White Tiger

‘Of course,’ Leo said. ‘But he won’t wear them.’

Simone fell asleep on her arms and I had to wake her. She whined, pulled herself into my lap and started to cry into my shoulder. I tried to explain about the time difference but she wouldn’t listen. It was going to be a wonderful day.

I checked the bedside clock: 3 a.m. It was 7 p.m. London time and I was starving. I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.

Eventually I gave up and pulled on an old pair of shorts and a T-shirt. I tied my hair roughly out of the way and went out to find something to eat.

The light in the kitchen was already on. Leo sat at the table wearing shorts and a ratty T-shirt. He had a huge mug of coffee and looked as miserable as I felt. He grimaced as I went in.

‘You’re mad drinking coffee this time of night,’ I said.

‘Decaf.’

I nodded and sat across from him. ‘I’ve never had jet lag before.’

‘Marvellous feeling, isn’t it?’

‘I’m starving.’

‘Me too,’ he said. ‘And there’s absolutely nothing to eat in this kitchen. Monica only buys one day’s worth of food when she goes to the market. You know how Chinese are about fresh food.’

‘Yeah. Any ramen? Instant noodles?’

Leo grimaced. ‘Nope. Simone ate them all.’

‘Any biscuits left in the tin?’

‘Biscuits? Oh, cookies. Nope.’ He straightened. ‘Want to share a pizza? The pizza place is still open, we can get one delivered.’

‘I want ham and pineapple.’ Simone yawned in the doorway, then climbed into Leo’s lap.

• • •

Simone fell asleep with her head on Leo’s chest. Leo’s head dropped onto the top of Simone’s, and he began to snore lightly. I sipped my tea.

The intercom buzzed in the hallway and I answered it.

‘Pizza man,’ the security guard said.

‘Send him up,’ I said, and returned to my tea.

The doorbell rang and I opened the door. The teenaged pizza guy was on the other side of the gate with the boxes. I opened the gate and he handed me the pizza and the docket. I checked the docket. ‘Wait here.’

He grinned and nodded. His pimply face had a sheen of moisture; the pizza uniform had long sleeves and he was obviously suffering from the heat. ‘Toilet?’ he said in very accented English with a goofy grin.

I gestured down the hallway. ‘Sure. Come on in.’

I took the boxes into the kitchen and put them on the table, waking Simone and Leo. Simone crawled out of Leo’s lap and sat in another chair.

I flipped through my wallet, looking for a hundred-dollar bill.

Simone shrieked. I spun to see her; the pizza guy had come into the kitchen and grabbed her. He hoisted her into his arms and carried her out of the apartment into the lift lobby. He stopped and looked around, searching for the stairwell.

Leo was slow to react, but once he moved he was like lightning. He charged into the lobby. I followed him.

The pizza guy pulled a knife from the back of his pants and held it at Simone’s throat. Simone watched us from under his arm, wide-eyed and silent.

Leo hesitated, his fists clenching.

I turned to run and get Mr Chen, but I was too slow.

Mr Chen charged down the hallway so fast he was a black and tan blur. He was bare-chested, in black pyjama pants. He shouldered me into the living room, grabbed the sword from the wall, ripped it from its scabbard, elbowed Leo out of the way so hard he nearly knocked him over, then spun and took the demon’s head off.

The demon dissolved into black streamers and Simone fell onto the floor.

Mr Chen dropped his sword, crouched over her and touched her hair. ‘Are you okay, sweetheart? Are you hurt?’

‘I’m okay, Daddy,’ she said, then picked herself up and threw her little arms around his neck. ‘I’m not hurt.’ She leaned her forehead on his bare chest and burst into tears.

He flicked back his long braid, then gracefully rose, still holding Simone. He buried his face in her hair and squeezed his eyes shut. He turned and carried her down the hall, then stopped and turned back to where Leo and I stood frozen.