THE BLUE BOY
by Lynn K. Hollander
Chapter 7 -- Visitations
SUNNYDALE
"So no one's looking for him?" Gang Long asked later that afternoon. The young dragon was in his man-form and had dressed with more care than usual. Today he had grown his hair down to his waist and was wearing a long tunic over loose pants, in two tones of gold, with red trim. His long hair was bound off his face with a gold clasp, and a ruby, set in gold, was in his right ear.
"We don't know that, all we know is that no one has called the number looking for him."
From the north terrace came a soft chime. "Ah," Spike said. "The au pair."
Ann rose and opened the French doors. "Greetings," she called.
Many voices answered her with laughter and giggles.
"Oops" does not need to be translated. The first girl through the door caught sight of Spike, said something to the people behind her, and assumed a grave and mild demeanor, hands still and eyes lowered.
Ann smiled at her, then at seven other girls who followed the first. They assembled themselves with the three shortest in front of four next tallest, with the eighth, the very tallest, to one side.
They all had black hair, put high in elaborate chignons and pinned with jeweled and carved hair pins. Each of them carried or wore a small round silver mirror, about six inches in diameter. Their long robes matched the colors of the jewels--ruby, sapphire, emerald, amethyst--with accents of white and black, silver and gold. They seemed to range in age from 15 to 20. Their complexions, whether cream pale or coffee black or in between, were clear and perfect. Their eyes, green, gold, brown or black, gleamed briefly, then were hidden under demurely down cast lids and long lashes.
The tallest girl stepped forward, bowed to Ann and said something Spike didn't understand and could barely hear. Ann replied, and again, Spike didn't understand. All the girls bowed to Ann. The tallest girl bowed to Gang Long and spoke softly again. Gang Long bowed back and replied briefly. All the girls bowed to Gang Long. Ann spoke again: "But we speak the language of the country in my home. This is Spike, Gangdao Shaolong's friend and mine, who frequently stays with us."
All eight girls bowed to Spike.
"I do not insist on so much ceremony," Ann said, "as you should remember, Xiuling. Greetings."
"Greetings, Jingwu," the tallest girl said, raising her eyes and smiling at Ann. "The Eldest did tell us we would meet her grandson's immortal human friend. Greetings, Spike."
"Xiuling," Spike said, carefully matching Ann's tones. "Hello."
While Spike had no problem telling the eight jade maidens apart, he did have some trouble putting names [*] to faces. Xiuling, with her golden eyes, coffee skin and greatest height, he could always name, but he confused Roujin--green eyes, chocolate skin--and Lijin--black eyes and pale skin--mostly because they were about the same height and their names had the same finial sound.
Binwen and Huixin each had brown eyes, but Huixin was nearly as tall as Spike, with café au lait skin, while Binwen was only up to his shoulder and had skin the color of jasmine tea. Liangde had green eyes, and skin the coppery color of maple sugar and was nearly the same height as Yanghao, who had paler skin, like blonde caramels, and gold eyes. Jiding was taller than Huixin and could meet Spike's eyes on a level. She had black eyes and dark brown skin, like bittersweet chocolate.
Ann made the matter slightly simpler by saying: "Your task may involve going among the local human population. You will attract less notice if you dress in contemporary California styles when you are outside these walls. Here at home, while we're private like this, you may dress as you please."
The chignons and long robes vanished, and Spike was surrounded by Vogue and Harpers Bazaar models whose hair ranged from punk to pageboy and whose clothes included biker leathers, granny dresses, classic avante garde unisex, corporate upper echelon chic and the more ornate designs of Tim Yip. They still carried their mirrors, now changed to charm size, at most an inch and a half wide, and worn as earrings, pendants or pins.
Ann produced a variety of small foods, tapas, hors d'oeuvres, and appetizers, and some of her changeable wine, and they all relaxed and ate and drank and laughed.
After about an hour, Ann gathered everyone's attention and returned to business: "Now, in case you are wondering why you are here, you are about to meet the reason."
Darcy, as the blond kindergartner, appeared in the library. Apparently he had just awakened from his nap when Ann brought him down. He glanced around at the crowd, but didn't seem at all intimidated by the newcomers. He went directly to Ann, holding his arms up to her. She lifted him to her lap and said: "We gave him the use name Darcy, and that is how you will address him and refer to him."
"Darcy," eight beautiful voices said.
"He is separated from his parents and his usual caregivers. You will see that he is safe, cared for, and attends the Montessori kindergarten down in Northwoods. Now, Darcy, show the yunü your other form. No, it's safe."
The blue toddler appeared in Ann's lap.
"Oh," the yunü all cooed.
"Isn't he cute."
"Poor baby."
"We'll look after you."
"He looks like this only in this house," Ann said. "Nowhere else. We are avoiding the attention of the municipal authorities and the human crowds. You understand that, Darcy?"
The baby nodded and shifted back to the human looking boy.
"I have all his necessary papers, as well as any you might need. You can arrange your schedule as you please, with some limitations. Do any of you not drive cars?"
"Me," Yanghao, whose suddenly turquoise hair had become arranged in several smoothly coiled knobs scattered over her skull, said.
"And me," Jiding, now with cornrow braids alternately natural black and hot red, like licorice whips, with perfect columns of color continuing in the loose hair that fell below her waist, seconded. "We're too young." They looked at each other and grinned.
"Then you two get night or weekend duty only," Ann said. "We will speak English during the day, but after sundown, we will speak Alvish here, at least when we are alone. I've decided Darcy should maintain his fluency in his first language. Do any of you have any difficulty with that requirement?"
"No," from all the yunü.
"Good. Come with me now: I'll show you what we've done about a nursery and you can pick out your rooms." Carrying Darcy, Ann led the girls upstairs.
Left alone in the library, Spike turned to Gang Long: "The girls are sort of overwhelming."
"At least around Jingwu they're not bowing all the time. At my grandmother's, even playing with them is formalized. This will be a lot more fun. I'm going to swim."
"I'm going to see Dawn and the rest of the crew down at the Magic Box."
***
"But when do I get to see Darcy?" Dawn asked.
Leaving Darcy with the yunü, Ann had traveled with Spike in the Mercedes down to Sunnydale and the Magic Box where they found Dawn, Giles, Anya, Willow and Tara.
"Whenever you visit me," Ann said. "Weekdays after kindergarten. Lots of times."
"And who is watching him now?"
"Gang Long's grandmother sent me some help. He's being well cared for, Dawn."
"Why kindergarten?"
"There's much to be said for school," Spike said.
"He's a baby," Dawn said.
"He'll be with other five-year olds," Ann said, "and still carefully watched, since the Montessori school has a teacher for every four kindergartners."
"And what does he eat?"
"Claire had some fruit and nut bars that seem to agree with him and that he's willing to eat. He takes some to school for milk and cookie time and he eats the vegetarian lunch the school offers."
Dawn looked over at Ann, then said: "It's just that I found him, you know."
"It's proper for adults to look after children," Ann said. "I will take good care of him, Dawn. Why don't you come home with me after the open house, for swimming and dinner?"
"Yes, Dawn," Giles said. "You'll see Darcy's fine."
"Why don't all of you come? Giles? Tara? Anya?"
"I do like your dinners," Anya said, "we'll come."
"OK."
"I'm going to buy and fix another sedan," Ann said. "Vehicle scheduling has suddenly become complicated." She blinked out.
"I'm going to be sixteen pretty soon," Dawn said, à-propos of nothing as far as Spike and Giles could tell.
"Next year is not, technically speaking," Spike said, wondering where this was going, "pretty soon."
Dawn obviously considered saying something else, but decided against it. Instead, she asked: "What is the nursemaid like?"
"Yes, what are the celestial nymphs like?" Giles asked.
"First of all, there are eight of them," Spike said, then went on to describe each of the yunü. After he finished, Giles eyed him with interest.
"Spike," Giles asked, "are there any of them you do not liken to a confection?"
***
"So you want to learn to drive?" Mac asked.
"How hard can it be?" Mante asked. "I can drive wains."
"Never heard of it," Mac said. "We'll take the Vega. When we get to the parking lot, you can try. If you do OK there, you can take it out on the street."
******