“Very good for all kinds of things,” she said. “You know when you drink too much beer, the next day your head hurts? This is what you want.”
“You know a lot, sister,” said Ah Boon.
Guet Imm waved off the compliment. “This is nothing much. I’m not to say a real healer like you, brother!”
She looked up, smiling, and caught Tet Sang’s eyes by accident. He glared at her.
She had the grace to look embarrassed. Any properly trained follower of the Pure Moon was bound to know more about the healing arts than Ah Boon. He had been apprenticed to a village healer for only two years before the war broke out.
But then Guet Imm raised her chin and eyebrows, as much as to say, What are you going to do about it? She turned her back on Tet Sang.
Since he did not enjoy being a bringer of ill tidings, Tet Sang decided to keep his own counsel. It wasn’t like he hadn’t tried to warn the others. He had done his duty to the best of his ability. It was only a matter of time before something happened to make them regret taking her on. But till then, there was little reason for him to pick quarrels with the men on Guet Imm’s account.
His patience was rewarded about as well as forbearance generally is. They were only a few days’ walk from Sungai Tombak when he twisted his ankle on an uneven patch of road.
Ah Boon put a poultice on it and told him to keep walking. Tet Sang would have done this in any event, but the pain slowed him down, and in the course of the day, he drifted to the tail end of the group, where Ah Hin and Guet Imm were usually to be found—whispering like lovers, said the others. But this was teasing, meaning nothing. Even those who still harboured hopes of Guet Imm relaxing her policy on profane intercourse knew that Ah Hin had joined the group out of a hopeless passion for Fung Cheung.
Tet Sang didn’t notice he had fallen behind at first. His attention was on maintaining mastery over his feeble body, which objected stridently to what he was doing. But then he heard his own name.
“I don’t know why Brother Tet Sang hates me,” Guet Imm was saying. “I didn’t do anything to him also. I took his money, but he offered! Maybe I should pay him back. I shouldn’t have bought the wig.”
The wig had been retired from use by general agreement.
“You must give face to Second Brother,” said Ah Hin’s voice. “Usually he’s not like this. He’s worried about getting to Sungai Tombak. We’re late already.”
“But what’s at Sungai Tombak?” said Guet Imm. “Why is it so important to get there?”
“We’re making a delivery.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Tet Sang saw Guet Imm nod sagely. “The sacks you all are carrying. Is it candu or bullion or what?”
“If we had candu, Big Brother would have smoked it all up already,” said Ah Hin. “What is bullion?”
Ah Hin was impressed when Guet Imm explained.
“You think too much of us, sister,” he said. “If we were at the level where we could transport bullion, we could all retire! The sacks inside are rice only. Hard to find high-quality rice these days. The merchants in Sungai Tombak will pay a good price for it. But the main delivery is not that.”
Tet Sang cleared his throat, but he was too late. Ah Hin was already saying proudly:
“The main goods are in here!” He gestured at the pack on his back.
Tet Sang swallowed his interruption. If he kicked up a fuss now, that would only serve to make it obvious that there was something about the goods he’d rather Guet Imm didn’t know.
“Really?” said Guet Imm, looking at Ah Hin’s pack with new interest. “What is it?”
“Oh, very valuable goods,” said Ah Hin, shaking his head. “Top secret. We’re taking turns to carry.”
For a gang of outlaws, Tet Sang thought bitterly, the brothers were remarkably trusting. Without even being prodded, Ah Hin went on:
“We’re taking the rice because Big Brother wants a decoy. In case the mata catch us, they will think we are transporting black-market rice only. Hopefully, the Baby God will protect us from a raid,” he added piously. “But even if the mata come and confiscate the rice, that is no problem so long as the real goods are safe.” He patted the pack.
Guet Imm’s eyes were as round as longan seeds. “What are the real goods?”
It seemed to strike Ah Hin for the first time that perhaps he should not be talking so much.
“Oh, ah,” he said uncomfortably. “I shouldn’t say. Big Brother wouldn’t like it.”
“Brother, you will kill me!” said Guet Imm. “I won’t tell. Just a quick peek. You know you can trust me.”
She was reaching out when Tet Sang caught her hand.
“You shouldn’t touch people’s things without asking,” he said. “Didn’t they teach you that at your tokong?”
He kept his eyes on Guet Imm until she lowered her hand.
“There was no such thing as your things or my things at the tokong,” she said, with an attempt at dignity. “The deity calls us to share. Anyway, I asked, didn’t I, Brother Ah Hin?”
“I didn’t hear Ah Hin say yes,” said Tet Sang.
They both looked at Ah Hin. He went a delicate purple.
“Brother didn’t mind, right?” said Guet Imm.
Even Ah Hin must have clocked by now that there was good reason Guet Imm of all people should not find out what they were carrying. He said wretchedly:
“It’s my fault, sister. I shouldn’t simply talk.”
“I wouldn’t give you away,” said Guet Imm, hurt. “It’s not like there’s anybody I could tell also. Everybody I used to know is dead.”
“There’s Mr Aw at Weng Wah Coffeehouse,” said Tet Sang. “You’re here to make yourself useful, sister, not ask questions. If you don’t like the rules, you can go back to the coffeehouse.”
He limped away before either of the others could answer.
Ah Hin followed Tet Sang, silently offering his shoulder. After Tet Sang’s first moment of indignation, he took the offered support. At least it got Ah Hin away from the nun.
“Sorry, Second Brother,” muttered Ah Hin.
Tet Sang grunted.
The ensuing silence was tense, Ah Hin’s shoulders rigid beneath Tet Sang’s arm. He realised Ah Hin was looking for something more than he’d given.
“Don’t worry,” said Tet Sang. “I won’t tell Ah Lau.”
“That’s not why I apologized,” said Ah Hin, affronted. “I know you won’t do me like that, brother!”
Again, Ah Hin was being too trusting. Tet Sang kept the strict word of his promise, but Fung Cheung was not stupid. When Tet Sang said they should keep a closer watch on the goods, Fung Cheung raised an eyebrow.
“You’re scared Ah Hin will give us away?” he said. “I’ve been thinking he’s getting too pious.”
“Excuse me, do I look like a running dog?” said Tet Sang.
Fung Cheung rolled his eyes, but he asked no more questions.
Nothing was said to Ah Hin, but from then on, only Fung Cheung, Tet Sang, or Rimau—a childhood friend of Fung Cheung’s and married to his sister, now dead—were allowed to bear the goods.