The Pearl of Penang by Clare Flynn (best books to read for students txt) 📗

By the time they got to the quayside that night the queues for the ferries were long. Amidst the crowds, Evie caught sight of Benny and called out to him. He was heading away from the port. ‘Where are you going, Benny? Where’s Aunty Mimi?’

‘I go back to house. They say can evacuate me because in Volunteers but can’t bring wife and children. Also Aunty Mimi and Boy. So I must stay. Can’t leave them behind. Only Europeans go.’

Evie felt a rush of anger. It was appalling. ‘That’s a disgrace!’

‘Volunteers can leave but no wives and children. So no one go. Can’t leave families behind.’ He shook his head, his face lined with anger.

It was unjust. Disloyal. Not only had men like Benny joined the defence volunteers in good faith but they had served the European population dutifully for decades. Now they were to be abandoned, left behind to the mercy of the Japanese.

Before she could say any more, Evie was swept up in the crowd around her and moved forward in the crush as the next ferry docked. She looked back as the mass of white humanity pushed her forward, and saw Benny walking away from the quayside. What would Doug have said? He had employed Benny since he came to Penang – and his uncle before him. Aunty Mimi too. They were part of the fabric of the Barrington household and because of the sweep of a pen in Singapore, they and others like them were to be left to their fate.

When the ferry landed in Butterworth, she spotted Mary with her mother and father in the crowd. Before she could push her way through to them, Arthur Leighton appeared at her side.

‘I’ve saved you seats on the train. Women, children, elderly and disabled. Men will follow later, once we’ve got you all away. Most of us will drive. We don’t want to leave any usable vehicles here for the Japanese. Veronica will be waiting for you at the station in Singapore.’

‘Veronica?’

‘Things are better with her. She’s stopped drinking. Thrown herself into the war effort. But there’s no time to talk. I need to get you on that train.’

Arthur steered her across the concrete, signalling the Hyde-Underwoods to follow. To her relief, Mary Helston and her parents had seen them and worked their way over to join them.

Arthur broke the news that Mr Helston and Reggie would have to travel by road, reassuring them that they would all be reunited in Singapore.

Mary’s face was gaunt and her eyes cold. Evie had never seen her usually smiling friend looking so angry.

Arthur helped the women and children into the carriage. Evie hung back.

‘What about you?’ Evie asked him.

‘Never mind about me – you and the children need to get to Singapore.’

‘What happens then?’

‘Veronica will explain. We’re getting you on a ship out.’

‘But I thought Singapore was safe?’ Evie was alarmed.

‘For now. Can we talk a moment?’ He looked over his shoulder. ‘In private?’

Evie handed the baby to Mary and got down from the train. Arthur was waiting behind a baggage cart piled high with suitcases, waiting to be stood on the train.

‘Three days ago the Repulse and the Prince of Wales were sunk. Our best warships, crucial to defence.’ He looked into her eyes. ‘We’ve well and truly messed this up, Evie.’ Glancing around him to make sure they weren’t overheard he added, ‘I think Singapore will fall too. Intelligence reports say the enemy are already moving down the peninsular. We’ve all assumed they’ll attack by sea but I think they’ll come by land.’

‘But how? They’ll never get through the jungle and the roads aren’t big enough to handle mass troop movements.’

‘That’s what everyone has been saying. But everyone’s wrong.’ His lips stretched tightly. ‘They’re using bicycles. Tens of thousands of bicycles.’

Evie gasped. ‘Whereabouts are they?’

‘A day or two away – at most.’ Taking advantage of the confusion of people, he pulled her into his arms and drew her head against his chest. She heard the steady beat of his heart. ‘We’ve lost Malaya, Evie. The game’s practically over. Our airforce is destroyed, the army’s clogging the roads up as they race back to Singapore. There’s no attempt to try and keep the Japs at bay. I have never been so ashamed in all my life. Look at what’s happening.’ He swept a hand out to indicate the crowds of Europeans pushing their way onto the train. ‘Complete capitulation. Abandonment of the locals. Every white man for himself. And my job is to help make this sorry shameful mess happen.’

‘Will everyone leave Singapore too?’

‘That’s not the plan.’

She looked up at his face and read in his eyes that while it might not be the plan it was the likely reality. The unthinkable was happening. Malaya, part of the crown jewels of the British Empire, would soon be a Japanese territory.

‘I have to go, my darling. I don’t know when I’ll see you again. But whatever happens, I want you to know that everything I said before is still true. I love you utterly and completely. If we make it through this war I promise you, my dearest love, I will find a way to be with you, to marry you.’

Evie swallowed. A shiver ran through her body. ‘I’m sorry how I behaved the last time we met.’ She met his eyes. ‘And you need to know, I love you too. I always have, even when I tried to pretend I didn’t.’

He held her face between his hands and looked into her eyes. Evie felt as if the world had stopped. Fearful of what lay ahead, she asked, ‘But why won’t I see you in Singapore? Where are you going?’

‘I’m staying behind. I’ve been training in jungle warfare at the Singapore 101 Special Training school. Too little too late, but we’ll do the best we can.’

Evie thought she was going to stop breathing. ‘What are you talking about, Arthur?’

‘It was set up in July. They’ve been