Blue Dragon Part 28

'I don't think our team needs much building,' I said wryly.

'No, you are quite correct. But the facilities can be used to teach some advanced techniques. As I said, I never did get you flying.'

The door to the suite opened and I stiffened.

'Leo,' John said softly, and I relaxed.

'Alone?'

John hesitated, concentrating. 'No.'

'Martin?'

John's voice was very soft. 'Yes.'

'Good.' The door to Leo's room opened and closed. 'I'm pleased for him. Can you get Jade in to catch?'

John laughed quietly.

I realised, and joined him. 'That was unintentional.'

'I'm sure it was. Jade's busy doing the taxes. I'll get the Dragon to catch.'

Both of us laughed quietly together. John poured more tea.

Lightning flashed across the ocean on the horizon. The sound of the thunder echoed deeply across the water.

'There is an enormous storm out there,' John said. 'It will hit us in about half an hour. The rain will be torrential.'

'Let's just stay here and enjoy the remaining time we have then.'

He didn't reply.

The executive development centre was mostly outdoors. There was a military-type obstacle course, artificial rock walls for climbing and abseiling, and a large open area used for corporate paintball tournaments. It was perfect.

'Revise the wall-running first,' John said, gesturing towards the rock walls. 'Show Michael. He could probably learn the skill as well.' He turned to Qing Long. 'Could you take True Form about four, five metres long?'

Qing Long eyed John with disdain. 'The smallest I can manage is about ten metres. I am an extremely large Shen, you know that. Take it or leave it.'

John's face went rigid and he looked the Dragon right in the eye. The Dragon went completely still. Then he smiled, bowed slightly, and changed into True Form of about five metres long. His Dragon form was glittering turquoise and silver with scales that rattled with a metallic sound as he moved. He thrashed his tail with its enormous silver fin and wiggled his head from side to side.

'Close enough,' John said.

'Come and watch, Michael,' I said. 'This requires a lot of concentration.'

'You know what you have to do?' John said.

'Yeah,' Michael said. 'It sounds hard.'

'If the energy gets away from you, be sure to drop it,' John said. He gestured for the Dragon to position himself underneath me.

I readied myself and studied the wall appraisingly. 'Ready, Dragon?'

'My Lady,' the Dragon said.

I ran to the wall, took three strides up it, and lifted myself from the inside using the energy centres. I had it. I ran all the way to the top of the wall, about ten metres. I grabbed the top and jumped to stand on it. It was difficult to balance; the wall was a thin layer of what appeared to be fibregla.s.s over a metal frame, only about a centimetre thick. I turned and looked down.

Try something, John said into my ear. John said into my ear. Jump off. Use the centres again, this time in the opposite direction, to slow your fall. Jump off. Use the centres again, this time in the opposite direction, to slow your fall.

'What if I lose it?' I shouted down.

Call, John said. John said. The Dragon will catch you. The Dragon will catch you.

'If I come down too fast, catch me,' I called to the Dragon.

My Lady, the Dragon said, his voice hissing in my ear. the Dragon said, his voice hissing in my ear.

I hesitated. This would be even more difficult; I would have to be very careful. It was much easier to move the centres when I was already going in the same direction.

I concentrated. I wanted to let myself simply fall off the wall, but it was at a slight angle and I might hit it on the way down. I had to leap clear of it.

I jumped. I tried to ignore the sensation of falling, and instead concentrated on the energy centres. All three, moving in the opposite direction, smoothly. Smoothly, upwards.

I slowed my descent, but not enough to avoid injury when I hit. The ground came rus.h.i.+ng up to meet me.

'Catch me!' I yelled into the air and spun onto my back. I dropped the energy and sped up. I hit the Dragon's forearms with a jerk that jarred through my body.

'Thank you,' I said.

'You are most welcome,' the Dragon said. 'Was that really the first time you have attempted that?'

'Yes,' I said. He tipped me out of his arms onto the ground and I turned to study the wall again. 'Slowing my descent is much harder.'

'Have another try,' John said, 'and then we'll let Michael attempt it. Don't tire yourself too much; you need to try horizontal holding as well.'

'How long have you been training this one, Ah Wu?' the Dragon said.

'I think about a year and a half,' John said. 'Emma?'

'That's about right.'

'Let me know if you tire of her, Ah Wu,' the Dragon said. 'Despite her plain appearance, she would make a worthy addition to any household, untouched or not.'

I faced the Dragon. John did the same thing.

'You will need to line up,' I said softly. 'The White Tiger and the King of the Demons have both attempted to win me away from Xuan Wu already. But you are all completely wasting your time. I'm a lot like him, and his number is one. For me, there will never be any other.'

The Dragon's expression was unreadable. He gazed at me with his enormous s.h.i.+ning turquoise eyes. Then he spoke. 'You are quite correct, my Lady, and I most sincerely apologise.' He lowered his ma.s.sive silver-fanged head over his front legs. 'Please believe me, I meant no offence. Permit me to present you with a gold coin later.'

I turned back to the wall. 'Let me have another try.'

You'll have two coins when you get back, John said into my ear.

I didn't reply. I ran to the wall, hurled myself up it, and made it to the top without difficulty. The skill was easier each time I did it.

I turned at the top and concentrated. I gathered my energy and jumped away. I ignored the fact that I was falling and concentrated on moving the energy. I gently moved the centres upwards, then with more force. I slowed myself; I had it. I floated down. At about five metres up I put my arms out and rotated so that I was feet first, balancing for a soft landing. I studied the ground, readying for the impact.

I completely lost it. I fell straight into the ground and hit it hard, left side first, winding myself.

John raced up, crouched next to me and put his hand behind my head, lifting it. 'Are you all right?' he said. 'Are you hurt?'

'I'm fine, I'm fine,' I said, trying to suck in enough air. 'Nothing's broken. Just had the wind knocked out of me.'

'Thank the Heavens,' he said, and took my hand in his. He smiled into my eyes and I realised. Too late. I opened my mouth and inhaled deeply, trying to get enough air in to shout at him. Too late.

The great gaping dark vortex opened in front of me and I was sucked in. My ears were full of rus.h.i.+ng wind and my eyes full of raging darkness.

Something brilliantly blue and silver flashed and then everything went black.

'This time she really will tear strips off you,' Leo said, his voice full of amus.e.m.e.nt.

'I know,' John said.

d.a.m.n. I couldn't move.

'She moved,' Simone said.

'Squeeze my hand if you can hear me,' John said.

I tried. I didn't know if I did it.

'She squeezed my my hand, Daddy,' Simone said. hand, Daddy,' Simone said.

Okay. I tried the other one.

'That's me,' John said.

'Hold,' the Dragon said. 'Ah Wu, Simone, let go.'

My hands were released and a warm breeze washed over me, making my hair flutter. I inhaled deeply, breathing in the sweet air. It filled me; my blood flowed back.

'Whoa,' Michael said softly.

'She is extremely large, my Lord, are you sure she's human?' the Dragon said as the warm air flowed over me.

'Fat chick,' Leo said.

Simone giggled.

'You will keep,' I croaked.

'Michael, get her a drink of water,' John said.

'That's the best I can do,' the Dragon said, and the warm air stopped. 'She will be weakened, but still able to complete the training, I think.'

'You can open your eyes now,' John said.

I did. I was still on the training course, on the ground. All of them crouched next to me, concerned, except for Michael, who quickly appeared holding a water bottle.

'Help me up,' I said. Leo took my hand and gently raised me so that I was sitting. Michael handed me the bottle and I took a huge drink, then gasped a breath. 'Thanks, Qing Long.'

'You are welcome,' the Dragon said, his turquoise eyes glowing.

'You really are a stupid d.a.m.n Turtle,' I said. 'You haven't been able to touch me for more than a year now, and you completely forgot.'

John didn't say anything but his eyes were full of amus.e.m.e.nt. Simone giggled again.

'Has Michael tried it yet?' I said.

'No,' John said.

'How long have I been out for?'

'Only a few minutes.'

'Good,' I said. 'Give me a couple of minutes while Michael tries. Then I want to have another go.'

'You sure you're up to it?' John said.

'What do you say, Qing Long?' I said.

'Let me look at you. Yes. Not a problem,' the Dragon said. 'Sit, drink some water, rest for a few minutes, watch Michael. Even better, I will get you an energy drink. If you get some carbohydrates into yourself you will be fine.'

He nodded his huge blue and silver head and a bottle of sports drink appeared on the ground next to me.

'Thanks,' I said, grabbed the drink, twisted the lid off and took a swig.

Michael, John and the Dragon went to the climbing walls together. Simone and Leo stayed with me.

'What are you guys doing here?' I said. 'I thought you were having a swim, Simone.'

'Leo won't go in with me. It's boring boring,' Simone said. 'The pool's too small. I want to go back out to the islands and feed the fish. And Leo won't let me go to the kids centre and play there.'

'They won't let him stay and guard you,' I said. 'It's not safe.'

Simone crossed her little arms in front of her chest. 'Humph.'

'Don't you want to stay and watch me and Michael learn to fly?'