The Plantation - Di Morrissey [186]
Bill and Roland exchanged a look.
Margaret stared, wide-eyed, at her husband. It seemed that neither Roland nor Bill were sharing in her triumph. ‘Really, Roland, I know that you fought with him in the war but he was a Chinese houseboy! Is he more important than your family, your friends, your country?’
‘I’ll go and telephone the station,’ said Roland, hurrying from the room.
‘Whatever for? Why on earth do you care so much about Ah Kit?’
‘Margaret, it’s not just that Ah Kit fought with us in the jungle, but he saved your husband’s life!’ said Bill. ‘Mine too, if it comes to that. Neither of us would be here, sitting on the verandah, if it had not been for Ah Kit.’
‘But he turned against us once the Japanese were defeated,’ said Margaret. ‘I have no sympathy for him, or any communist.’
‘That’s unfortunate,’ said Bill tersely. ‘Because not only did Ah Kit save our lives but I believe the reason there have been no communist attacks on Utopia is because Ah Kit has prevented them out of respect for Roland. Ah Kit has made this place safe for all of you.’
Margaret shrugged. ‘I don’t believe that. And even if it’s true, it’s the least he could do, after all Roland has done for him.’
‘Margaret, Ah Kit could be in a lot of trouble.’
Bill turned as Roland walked back out to the verandah. Roland’s face was set and his eyes were cold.
He spoke to Bill. ‘They got him.’
‘You mean they arrested him?’
‘No, shot him.’
‘Shot him? How bad?’ asked Bill.
Then Roland looked at Margaret and said quietly, ‘He’s dead.’
‘Oh, bloody hell,’ said Bill.
‘He was shot trying to escape. That’s what I was told.’ Roland’s voice was filled with anger.
‘So they say,’ said Bill.
Margaret jumped up. ‘Well, that’s not my fault! He was trying to run away. He’s guilty!’
Bill and Roland ignored her.
‘What do you want to do?’ asked Bill.
Roland rubbed his eyes. ‘There’s little we can do for him now. I’d like to help his family, if I can. Margaret, how could you have done this? You know what Ah Kit and I went through during the war!’
Margaret looked at Roland and, without a word, turned and left the verandah.
‘Roland, you can’t entirely blame Margaret,’ said Bill. ‘The war and then the communist insurgency, especially after the incident on the Fraser’s Hill road, have made life here very difficult for her.’
‘Bill, you’re a good friend, but what you say doesn’t entirely wash with me. Ah Kit was not responsible for what happened on Fraser’s Hill. First her sister and now Ah Kit. Margaret only seems to care about the way people and events affect her personally. She isn’t concerned about anyone but herself,’ said Roland bitterly. ‘I have to speak to her, please excuse me.’ He strode from the room.
Bill sat on the verandah with his whisky. He could clearly hear the raised voices.
‘What do you mean – you can’t forgive me? You should thank me!’ snapped Margaret. ‘One less communist to worry about, who won’t set fire to our place, or kill our children. Really, Roland, it’s your attitude that I find shocking.’
‘And I yours! You are wrapped up in yourself. Everything revolves around you, Margaret. I know it’s difficult at present but I have tried my best to provide for you, make you happy, indulge your wishes, but it never seems to be enough.’
‘Roland, I think you spend more energy and time worrying about those damn trees than me! The war was hard on me too, yet you make such a fuss about Bette. I bet you encouraged her to go off with that wealthy Tony Tsang, just to annoy me!’ Margaret’s voice was rising.
‘You’re being hysterical, and that’s ridiculous. I have no control over Bette’s decisions. Anyway you should be grateful to Bette for looking after Philip in that POW camp, but you want to turn her heroic actions into some sort of fight for Philip’s affection. It’s as though you can’t forgive your sister for saving our son’s life.’
There was silence for a moment, then Margaret’s voice was filled with fury. ‘I will not stay under the same roof as you any longer, Roland. I think it would be best