“They took everything? The statue also?” said Madam Yeoh. “I remember that statue. It was the one in your Abbot’s room, right? Beautiful work! The Protector will send it back to his country, but his countrymen won’t know how to appreciate.”
The thought seemed to pain her. She put a hand to her temple. “So many things have been lost.”
“But much has survived,” said Guet Imm. There was a note in her voice that made Yeoh Gaik Tin raise her eyes. “It was not coincidence that we managed to save the sarira, Sister Anitya, or that we found our way to you.”
Yeoh Gaik Tin looked thoughtful.
“Your Abbot at Permatang Timbul,” she said to Tet Sang. “She died?”
“Yes,” said Tet Sang. “She would have wanted these kept somewhere safe. Looked after by one of the faithful.”
Yeoh Gaik Tin had all the character Guet Imm had credited her with. She asked no more questions, but said, “How much do you want?”
Before Tet Sang could speak, Guet Imm blurted:
“Six silver taels. Two per sarira. Minus the eight hundred cash, of course, which your father paid us already.”
Tet Sang swallowed the urge to object—it was too late now in any event. Guet Imm went on:
“It is impossible to put a price on these relics, as you know, sister. Whoever holds them will have the deity’s protection. That’s no small thing in these times. To ask for ten taels also would not be too much. But since you were a follower of the Order, and you knew the Abbot, the deity will not mind if we give you face.”
Guet Imm spoke with a decent facsimile of her habitual irritating serenity. But Tet Sang saw that the knuckles on her hands, folded in her lap, were white.
Madam Yeoh was silent for a long moment, looking from Guet Imm to Tet Sang and back again.
At least it was unlikely that she would call the mata to kick them out, what with the welcome she had given them and her open acknowledgment of having been a devotee of the Pure Moon. It would probably be private guards,who would not rough them up too much so long as they went quietly. That would be fine. Even Guet Imm was not so stupid as to fight the Yeoh family’s private guards.
“Six taels,” said Madam Yeoh. She shook her head, smiling slightly. “You are trying to cheat me, sister!”
Guet Imm’s eyes widened. Tet Sang wished he had taken a kuih. Hearing the name they had called him at his tokong—Sister Khanti—had chased away hunger, but now that they were shortly to be sent packing, he felt he had been foolish to miss the opportunity.
“Cheat you, sister?” Guet Imm began, all ingenuous indignation.
“That’s what I would say if this was a business matter,” said Madam Yeoh. “But this is not business. Money is not important, compared to preserving the light of the Pure Moon. I will pay what you ask and be glad to have the honour of keeping the sarira safe—if you will do me a favour.”
Guet Imm seemed as taken aback by the success of her feint as Tet Sang. It took her a moment to recover her composure. “Of course. Anything we can do to help…”
Madam Yeoh looked at Tet Sang.
“Will you stay?” she said.
“Didn’t go well, is it?” said Fung Cheung. He clapped Tet Sang on the shoulder. “Never mind. No harm trying.”
The rest of the group hovered nearby, affecting to be occupied with various tasks, but that was just as well. It would save making a second announcement.
Tet Sang set down the bag Madam Yeoh had given them. It clinked, making the brothers’ heads rise.
“Ten per cent down payment from Yeoh Gaik Tin,” said Tet Sang. “She’ll pay six taels for the relics, minus the eight hundred cash we owe her father. Her people will give us the rest tomorrow if we bring some men to help carry.”
“Six taels…” Fung Cheung ripped open the bag. Strings of cash tumbled out. The brothers abandoned all pretence of not listening, crowding around.
Fung Cheung swore. “You left the goods with this Yeoh Gaik Tin?”
Guet Imm opened her hand to show him the sarira. “She’ll get them when the balance is paid.”
“And she agreed to this deal?” said Fung Cheung incredulously. He sat back on his heels, shaking his head. “You’ve done it again, Ah Sang. I thought we’d have to turn ourselves in to the Protectorate to escape Yeoh Thean Tee’s men. Instead, you’ve made us rich!”
“It was Sister Guet Imm’s idea,” said Tet Sang.
