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r from the Japanese point of view。 Look what wonderful soldiers they were； look how they fought and almost never allowed themselves to be captured。 We were dishonored according to their standards by surrendering。〃 Peter Marlowe shivered。 〃I felt dishonored； still feel dishonored。〃
〃That's not right； Marlowe；〃 Gornt said。 〃There's no dishonor in that。 None。〃
Casey； standing beside Gornt； put her hand on his arm lightly。 〃Oh yes。 He's right； Peter。 He really is。〃
〃Yes。〃 Dunstan Barre said。 〃But Grey； what the devil got Grey all teed off？ Eh？〃
〃Nothing and everything。 He became fanatical about enforcing camp rules … which were Japanese rules … stupidly； a lot of us thought。 As I said； Changi was different； officers and men were locked up together； no letters from home； no food； two thousand miles of enemy…occupied territory in every direction； malaria； dysentery； and the death rate terrible。 He hated this American friend of mine； the King。 It was true the King was a cunning businessman and he ate well when others didn't and drank coffee and smoked tailor…made cigarettes。 But he kept a lot of us alive with his skill。 Even； Grey。 He even kept Grey alive。 Grey's hatred kept him alive； I'm sure。 The King fed almost the whole American contingent … there were about thirty of them； officers and men。 Oh they worked for it； American style； but even so； without him they would have died。 I would have。 I know。〃 Peter Marlowe shuddered。 〃Joss。 Karma。 Life。 I think I'll have that brandy now； Mr。 Gornt。〃
Gornt poured。 〃Whatever happened to this man； this fellow you call the King？ After the war？〃
Pugmire interrupted with a laugh； 〃One of the buggers in our camp who was a trader became a bloody millionaire afterwards。 Is it the same with this King？〃
〃I don't know；〃 Peter Marlowe said。
〃You never saw him again； Peter？〃 Casey asked； surprised。 〃You didn't see him back in the States？〃
〃No； no I never did。 I tried to find him but never could。〃
〃That's often the rule； Casey；〃 Gornt said casually。 〃When you leave a regiment all debts and friendships are canceled。〃 He was very content。 Everything's perfect； he told himself； thinking of the double bed in his cabin； and smiled at her across the deck。 She smiled back。
Riko Anjin Gresserhoff went into the foyer of the V and A。 It was crowded with those having early…afternoon tea or late lunches。 As she walked to the elevator a tremor went through her； the eyes bothering her … not the usual lusting eyes of European men or the dislike in the eyes of their women … but Chinese and Eurasian eyes。 She had never experienced so much general hatred。 It was a strange feeling。 This was her first time outside of Switzerland； other than school trips to Germany and two journeys to Rome with her mother。 Her husband had taken her abroad only once； to Vienna for a week。
I don't like Asia； she thought； suppressing another shudder。 But then it's not Asia； it's Hong Kong； surely it's just here； the people here。 And surely； there is right on their side to be antagonistic。 I wonder if I'll like Japan？ Will I be alien； even there？
The elevator came and she went to her suite on the sixth floor； the room boy not opening her door for her。 Alone and with the door bolted； she felt better。 The red message light on the phone was blinking but she paid it no attention； quickly taking off her shoes； hat； gloves and coat； putting them at once in a vast closet； the clothes already there neat and organized； like her three pairs of shoes。 The suite was small but delicate； a living room； bedroom and bath。 Flowers from Struan's were on the table and a bowl of fruit from the hotel。
Her fingers slid the gift wrapping away neatly。 Inside was a rectangular black plush box and she opened it。 Warmth went through her。 The pendant was on a thin gold chain； the jade green with flecks of lighter green； carved like a cornucopia。 Light shimmered off the polished surface。 At once she put it on； studying it in the mirror； admiring the stone as it lay against her breast。 She had never been given jade before。
Underneath the black； plush…covered cardboard was the envelope。 It was a plain envelope； not Struan's； the seal equally plain； made of ordinary red sealing wax。 With great care she slid a paper knife under the seal and studied the pages； one by one； a small frown on her forehead。 Just a jumble of numbers and letters and an occasional symbol。 A tiny； satisfied smile touched her lips。 She found the hotel letter…writing folder and； settling herself fortably at the desk； began to copy the pages； one by one。
When she had finished she checked them。 She put the copies into a hotel envelope and sealed it； the originals in another envelope； a plain one she took out of her bag。 Next she found the new stick of red sealing wax； lit a match and daubed the melting wax on both envelopes； sealing them； making sure the seal on the envelope of the originals was a pattern of the one Dunross had made。 The phone rang； startling her。 She watched it； her heart thumping； until it stopped。 Once more at ease； she went back to her labor； ensuring there were no telltale indentations left on the pad that she had used； examining it under the light。 As soon as she was satisfied； she stamped the envelope containing the copies； addressed it to： R。 Anjin； Box 154； General Post Office； Sydney； Australia。 This and the other envelope with the originals she put into her handbag。
Carefully she rechecked that nothing had been missed； then went to a small refrigerator near the stocked bar and took out a bottle of sparkling mineral water and drank some。
Again the phone rang。 She watched it； sipping the soda water； her mind checking and rechecking； thinking about her lunch with Dunross； wondering if she had been wise to accept his invitation to cocktails tonight and； later； to dinner with him and his friends。 I wonder if there will be friends or if we will be alone。 Would I like to be alone with that man？
Her thoughts went back to the small； untidy； slightly balding Hans Gresserhoff； and the four years of life that she had led with him； weeks alone； sleeping alone； waking alone； walking alone； no real friends； rarely going out； her husband strangely secretive； cautioning her about making friends； wanting her to be alone and always safe and calm and patient。 That was the hardest part to bear； she thought。 Patience。 Patience alone； patience together； asleep or awake。 Patience and outwardly calm。 When all the time she was like a volcano； desperate to erupt。
That he loved her was beyond doubt。 All she felt for him was giri； duty。 He gave her money and her life was smooth； neither rich nor poor … even； like the country of their choice。 His arrivals and departures had no pattern。 When he was with her he always wanted her； wanted to be near her。 Their pillowing satisfied him but not her； though she pretended； for his pleasure。 But then； she told herself； you have had no other man to judge by。
He was a good man and it was as I told the tai…pan。 I tried to be a good wife to him； to obey him in everything； to honor my mother's wish； to fulfill my giri to her； and to him。 And now？
She looked down at her wedding ring and twisted it on her finger。 For the first time since she had married she took it off and looked at it closely in the palm of her hand。 Small； empty and uninteresting。 So many lonely nights； tears in the nights； waiting waiting waiting。 Waiting for what？ Children forbidden； friends forbidden； travel forbidden。 Not forbidden as a Japanese would： Kin jiru！ But； 〃Don't you think； my dear；〃 he would say； 〃don't you think it would be better if you didn't go to Paris while I'm away？ We can go the next time I'm here 。。。〃 both of them knowing they would never go。
The time in Vienna had been terrible。 It was the first year。 They went for a week。 〃I have to go out tonight；〃 he had told her the first night。 〃Please stay in the room； eat in the room till I get back。〃 Two days passed and when he came back he was sallow…faced and drawn； frightened； and then at once； in the darkest part of the night； they had got into their hired car and fled back to Switzerland； going the long way； the wrong way； up through the Tyrolian mountains； his eyes constantly on the rear mirrors in case they were being followed； not talking to her until they were safe across the border once more。
〃But why； why； Hans？〃
〃Because nothing！ Please。 You're not to ask questions； Riko。 That was your agreement 。。。 our agreement。 I'm sorry about the holiday。 We'll go to Wengen or Biarritz； it will be grand； it will be grand there。 Please remember your giri and that I love you with all my heart。〃
Love！
I do not understand that word； she thought； standing there at the window； looking at the harbor； sullen clouds； the light bad。 Strange that in Japanese we do not have such a word。 Only duty and shades of duty； affection and shades of affection。 Not lieben。 Ai？ Ai really means respect though some use it for lieben。
Riko caught herself thinking in German and she smiled。 Most times she thought in German though today； with the tai…pan； she had thought in Japanese。 It's such a long time since I spoke my own language。 What is my own language？ Japanese？ That's the language my pare