Red Phoenix Page 8

  ‘Well, you’ve come to the right place. Why do you dye your hair blond?’

  He grimaced. ‘I don’t. Sometimes I think I should dye it black or brown instead. It’s natural.’

  ‘You’re a natural blond?’

  He nodded.

  ‘Well, that’s not unheard of, I suppose. I’ve seen other blond half-Chinese kids around. Have you been looking for work? Have you had any previous jobs?’

  ‘I wanted to work at Mr Pak’s martial arts studio when I was able to leave school, but times are tough and he can’t pay me. My mom won’t let me work for nothing, otherwise I would. I go in there and help anyway, but Mom says I have to find a real job that pays.’

  I didn’t say I agreed with her. ‘Have you asked your mother about moving in here?’ He shrugged. ‘Not yet.’

  ‘I suppose we can cross that bridge when we come to it. How good are you at the Arts?’

  Michael shrugged again. ‘Leo says I’m good.’

  ‘How about we see.’ I rose and gestured. ‘Come with me, I’ll try you out.’

  ‘You’ll try me out?’ I smiled grimly.

  When Michael reached the training room he stopped and stared at the weapons on the wall.

  I moved to the centre of the room and gestured for him to face me. ‘I’ll try you. Ready?’

  He moved about a metre away from me and stood uncomfortably. ‘I’m not sure about this, ma’am.’

  I straightened. ‘Are you worried I’ll hurt you?’

  He grinned, he was confident. ‘No, ma’am.’

  ‘You’re worried you’ll hurt me?’

  He nodded and his blond hair flopped over his forehead.

  ‘Good.’ I moved into a standard short defensive stance, left guard. ‘All I want you to do is pin me. See if you can have me immobile on the floor. You’re taller than me and stronger than me; if you have a reasonable amount of skill it shouldn’t be a problem. If you can do it you have the job.’

  He hesitated, unsure.

  ‘Don’t worry about hurting me. If I’m injured I’ll take full responsibility.’

  He shook his head. ‘I won’t hurt a woman, Miss Donahoe.’

  ‘If you’re a good student of Leo’s then you can probably best me.’ I waved a come-on. ‘Try me.’

  He was lightning fast. Leo had taught him well. He dropped to perform a spinning kick, trying to take my feet out from under me.

  I just stepped over it.

  I rose and he hesitated, then lunged and tried to grab my arms. I twisted my arms up and away and stepped back out of his grip. I dropped and spun and took his feet out from under him. He fell on his behind with a thump.

  He flipped back onto his feet; strong abs. Good. He was obviously feeling inadequate, because for the next move he just threw a fist at my face.

  Extremely bad idea. I grabbed his wrist, twisted it, and threw him over my shoulder onto his back, knocking the wind out of him. He lay on the mats and panted for about half a minute.

  ‘All you have to do is pin me, Michael.’

  He grimaced and flipped onto his feet again. He performed a roundhouse kick at my head. I ducked underneath it. ‘I don’t think Leo taught you that. Roundhouse kicks are useless against somebody who has a decent amount of skill.’

  He ignored me and performed a series of roundhouse kicks, forcing me back as I ducked underneath them. Eventually I tired of it, grabbed the foot as it sped towards my head and tipped him over onto his back again. ‘Enough, Michael. I can see where you’re at. You’re very good.’

  He lay on his back on the floor and stared up at me. ‘Who taught you, Miss Donahoe? You’re incredible. I’ve never seen anybody as fast as you.’

  ‘Leo’s better than me at the physical stuff,’ I said. ‘If you learn diligently from him, then you’ll probably eventually be able to best me.’

  ‘Leo taught you?’ he said with new respect. ‘Hold on, physical stuff? What other stuff is there?’

  I ignored the second question. ‘Leo and I learned from the same Master. Up you get, Michael, and we’ll see how you do with weapons.’

  He rose, brushed himself off, and saluted me. I nodded back, Master to student. He didn’t miss that.

  ‘Who’s your Master? He must be really famous.’

  ‘You’ll find out if we decide to take you, Michael. For now, prove yourself.’ I stepped back and gestured with one hand towards the weapons on the wall and the racks on the floor. ‘Anything here you can use?’

  He pointed. ‘Sword. Staff. Chucks. Spear.’ He moved closer to one of the more esoteric weapons. ‘What the hell is that?’

  ‘Don’t worry about that for now. Choose a sword.’

  He lifted a few swords from the rack, then selected one. It was one of the Celestial weapons, a white and gold Japanese-style katana. An elegant weapon, well-balanced and sharp, and wrought with demon-killing essence.

  ‘Good choice.’ I picked my own sword from the rack, pulled it from its scabbard, and readied myself. ‘Tell me when you’re ready.’

  He took the sword from its scabbard and stopped dead. ‘No way, Miss Donahoe, I chose the wrong one.’ He tested the edge with his thumb. ‘Wow, this is really sharp. It’s real, not a training weapon. It shouldn’t be on the rack at all, it belongs in a display case.’ He moved forward to return the sword to the rack. ‘I’ll get something else.’

  I raised my hand. ‘No need, Michael. They’re all real. They’re all sharp. We don’t mess around here.’ I raised my own sword. ‘If you’re not up to sparring with real weapons, then just say the word.’

  He hesitated, then returned the sword to its scabbard. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t think I’m up to sparring with real weapons. I don’t think I’m good enough.’ He shook his head as he returned the sword to the rack. ‘Thanks for talking to me, though. I appreciate it. Maybe another time.’

  ‘Good.’ I put my own sword back. ‘You know your limitations. Instead of a spar, how about you just perform a set for me? Anything you like, any weapon you like. I just want to see how you move.’

  ‘Can I use this?’ he said, raising the white katana.

  I nodded. ‘Sure. Nobody’s using that one right now.’

  I leaned against the short wall and watched as he performed a very elegant level four Shaolin long sword set. He finished and saluted with the sword in his hand.

  ‘Did Leo teach you that?’

  ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  I smiled; this time he’d called me ‘ma’am’ with real respect. ‘How long did it take you to learn the full set?’ ‘About six weeks, ma’am.’

  ‘That’s exceptional.’ I pulled myself away from the wall. ‘Come and have a chat to Mr Chen, the Master. I think you’re perfect. Leo’s chosen well.’

  He grinned broadly, then became shy as he returned the sword to its scabbard. ‘Thanks, ma’am. Mr Chen?’

  ‘That’s right. Come with me.’

  ‘I don’t know of any famous practitioners named Chen. Chen or Chan?’

  ‘Definitely Chen,’ I said with amusement. ‘And you probably have heard of him. Come with me.’

  I led him to the dining room and sat him at the table, then went into the study to find John. He sat in front of the budgeting spreadsheet, his noble face intent on the work. He looked up and smiled when he saw me.

  I leaned on the back of his chair and checked the sheets over his shoulder. ‘You forgot something. Remind me to go through these with you later. You men have no idea how to budget for female 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 son number two hundred and something. I inhaled sharply. ‘All of them died in that attack and he didn’t even bat an eyelid.’

  ‘If you mean he didn’t care, that’s correct,’ John said. ‘He has hundreds of children; they mature, grow old, die. He’s used to it. He’s really past caring.’

  Michael was obviously confused by the whole exchange.

  ‘Some of his children have special abilities,’ John said. ‘Others are ordinary humans. This one is interesting: he has a great deal of chi and…’ He eyed me meaningfully. ‘A huge reserve of ching.’

  ‘Normal for his age, though,’ I said.

  ‘Could be, could be.’ John nodded. ‘You are showing remarkable restraint, Michael, and I am impressed. We are discussing your father, who you have waited so long to find, and you remain silent. We are discussing you, and you also remain silent. We have said things that you obviously don’t understand, but you have the discipline not to ask. This sort of discipline will suit you well in the training, you should go far.’ He rose. ‘I’ll take him, Emma, he is eminently suitable. Swear him to silence first, then tell him all: about me, about his father, everything. After that we’ll see if he’s willing to serve as Retainer. I want him to swear allegiance before I begin training him. I leave this in your capable hands.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘Emma.’ John sighed with exasperation. ‘When will you stop calling me “sir” outside the training room? It is entirely not fitting.’

  ‘Sorry, John,’ I said. ‘Force of habit when you boss me around like that.’

  He bowed slightly. ‘If it pleases you, my Lady Emma.’

  I rose and bowed slightly back. ‘With a great deal of pleasure, Lord Xuan.’ I grinned. ‘And speak English.’ ‘I was.’

  Michael looked at us, from one to the other, with complete bewilderment. Time to put the poor kid out of his misery.

  John went out, and I sat again. ‘Now, Michael, where to begin?’ I suddenly remembered a conversation I’d had with Leo and Ms Kwan what seemed like centuries ago. ‘First,’ I said, ‘I need you to swear on your honour that you won’t tell anybody what I’m about to tell you. Nothing is to travel beyond the walls of this room; you are not to share it with anybody unless they know already.’

  He looked me right in the eye and I could see that he meant it. ‘I swear.’

  ‘Good. Now, how much do you know about Chinese culture in general?’

  He was carefully obedient and answered my weird question. ‘Enough.’

  ‘Do you know the names of any of the Chinese deities?’

  ‘A few.’

  ‘Have you heard of Pak Tai?’

  ‘God of Martial Arts? Sure. We have an altar for him at the studio.’ He opened his mouth and then closed it again.

  ‘Did Leo put that altar there?’

  ‘How did you know that? He won’t talk about it. He even puts incense on it. It’s really weird.’

  ‘How much do you know about Pak Tai?’

  The kid was good. He patiently let me lead him through my pointless series of questions. He really wanted the job. ‘God of Martial Arts, always in black. Controls water. Destroys demons. They hold the Cheung Chau festival for him.’

  ‘Do you know his name in Putonghua?’

  He grimaced. ‘My Putonghua is terrible. My Cantonese is passable, but not great. It’s all English at home, my mom doesn’t speak much Chinese.’ He seemed about to say something then changed his mind.

  ‘Pak Tai in Putonghua is Xuan Wu, Xuan Tian Shang Di, Dark Lord of the North.’

  His face began to betray him. He waited for me.

  ‘Have you ever heard of Kwan Yin? Gwan Yum?’

  ‘Of course. Goddess of Mercy.’

  ‘White Tiger God of the West?’

  He nodded, then scowled, beginning to lose patience. He’d done well to let me take him this far without becoming irritated at the seemingly pointless nature of the questions.

  ‘Okay.’ I leaned back. ‘They’re real. The
y’re all real.’

  ‘Of course they’re real,’ he said. ‘People put altars up for them all over the place.’

  ‘No, Michael. They’re extremely real. In fact, you just met one of them.’

  He went completely still.

  ‘Mr Chen, the gentleman you just met? Your prospective employer? He’s Pak Tai. He’s Xuan Wu.’ I smiled. ‘That was the God of Martial Arts.’

  His expression didn’t shift. The kid was good.

  ‘Lord Xuan Wu married a human woman, and had a child with her. That child is the little girl you saw. Her name’s Simone. Her mother was killed by demons, and they’re after her as well. We will teach you the skills you will need to protect her against demons. You should be very good at it with some training, considering who you are.’

  ‘I don’t think…’ His voice trailed off. ‘What’s who I am got to do with it?’

  ‘You are the son of the White Tiger of the West, Michael. You are half god yourself. You are also half tiger. Let me tell you about your father.’

  He stared at me. He gave me rope and I took it.

  ‘Your father has a palace in the Western Desert, in Heaven. He has a great many women there. Your mother fell for him and he carried her away to join his harem. She obviously grew sick of sharing him and left. She’s highly unusual in this regard, because he’s claimed, in my presence, that none of his women ever leave. Your mother must have a very strong will.’

  ‘She does. But—’

  I cut him off. ‘There’s more to it than that, Michael, but I think that’s enough for now. Let me summarise. Your employer will be Lord Xuan Wu, God of Martial Arts, Dark Lord of the Northern Heavens, the North Wind. He will teach you to use your skills to defend his daughter, Simone, against demons. Your father is Lord Bai Hu, the White Tiger God of the West, the West Wind.’ I wondered how much had gone in. ‘Any questions?’

  Michael rose. ‘I’m sorry, Miss Donahoe. I appreciate the attention, but I don’t understand why you’re doing this. It’s obvious you’re good, but there’s really no reason for you to spin this story. And I can assure you,’ he said sharply but politely, ‘that I am not half tiger. That’s a slur on my mother, you know, but you’re obviously crazy, so I’ll let it pass.’