15th October, 1923 (Taisho 12)

Saigon, Vietnam

"If you want safe passage, it will cost you a lot more than this," spat the greasy man in broken Vietnamese. "This won't even pay for the risk I'm taking."

The other man blanched. "This – this is all we have!"

"Then get more." Hawking up a glob of phlegm, he disappeared into the night.

The little girl hidden in the shadows followed closely, careful to keep out of the man's sight. He evidently was accustomed to being followed; now and then he doubled back to throw off potential dangers. His clumsy methods did nothing to shake her off.

Eventually he boarded a rusty steamship docked in the harbour, disappearing below deck. She hesitated for a moment before turning left, towards the stern, rather than the right path he took.

The stern was pitch-black; she was forced to grope in the dark for a relatively safe place to sleep. Finally her fingers brushed fabric – canvas, most likely a spare sail. It was better than she had hoped for. Settling underneath the folds, she tucked her grimy aodai around her and fell asleep.

She woke to a gentle rumbling noise; initially she thought it was the sound of the ship's engines. Daylight streamed in through a tiny window, showing the source of the sound.

Mesmerized despite herself, the little girl stared at the tiger's sleeping face. Its whiskers ruffled with every breath. As though sensing her presence, its gold eyes blinked open and found hers.

"Good boy," she said, reaching between the bars to pet its nose. Instead of chewing off her hand (as most wild animals are likely to do), it blinked lazily back at her and went back to sleep.

Apparently the smuggler hid illegal travelers among his wild animals, banking on the fact the French customs officials were loath to risk themselves searching the animals' cages, especially the maneaters. Not far from the tiger's cage was a pair of lions, a rhinoceros and a yawning hippopotamus.

She was glad she had an affinity with animals since young; she was not about to waste her mother's sacrifice by coming this far to fail.

France has many great circuses, her mother had told her. You'll make a good living there, Hoa.

Where is France?

Over the ocean, a ship's ride away.

It's too far.

Well, maybe it is. But the French people will love you there. You'll perform our family's magic every night to packed halls. You'll have all the food you can eat, and more money than you can imagine –

– Má?

Yes, Hoa?

You'll be there too, won't you?

Yes. We'll perform together, always.

Always. She curled back up under the sail and went back to sleep, lulled by the gentle rocking of the ship.

Hunger woke her some time later, when it was dark again and the animals sound asleep. Fresh food littering the cages meant her hiding place was safe, and she could stay there until they reached France.

Slipping into the kitchen was easy (she followed her nose) and stealing some food easier still; enough to keep her alive for a few days and yet not betray her presence. Some of the sausage, she shared with her tiger friend who snapped it up eagerly. Apparently their rations were not quite enough.

Hoa lay back, snuggled against the tiger's fur, (she named him Binh) and dreamt.

Père Leveque was tall, with blond hair that shone like the sun. He came from France and taught French to the village children.

She made his pocket watch turn into a flower, and he laughed and said très charmant, la petit fleur.

It was lovely, because her name also meant flower.

He was nicer than the other French men in uniforms who swept in and out of the village. Père Leveque had seen her with the animals, and not been afraid.

Don de Dieu. Hoa was sure he had said something like that. She couldn't remember, because he said a lot of things. They were butterflies, soaring and scattering from her arms into the sky.

An eternity passed before the ship stopped rocking. Hoa swung onto the harbour through the anchor chain (the gangplank was dangerous) and set foot in France. Tall, tall men and blonde-haired women thronged the streets; glittering buildings in the distance held her attention.

A soft growl caught her attention. Binh's cage was being loaded onto a truck; he grumbled his protest with every jolt.

The decision took her a split second; the little girl pulled her new canvas shawl over her head and followed the truck through the crowded streets.

A circus; a fancy one like the ones that populated her dreams. She recognized the greasy man from the Saigon docks cleaning the elephant enclosure. Her heart skipped a beat; her dreams were coming true.

"Eh? This isn't a place for you, child." A tall man (but his hair was dark as night) stood before her. "Run along."

His French was fast, mumbled. Hoa barely caught his meaning. "I... work here."

"Work? You? What do you do? You're not from around here, aren't you?" He bent down and wrinkled his nose. "Ran away from home to join the circus?"

Circus. The girl nodded. "I want work. Here."

"Don't speak French very well. Huh. Fresh off the boats. Fine, we can always use another cleaner. What's your name?"

Name. "I Hoa."

"What?"

She caught sight of a flower, growing on a hummock nearby, and pointed.

"Ah. Flower. Yes. Whatever that is, in your own gibberish. What is that – a poppy? Well then... Coquelicot. Yes, that sounds fine." He waved a hand in the direction of the animals. "Go make yourself useful, Coquelicot."

She was being dismissed. With a quick bow, Hoa – Coquelicot – ran to Binh's side and patted him.

Frightened voices shouting in rapid French filled the air. She was pulled away to face the tall man. He sounded agitated, talking in sharp tones and gesturing towards the bored-looking tiger.

Perhaps she needed to explain. "Friend," she said, pointing at Binh.

They let her go and she went to him again, scratching the back of one massive ear. Utterly uninterested by the gaping humans, Binh put his head down and allowed her to tickle him into a nap.

The tall man rubbed his chin. "Moreau, teach the kid a few things about animal training. I've a feeling she can make us all rich."

Hoa.

What is it, Má?

You'll go to France, won't you? After I'm gone?

...

Promise me.

No.

... Don't cry. I'm sorry.

...

You'll be strong after I'm gone. Promise me that then.

I promise.

There, that's better. Your father would be proud. I already am.

Má?

Mmm?

I'm sorry... I'm sorry I couldn't make it disappear. I didn't learn the magic fast enough, Má, I'm sorry.

Má? I didn't mean to make you cry.

Coquelicot had another talent, besides her friendship with animals. She could heal their injuries by wishing it; she could make bright light shine and everything would be made better.

Her family's magic was special, but it could not save her family.