The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho

Author:Zen Cho
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

“Mr Yeoh Thean Tee is not at home,” said the maidservant. “He went outstation on business. Coming back in three weeks’ time.”

Fung Cheung and Tet Sang exchanged a look.

“Is Mr Yeoh Kok Beng around?” ventured Fung Cheung, naming Yeoh Thean Tee’s eldest son.

The maidservant shook her head. “He went with Tuan Yeoh. All the sons and nephews did. There’s nobody in the house.” She gave Fung Cheung a melting look, expressive of both abject apology and shameless longing. “Sorry, sir.”

It would not have been like Fung Cheung to fail to respond with gallantry to anyone paying tribute to his charms. Despite his disappointment, he managed to muster a winsome smile for the girl.

“It’s our bad timing,” he said. “Thank you, sister.” He waited till she reluctantly shut the door to turn on Tet Sang and Guet Imm, the smile falling off his face.

“So, how?” demanded Fung Cheung.

It hadn’t been easy to persuade him to agree to the new plan.

“Let me check I understand correctly,” he’d said when Guet Imm had explained what she proposed. “You want us to go to Yeoh Thean Tee’s own house and demand an audience with one of the richest and most powerful men on the peninsula. Then you want to say to Yeoh Thean Tee, I know we almost got your man busted by the mata, but we still want to sell you the same illicit goods we offered before. But fewer of the goods. For more money.”

“That’s it,” said Guet Imm, gratified by Fung Cheung’s ready understanding.

“We are outlaws wanted by the Protector,” said Fung Cheung. “Maybe you have not noticed, but the mata are chasing us right now. That is why we are spending so many nights in the jungle. It is not because we enjoy being bitten by mosquitoes and leeches. Meanwhile, Yeoh Thean Tee’s business interests depend on the Protector’s support. He cannot afford to be caught fraternising with bandits—”

“Yes, but we’re not bandits,” said Guet Imm. “Why shouldn’t Yeoh Thean Tee talk to us? It’s not like we’re criminals.”

“Well,” said Fung Cheung cautiously. “We haven’t done any bad crimes.”

“You must understand how these things work, sister,” he went on, before Guet Imm could ask any questions. “Yeoh Thean Tee only deals with people like us through intermediaries. If we go to his door, we won’t even have the chance to ask for money. They will straight off shoot us.”

“Not if you have a nun with you,” said Guet Imm.

Fung Cheung tilted his head, considering the point, but his lip stayed in its dubious curl. “Ah Sang, you think this plan can work?”

“Yeoh Thean Tee gave a daughter to the Pure Moon,” said Tet Sang. “He will know how to value the deity’s relics, and how to respect one of her votaries. But whether he’ll forgive the debt…” He shrugged. “Religion is one thing, money is another.”

“More to the point, brother,” said Guet Imm, “do you have any other options?”

Fung Cheung met Tet Sang’s eyes.

Though they had not discussed it, the obvious course of action was to disband the group, split up and go into hiding.

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