He looked at her sharply. There was more than grief in this woman, more even than the after-effects of a double funeral. She told her story simply, of letting Liz and Lee Guisan go off with the Sakai, then the news of the Wildons brought by the police. ‘It felt like a punishment for being so stupid,’ she said. ‘Allowing her to go off like that.’
‘No, no. I knew about the young guardsman being missing — and I did see him and Liz together once. I thought I interrupted a kiss, now I’m sure.’
The older man and woman exchanged glances almost as if exploring a possibility, or remembering long-lost intimacies with others. Their glances held so long it was as if each was wondering about the other in a new light. ‘You let your heart rule your head, that’s all,’ he added.
‘George, don’t butter me with platitudes,’ she began, then dropped her gaze and added quietly, with affection, ‘Oh, I don’t know, though, I miss your hackneyed phrases — damn you!’
‘I’ve never been damned so nicely before,’ he said. ‘Come on, old lady — ’ He stopped and raised a hand to fend off her swift glance. ‘No! Sorry! Know when I’ve gone too far. No, what I mean is, you would probably have had to lock Liz up to stop her going, and with a Sakai guide I would say they’re ... as safe as anyone in the jungle these days.’
‘There’s one more thing,’ she confessed. ‘This morning we heard distant shooting, a real battle it sounded, and just before I left for Aubrey and Joan’s funeral news came in that one of the tappers had found a dead jungle tribesman.’
‘Not the one the girls went with?’
‘No, the tapper was sure about that. He had seen that Sakai come to the gate for food.’
‘Could have been coming back with a message I suppose. Makes me bloody mad — of all people, they’re the innocents in this campaign. Heng Hou makes a sport of shooting them as if they’re just another kind of jungle game.’ He sighed with deep distaste before going on, ‘I’d have thought Heng Hou would have taken his men south fairly quickly, unless he’s staying around for a definite purpose.’ He pursed his lips. ‘Look! As soon as you leave here, contact Robbo and tell him I said you’ve got to have a couple of Gurkhas at Rinsey. They put the fear of God into the CTs.’ He stopped. ‘Hell! I’d forgotten — he’s gone after Liz.’
He looked across at Blanche Hammond. Not only was he powerless to help, he was now making useless suggestions. ‘I’m in quite a fix, aren’t I?’ she said calmly.
‘I’d give my right arm to be out and able to help — and I don’t say that lightly.’
‘No.’ She accepted his sincerity and knew his mind went momentarily to Bukit Kinta and the mutilation and murder of Rasa.
‘So you’re at Rinsey just with your amah?’
And the guard system you set up. It works very well.’ He thought she seemed curiously unconcerned, as if her own safety meant little to her now.
‘No way should two women be left alone like that, even with guards,’ he insisted. ‘Go to that Inspector Aba and tell him ... ’ He sought for a good reason. ‘Tell him you believe his murder suspect is on the prowl.’
She did not add to George’s concern by telling him she had a feeling Josef was around, that some evenings it was as if she could feel his enmity closing in on her.
George felt he was just floundering in a mass of feeble notions and looking at this woman he was full of admiration — and more. He wondered how she was keeping up at all. When one’s husband and best friends had been murdered by the CTs, to also have one’s daughter roaming around in the jungle ... He sighed and muttered to himself.
‘What did you say?’
‘I said if I could see any way of escaping from this festering hole I would,’ he repeated under his breath.
‘George!’ She gripped his forearm urgently. ‘Don’t ass about, don’t do anything bloody silly. You’re all I’ve got left.’ She shook her arm fiercely. ‘I need you. I need to know ... to know that you at least are safe.’
He looked at her, swallowed hard and put his hand over hers as it rested on her arm. ‘This is a fine time to tell you, but I love you, Blanche Hammond, have done ever since you took those coconut drinks from me on that train.’
She kept still, her eyes lowered, heart pounding. She gave no outward show of emotion as she wondered if this declaration was what she wanted to hear, what she had really hoped for.
‘I’ve spoken when I shouldn’t. I’m sorry. And if you don’t come to visit me anymore, well, perhaps I’ll deserve that — but, my God, it’ll finish me if you don’t come!’
There was anxiety and hurt in his voice at his own suggestion. She looked across at him and shook her head.
‘I’ll never stop coming. Part of the reason I’ve not returned to England is that I could never abandon you to a series of casual visitors at long intervals. No, I would never do that, believe me.’ She lifted her free hand and for a full three seconds laid it alongside his cheek. Something like an electric shock passed through both of them.
‘My God,’ he breathed as, taking her hand from his cheek, she placed it over his hand, ‘I don’t believe this. Could you wait for me, Blanche?’
‘As long as it takes,’ she told him.
‘These youngsters don’t know they’re born,’ he said gruffly.
They seemed from then on to be existing at two levels. They talked nonstop until the end of visiting time came. But it was to both as if at a different, rather higher level their alter egos were silently wondering and staring at each other, quite overwhelmed by the discovery they had made.
Blanche told of her visit to the mine and seeing the girl. ‘She’s knows I’m after her, but how to trap her?’
Both found release from their sufferings and help in the exchange of sympathies and ideas, while these invisible creatures looked on, waiting to be fully realised, however long it took.
‘You’ll get word to me as soon as there’s news of Liz?’ he asked urgently as the moment of parting came. ‘And ask about those Gurkhas!’
‘Keep cheerful, George. I’m sorry I came empty-handed, I’ll make up next time.’
‘As long as there’s going to be a next time, I feel ... I feel as if I could take this place apart with my bare hands.’
‘But you won’t.’
‘No.’ He was suddenly very solemn. ‘I shall just live for the next sight of you.’
*
‘Mem! Mem!’ Anna’s voice was full of concern as she came to meet Blanche.
Blanche threw her black-veiled hat on the hall table and hurried to meet her amah. ‘Is there news?’
‘The man they found this morning, army have been and taken away. He is Dyak tracker. Someone shoot and steal army shirt and shorts.’
‘Not the tracker Sturgess took with him to go after the girls?’ Blanche caught and held her breath in alarm.
‘Mem!’ The one word and Anna’s look of despair confirmed the worst.
She sat down on a chair. ‘So what’s happened?’ She asked about the shooting they had heard that morning. ‘Has the area been searched? Have the police been?’
‘All time you gone. The inspector want see you, but more trouble and he had to leave.’
‘Let’s both have a brandy, shall we?’ Blanche nodded to the glasses and shivered. ‘How is it possible to feel cold in this heat? I’ve been to see George Harfield in prison — after the funeral.’ She patted the chair by her side for Anna to sit down. ‘He thinks there are probably still quite a few terrorists in this area. Makes me wonder if Sturgess has been ambushed.’ She stood up and paced the room. And if he’s lost his tracker, no way is he going to find a Sakai village.’
‘Sakai clever,’ Anna said, sipping her brandy. ‘Lee been living in jungle long time too. They be all right.’
‘Yes. Positive thoughts, that’s what we must have, or we’ll go under.’ She looked at Anna. ‘We must be strong for each other now.’