The Red Thread (27 page)

‘Woman, Xia Lou, where?' he snarled.

Matteo was trembling, intimidated by Zhen's size, until Qian stepped between them. With effort, Zhen brought his temper under control. Taking hold of Matteo's arm, he led him out of the schoolroom to where one of the Chinese boys was doing some gardening. Zhen knew this boy was Hokkien and he called him over. With the boy translating, Zhen interrogated Matteo.

Father Lee, he said, had gone out to the chapel at Bukit Timah, taking supplies to the Chinese padre. The lady teacher, another boy and two policemen had gone with him. They had left early this morning and were expected back this evening.

Zhen was more than alarmed at this news. The attacks on the Hong Kah farms were due any time now. If they saw the man, Lee, they would be sure to try to kill him, for he was credited with enormous influence over the poor Chinese who worked in the interior. Charlotte would not be spared, of that he was certain. A feeling of panic began to rise in his chest.

Releasing Matteo, he turned to Qian.

‘She is in danger. There will be an attack on the chapel, especially if they see the padre.'

Qian could see his friend's rising distress. ‘Let's go to her brother, tell him. He will know what to do.'

Zhen did not hesitate. This was not about the brotherhood; this was about her, but he would not betray the
kongsi
. ‘Yes, we will tell the brother, but only about the attack on the chapel.'

Qian threw him a look of exasperation.

As they approached the steps to the police office, a large Indian policeman holding a long spear barred their passage.

Qian, catching his breath, said in struggling English, ‘Police boss, must speak.'

The
jemadar
looked suspiciously at the two Chinamen. The little one he did not know, but he recognised Zhen from the old miser's funeral.

‘Wait.' He held up his hand for emphasis.

He went inside and they heard him talking; then Robert emerged, wiping his mouth. It was lunchtime. He saw Zhen and automatically put out his hand.

‘Why, Mr Zhen. Nice to see you again. What's the trouble?'

Zhen stepped forward and dragged the words from his memory.

‘You sister, Xia Lou, danger.'

Startled, Robert motioned them inside the office, where Qian explained with great difficulty that they had heard that there would be an attack on the chapel at Bukit Timah.

Robert was seized with horror. He knew Charlotte had gone out there with Father Lee, a Chinese boy and two of his policemen. He had questioned the wisdom of this journey, but she had been more than usually adamant and stubborn. He had had misgivings, but the island had been quiet for a long time, and attacks on the Christian Chinese had stopped. The new headman of the
kongsi
had spoken with him and assured him that things had settled down in the country. Now he was racked with worry and guilt. Why had he let her go?

Qian was dispatched to go to Chen Long. Zhen gave him his instructions: tell the headman about the situation, that it would be counterproductive to kill the foreigners, especially the woman, the police chief's sister. He wrote a note quickly and handed it to his friend. Zhen's opinion as
honggun
. It might carry some weight.

The
jemadar
had been sent for a carriage and two horses. Robert wrote a quick note for the governor telling him the news and sent Aman off to the courthouse. By the time the carriage came round, Bonham had made his way to the police office. He would contact Colonel Murchison, commander of the regiment. A contingent would follow them.

Robert loaded guns and ammunition onto the carriage. Four policemen jumped into the back, and Zhen and Robert sat up front, next to the driver. At a good trot they went round Mount Sophia and out along the road that would take them towards Bukit Timah.

Robert kept his rifle at the ready as the horses raced along the road. Thank heaven Coleman's men had made a good job of building it, for the going was relatively smooth. He had only been out on this road once or twice. The small wooden chapel was about a mile from the crossroad which led to the New Cut.

Zhen was holding on grimly. He did not like these carriages the white men got around in. Though he would not show it, he was fearful of the heavy breath of the horses and their pounding hooves, the bucking and swaying of this vehicle from hell.

They smelt it first. The almost homely odour of burning wood. Then they saw smoke ahead, and flames. The chapel was on fire. Jumping from the carriage, Robert and Zhen ran forward. The body of the Chinese padre was lying across the doorway of the building. He was covered in blood from a deep gash to his head and shoulders. Quickly they lifted him away from the fire and gave him some water. Reviving slightly, he told them that Father Lee, the boy and the woman had been taken into the jungle. The two policemen had run off when they saw the Chinese gang. Having imparted this information with effort, the priest paled and fainted, and Robert feared that he would not survive. Giving him into the charge of one of his men he began calling to the two peons. He was sure they weren't far away, but nobody answered.

Zhen was becoming frantic; he had to find her. Then he noticed the mark on the tree, the three red lines. There was a trail through there! Taking Robert's arm, he motioned him to follow. Robert took a sword from the carriage and gave it to Zhen. Then, with two pistols in his belt and his rifle cocked, he told him to lead the way. The
jemadar
and two of the peons made up the rear.

They followed the trail markers deeper into the jungle. Then Zhen stopped abruptly; he had heard voices speaking Chinese. Signalling to Robert to make no noise, he advanced quietly. Two men were crouched by the side of the trail in the low bushes. They looked up as Zhen and Robert rushed on them and tried to leap away, howling with fear. Zhen boxed one of them on the ears as Robert held the other.

‘Tell me quickly, or you are a dead man. Where is the white woman?' Zhen snarled.

The coolie was terrified. He had seen the gang go by with the Chinese padre, the boy and the woman. He thought they were going to the
bangsal
, about ten minutes from here. Releasing him and telling them both to shut up, Zhen said to Robert,

‘Yes, Xia Lou near.
Bangsal
but—umm, er, dog.'

Robert understood. He knew what a
bangsal
was. Zhen meant that there would be dogs to bark an alarm. It would be difficult to approach without raising a racket. There was nothing for it but simply to rush in and see what happened.

With the two coolies in tow, they advanced towards the
bangsal
. They saw two huts ahead in the clearing. As predicted, a pack of four dogs ran out, wildly barking, and rushed towards them. Zhen threw one of the coolies onto two of them and they set about viciously biting him. With his sword he dispatched a third, and Robert shot the fourth. At the sound of the gun the two other dogs gave up their prey and ran off into the jungle.

Two men emerged from one of the huts and Zhen, now in a fury, advanced on them. When they saw the upraised sword, his face and the policemen behind, they took off as fast as their legs would carry them. Zhen flung open the door of the first hut.

A man was cowering in the corner next to Father Lee, who was bound and badly beaten. Zhang picked him up by the scruff of his neck.

‘The white woman!' he shouted into the man's dirty blackened face.

The terrified coolie pointed to the jungle.

Dropping him to the floor, Zhen raced in the direction the coolie had pointed. Men were running away from a place behind a huge tree trunk. Zhen's heart was in his throat. It was not a good sign if they had taken her into the jungle. Robert shouted some orders to his men and now took off after Zhen.

Coming round the tree he saw her, lying on the ground, her hands tied above her head to the trunk of a tree. Her hair was a wild and tangled bush covered in dust. Her eyes were closed; her clothes had been ripped and he saw her exposed breasts and thighs. There were black smears on her white skin. Her legs were covered in cuts and bruises, her face smeared with dirt.

Letting out a great roar, he raced up to her. She was barely conscious. Taking his sword he cut her bonds; then taking off his jacket, he wrapped her in it, pulled down her skirt and lifted her from the ground, cradling her gently against him.

Had they raped her? He threw a look of such pain at Robert as the Englishman came into sight that Robert was astounded. He motioned for Zhen to put her down, but Zhen merely shook his head and began carrying her towards the
bangsal
. Robert was surprised and not a little irritated. It was his sister! Who did he think he was, this Chinaman, to ignore his orders?

Then he saw the boy on the other side of the clearing, and almost gagged. The boy's naked body was lying on its side tied hands-to-feet, like a bundle. His throat had been cut, and it was obvious that he had been assaulted horribly, for his lower body was covered in blood. Zhen had taken a step forward, but Robert motioned him to stop. Charlotte must not see this, though he felt sure she must have heard it.

He followed Zhen back to the huts. Here, in the shade of a tree, Zhen lowered her gently to the ground. He took her hands and cut the bamboo cords which had bitten into her skin. He went to get some water, and when he returned Robert was kneeling by her side.

She drank some of the water and opened her eyes with pain as he began washing the raw skin of her wrists. She saw a Chinese head and let out a scream. Zhen looked up into her terrified eyes.

Him! What was going on? Then she saw Robert and let out a whimper of relief.

As Zhen ripped some cloth from his trousers and began bandaging her wrists, Robert kissed her gently on her forehead.

‘Kitt, darling. You're safe now. Don't be frightened. Did they … hurt you?'

She knew what he meant. Why didn't he just say so? Of course they had
hurt
her. She looked at Zhen, tying up her left wrist, and tears welled up in her eyes. They had rubbed their filthy hands on her breasts and sucked on her mouth, but, she realised, they had not had time to carry out the fullness of their plans. Thanks to Zhen. She had made this journey because she had been angry with him, but he had saved her. She put out a hand and stroked his cheek just once, with infinite tenderness.

‘Thank you.'

Zhen looked into her violet eyes. It was as if they were completely alone.

Robert looked on, uncomprehending. What was going on between his sister and this man?

‘Kitt, darling. Answer me please,' he said. ‘What did they do?'

Charlotte pulled her gaze away from Zhen and looked at her brother. She wiped away her tears and took another drink of water.

‘I'm all right, Robbie. But, oh, Robbie, they did something horrible to that poor boy. I could hear his screams, and then he stopped.' She began to sob again.

‘Then they all smoked those pipes. I think they had decided to save me for later. My God, Robbie, thank heaven you came in time.'

Charlotte stopped and put her face in her hands, remembering—realising how close she had come. Robert looked grim-faced.

She took a deep breath and said jaggedly, ‘They didn't get time to finish their business. Just roughed me up a little. I think we can thank Zhen for that.'

Robert was relieved. He let out a loud sigh. ‘Oh, Kitt. Thank heaven. This is bad enough.'

Zhen did not understand what they were saying, but he knew from Robert's expression that she had not been raped. He had arrived in time. He said a silent prayer to all the gods in heaven, in which he did not believe, or whatever it was that had helped him get to her in time. Then he took some more water to her and sat on his heels by her side. She looked at his chest. It was so smooth, and there was a picture there. How odd. She wanted to reach out and touch the bearded face of this fierce-eyed Chinese man, but suddenly she felt too weak to even raise her arm.

Robert and the policemen were tending to Father Lee. All the coolies had disappeared into the jungle, and he wasn't going to start looking for them. He ordered the body of the boy brought from the jungle, and they dug a shallow grave and laid him in it. Father Lee, despite his wounds, gave him the last rites and said a prayer. He was stricken with grief and guilt at the fate of this child.

Zhen picked up Charlotte in his arms. Robert didn't even think of trying to stop him; someone had to carry his sister, and this fellow looked determined that no one else was going to do it.

With Zhen leading the way they retraced their steps. The policeman at the carriage gave a hoot of relief when he saw the group emerge from the jungle path. The two peons got Father Lee into the back beside his compatriot, and then Zhen passed Charlotte to Robert before springing up into the carriage and motioning Robert to pass her back to him. He settled down in the corner, holding her tightly on his lap. She sighed and let her head rest on the face of Guan Di.

They set off at a fast pace and, before long, Robert saw approaching on horseback the familiar figure of Lieutenant Gold in his scarlet jacket,with a platoon of soldiers following. He breathed an audible sigh of relief.

Lieutenant Gold cantered up to the carriage and saw Charlotte: the state of her hair and face, the cotton coolie jacket, the bare chest and the arms around her.

‘Miss Macleod, you are safe. Thank the Lord! This is most terrible. Come onto my horse. I will take you quickly to Dr Montgomerie. Unhand her, fellow.'

This last was snarled at Zhen. Charlotte made to get unsteadily to her feet and Zhen rose with her, holding her arm. He did not know what this puffed-up soldier had said, but he didn't like his face or his tone.

‘Auch, no need for that tone, William,' said Robert. ‘This fellow saved her life. Charlotte, sit down. William, accompany us back to the settlement, please, for we must talk to the colonel and the governor. There is something terrible afoot; I'm sure of it. We must get some protection for the Chinese Christians, or there will be a blood bath.'