Blue Dragon. Kylie Chan

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СКАЧАТЬ next to the bunk and went forward to the main cabin to tell the pilot over the intercom that we were ready. I threw myself onto one of the chairs, dropped my handbag, and picked up the phone.

      We were lucky: it was Brian, a cheerful Australian who did a lot of private contract work and had absolutely no idea of the true nature of his employer for this trip.

      ‘We can go, Brian,’ I said.

      ‘Okay, Emma,’ he said. ‘My co-pilot’s arranging clearance for us. We should be given the go-ahead in the next five minutes — the airport isn’t too busy right now.’

      ‘Brian,’ I said softly, ‘Mr Chen is terminally ill. We’re going for treatment in Borneo.’ Brian began to speak, but I cut him off. ‘Don’t ask. Just be aware that Mr Chen has already collapsed and we need to get him there as quickly as possible.’ I tried to control my voice. ‘We only have hours. For God’s sake, get us there. If there’s a delay, we could lose him. We have to make it. Please.’

      ‘I’ll do my best,’ Brian said. ‘Weather is good.’

      ‘Thanks.’

      ‘We have clearance,’ said a male voice with a Cantonese accent over the intercom; the other pilot.

      ‘Tell everybody to strap in,’ Brian said. ‘We’re up to go.’

      I went through the galley to the little room at the back of the plane. Leo sat cross-legged on the floor next to the bunk, Simone in his lap, both of them watching John.

      John was unconscious.

      I went to him and took his hand. Leo moved to grab me, but I waved him back. ‘It’s okay, Leo, he can’t hurt me while he’s asleep.’

      Leo nodded.

      I looked inside him and my stomach fell out.

      ‘What, Emma?’ Simone said softly.

      ‘Look inside,’ I whispered.

      Simone concentrated then made a sound of misery. ‘No.’

      ‘What is it?’ Leo said.

      ‘There’s nothing there,’ I whispered.

      ‘He’s gone?’

      ‘He’s still there,’ Simone said. ‘But there’s hardly anything.’

      I dropped my head, still holding his hand. ‘He won’t make it.’

      ‘Call the Lady,’ Leo said.

      ‘We’ll be taking off in a minute,’ Brian’s voice said over the intercom. ‘Buckle up, everybody.’

      ‘I’ll call her when we’re airborne,’ I said. ‘Bring him into the main cabin. He’ll need a seatbelt.’

      ‘He’s better where he is,’ Leo said.

      ‘You know what take-off from this part of China is like,’ I said. ‘We could hit turbulence. He needs to be strapped in.’

      Leo didn’t say anything. He gently lifted John and carried him into the main cabin. I took Simone’s hand and led her in as well. Leo strapped John in. I took care of Simone. Then we sat ourselves.

      The plane taxied onto the runway. The engines roared. We were airborne.

      Simone moved to undo her seatbelt but I stopped her. ‘Wait until Brian says it’s okay, sweetheart.’ She nodded and sat back, watching her father with an expression that belonged on a much older face.

      I reached for the intercom, then decided against it. The pilots were busy flying the plane. They would tell us when we could move around.

      It seemed like an eternity. We hit turbulence twice. Finally we emerged above the clouds and the late afternoon sunshine lit the interior of the plane with an orange glow. The seatbelt light blinked off with a musical chime.

      We all hurried to undo the belts and crouched around John. He was limp.

      ‘Take him back into the bunk,’ I said. ‘Where’s the pearl?’

      Leo had lifted John halfway. He froze. ‘Oh my God.’

      ‘Oh, dear Lord,’ I said. ‘It’s in the hold, isn’t it.’

      Leo silently carried John to the back of the plane. I sat down and put my head in my hands, then remembered and looked up, full of relief.

      ‘Simone, pet,’ I said. ‘Call Aunty Kwan now.’

      ‘I am,’ Simone said. ‘But it’s really strange. She’s not answering.’

      I grabbed her hand. ‘Simone, have you checked for demons?’

      Simone’s eyes went wide. ‘The pilot’s dead. A demon’s flying the plane!’

      I shot to my feet, grabbed Simone and ran to the back of the plane. Leo hunched over John, his face full of misery.

      ‘Leo,’ I said, gasping, ‘the co-pilot was a demon. The pilot’s dead.’

      Leo spun to the bag on the floor and ripped it open. He scrabbled through and pulled out my sword, then Dark Heavens. He tossed my sword to me. ‘Get back, Simone.’

      ‘Get behind us, sweetheart,’ I said, turning to face the main cabin. I pulled my sword out of its scabbard and waited.

      There wasn’t a sound.

      Then I felt the plane turning. Turning right. I leaned to keep my balance.

      ‘Towards their Centre,’ Leo said softly.

      ‘Damn,’ I said. ‘If we take the demon out, there’s nobody to fly the plane.’

      ‘Before you ask, Emma, no,’ Leo said.

      ‘Well, well,’ I said. ‘There’s a first time for everything.’

      ‘I did basic on choppers. Not fixed wing,’ Leo said. ‘I’m not capable of flying anything solo anyway.’

      ‘What about John?’

      ‘I have no idea,’ Leo said. ‘But probably not, unless he learned for recreational flying. Never needed to.’ He glanced at me. ‘He can’t fly anything anyway, Emma, he’s unconscious.’ He went rigid as he understood. ‘Don’t you dare feed him energy, you’ll kill yourself. He wouldn’t be able to fly the plane anyway. You stay alive. We need to protect Simone.’

      ‘Simone,’ I said, ‘keep calling. Kwan Yin, Bai Hu, Qing Long, Zhu Que, Na Zha, Jade, Gold, Michael, everybody. Don’t stop, no matter what happens. Okay? Stone, you too.’

      ‘Okay,’ Simone said, her voice very small.

      ‘I’m silenced as well,’ the stone said. ‘Here they come. This demon is stronger every time we encounter it. What is it doing to itself? СКАЧАТЬ