“Then I feel sorry for the wild animal,” said Fung Cheung, but he was uneasy. He glanced at the surrounding forest into which Guet Imm had disappeared.
Ah Yee had made breakfast with his eyes downcast, apparently as oppressed by Guet Imm’s absence as everyone else, but he could not resist making a contribution.
“She should know better than to go off by herself,” he said. “This is the jungle, not her tokong.”
Ah Hin gave him a reproachful look. “Spiritual people are sensitive. Otherwise, how can they hear the voice of the god? Sister Guet Imm has brought us good luck. If she’s in trouble, it will be our fault for not looking after her.”
“Sister Guet Imm can look after herself,” said Tet Sang.
But in truth, Fung Cheung only echoed his thoughts when he said, “Someone should go look for her.” Fung Cheung added, with a feigned air of unconcern, “We don’t want to miss our appointment with Madam Yeoh.”
“I’ll go,” said Ah Hin.
Fung Cheung nodded, glancing at Tet Sang. “Maybe you should go also, Ah Sang.”
After a moment’s deliberation, Tet Sang shook his head.
“I’m the one who made her angry. Sister may not want to see me. Most likely she’s sulking somewhere. Better if Ah Hin goes and talks to her alone. But call us if you need help,” he said to Ah Hin.
Ah Hin nodded.
He had only been gone for a short time when they heard a bloodcurdling yell from the trees.
Fung Cheung started to his feet. “Was that Ah Hin?”
The second scream removed all doubt.
“Help, help!” shrieked Ah Hin’s distant voice. “Bandits!”
“You all pack up and go,” said Tet Sang to Fung Cheung. “I’ll go find Ah Hin and the nun.”
Fung Cheung nodded. The men had already sprung into action, breaking down the camp. Without looking around, Tet Sang reached out and grabbed Ah Yee by the scruff of the neck before he could sidle away.
“You’re coming with me, brother,” he said.
He’d acted on a mere suspicion, but it coalesced into certainty when Ah Yee yelped, “What for? What did I do?”
“Guess we’ll find out,” said Tet Sang grimly. “Come on.”
There were five bandits, all armed. One of them was holding his gun to Ah Hin’s jaw.
“So, there are more of you,” said the bandit. “Where’s the nun?”
Tet Sang said, “What nun?”
The bandit who was holding Ah Hin hostage looked like someone’s little brother—his moon-shaped face seemed too youthful for a life of armed aggression. His scowl made him look petulant rather than menacing, but there was nothing childlike about his gun or the way he yanked Ah Hin’s head back. Ah Hin whimpered.
“There is a corrupt nun who plans to sell looted tokong treasures to the Yeoh family,” said Little Brother. “The Yeohs are collaborators with the imperialist oppressors—running dogs of the Protectorate. Those treasures belong to the people. We’ve been asked to save the treasures and exact justice.”
“Who asked you?” said Tet Sang, glancing at Ah Yee. Guilt was written clear across his face.
Even to vent his lingering spite against Guet Imm, it was a bizarre thing for Ah Yee to have done. He must have known that the bandits would not approve of Lau Fung Cheung’s group either, as contractors who accepted jobs from both sides of the conflict. The Reformists hated businessmen.
“It wasn’t me, brother!” gasped Ah Yee.
“We have people everywhere,” said Little Brother. “We know everything the Yeoh family is doing.”
Tet Sang thought of the servants who had poured tea and served kuih at Yeoh Gaik Tin’s house. He should have thought of the risk of being overheard. If he hadn’t been so taken aback by being recognised…
