Chapter Forty Four

Heng was staring in the mirror, unable to move.

‘Darling are you coming to bed?’ asked his wife.

He tried to gather his thoughts.

‘In a moment.’

‘Peter,’ shouted Miranda Holt ‘are you still shaving?’

‘Yes, I’ll be finished soon.’

But he wasn’t shaving he was looking straight at the Chinese guy in the mirror.

Heng was terrified, who was the barbarian in the mirror? Was he real? He touched the mirror.

Peter held out his hand, and tentatively touched the glass, The Chinaman was doing the same, and their fingers touched. But it wasn’t a reflection; they could feel the warmth, and the pressure, as they pushed against each other.

They looked each other in the eye. There was no fear; somehow they recognised one another. They were each other.

The light was fading, but they knew they had seen the most remarkable of things; their other life.

‘What took you so long?’ asked Miranda.

‘Just seeing how much my face has changed over the years,’ said Peter.

‘Don’t worry you’re just as handsome,’ she said, curling up to him in the bed.

‘Are you alright Heng? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost,’ said his wife.

‘You could be right, but maybe this one wasn’t from the past,’ he said.

In the middle of the night they both sneaked back to the mirror, but they couldn’t see each other again. Although they both felt a tremendous sense of gratitude; Peter for Orvid, and Heng for Fu Chung Soo. They weren’t quite sure why, but if they ever needed help they would do their very best.

In another not too distant mirror, Alain Fontaney the nurse had tired of his ponytail. And the priest had shorn his too; he no longer wanted to be quite as recognisable; besides they weren’t quite as popular in France.

‘Don’t worry Fu, it’s still there,’ said Zhen referring to the lantern.

He went to the tank of water with its rocks and twin goldfish.

‘Alain noticed, I could tell with the look in his eye,’ said Fu.

‘Well, I’m certain he didn’t see the lantern,’ said Zhen.

‘Of course not.’

The tank was a minor illusion, and Fu dipped in his hand.

‘Who would have thought such a simple lantern could hold so much power,’ said Zhen, as the water dripped out of it.

‘The monks purposely made it that way,’ said Fu.

‘Perhaps they would have been better never making it all,’ said Zhen.

She was right, the small slatted lantern was both a blessing and a curse. It would see into men’s hearts, and tell what was there. Unfortunately this included the secrets, the lies, and the plots. It would be a powerful tool in anyone’s hands, never mind an Emperor’s.

Fu was its guardian. The showman with an illuminating secret, and the irony was not lost upon him. He soon discovered the lantern’s curse when taken to a Manchurian castle. The warlord had never suspected his sons were plotting to overthrow him; they died horribly, after three year’s incarceration.

But the bearer of bad news was always treated suspiciously, and Fu fled the scene. Word spread fast, and after two attempted thefts, Fu blamed robbers for its disappearance.

Marcus was behind the desk in his gallery, nervously looking at Kings’ auction house newest catalogue.

‘You should be pleased boss,’ said Tyrone.

And he would be were it not for uoHui

Hui Lin.

‘It’s the little Chinese guy isn’t it,’ said Tyrone.

Although everyone was little to Tyrone.

‘Yes.’

‘Well to be honest boss five hundred smackers isn’t a lot.’

Tyrone was on much more per week. He had to be. Not only did he provide the muscle, he knew too much about Marcus’ shady deals.

‘You remember the guy in Munich you took for a cool two million,’ said Tyrone reminiscing.

The guy in Munich was conned out of a Renaissance etching by Marcus’ valuation expert.

‘Good times Tyrone,’ said Marcus smiling.

‘And what did you say if he ever caught up with you?’ asked Tyrone.

Tyrone answered for him.

‘You’d kill him.’

‘Figuratively speaking of course,’ said Marcus.

‘You sure? There’s a lot more at stake with this vase boss. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t fancy losing out on the best part of fifteen million.’

‘Exactly what are you proposing Tyrone?’

‘Let’s just say wouldn’t it be much easier if the Chinaman disappeared?’

Marcus looked at Tyrone. He had to admit, he’d considered it himself.

‘Well it would keep him silent, but silence usually costs,’ said Marcus.

‘Well where I come from boss fifty percent of something is much better than one hundred percent of nothing.’

‘You get five percent,’ said Marcus.

‘Ten,’ said Tyrone.

‘Done: And Tyrone.’

‘Yes boss?’

‘Let’s never discuss it again, just show me the proof.’

‘Good day at the office?’ asked Ivy.

Marcus now went straight to Ivy’s flat after work; he was besotted. She was gorgeous, he paid for her, but unlike Jennifer she had her mind of her own. The body had to be a robot, but he didn’t mind a little anguish; it got his blood pumping in all the right places.

‘The New York Met is going to bid for the vase,’ he said smiling.

He couldn’t keep news like that quiet, and he wanted to show off; after all it was the size of his wallet that had attracted her. And he didn’t mind, every guy had something, and you worked with what you had.

‘So you’re in a good mood?’ Ivy asked him.

‘Yes.’

‘Are you sure Marcus?’

‘Honestly, but why do you ask?’

His head was spinning; terrified he was about to get the brush off.

‘I looked at a new car on my way back from work,’ he said ‘for you.’

He could have kept his money. Ivy was staying put.

‘Thanks darling but it’s not about me, it’s about Verity.’

‘I’m leaving her, I’ve told you.’

‘Perhaps you are, unless she leaves you first,’ said Ivy.

‘She wouldn’t, she likes being Mrs Forster too much.’

‘Well I’m sorry to burst your bubble Marcus, but I know she’s seeing someone else.’

‘How?’

‘Girl talk, we are supposed to be close friends,’ said Ivy.

Marcus wiped his forehead.

‘Who is it?’ he asked.

‘It’s not anybody I know is it?’ he asked before she could answer.

‘Not really, but you’ve probably seen him,’ said Ivy ‘it’s that nurse, what’s his name Alain something, French sounding.’

‘Fontaney.’

‘That’s it,’ said Ivy.

Marcus always remembered the names of the undeniably handsome guys around his wife. Strange really, how one so polygamous could be so possessive, but then that was the point of a harem.

‘I’ll have him struck off,’ said Marcus.

‘And Verity?’

‘We’re history,’ he said.

Ivy didn’t care what part of history she was, or how she got there; just as long as she got there.

‘And me?’ she asked.

‘Well you don’t have to pay rent on this place anymore. You can look for a penthouse.’

Thank god he hadn’t said move in thought Ivy, how was she going to screw Grainger then? Of course she was screwing Marcus too, and in more ways than one, but that was business; Grainger was all pleasure.

‘The other concubines will be jealous,’ said Bik.

The Emperor laughed.

‘It is only my jade tablet that sees the light of day, and only me that sees your bed at night,’ she continued.

‘And I wouldn’t have it any other way,’ said Chien-lung.

‘Not even for Wa Yu?’ asked Bik.

‘No, you have captured an old man’s heart,’ he said.

‘But you have the energy of a young lover, and the experience to go with it,’ flattered Bik.

She paused, before delicately moving on.

‘If Wa Yu is truly out of your heart then you will not be angry with me,’ said Bik.

‘Angry, whatever for?’ asked Chien-lung.

‘You must not be cross with me my Lord, but I have heard Wa has a lover,’ said Bik.

The Emperor laughed.

‘Another pretty concubine, she moves on quickly, and you are naturally jealous Bik.’

‘Perhaps I would be if her lover were not a man, and a barbarian too.’

‘A priest?’ asked Chien-lung, after all they were the predominant barbarian’s in Court.

‘I’m sorry to say my liege, but none other than your favourite priest.’

‘Alain,’ said Chien-lung, and he truly felt betrayed by them both.

‘It appears they are not all chaste,’ said Bik.

‘And you have proof?’

‘I have seen them,’ said Bik ‘I caught them together in her rooms.’

She carefully removed her own involvement, as sweet as it was.

‘And why has Heshen not uncovered this deceit?’ asked Chien-lung.

Bik couldn’t answer.

Chien-lung knew how jealous his concubines could become; after all they had little to do but talk and plot. He needed time to think.

‘Why have they not run?’ asked Chien-lung.

‘I promised them my silence, but only to spare my own life.’

‘And they trusted you Bik?’ asked a suspicious Chien-lung. ‘I will not strike yet, but wait until tomorrow night after Fu Chung Soo’s latest marvel.’

Bik had heard of the magic lantern, but like most of the Empire believed it stolen and lost. She just might be in for a very nasty surprise thought Chien-lung. It was difficult knowing who and what to believe in an Empire so large; tomorrow that could change.

As for Bik she would reveal her pregnancy once Wa Yu was under arrest.

‘The fool thinks he’s in love,’ said Ivy, discussing Marcus.

‘I’m sure he is,’ said Grainger.

‘But baby he’s in love with someone that doesn’t exist. This is the real me - with you,’ said Ivy.

‘I wish I could believe you Ivy but ...’

‘But nothing baby, ask me to leave him and I will.’

‘OK leave him,’ said Grainger.

Ivy had gambled at the wrong time; Grainger was feeling down and all alone. Whether it was the drugs, the steroids, he didn’t know, only that his life felt pretty much useless.

‘And who’s going to pay our rent? You can’t, you never have any money left over. Come on honey let’s be serious.’

‘But I hate to know he’s here.’

‘And what about Roger, and all the others?’ asked Ivy.

‘That was different they didn’t want you for keeps, he does.’

‘Grainger honey you’re missing the point he’s never going to get me. In a year he’ll be fleeced, and we’ll be gone, for good. Isn’t it worth waiting just one year?’

‘I suppose.’

‘Come on baby, let’s find something else for you to pump instead of iron,’ said Ivy.

Grainger followed her into the bedroom.

‘Sorry,’ said Ivy, as she took her and Marcus’ coffee cups into the kitchen.

Inside Grainger was seething with rage.