Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [90]
The alleyways offered escape routes into or away from the various sections of the town, and a man could disappear into shadowy doorways, rickety upper floors, or backrooms at the flash of a knife.
Sheba Lane also accommodated other races and on the whole everyone rubbed along together with the general understanding that it was ‘them’ against the white bosses, the police, the law, and the belligerent members of the Yakuza, linked to powerful secret society leaders back in Japan.
The monsoon was late and for guests at the Resident’s garden party, there seemed no promise of relief from the oppressive heat and humidity. Storm clouds gathered, then slipped across the placid waters of the bay and got lost in the desert. The relatively new Australian flag hung limply on its flagpole alongside the Western Australian flag and the Union Jack. The RM liked the way the flags conveyed authority and elevated his position beyond its real status.
Olivia closed her fan and, excusing herself from the group of ladies on the terrace, walked across the lawn to where Conrad was sitting with the RM and Mrs Hooten, and Major White and Mrs White.
Of all the wives, Olivia found Amelia White the easiest to deal with because she made no demands on anyone. She drifted, in a haze of gin and lavender, smiling benignly at the world through slightly unfocused pale blue eyes. She was the antithesis of her blustering, loud, hearty, domineering husband and was thankful that while he was around she didn’t have to make much of an effort.
Olivia was glad the Major had become a friend to Conrad. His cocksure attitude irritated her, but his fatherly advice seemed to mean a great deal to Conrad, who felt the friendship gave him extra standing in the small world in which they moved.
Talk turned, as it had with every group at the party, to the great fight that had erupted that morning between a group of Japanese and some Koepangers. No one was clear as to the cause. There was some perceived insult, shouted words, then the Japanese had chased the Koepangers along the foreshore.
Later in the day each side had gathered support and there had been several clashes resulting in some nasty injuries. Two police officers had intervened and for the last two hours all had been quiet.
Mrs Hooten gathered the guests around the out-door buffet table where a large birthday cake was set up for the Resident’s birthday. After toasts and several speeches, the Resident blew out the candles and, taking his ceremonial sword, was about to cut the cake, when there was a mighty outburst at the gates of the Residence. The stunned partygoers turned as one to confront a shouting horde of Japanese brandishing sticks, knives and stones.
‘What the devil is going on?’ demanded the Resident as the women cried out in alarm and retreated towards the house.
‘Close the gates,’ called Major White and two men rushed to the wrought iron gates across the drive.
The demonstrators continued to rattle the fence and shout and someone quickly translated, ‘The Koepangers have killed a Jap!’
‘Good Lord, now we’re in for some trouble,’ said Conrad with concern as Olivia stood close to him, nervously watching the angry men demanding justice.
‘Order them away, Ralph,’ demanded Mrs Hooten, still holding the cake plates. ‘They’ll ruin the party.’
A stone lobbed over the fence and another heated cry went up.
‘Get the women indoors, Hennessy’ shouted the RM. ‘Major, run for the police. We’d better get to the bottom of this in a hurry. Could turn very nasty.’ He turned to an aide. ‘Get the men organised on the verandah, Jones.’
Soon a worried policeman arrived carrying a shotgun. ‘Sir, seems the Japanese hounded the Koepangers and they were going in all directions and one of the Jap divers ran the wrong way straight into the gang of Koepangers. Beat him to death. The Japs are demanding you round up the Koepangers and have them surrender the culprits.’
‘Thanks, constable. First thing is to disperse