White Tiger

should take Simone.’
    ‘And spoil your fun? Besides, I think Simone would prefer to go with you.’ ‘Yeah, Leo, let’s go!’ ‘Emma?’
    ‘I’ll stay down here and keep Mr Chen company.’ Leo hesitated. ‘Are you sure?’
    ‘ Go !’ Mr Chen and I both shouted together.
    They shared a huge grin and ran. We followed them at a more sedate pace.
    They returned to us, disappointed.
    ‘Simone’s too small,’ Leo said. ‘And I’m too big. They won’t let either of us on.’
    ‘Use your magic to make me bigger, Daddy,’ Simone said.
    ‘I don’t have magic, you know that,’ Mr Chen said.
    ‘Let’s go on that one instead,’ Leo said, pointing at the pirate ship.
    ‘Okay!’ Simone yelled and grabbed his hand.
    When we reached the priate ship Mr Chen and I sat on a bench where we could see them waiting in the queue. Simone waved to us, jumping up and down. Then she fell over. Leo helped her up, then put his hands on his hips and told her off, exasperated. She slapped him. He tickled her. She wriggled with delight.
    ‘Tell me about the Mountain,’ I said.
    He sighed. ‘What do you want to know? The damage is extensive.’
    ‘What was it like before the demons attacked?’
    He put his elbows on his knees and studied his hands. ‘The Celestial Mountain?’
    I nodded.
    ‘Wonderful.’
    ‘Tell me.’
    He looked up at Simone, wistful. ‘The base of the Celestial Mountain is always in clouds. There is no physical way down; you must be carried by a Shen. The top of the Mountain is covered in trees; not much lawn, it doesn’t grow well there.’
    ‘How many buildings?’
    ‘I have no idea.’ He smiled. ‘It would be like counting the buildings in the Summer Palace in Beijing. One leads to another. Walkways through mountainpasses, between the peaks. Seven peaks. Arching bridges over the deep gorges.’
    ‘It does sound wonderful.’
    ‘Michelle hated it.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘She needed an audience. She lived to sing. She demanded that I stay here with her, so I did.’ He watched Leo and Simone without really seeing them. ‘She was fabulous. Every time I needed to go to the Mountain, to rebuild myself, she kept telling me she would be all right here, with Leo to guard her.’
    ‘But she wasn’t.’
    ‘Her family came to Hong Kong to visit her. Her mother, her father, her brother—all of her family. They didn’t know about me, what I am, they came to see Simone. Family is important, so I left her and went to the Mountain. The demon came. It took Leo down. Her father and brother tried to defend her and her mother. The demon killed them and took Michelle and her mother. Fortunately, it was unaware of Simone’s existence. No attempt was made on her.’
    He hesitated.
    ‘Why did it kill them? Why not swap them for your head?’
    He didn’t look up. ‘I don’t think the demon knew that humans are more fragile.’
    I gasped. The demon had pushed his fun too far and killed Michelle and her mother by mistake. Now I understood why Leo felt the way he did. ‘Do you know who did it?’
    He nodded without speaking.
    ‘Leo failed you.’
    ‘Despite what he thinks,’ he said, ‘he didn’t fail. He wasn’t ready. I knew he wasn’t ready, but family is important.’ He watched Leo and Simone board a ride. They both waved and he waved back and smiled.‘It was my mistake. One of the biggest mistakes of my life.’
    ‘Leo was your wife’s bodyguard before she met you, wasn’t he?’
    ‘I am glad we encountered each other. He is by far the greatest warrior of his generation. I have been able to bring his skills to a level he would not have otherwise achieved. Because of his proximity to me, he has been free of the virus and I have helped him to live longer.’ He smiled wryly. ‘He does not see that as an advantage, though.’
    ‘Virus?’ I said; then, ‘Oh my God.’
    He glanced sharply at me. ‘You never need to be told anything twice. Sometimes you don’t even need to be told once.’ He looked down at his hands. ‘I’m surprised he didn’t tell you.’
    ‘He shouldn’t bring guys home like he does. He should be more careful.’
    ‘Don’t worry, he’s careful. He’s been tested; he’s clear. As long as he stays with me, he will be free of the virus.’
    ‘And when you go?’
    He didn’t look up from his hands. ‘He’ll probably have about a year.’
    ‘That’s awful.’ I suddenly realised: ‘I have never had a day sick since I joined your household. You did