Red Phoenix

standing to see better.
    The five- or six-year-old children wore elaborate costumes and make-up. They were poised on the end of long steel poles, making their feet level with the heads of the crowd. But the poles were invisible, camouflaged by complicated accessories that matched the children’s costumes. The children appeared to be standing, but it was obvious that they sat on chairs inside the costumes.
    The costumes depicted traditional mythical characters as well as modern celebrities and politicians. One little boy dressed as a fireman sprayed water into the crowd from his miniature fire hose, making the audience scream with delight. Many of the girls were dressed as fairies and spirits in flowing robes.
    ‘Uncle Sun!’ Simone yelled, pointing to a little boy who was dressed as the Monkey King.
    It was dusk by the time the procession ended. Simone yawned furiously. We moved inside and Monica presented us with a vegetarian meal that we ate at the dining table next to the upstairs living room.
    Later, as we shared a pot of tea and discussed the parade, a chorus of thumps echoed on the door downstairs. John nodded to Monica, who went to open it.
    John rose and stood to one side, his face fierce. He gestured for me to stand next to him, and I did.
    Monica led a Taoist priest up the stairs. He wore the full regalia of a senior practitioner: vividly coloured robes with yin-yang symbols on them, and a high, square black hat. The face under the hat was mid-forties, with a kind, jolly expression, and I liked him immediately.
    When he reached the top of the stairs he took two steps into the room and then fell to his knees and touched his forehead to the floor. ‘Man shui, man shui, man man shui.’
    ‘Hei sun,’ John said, his voice clipped.
    The priest rose, then bowed slightly from the waist, very serious. ‘Celestial Highness. Welcome.’
    John gestured towards me, still very formal. ‘This is my chosen, Lady Emma.’
    The priest bowed slightly to me as well, saluting. ‘Ma’am.’
    Simone didn’t bother with the formalities; she ran to the priest and raised her arms. ‘Uncle Ming!’
    The priest lifted her, sat her on his hip, and kissed her on the cheek. He reached into the folds of his robe and pulled out a bun for her, which she accepted with delight. It was one of the buns from the three bun towers outside the temple; it had been stamped with a red good-luck motif. He carefully lowered Simone.
    John gestured towards the couch and we all sat. Monica brought tea, and the priest poured. John nodded as he was served. Now the formalities were over we could all relax.
    ‘It’s a tremendous honour to have you back here with us, Highness,’ the priest said. ‘It’s been a while.’
    ‘Circumstances are quite difficult right now,’ John said. ‘Even worse than ‘78. But in a couple of years I will be gone for a very long time.’ He lifted his tea cup and gestured towards me with it. ‘Emma will be Regent.’
    The priest was obviously taken aback. ‘The Celestial will permit a wedding in these circumstances?’
    ‘No. But she will be Regent regardless.’
    ‘You always were one for breaking the rules, Highness,’ the priest said, shaking his head with disbelief. He smiled at me. ‘Did you have any idea what you were getting into?’
    ‘No idea whatsoever, until it was too late.’ I shrugged. ‘And now it’s definitely too late.’
    ‘Kwan Yin herself has sponsored the Lady Emma,’ John said. ‘She is one of the most talented practitioners of the Arts I have seen in centuries. She loves Simone as her own. She is my chosen.’
    I glanced at John, but he concentrated on the priest.
    The priest bowed his head slightly to me. ‘I will be honoured to serve you, my Lady.’
    John relaxed almost imperceptibly. He’d obviously been worried about the way the priest would receive me, but there didn’t seem to be a problem. I was relieved as well.
    ‘Come up to the temple after the noise has died down and we’re not so busy,’ the priest said. ‘Say hello to the acolytes. The renovations are finished, as well.’
    ‘Do they know too?’ I said.
    The priest smiled. ‘I’m the only one who knows, my Lady. It is a trust handed down to each senior priest of the temple as they take the post.’
    ‘One of the most fun parts of the job,’ John said with amusement.
    ‘Oh, definitely,’ the priest said. ‘My Master took a photo when the Dark Lord revealed his true nature to me, and had it over