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

same token, the once inconceivable possibility of her having a future with Arthur Leighton now seemed tangible. But they both had to get out of Malaya alive first – and the Axis Powers must be defeated before any future was possible. That felt like a faint hope. But hope was all she had left. Hope, and her two children.

Jasmine, sitting beside her, was sleeping, her head resting against Evie. Less than three years ago, Evie hadn’t even known this little girl existed. Now she loved her as completely as if she were her own child. That was another thing to be tackled in the future. She must formally adopt Jasmine. There must be no ambiguity about their relationship, no conditions attached to her love.

As the train reached its destination, officials entered the carriages and handed typewritten notices to every adult refugee. Evie read the printed words with growing alarm. The orders were stark. Childless women were to get off the train and remain in Singapore. Women with children, who were ungenerously described in civil service officialese as “ineffective”, were to remain on board. They were to be delivered straight to the waterfront and transferred onto a vessel bound for Australia.

This was too soon, too sudden. Evie couldn’t face the thought of being bundled with her children, as well as Susan and Stanford, onto a ship and sent off to a place she didn’t know at all. And most of all, she didn’t want to leave Mary. Not when her friend was grieving the loss of her fiancé. Mary needed all the love and support she could get. Evie didn’t want to be separated.

But it was no good. Mary and her mother were ushered off the train with all the other adult women without dependent children. Evie was angry yet powerless. She tried to get off too, but was ordered to remain on the train.

Arthur had been right. Veronica Leighton was indeed waiting on the platform. Wearing an uncharacteristically simple cotton frock, she exuded a business-like manner and clearly relished being in charge. Her fingernails were devoid of their signature red polish, her hair looked as though she’d dragged a comb through it and there was no trace of her usual immaculately applied makeup. She pushed her way through the crowds of passengers leaving the train and came to stand beneath the window where Evie was leaning out.

‘Veronica, they won’t let us off the train. Apparently we’re to be taken straight to a ship and packed off to Australia. Can you speak to someone? Susan here doesn’t want to leave without Reggie. He’s driving down from Penang. And I want to stay with my friends.’ She gestured towards the platform where Mary had seated her mother on a bench while she tried to locate their suitcases.

‘There are to be no exemptions from the evacuation order, Evie,’ Veronica said briskly. ‘I’d even managed to get you a hotel room which was a bloody miracle, but they’re adamant you can’t get off the train. Frightfully sorry. You’re going to Batavia first where you’ll be put on a ship for Perth. It’s all arranged.’

Evie saw Susan was in tears beside her. Behind them Stanford had started wailing. She leaned out of the window to speak to Veronica again. ‘Can’t you pull some strings? Not for me. Just for Susan. Her husband will be here in a day or so. She doesn’t want to be separated.’

‘No strings left to pull, darling.’ Veronica lowered her voice to make sure only Evie could hear her. ‘And when her husband gets here he’ll be expected to stay and fight. We may have lost Penang but they aren’t going to give up Singapore. For some reason, the army hasn’t even attempted to defend the Perak River. Arthur said the plan was to dig in there and hold the positions but I heard just now from a chap I know in Percival’s office that they’ve just upped sticks and headed south.’

Evie stared at her. Abandoning Penang had been inconceivable but it had just happened. It seemed Britain was walking out on the entire country. She looked back into the carriage where Jasmine was sitting patiently with Hugh in her arms. The children had to come first. She had to get them out. Slipping an arm around Susan she said, ‘We have to do as they say and get the children to safety.’

In her anxiety about being held on the train, Evie had forgotten about the Helstons. She looked over Veronica’s head to the crowds of refugees moving through the station but Mary and her mother had disappeared.

‘What’s happening to everyone else?’ she asked Veronica. ‘My friend Mary and her mother were travelling with us.’

‘I don’t know yet. But there’s plenty of work to be done. Once the mothers and children are gone, they’ll probably ship anyone else out who wants to go, but most people will be staying on here I imagine. We need men to fight and women to help in the hospitals and so on.’

‘What will you do?’

Veronica shrugged. ‘I’m rather enjoying myself actually. Life had got frightfully dull lately. Nothing like a bit of war to spice things up and keep one busy.’ Her voice was chirpy. It was as if she had long been waiting for a chance to play this role and was enjoying it immensely.

Evie stared at her. Where was the woman who had rolled her eyes and groaned at the thought of supplies of French champagne drying up? The woman who claimed war and politics were such a bore. She remembered Arthur telling her that Veronica was a consummate actress and knew how to play the part of the colonial administrator’s wife to perfection. She was clearly doing that now.

Veronica soon disabused her of any notion that this change was more fundamental, when she added, ‘Singapore’s terrific fun at the moment. Uniforms everywhere. Parties at the club every night.’ She gave a little laugh. ‘And I do so like a man in uniform.’

Noticing