The Orchid Tree by Siobhan Daiko

Author:Siobhan Daiko [Daiko, Siobhan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fragrant Books
Published: 2015-02-15T05:00:00+00:00

20

Heung Kong, Fragrant Harbour. James let out a wry laugh. Not very fragrant today. Such a stench: bilge, sewage, seaweed, dead fish and a rotting pig’s carcass, the flotsam of a busy port, borne on the muggy April air. James picked his way along the quayside and stepped aside. A bloody great crane was lifting a crate from the hold of a vessel. He stared at the Holden’s Wharf godowns, lined up like army barracks, an office block in the centre. It was here that Tony was waiting for him to start his new job.

A new challenge. I can’t wait.

James thought about his duties. He’d have to help oversee the unloading of European imports destined for the colony from the company’s Red Funnel ships. They’d be loaded with Hong Kong re-exports, mainly of goods from China, on the return journey to England. All he needed, apparently, were good organisational skills and a degree of honesty. The last deputy had left under a black cloud, something to do with demanding too many kick-backs from the stevedores. James’ administration skills were excellent. As for honesty, he’d proved his integrity by not accepting that bribe from Leung, hadn’t he?

The lift boy slammed shut the doors and the old machine clanked up to the second floor. James stepped into the office. Fans whirred on the ceiling, stirring the heat and humidity of early summer. Urgh! Spring was practically non-existent in Hong Kong; the season had changed from cool and damp to hot and wet overnight. For the next six months he’d be scraping mould from his shoes and books, and taking salt tablets to replenish the minerals he’d lose sweating. But not to worry, it was a small price to pay for getting out of war-torn Britain.

‘There’s your desk, old chap.’ Tony pointed towards the centre of the room. ‘The blackboard behind you is to keep track of all the ships unloading from the wharves and loading from junks in the harbour. There’s a stack of paperwork from the godowns for you to tackle as well.’

‘I’ll get cracking then.’ James didn’t mind being Tony’s workhorse; it wouldn’t be forever. His salary was even better than it had been with the customs, but as soon as he found someone to back him, he wanted to start an import-export business. There was money to be made in Hong Kong, and he’d be one of those who made it.

Work kept him busy all morning and at lunchtime he was enjoying bacon and tomato sandwiches with Tony at the USRC, the United Services Recreation Club, in the heart of Kowloon. They sat sipping coffee in the members’ lounge and leafing through the newspapers.

‘Bloody hell! My old ship the Amethyst has been caught up in the communist advance.’ James put down The South China Morning Post. ‘Apparently she ran aground on the Yangtze, came under heavy fire, and there were a huge number of casualties.’

‘That’s a bit of a poor show.’ Tony sat back in his armchair. ‘We haven’t taken sides in their civil war.

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