White Tiger

I’ll survive.’
    He opened the door and went out.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
    A couple of weeks later I was doing a tai chi set in the training room when Mr Chen came in with Bai Hu. Both of them ignored me completely and I returned the favour, continuing the set.
    ‘There,’ Mr Chen said, indicating the hole in the wall. It was close to the ceiling, about the size of a basketball; a huge dent in the concrete. If it had been an ordinary Western plaster wall it would have gone right through and possibly injured somebody. He hadn’t had it painted over, and the paint was blistered and blackened around the edges, like a fireball had hit it. ‘Whoa,’ Bai Hu said. ‘Impressive.’ ‘First time she did it,’ Mr Chen said. ‘What made her lose it?’ ‘Broken concentration.’ ‘Really? That’s surprising,’ Bai Hu said. I ignored them. ‘Tea?’ Mr Chen said.
    ‘Got any beer in this dump?’ Bai Hu growled.
    ‘Get your own.’ Mr Chen went out.
    Bai Hu stopped at the doorway. ‘That is the most impressive damn thing I’ve seen in a hundred years. More than that. Shit, girl, you’re talented. Any time youwant to give this loser the flick, let me know. There’s a nice suite in the Palace waiting for you.’ I still ignored him.
    ‘Move your tail,’ Mr Chen said from the hallway. Bai Hu chuckled, a throaty growl, and went out.
    Two Sundays later I was almost back to normal. I sneaked home early from my day off: the finals of the cricket were on and I hoped Simone and Mr Chen were out so I could watch it on the big screen in the TV room.
    I stopped in the hallway and listened carefully. Nobody home. I made myself a pot of tea in the kitchen, grabbed some nuts, and settled myself in front of the television to watch the game. I desperately longed for a beer but I stuck with the tea.
    About halfway through Australia’s innings Mr Chen opened the door and poked his head around, nearly giving me a heart attack.
    He glanced at the screen. ‘Cricket?’
    I shot to my feet. ‘I’ll be out of your way in a second.’
    His hand snaked around the door and pointed at me. ‘Don’t you go anywhere. You stay right there. That’s an order.’ He pulled out and closed the door.
    I cursed my stupidity as I cleared the table. This was the only day of the week that they didn’t have the rest of us hanging around at home with them and I’d spoiled it for them.
    The door opened and Simone toddled in, carrying her drawing equipment. She settled on the floor between the coffee table and the television and tipped out her pencils.
    Mr Chen came in wearing his torn cotton pants and a faded black T-shirt and carrying a teacup. He threw himself to sit on the couch next to me and filled his cup from my pot.
    ‘What’s the score?’ he said, pulling his legs up to sit cross-legged.
    ‘India won the toss. They sent Australia in to bat. It’s two for a hundred and thirty-two.’
    ‘Bad move, India, letting the Aussies bat first. They’ll be thrashed again. The Australian team are so good right now it’s disgusting. We don’t have a hope.’
    ‘ You don’t have a hope?’
    ‘England.’ He leaned to grab some nuts. ‘I’ve half a mind to go bowl for them. Too far from the Centre though. They might even take a Chinese on the national team now. I was selected, but the old…’ He took a breath and changed the word he was about to say. ‘… gentlemen on the board wouldn’t have me on the team back then.’
    I stared at him.
    ‘Shame the next Ashes series isn’t for a couple of years. I hope I can see it before I go,’ he said without a hint of remorse. ‘Damn. I could really do with a pint.’
    That was it. I fell over sideways on the couch laughing. He watched me with bewilderment. ‘What?’
    I pulled myself upright. ‘You’ve had beer?’
    ‘Right now this old Shen is on a strict diet for health reasons,’ he said amiably.
    ‘So you’re not vegetarian by choice?’
    ‘Mostly vegetarian, but I do like the occasional bit of high-quality “cat food”. Tuna’s absolutely no good cooked, but pilchard is particularly tasty. Missed that. I wonder if the tins in the bottom of the cupboard are still good.’
    My mouth flopped open.
    ‘Oh, human form ,’ he said, smiling broadly. ‘Strictly vegetarian. Right now I have to be careful. Mind my energy, don’t you know.’
    Later, we made some noodles for a snack in the kitchen together.
    ‘Which saucepan, Daddy?’ Simone said from behind the cupboard