The Black Dragon Read Online Free Page B

bonds. The water laps over the top, running down the glass, distorting his figure.
    But something’s wrong: it’s all taking far too long. He’s normally out of the first of the cuffs already. Close up, his father’s face shows anxiety. Fear even . . . The stopwatch is ticking away in Danny’s hand.
Come on, Dad. Come on
—
    â€œHey, Danny!”
    Laura taps him on the shoulder, snapping him back to the present, the engine roar. “If you’re going to sleep, then use a cushion and a blanket and make the best of it.”
    He turns to look at her drowsily. Something has been prompted by the waking dream.
    â€œAunt Laura. Did you ever see the Water Torture Escape? In rehearsal, I mean?”
    â€œI was always too busy.” She sighs.
    â€œThere’s something weird about it. I mean, weird how it went wrong. And then the fire so soon after—”
    â€œDanny, we’ve been over that—”
    â€œYou said we could see about looking into it again.”
    â€œThe police did a thorough job. Death by accidental causes.”
    â€œBut Mum and Dad were always so careful—”
    â€œ
You
saw the report. I’m sure it was kosher. Accidents happen.”
    There it is again. No one ever wanted to listen, and when he persisted last year, a psychologist patiently explained that the doubts were all to do with shock—the difficulty in believing that someone was gone. That something as stupid as a cooking fire could take the lives of people who looked death in the face and cheated it on a daily basis.
    â€œIt doesn’t make sense. Two things going so wrong in a week.”
    Laura sighs. “Life just sometimes has a habit of wrong-footing us, Daniel. God only knows that’s happened to me enough. We don’t know what’s coming round the corner. Good or bad.”
    â€œBut Dad always said—”
    â€œYour dad didn’t know everything, Danny. He liked to think he did. I’m sorry, but we’re all of us groping in the dark sometimes.”
    He nods, but isn’t convinced. One failed escape in the week, maybe. But not two. It doesn’t feel right—never has.
    He stares out into the night again. Nothing to be seen of the unknown lands slipping by far below.
    â€œGet some sleep now, Danny.”
    But when he does eventually drift off, his dreams are dark and disturbed. Full of the rush and chaos of water closing over his head.

5
    HOW NOT TO JUDGE BY APPEARANCES
    Sunlight streams through the windows of the sprawling Hong Kong International Airport. Lushly wooded hills roll in the distance, their unfamiliar shapes pricking Danny’s excitement, the misgivings of the night before replaced by a surge of anticipation at finally seeing Hong Kong. And being reunited with Zamora.
    There’s a thick scrum at the arrivals gate, but it’s not exactly hard to spot the dwarf. A good deal shorter than the rest, he nevertheless stands out at the barrier, raised up on tiptoe, his trademark bowler hat perched at a jaunty angle. One hand reaches up to smooth his moustache. Then he spots Danny and a broad smile breaks across his face as he bustles forward to greet them, arms working busily, head held high.
    â€œThere you are, there you are, Mister Danny. Miss Laura!” He gives Danny a powerful hug, lifting him clean off the ground. “You’ve blooming well overtaken me. I knew it. Oh well. Had to happen.”
    â€œIt’s been so long—” Danny says, recovering from Zamora’s grip. He wants to say more but can’t find the words.
    â€œNo problem for us, Mister Danny. No
problema
! Old friends can cope with time, you know. We’re here now. That’s all that matters.” He play-punches his young friend on the shoulder.
    â€œHow’s the hotel?” Laura says.
    â€œBit too posh. Made me put a shirt over my lovely pictures.” Zamora flexes his biceps, and the mermaids and tigers inked