Blue Dragon

now,’ the Tiger said. ‘Hurry up and get that goddamn Serpent back.’
    I put my head in my hands.
    ‘Sorry,’ the Tiger said softly.
    ‘If you have nothing else you wish to discuss,’ John said, rising, ‘I have things I need to do. You are dismissed.’ He bowed to Rhonda. ‘Lady. Please join us for dinner this evening.’
    He went into his room without saying another word. Ms Kwan emerged from her own room, nodded to us, and followed him, closing the door behind her.
    ‘How long are you staying?’ I said.
    ‘Just a couple of days,’ the Tiger said, then smiled affectionately at Rhonda.
    ‘Go out to the islands, they’re fabulous,’ I said. ‘Oh, Simone’s started to breathe water.’
    ‘She is more impressive all the time,’ the Tiger said. ‘Where is she?’
    ‘Asleep,’ I said with amusement. ‘Worn out. You’ll see her at dinner. You’ll come?’
    ‘Sure,’ the Tiger said, and rose. ‘Let’s go and have a look around and see if we can find that son of ours. I’d like to see him sparring with the Lion, that should be good.’
    ‘You’re not having him back, you know,’ I said as I saw them to the door.
    The Tiger grinned. ‘Not even if I promoted him?’
    I stopped dead. ‘How…Promoted? You wouldn’t.’
    ‘What if he were my Number One?’ the Tiger said. ‘Would you still hold on to him?’
    ‘You can’t promote him to Number One, he’s not Immortal,’ I said as I opened the door for them. ‘So don’t try that stuff with me.’
    The Tiger shook his hands in front of his face. ‘My Lady.’
    Rhonda took my hand and kissed me on the cheek. ‘Look after yourself, Emma.’
    I kissed her back. ‘You too, Rhonda.’ I squeezed her hand, then released it. ‘See you at dinner.’
    At the end of the eleventh day, John and I sat on the balcony overlooking the water and shared a pot of tea. Simone was asleep, exhausted as usual. Michael was busy in the business centre, chatting with his friends over the net. Leo had disappeared, probably taking a solitary stroll along the waterfront.
    Frogs sounded in the garden pond below us, and crickets chirped all around. The night was a blaze of stars; the clear air seeming to magnify their brilliance. We couldn’t see the ocean or the islands, but the small waves hissed as they washed against the beach below us. Smoke rose lazily from the mosquito coil inside the decorative ceramic frog next to the balcony rail.
    ‘You still have two more days,’ I said. ‘Relax. Enjoy the time.’
    ‘I intend to,’ John said, pouring more tea. ‘But there is something else I want to do as well.’
    ‘No work,’ I said.
    ‘Work for you. The Dragon has an executive development centre here. Team building, focus groups, things like that.’
    ‘I don’t think our team needs much building,’ I said wryly.
    ‘No, you are quite correct. But the facilities can be used to teach some advanced techniques. As I said, I never did get you flying.’
    The door to the suite opened and I stiffened.
    ‘Leo,’ John said softly, and I relaxed.
    ‘Alone?’
    John hesitated, concentrating. ‘No.’
    ‘Martin?’
    John’s voice was very soft. ‘Yes.’
    ‘Good.’ The door to Leo’s room opened and closed. ‘I’m pleased for him. Can you get Jade in to catch?’
    John laughed quietly.
    I realised, and joined him. ‘That was unintentional.’
    ‘I’m sure it was. Jade’s busy doing the taxes. I’ll get the Dragon to catch.’
    Both of us laughed quietly together. John poured more tea.
    Lightning flashed across the ocean on the horizon. The sound of the thunder echoed deeply across the water.
    ‘There is an enormous storm out there,’ John said. ‘It will hit us in about half an hour. The rain will be torrential.’
    ‘Let’s just stay here and enjoy the remaining time we have then.’
    He didn’t reply.
    The executive development centre was mostly outdoors. There was a military-type obstacle course, artificial rock walls for climbing and abseiling, and a large open area used for corporate paintball tournaments. It was perfect.
    ‘Revise the wall-running first,’ John said, gesturing towards the rock walls. ‘Show Michael. He could probably learn the skill as well.’ He turned to Qing Long. ‘Could you take True Form about four, five metres long?’
    Qing Long eyed John with disdain. ‘The smallest I can manage is about ten metres. I am an extremely large Shen, you know that. Take it or leave it.’
    John’s face went rigid and he