Chapter One 1971

8/3/2019 Chapter One 1971

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CHAPTER ONE 1971

after riot, al goes to germany

farewell party - I am embarrassed by what I considered an unnecesssary display of emotions

avoid argument with Ruben left met michael guide him to his pension get to know him

(from malaysia, a musicologist) start to be friends

months ulu banir plantation parents stranded in spore taken care by puteh raised as a

malay (mother tongue and hafiz as sibling) parents return live back with them puteh

continue to nurse him 7/8 sent to england school emergency period mother died alienated

at school turn to music return to malaysia in summer holidays

father, john allow michael to spent time with putehs family older, take him to to local club to

meet other expatriates- activities of young englishmen in malaya : tennis, drmamatics, sailing,

jungle trekking john get malaya nationalities but michael retain his british nationalities

talks with michael change als perspective of ulu amused that shes more strangre to her own

land thus, could not confide to michaels love to the country and his love towards puteh n hafiz

: being passionate with people of no romantic interest or genetic rlation seems false and

excessive

became lover with michael physically, intellectually learn to spend money (travel, hotels, food,

things she like) tortoise-shell bangle

picnic by lake in autumn ask michael if he ever felt guily of being rich michael denied hes rich,

his father is - he asked her back she pretended to be coming from rich family (rich grandfather,

economies observed at home , expected to do well, ) your having it has little to do with efforts,

its impossible not to feel guilty sometimes michael took her

michael annouced hes going to msia invite al to spend christmas with him in ulu banir

accepted no ones more interesting to spend christmas with asian enough n young enough

sleep together is as good as married

CHAPTER 2 1974


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al went home instead father dying of liver cancer and mother want al to spend time with him

inform michael about that through letter and she would visit him in UB before going back to

europe michael offered to visit her, decline coz father too ill and shed be too preoccupied

actually not want to blow the cover of her being rich father died relieved hate to see him

suffer hated not allowing myself to cry when i see him on the bed forst direct experience with

death anger and resent ment as if father die just to give her hard time

went to UB signs of development hate the red, wounded look of foothills being cleared

train move out of Klang Valley, remembered late grandmother only one school holiday spent

with her father told al the grandfather, rich, has many wife and kids, the father is only son of

youngest wife when he was born, grandfather then died grandmother return to parents with

father, thus lost contact with the rich family father grow up and be a govmt servant mother

school teacher taken care by many servants with no impact happy thing is that they live in govt

quarters with other kids to play with - feeling of higher status (mother being a teavher and

knowledge of rich grandfather)

when al was 7, mother had operation told to spend time with por por taken by father refuse

to walk, father had to carry come to a group of squatter huts deeper in jungle began to

reject her from that very moment (speak cantonese & attire) like a servant let her see pigs,

ducks, geese, sweet potato & tapioca patches, chickens take her home realized father gone

feed pig sleep time al sleep on a wooden platform with quilts as mattress, blanket and pillow

grandmother sleep beside her with cigarette tin as her pillow grandma soothe her when al woke

up in the middle of the night next morning, collect mangosteens go to market selling vege and

piglets other activities better child psychologist than mother, made her feel at home wby

making her part of her life carefree childhood learn more about grandmas departure from

grandfathers house

grandmother is bondmaid conceived father with the grandfather (master) grandfather died,

she become slave tin slump, they go out , father was a teen by then know about bobo, charbo,


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female the only daughter her mother was also bondmaid after grandfather death, the eldest

son take her )english school, piano, dancing lesson, Chinese recreation club) at 16, she eloped

with trumpet player of club band

back at home deny my grandmother her real existence only talk about wealthy granpa and

charming aunt they move to a detached bungalow al in secondary school become a snob

my rejection of my cultural roots no longer a matter of being ashamed of the individuals, its a

matter of being unwilling to be identified with the culture which allow such dehumanization of

human. stranded in cultural vaccuum, we caught the set of rules available to us by understood

language and media. westernized by default, not choice

reveive the news that grandma died al inherited large sums of money effect of riot, parents

urged her to migrate to another country lonely

CHAPTER 3 1974

michael wait at railway station he told her jonathan getting married to cynthia announcement

in a ball that night as formality, UB a small place, everyone already know as michael drive

remember cynthia because of her beauty meet in 1971, she was with hafiz and was going to msia

to familiarize herself with the country limited words with her and also hafiz (because of riot).

in the journey, al realize what a beautiful country msia is they arrive at jocks hill michael told

that most of the land are now belong to yusuf lunch with jonathan and michael being polite

with jonathan al make love with michael shrugged off his casual proposal sleep wake up

heard explosions, then the sound of running shrugged off as karuppiah

teatime still no cynthia al think her kind is more suited to marrying jonathan yc arrived

start preching politics - jonathan went to discussed something with yc ask michael to bring al to

garden to watch orchids forbid them from going to belukar


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finish viewing orchids in room heard footsteps, then firecrackers cynthia car had appeared,

but not cynthia they searched around for her the part went on without her they came back

no sign of cynthia jonathan suggest they contact inspector tajuddin

CHAPTER 4 1974

inspector remind al of her malay teacher who was bullied by students she didnt think hes

capable of solving the case he asked about belukar and probability of cynthia going there

indeed, cynthia was interested in drawing flora into a book jonathan seems to give up

inspector start a search team cynthia found dead in the belukar michael informed yc and hafiz

al briefly assumed hafiz is the killer while she was serving him coffee michael took al told her

jonathan should be hospitalized as precautionary step on his heart ask her to look out for

jonathan started to realize her love towards michael excuse to sleep

al dreamt she and cynthia are going to be killed by soldiers, then heard her father calling michael

told her the weapon was found a gun small hafiz and michael found under the old bungalow at

the christmas party they talk about it - at the time al realize the resemblance between them

present time, michael didnt tell the inspector about the gun looking like the one his family had

michael confess he went to belukar to check the first time al heard the explosions and found

nothing al try to connect these with michaels mothers death

CHAPTER 5 1974

visit jonathan at hospitals yc told that michaels mother died in almost the same way yc

reacted when michael accuse that as communist doing he asked them to accompany him eating

his dinner yc as old generation , not talk while eating michael asked how yc and jonathan met

they were guerilla fighters of communist during japanese occupation yc revealed : he didnt

believe communist killed michaels mother al thought jonathan as the killer (ignorant when

cynthia was absent , forbid them to go to belukar ) went to meet hafiz n parents al relized

puteh acted like a mother to michael who worried for the child but know not to interfere too

much they talked bout the guns and michael make them present their alibi al suspect yusuf


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because of his flushed face, like a liar they went home and talk a bit the first step is to find the

gun michael discovered long ago they decided to wait until jonathan recovered and ask him

they went to sleep al remembered she forgot to ask puteh and yusuf about michaels mothers

death.


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PART TWO

1994

al just told anna about michael although she know anna was very loyal to her father, but ycs

advice of honesty with the next generation reminded her, along with her parents silence that

drove her to life of cultural desiccation and psychological disorientation

CHAPTER 1 1974

al woke up to michael disguising himself as sherlock holmes michael voiced his fear that the

evidence pointed at him they listed nine people with motives (p.70) they now need to

establish alibis by asking around michael decded to visit jonathan, to see how hes doing and to

answer some things inspector tajuddin was downstairs he was displeased with the house being

too open he told michael hed met jonathan he request privacy with michael before they go,

al asked if she could look for cynthias mothers address he told she can do that with one of his

men around al hope there wont be much questions and trouble for jonathan and michael

in the car michael told what he talked with inspector tajuddin cynthia was pregnant he had

refrained from asking jonathan, seeing his condition he hope michael knew something, but he

didnt michael didnt quite believe it was jonathans child (traditional) he believed jonathan

offered to marry her once she found out she was pregnant al told they forgot to ask about

michaels mothers death michael said he changed his mind

at hospital, inspector was there and michael was taken to police station because hafiz admit it as

the one they found under the bungalow- but IT remembered that michael come to visit his father

offered to get one of his men to wait outside michael declined, he dont want to involve

jonathan, want to go al offer to look after jonathan and catch up with michael later at police

station

jonathan was looking better he asked sharply whats going on al brought up issue about

cynthias mother jonathan knows something else was happening told her hes going out that

morning and demanded michael al told him about micheal, hafiz and the gun jonathan


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mentioned it must be the other gun jonathan said they only have to prove the murder weapon

and the gun the boys found are not the same he wanted to talk to IT but fainted he was

revived and warned - al goes to police station jonathan exclaimed that puteh knows about the

oother gun - al doesnt like puteh (she was indifference towards cynthias murder and jonathans

state, and dont even raise hafiz to be more carful of what he said) and believe she wont do

anything to help michael at police station, she saw hafiz and puteh getting into the station

hafiz was upset - he only said the murder weapon looked like the gun they found, not that it is

hes certain there must be a record somewhere al consider hafizs motive to identify the gun to

get the plantation, she assumed (coz michael will be sent to prison if guilty and theres no other

heir) she walked with him into the police station al thought puteh was there to defend hafiz

the questioning was going well between michael and IT al discover they summon puteh there

regarding the gun and also others who was involved but couldnt be there : jonathan and yusuf IT

explained about the gun he give michael and jonathan 3 option to prove that the gun is not the

same gun they found producing the other gun and the licence, report of gun being stolen, or

document that gun was surrendered puteh asked for the gun and admit that its indeed the

same gun she explained that when she was working for simon in the plantation, there was a

pair of that guns tuan simon disappeared after japanese occupation the other gun was missing,

maybe he took it to the jungle with him everybody left

CHAPTER 2 1974

outside, hafiz apologized to michael michael shrugged it off and said he would ask jonathan

about the documents he turned and hugged puteh after thanking her al observed theres no

jealousy on hafizs part

jonathan admit he surrendered the gun to authorities after his wifes murder yc help with the

search after they found it, he invited them to his house to eat otw, they handed the document

in police station they met ycs merry household al observed the opposites between the home

with her own home (serve guest in kitchen and play mahjong with sons) nellie mentioned about


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the diamond necklace in the car, al and michael talked and concluded with the necklace missing,

it could be a case of robbery at hospital, there were hafiz and parents a father asked jonathan

to join in one of cynthias prayer service, but yc forbid jonathan seemed to be relieved michael

offere to join father go away jonathan asked michael for writing material so he could write a

letter to cynthias mother

tha night al made her list of suspects, opprtunity of weapon, time and place she focused on hafiz

motive 1, jealousy motive 2, fear of scandal motive 3, greed weapon, he know how to handle a

gun, taught by jonathan opprtunity of time and place , sneak away from billiards game michael

told her not to suspect hafiz, puteh and yusuf he added it might be jonathan (p. 91) al realized

michael also has the same opportunity as jonathan

CHAPTER 3 1974

they went to service of cynthia cynthia wickham had contributed to the church (church activities,

prayer group, orphans, Sunday school) al remembered joseph in biblical verses and subsequently

think about yusuf, thinking that he may acquired his wealth the same way, by loyalty and

faithfulness towards the master. al spotted hafiz and yusuf, she thought its nice gesture that

they were present al thought cynthia was not religious, she only get involved in church for the

sake of getting involved the father mentioned about cynthias parents living there al though

cynthia just want to leave out that part of her life as she was born in london (like l of her grandma)

or her parents kept that a secret from her (like al parents) or her mother was too little asian

and want to be pure-blooded europeans and cynthia was a victim of the mothers snobbery ( like

al herself) - al concluded cynthia wanted to marry jonathan because she want to be all that, which

is not possible if she married hafiz and be a part of rural malay community when its all over yc

rush to a turf club hafiz told them yc lost his money and sold his bungalow and rent the house in

Happy Garden al conclude that thats why yc house has practicality in it, its because his

economic downturn - she suspects yc was desperate enough to kill and rob


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otw home, they stopped at hospital to give jonathan the writing material she wanted to go to

belukar and searched for the diamond necklace remembered they forgot to ask jonathan about

the necklace they found IT in the belukar with his men looking for the diamond necklace IT

wanted michael to further detail the necklace but he said only jonathan would know he invited

IT for a tea, he accepted al thought he was relieved for a less com plicated crime : anon robbery

that evening, she didnt accompany michael to hospital in room canceled out heerself,

karuppiah and ah mui and hafiz, yc and michael need money yc lost at gambling, not much

profitable career, thinking of emigrating hafiz want to set up law firm but dont want money from

parents who object marrying cynthia, or killed her of jealousy but take the necklace to make it

look like a robbery michael felt insecure in heritance with presence of cynthia and possible

children, ask to marry thingking al was rich and when al refuse, resort in killing cynthia and rob

her.

al wanted to go home

CHAPTER FOUR 1974

jonathan would come home later al was reminded by her promise to stay she asked michael to

spend the day alone with jonathan because she wanted to go to kota banir michael insist that

hafiz accompany her al write to her mother, not mention cynthias death, telling she would be

home in a week or so jonathan cam home and looked rotten, al assumed he was annoyed wth yc

haunting him she hoped jonathan would be well so she could leave for home yc left IT came

jonathan, michael and IT went to discuss , and al felt left out hafiz called her al get ready to go

around kota with him after she was prepared, she come down to found the three men in the

living room they were talking about old photo albums simon came up jonathan explained

that he vanished after knowing the coming of japanese, paid the workers and sent them off to

villages, and let the indian stayed in estate. jonathan also explain the reason he told people he


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was in singapore when he was in jungle with yc : in the jungle all he was doing is falling sick IT

left hafiz come to fetch al

hafiz told her he was chambering, learning the legal side of business of yusuf, but he also hope to

set up his own firm in kl al told that her parents are just govt servant she was more honest

with hafiz than with michael (fellow asian, no ridicule from him, and sick of deception) al

brought up the issue of they coming to church for cynthias prayer service hafiz said it was his

father being a progressive muslim hafiz told that he still love cynthia, but one day she told him

she could see being married to him and moved to the templetons. his parents was not

interfering in the matter generation gap. hafiz revealed that cynthia didnt tell about her

parents being in msia and she didnt courage it when hafiz wanted to meet her mother al thought

she was trying to hide her parentage from hafiz, but the people in ulu banir still remember about

them - hafiz was disappointed when he knew jonthan would marry her, but he wasnt surprised.

he told al about the rumor of jonathans great love before his dead wife and that he felt sorry for

him hafiz said he wasnt angry with the two people, but he was angry with himself (for losing out

and not knowing why) eat lunch hafiz asked now that youve been uprooted, would you be

able to grow new root and find sustenance in our soil again? al didnt know as theres no clear

cut answer she started to understnd her father : as a boy he had no place in the family, so he

reject it and create his own history al wasnt sure if the soil will accept her roots, but hafiz

assured her that the earth need strong trees to continue to exist.- hafiz bring al to home before

going to billiards game

using the guest washroom in putehs house remind al of her house and mother she observed the

english way of the tea presentation and started to feel resentment as it reminded her of her

mother puteh was upset that they have eaten in a stall but yusuf agreed because the stall serve

the best malay food - puteh asked her of marriage with michael, which she told them they were

just good friends then puteh asked for als fathers name, which she answered. puteh nodded

and stared at her al told about her grandma that started out as a bondmaid and collected the


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money which she inherited to al al was quite irritated by the depiction of typical chinese as

money-hungry race by the Malays but she realized that money is the energy to generate more

energy (her grandma doing all the things energetically to earn money) she told them the

grandma only sell vege at the market and sensed contempt in putehs voice al realized puteh

keep looking at her and she began regret being honest she decided puteh is a snob

CHAPTER 5

otw home, they saw michael in the car alone hafiz wasnt that concerned by michaels rushing

appearance al wondered if their relationship had always been like that, one behaving in

impetuous manner while the other slow and careful to react - al concluded that hafiz is a careful

thinker, unlike michael who jump from one insight to another.

in the house, al was shocked by jonathan speaking out from the darkness offered to turn on the

lights he let her he told her hed written the letter to cynthias mother and asked if shed like to

add anything more, al declined jonathan revealed he knew about cybthias parents he asked

her to fetch pills from the table before putting the pills safely under his tongue a heart condition

al was frightened to go upstairs alone and jonathan offered to go up together he tried to stand

up but fall al realized he was sitting in the dark because he doesnt have the strength to stand

and switch on the light al was worried to leave jonathan alone in his bath she offered to wait

on him and he would wait on her on the reason that she was afraid after that jonathan was in

need for the pills again al found a reason to go away and called hafiz, asking him to tell yc about

jonathan. she told hafiz to remind yc to pretend that its one of his frequent visits yc came

discovered jonathan had a mild heart attack al called hafiz and let him know in case he saw

michael before her

at hospital, michael was waiting for her al was cross with him for leaving her alone to deal with

jonathans sickness they went home al wanted to know what happened between them she

told him shes going home tomorrow michael cried he asked her to go back to europe with him


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he told the case would not press charges against anyone because it seemed to be a anonymous

robbery, while about jonathan theyll have pro nurse to look after him al refused, she wanted to

know more of what was happening she detected that one of the people michael cared about

was the murderer they went to bed early in the morning, michael ask for permission to play his

hapsichord to think its a piece of celebration of birth of Christ al didnt realize its michaels

birth to a new life after playing it over and over again, he stopped he said he agreed with yc

that parents should tell the children what theyre all about early enough al massaged him

michael asked al to marry him (again) they make love

als mother called her shes going to auckland and might migrate if she like it there could al

come and sort something for the house? al was irritated but michael had suggested that she go

away to consider his proposal so al went home

they went to see jonathan he was stable michael offered to drive al home they bid farewell

to hafiz s and ycs family after telling IT about their leaving al though that their life should

always be like this, just the two of them she revealed that she was never the wealthy heiress

michael gave al a packet but told her to open it after hes gone or never at all he told her its a

token of love and she must keep it as a secret until they go away (if she still want to marry him),

never to ask how he has it. michael assured her he will tell her everything. - in the packet was a

diamond necklace

PART 3 1994

anna hope michael isnt the killer al didnt know and it has been a long time (20 years) anna

suggest that they open michaels box al was afraid of what she might find, so she ask anna to

leave her alone inside was a document file

MARY 1940

The writer (tw) imagine simon as typical englishmen : big-boned with sloping shoulders and big

hips, dressed in white, white starched shirt, white socks, and strong, heavy, english walking shoes.


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And also big , smart strides. his eyes only look forward, looking for new opportunities for glory of

King and Country. Simon is the Acting general manager. The general manager , Jock Templeton

was on home leave for a few months. Jonathan was Jocks nephew and douglas grandson. even

though hes the heir of the plantation he has to learn malay and tamil and sit for exam like

everybody else.

douglas and keith templeton came out to Straits Settlement as cadets for Civil Service. Douglas

was less academic, but good at sports while Keith was good at studies but poor sportsman

Douglas became the District Officer of Ulu Banir while Keith committed suicide when he was

excluded by Civil Service after he fell in love with the village headmans daughter and gone native.

Douglas took revenge by resigning from the srvice. he bought most coffee estates inUlu Banir

and planted rubber he married a distant cousin in England, never brought her out, and have

twins he left them there with the wife untio they finished their education at Oxford and

Cambridge each. nobody ever heard of his local mistresses douglas rules was that young british

recruits under him must be polite to the workers, no matter how low their position is.

simon knows things will change especially with the war he felt lucky he was in america during

the first war and too old for the second war he turn his thought to more immediate problem

ah foo the houseboy told him that his wife ah soh will deliver again and will stop doing his

laundry. he has to look for new mah for jonathans house as well, because ah soh hold the two

positions.

as he approached his bungalow he looked at a strange chinese girl jacket and trousers with hair

cropped up the way of orpahanage of Sacred heart Convent ah foo came and told simon that she

is the new girl to do the washing instead of his wife the girl was like chinese-mediterranian ah

foo gave simon letter from mother superior of sacred heart convent saying that the girl : turned up

two years ago, wanted refuge, intelligent, understand english, never speak with no physical

limitation. she also ready to be trained in basic housework and given the name mary simon felt

she was too beautiful to be working for the two bachelors - ah foo was enthusiastic in having


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mary substitute for his wife, and simon doent want ah soh to give birth in his house or jonathans

so he agreed that mary works for him and jonathan, but she must live with ahfoo and ah soh

must take care of her

simon meet dr berger.- he produced the letter about mary and give it to him simon wanted to

know why she doesnt speak dr assumed that once she had a terrible experience, probably

physical, judging from her reaction when he was about to check her dr said he should hire her,

but also be kind and patient dr admit that he suggested that the girl was sent to the templeton,

because shes beautiful and need extra protection. jock templeton has reputation for giving

shelter to waifs and strays. dr assumes that she had a good upbringing, she initially doesnt know

how to boil water which could be taken as a sign of gentility police reports were not made

because mother doesnt want further suffering and scandal when asked whether mary was part

english, dr didnt know. her understanding of english could be of many reasons, even locals speaks

english at home dr suggested that maybe eventually simon or jock can find someone to marry

mary off to.

JONATHAN 1940

jonathan pretend to be asleep he woke up earlier just to watch mary doing her works jonathan

purposely cluttered up the spaces in his room so that mary will stay a little longer after placing

the content of tray on the cleared up table, she switched on the bedside lamp, a gesture to wake

him up- when he wakes up then she will go jonathan felt ridiculous lusting over a mere child of

14, 15 when he was already 22 if he was somewhere else, it would be easier with so many

women to have affair with but only in ulu banir nobody will question him not being in war with

germany he remembered about his gramophone and records arrival

jonathan is the son of jocks twin, william. they both come o msia after university but william

suffere from asthma that he had to go home, leaving jock to learn estate management from


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douglas william married a young artist who is not douglas favourite ( but he placed no obstacles

in remembrance of his own brother , keith in the matter of unsuitable match) when jonathan

was 4, his parents died he was taken care by maternal uncle until he was old enough for school

jock didnt marry he was relieved when jonathan was born, and when jonathan was old enough,

he started to treat him as the future heir (keep the young boy aware of estate matter through

frequent letters and visits) after university, jonathan came to estate with no experience, interest

and seriousness needed in running the business he asked simon to train jonathan he left for

england (one of his home-leaves)

he knows that one day he will inherit the plantation but he accepted it as just one more aspect of

life and not think much of it. - jonathan knew hes not a natural planter, he inherited from mother

spirit of an artist he even hs love and talent for theatre slapstick and comedy which puzzled

many people of the contrast of real him and him on stage even now he reluctant to spent

thought on running the estae, he wonder about reviving the amateur dramatic society of kota

banir club

arrival of gramaphone and records changed his life he was thinking on where to set up the

gramophone mary walked in and out while clearing dinner jonathan tried acting the fool to see

her smile and he made her laugh simon laughed with her and even plead her not to go so that

she can listen music with him it was stardust and jonathan was started to dance when he realize

mary was in the verge of tears.- he hugged her, trying to soothe when it become more intimate

she looked up at him with pleading look and run away jonathan break the record in two aftr

that mary realized what he had done but jonathan assured her she didnt do anything wrong .

itsjust that he doent like it anymore because it makes her sad later she tried to avoid him

understanding, jonathan throw himself into work

dr berger came up to plantation to look after ah soh and her new baby he also bring the

telegram for jonathan from the post office its from their housekeeper saying that jock hasnt

returned from a trip to london, he may be killed in an air raid on london jonathan let simon read


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it jonathan told dr its about jock and let him read it dr said his grievance and left simon was

crying after sometime, simon told jonathan that a service should be held at the church, which

was agreed by jonathan

the memorial service was washed out by rain only few people attended- the pastor is persuaded

to continue jonathan and simon couldnt prepare themselves psychologically for the event

anymore on the way home, one of the tyres punctured, jonathan insist of going out and repair it

grief (uncle death, community for caring so little, and the turns of events) caused him to start an

uncontrollable weeping he doesnt care if simon can see him by the time he get the wheel

changed, he had calmed down that night he had a high fever that dr berger was called

jonathan remembers being checked by dr berger simon looking with sadness mary taking care

of him and the music of arias, piano solos and short excerpt from symphonies, concerto and

chamber music he dreamt of his childhood and student days along with unberable heat at the

end everything cleared up and jonathan learns that he has been ill for long , pneumonia or

pleurisy he realized now he is the owner of templeton estate.

DEUS EX MACHINA

ah soh is ready to work, so mary stays with jonathan in late jocks bungalow she looks after his

personal needs, but jonathan wanted more than that jonathan insist, but simon has his worries

(1. he thinks jonathans too young to get married 2. the threat of japanese, not good time to start

a family 3. marys a servant, people will say things) jonathan shows his stubbornness in wanting

mary simon suggest he keeps her as a mistress because shea a servant and he doesnt knw

anything about her jonathan was convinced that with love she will speak simon suggest he

waited until that time before marrying her when asked, jonathan admit he hasnt asked mary

about his plan of marrying her simon told him he was being selfish and mary may not be fitting

to be a wife of such renowned figure as jonathan simon know jonathan eventually would do

things as he want, so he suggest jonathan to go to spore for a while to think about it and also to


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do some business mattrs (negotiate w/ shippers, buy supplies, get govt review the restriction) he

asked him to be back before christmas

when japanese invade kedah, jonathan was in a party getting friends to come over to msia for

christmas

invasion of japanese made simon think about the plantations fate quietly think what to do next

after japanese in kedah, he plot strategies while waiting for jonathan but japanese was fast to

reach penang simon decided he wont wait for jonathan he withdrew money from his and the

plantations accounts pay all the bills buy many goods from sundry shop go to dr bergers dr

thinks he thinks too much about japanese invasion simon still ask whether he could protect mary

(1. swiss has no quarrel with japanese 2. doctors have immunity) but immunity doesnt extend to

staffs and she looks like chinese and eurasian, which japanese hates simon was desperate, he

cant leave her alone but he cant stay in the estate, hell attract the soldiers dr suggest he marry

mary off to someone indian or malay simon refuse to marry her to an indian and the indian

doctor he kow was hoping for high status wife simon suggest for a malay husband and dr agreed

based on ( 1. they always have kampung 2. japanese treats them well)

simon observed yusuf jock hinks hes loyal and hardworking yusufs wifes dead yusuf told

him if japanese come there he would 1. join malay regiment or 2. go back kampung and look after

parents simon thought hes a good man he brought yusuf to jonathans bungalow and meet

mary told mary its not safe for her and she should get married told her yusuf is a nice man -

he told her she should marry him until at least the time british come back she cried simon

assured her she can give her answer the next day or after that the next day, mary become

muslim and marry yusuf

after that, simon had the tappers and sundry labourers paid their wages with advance for next

month - indian head told the community that japanese wont harm them chinese head told the

community to go home, village or hide in jungle malay head tell the community to go back to

kampung simon brough the groceris he bought and clothes to the bungalow the next days he


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burn papers and stop all machines by then it was xmas and japanese has reached ipoh knowing

japanese have bypassed UB, he think theres no need to procees what hes doing he was sure

british troops have arrive by then - howeverm the news that japanese reached KL put him back

into his plan when singapore falls, he built a passageway under the bungalow to hide valuables

from jonathans bungalow after that he made it doorless with the two guns, he walk into the

jungle

YUSUF 1942

puteh (mary) is about to give birth to a baby yusuf runs for the midwife

he remembered about his dead wife who died during childbirth because he was too late getting

the midwife because of his mothers advice the midwife said she shouldve been brought to the

white doctors to have the baby turned around months before - when shes dead yusuf left the

kampung, angry with his mother and the ignorance around him yusuf thinks from quran and the

people in the kampung he hasnt learnt anough, so he wanted to learn from the white men

theres no vacancies in the doctors workplace, so he live and work with his cousin repairing

engines from that he learned to drive but slump occurs and his income decease he was

ashamed with the people in the house through the cousin, he get a job as a driver wit templeton

it was apleasant job (1. things are neat and orderly ) he learnt that discipline is the factor that

gave white men power yusuf was more respected than before by the people in his new job but

he stay humble (went to see them, stay at cousins house occasionally) though the older people

suggest that he come home and help out in the rice fields, but he refused because 1. the memory

with nora 2. he hadnt found what he seek . when he found it, he would come home, set up a

school and teach what he learnt at the white mens world he thinks the generations of

templeton are very nice men esp simon who make sure welfare of everyone was looked after

and also give him puteh in marriage yusuf thinks puteh will speak again with the baby so the


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child can learn how to speak he was grateful that puteh was silent. his mother was alway

nagging until her father find a new wife when yusuf cam with puteh she moved to the edge of

jungle, being used to live on her own he realized that his mother are not to be blamed on noras

death he was careful with putehs pregnancy (see white doctor with bicycle then hitch rides from

joginder)

a baby boy was born very fair skinned with scarce white hair yusuf walk the midwife home

she scolded him playfully for relying too much on the white doctors she told him he should have

a kenduri to give thank and to get gods blessing she asked him when he get married and when

he answered, she teases him how can you control the fire of passion she left yusuf was

puzzled. he thought theres no fire of passion between him and puteh, unlike nora and him

loking at the moon, he realized that he had gotten married for just seven moths his thought

flash back to the time when simon ask him to protect a girl from the soldiers he was annoyed

he wonder who the father of the baby is he wondered if the reason puteh cried on their wedding

night was because of the lack of quality he had compared with the babys father (not white, not a

tuan) he felt stupid to be cheated for this

yusuf was filled with self- contempt and he felt he could no longer let anything be taken from

them or their country and no longer believe the deceitful words he was ready to take revenge

PUTEH

yusuf went home and check to see the babys eyes are blue he knows he cant stay at the

kampung, people will say thing about them he was ashamed yusuf realized that it was done

and whatever happens, the child is innocent he knows that others may be innocent too,

including him he has promised to look after her, if that include the baby, so be it he go out and

work on his vegetables

a week later puteh can move around the next week, with joginders help they went to jocks

hill yusuf took care (give sarong to protect puteh n baby from sun, worry about putehs journey


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uphill coz shes still bleeding, carry the baby with his handcart n protect him from the sun , feel

sorry for putehs struggle) arrive at bungalow empty with things untouched into quarters at

servants row puteh bleed yusuf laid her on cleaned old mattress covered with mengkuang

then he stayed at his old quarters he cant think of her as his wife although he look after her

water is available use firewood so build stove he discovered the valuables simon try to hide

find puteh become weaker w/more blood carry her and washed her and carry her to bed in his

quarters, already covered wth mengkuang and give her a clean sarong, having washed the dirty

one bring the baby for her to feed she smiled thankfully n he smiled back he forgot the pain

but the babys eyes remind him he moved to her quarter coz moving her and the baby will be

too tiresome

puteh completely absorbed in the baby yusuf revive the vege patch, make sure puteh fed and

the baby quiet there was nobod around, only sometimes joginder came to bring the firewood

and other supplies and to check on them they live

the baby grow up light brown hair and grey eyes yusuf never speaks to him or touch him

never heard voice he became a quiet baby yusuf never be intimate with puteh he only protect

and provide them with food - puteh seems undisturbed n make yusuf think this is the marriage

she seek yusuf spend more time making animal trap and go to jungle they get meat

one night yusuf didnt return puteh was anxious she change him to clean clothes and prepare

bath for him the baby goes to him when puteh was busy he hold the baby from falling but

looking at the difference of their skin color, he let go and the baby fall and cried he look out for

puteh but she was busy - he cuddled the baby but when she arrived, he pushed the baby towards

her and walk to the bathroom

that night, puteh come to her bed she speak told him if hes angry he must tell b4 it turn to

bitterness they make love they talk puteh : herself, how she come to convent, jonathan

templeton, she not know she was pregnant when she was being married to him yusuf : nora,


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dreams, what he was doing in the jungle etc (p. 209) but he didnt tell the gruesome experience the

night before

the baby was named abdul malik and the later baby, yusufs son was name abdul hafiz

Documents

Chapter One 1971