Red Phoenix

needs.’
    ‘Too close, Emma.’
    I moved slightly away.
    He grinned over his shoulder. ‘And?’
    ‘Oh. Yeah. The kid’s in the dining room. He’s only first or second grade black belt in anything, but he has a lot of talent and Leo’s started him well on the right path.’ I heard myself. ‘I sound like an expert, and I’ve only been learning myself for about a year.’
    ‘A year with me is worth a lifetime with any other Master. You are an expert, Emma.’
    I shook my head. ‘I’m just a beginner. Anyway. Michael. He has a lot of talent. He can’t best me at hand-to-hand—’
    ‘I doubt if anyone who has learned from any other Master could best you at hand-to-hand,’ John said.
    ‘—and he turned down weapons when he saw how sharp the blades are. Very sensible, lot of discipline, and smart. I like him, he’s a good kid.’
    ‘That’s enough for me.’ John pulled himself to his feet and pushed his big executive chair away from the desk. ‘Let me see him.’
    We went into the dining room together. Michael rose and shook John’s hand, obviously intimidated, but still trying to work out who John was.
    When he took Michael’s hand, John stopped and concentrated, having a quick look inside. Then he dropped Michael’s hand and roared with laughter.
    I watched him with bewilderment; I’d never seen him react like that before. Michael shot a querying look at me and I shrugged.
    John gestured for us to sit and flopped into a chair, still chuckling. He leaned his elbow on the dining table and rubbed his chin. ‘I know your father. He’s one of my best friends.’
    Dear God, that explained the hair. And it made the kid an even better choice for the job; well done, Leo. But also a riskier choice, if Michael followed his father in other directions as well.
    Michael stiffened. ‘How do you know my father, sir? My mother won’t tell me who he is.’
    John stopped laughing and studied Michael intently. ‘You don’t know who your father is?’
    ‘No, sir.’
    ‘Do you know where you were born?’ ‘Somewhere in China, sir. My mother left when I was two. She didn’t go back to the States, she stayed here.She won’t say why. I’ve been to school here, but I want more.’ He hesitated, then grimaced. ‘Sometimes I think there has to be more than just this. This life in Hong Kong.’ He glanced up at John. ‘Something more, you know? I think my dad may be someone important, and I want to know who he is. He provides well for us, we have plenty of money. I’ve asked Mom about it, but she won’t tell me. I looked for him for a while, tried to trace the finances back, but I hit a dead end and gave up. Then Leo said you wanted someone to work for you and learn martial arts, so here I am.’
    ‘You have no idea who your father is?’ John said.
    ‘No. But you do?’ Michael said, his intelligent face full of hope.
    ‘If his mother doesn’t want him to know then I think we should respect her wishes,’ I said.
    ‘I want to know!’ Michael looked from me to John. ‘I’m old enough to decide for myself, and I want to know!’
    ‘I think he should know,’ John said. ‘He may have abilities beyond the norm that we could bring on before I go. It will make it easier for him to fit in, being the same as Simone, half Shen. Besides, the Tiger said that none of his women ever wants to leave, and I would love to rub his wet pink nose in this one.’
    Both of us laughed quietly at that. Michael looked from one of us to the other, bewildered.
    ‘How could she have left?’ I said. ‘You said they’re content to serve him forever.’
    ‘This one must be exceptional. It would take a tremendous act of will. Both of Michael’s parents are exceptional, Emma. Leo really has chosen very well.’
    ‘Do you think the Tiger would like to come down and meet him?’ I said. ‘He may be interested in seeing his son after so many years.’
    ‘Is the Tiger you’re talking about my father?’ Michael said.
    Both of us nodded.
    ‘He wouldn’t come anyway,’ John said. ‘The Tiger doesn’t care one way or the other about his offspring, past ensuring they’re fed and housed. If they stay in the West they may learn the Arts and join the Horsemen. Or they may come down to the Earthly and have a normal human career. The ones at the Guangdong house were probably all his sons. He calls them by number.’
    I remembered how Bai Hu had called one of the grooms by number when asking how many horses he had. That was