A Painter in Penang: A Gripping Story of the Malayan Emergency by Clare Flynn

A Painter in Penang: A Gripping Story of the Malayan Emergency by Clare Flynn

Author:Clare Flynn [Flynn, Clare]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cranbrook Press


* * *

Jasmine and Mary had just sat down to tiffin when they heard the sound of Reggie’s motorcar. As soon as he entered the dining room he went straight to the cabinet and poured himself a scotch.

‘How did you get on? Was it beastly?’ Mary’s eyes were filled with concern.

She got up from the table and went to Reggie, putting her arms around him and resting her head on his chest. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

‘I hope I don’t ever have to go through something like that again.’ Reggie shook his head, his eyes sad. ‘Bloody awful. Poor Verna was distraught. The estate workers are in fear of their lives. There was a miserable little ceremony to bury the three chaps. All far too young. Allison was the oldest and he was only fifty-five. And that poor Christian fellow still in his twenties with his whole life ahead of him.’ Reggie looked away, shaking his head.

Jasmine bit her lip. She felt conflicted. Bintang’s words were fresh in her mind, but he surely couldn’t condone the cold-blooded butchering of planters? Tying them up and blasting them with tommy-guns was a cowardly act.

‘And that useless excuse for a High Commissioner still thinks this is all exaggerated and won’t do a damn thing about it.’

‘Surely he’s going to do something?’ Mary, as ever, was conciliatory.

‘He’s sent the Gurkhas in, but not enough troops to protect everyone. We planters are going to have to protect ourselves. That means we need to be armed and Gent is doing nothing on that score. I think he thinks if he keeps his head down it will go away.’ He finished off his stengah and pulled out a chair at the table. ‘Well it won’t.’

Jasmine carried on eating her lunch while she listened intently.

Reggie helped himself to cold meat and salad, then called out to the amah, ‘Bring me a beer will you, JJ?’

When Jinjiang returned with the bottle and a glass, he took a swig, then began to eat. ‘I’m going to get the telephone put in here in the bungalow. It’s not enough just to have it out in my office.’

‘Nothing’s going to happen. And there’s no point as I never use the telephone.’ Mary smiled fondly at her husband. ‘If anyone wants to reach us they can get you at the office. And if you’re not there, the clerk always knows where you are. Honestly, Reggie, please don’t bother. Save the expense.’

He looked up at her. ‘No arguing, darling. Decision already made. They’re coming to fix it next week. I want you to be able to get hold of me if anything happens or you’re worried for any reason. And the other way round – if I think something’s afoot I can call you so you can either get away or hide.’

Mary opened her mouth to respond but must have thought better of it. Jasmine wondered if her presence at the table was, as she had learned in her



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