White Tiger

that?’
    ‘If you’d taken a sick day I think I would have dismissed you,’ he said. ‘One of the perks of the job.’
    I turned to him and touched his sleeve, then pulled my hand away. ‘How long do we have, John? Until you go?’
    He took a deep breath. ‘Simone will probably be able to handle anything thrown at her by the time she is eight years old. Then I will be able to release myself from this form and go.’
    Less than three years. I would make the most of it.
    ‘Are you sure you can’t stay until she’s grown up? She needs you.’
    ‘I know,’ he said softly. ‘I don’t know how I will maintain this form for another three years. It will be even harder now that the Mountain is gone.’
    ‘Will I ever see you again?’
    He gazed into my eyes. ‘It’s highly unlikely, Emma. It will take me a very long time to return. That is my nature. I’m not sure how long, but it will be a long time. I don’t think you will ever see me again.’
    I turned away. Ms Kwan was right. There was no hope.
    ‘Emma.’
    I turned back to him.
    ‘I was hoping that you would look after her for me. When I’m gone.’ I stared at him.
    ‘You will do this for me?’ He studied me carefully. ‘You won’t have to do it by yourself—Jade and Gold can help you. But I can’t think of anyone more suitable to care for her after Leo and I are both gone.’
    I shook my head, speechless. I struggled to find the words.
    ‘Please do this for me, Emma. All of Michelle’s family are gone. You will be all that she has left. I will ensure that you have everything you need.’
    I choked on the words. ‘Of course I will, John. I am so honoured.’
    ‘Thank you.’ He looked relieved. ‘As soon as Jade and Gold return we will make the arrangements.’
    ‘What happened to them?’
    ‘The demons killed them.’
    ‘So where are they now?’
    ‘Here come Simone and Leo.’
    ‘You’re up, Emma,’ Leo called as they approached us. ‘Missy here requires the services of a female.’
    ‘You have to take me to the toilet, Emma,’ Simone said loudly. ‘Hurry up, I want to go on some more rides.’
    When we returned to the apartment Mr Chen stood on the balcony and watched the waves. I went out and stood next to him. ‘Do you want to swim again?’
    He turned to me and smiled gently. ‘Yes, I do. But I think we’ve done enough today.’
    ‘Okay,’ I said, and went inside.
    I found Leo and Simone and rounded them up. ‘Come on, guys, we’re taking him down to swim.’
    ‘Simone’s too tired, I’ll stay here with her,’ Leo said.
    ‘No, Leo, I should stay near Daddy,’ Simone said, serious.
    ‘She’s right, Leo. We’ll just have a walk along the beach while he swims.’ Leo sighed loudly.
    ‘You’re the one that’s tired,’ I said. ‘Just a walk, then we’ll sit on the sand. Let him swim.’
    ‘You don’t even need to change,’ Simone said. ‘Let’s take Daddy to his water.’
    ‘You’re right, it’s good for him.’
    We all went down to the beach, Mr Chen in his black swim shorts. He hesitated as we neared the water and checked behind us; the sun was setting between the highrises. ‘I’ll only go for a short time.’
    ‘Go,’ I said. ‘We’ll just sit here and wait for you.’
    He passed his towel to me and walked down to the water. The evening breakers were stronger, but he seemed to have no difficulty wading through them. He dropped vertically into the water and disappeared.
    The three of us strolled along the edge of the ocean while the sun set. Venus came out over the surf, then more stars.
    We stopped and sat together on the sand, watching the waves. Simone sat in Leo’s lap and he wrapped his huge arms around her. The sky above the oceandarkened from purple to indigo. The breeze freshened, full of the sound of the waves and the smell of the sea. More stars came out.
    A small group of dolphins appeared in the water. They surfed from the large breakers into shore, so close that we could see them clearly. We watched, entranced.
    ‘Does that happen often?’ Leo said.
    ‘I’ve never heard of anything like it happening before,’ I said.
    Simone pulled herself free and stood to watch them, rapt. Then she sat in Leo’s lap again.
    ‘They say hello. Daddy sent them. They say he’ll be back soon,’ Simone said.
    The dolphins turned and leapt above the water as one, high enough for their shining bodies to arc over the waves. Then they were gone.
    Later Mr Chen waded out of the surf, his