiled, his eyes sparkling.
    ‘Will you come and help me after the Dark Lord is gone?’
    ‘I would be delighted.’
    ‘Is this okay with you?’ I asked John.
    John picked up his spoon and attacked the congee. ‘Yes.’
    ‘What about in the meantime?’ I asked Martin. ‘Do you want to stay with us? We could use your help right now.’
    John glanced up from his congee. ‘I’ve asked Martin to travel to the Celestial and help with things at that end. Since he has no trouble travelling backwards and forwards, he has agreed to help with the rebuilding of the Mountain and the administration of the Northern Heavens.’
    Martin lit up with a huge, delighted grin. ‘I am most honoured.’
    ‘Can you carry me to the Mountain, Martin?’ I said quickly. ‘I haven’t seen it yet. It’s too far for our household Shen to take me.’
    Martin’s smile disappeared. ‘I’m sorry, my Lady,’ he said. ‘I am also a very small Shen. Too far for me too. It’s a very long way.’
    ‘You will get there,’ John said.
    ‘Yes, you will,’ Leo lisped.
    We were all silent for a while. Martin finished his papaya and went to the side table for some congee. Hecame back with a bowl, nodded to his father and me, sat down and attacked it with similar gusto. Both of them appeared to be starving. It was a good sign; if Martin was similar