The Devil to Pay by Walter Woon

Author:Walter Woon
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789814435802
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish

17

D’ALMEIDA was right about events moving very fast. Shortly after our meeting, I returned to the station late one Sunday afternoon from my usual shopping expedition in the kampong to find the place in a state of uproar. RAF personnel in steel helmets and full kit were moving in the direction of the Bhurtpores’ cantonment. The guards at the gate challenged me with an unexpected firmness. They only let me through after examining my pass, which was something they had stopped doing months before. I swung by the sergeants’ mess to see what I could pick up. Amid the excited babble of the clerks and cooks, I heard the word “mutiny” repeatedly. There was talk that reinforcements from 8th Indian Brigade in Kota Bahru had been requested to back up the RAF.

I got back to the clubhouse to find Thornton already there.

“What on earth is going on?” I asked. “What’s happening over there?”

“I don’t know for certain,” replied Thornton. “I’m here because I got a note from Mr d’Almeida. Here.” He handed a crumpled slip of paper to me. ‘Imperative that you be at the clubhouse before dark’, it read, ‘go armed and ready for action’.

“It looks like he didn’t have time to write more,” I said, hoping that nothing had happened to him.

“Do you think I should get Michael?” asked Thornton.

“First, tell me what in heaven’s name is happening.”

Thornton rubbed his chin. “It’s all a bit confusing. As far as we can make out, there’s been a mutiny among the Bhurtpores. Something to do with one of their subalterns being put under arrest. The station has been ordered to stand-to. Brigade is sending a British company to assist.”

At that moment, Ormonde appeared. “Do you know what’s going on over there?” I asked him the moment he got through the door. He nodded. “I’ve just come from the Bhurtpores’ cantonment. The trouble started just after lunch. Apparently, Major Naidu raided Lieutenant Habibullah Khan’s tent and found a bundle of subversive leaflets. He put Habibullah under immediate arrest. They’re going to ship him out to Singapore for court-martial. He was frog-marched under guard to the guardhouse.

“When his company heard about it, they refused to go on digging fortifications. Just downed tools and went on strike. The other Mussulman company joined them. The two Rajput companies started wavering. The CO had another fit and went out to tear another strip off them. Someone took a pot-shot at him. Missed. They don’t know who did it. He beat a rather undignified retreat.”

“So what’s the position?” asked Thornton.

“The position’s very delicate,” replied Ormonde. “So far, there’s been no violence or damage – apart from Holmes’ injured ego. He’s foaming at the mouth, but has the good sense not to aggravate matters by showing himself again. The sepoys and NCOs aren’t going to do anything more until they’re assured that Habibullah will be released. Our chaps have secured the Bhurtpores’ armoury and the HQ block. But they’ve got rifles and a couple of Bren guns, so no one’s resting comfortably.

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