Inside the hut, Lailin was sleeping on a cloth spread over a gunny bag with a blanket over her. Mei Hang, Wai Kwan and Mei Fung’s children were sitting close by. On a similar bed nearby, Mei Fung’s baby was crying weakly. Mei Fung’s breast milk had dried up. Glancing at the baby, Mei Lin sat near Lailin and placed her hand on her daughter’s forehead. She was burning with fever.

Lailin opened her eyes and said, ‘Water, Maa.’

Giving her some water and wiping her face with a wet cloth, Mei Lin stood up.

‘I will go and get the food.’

Lailin didn’t respond. When she returned with the corn gruel and boiled vegetables, Mei Fung was trying to pacify her baby.

She took some gruel and sat down to feed Lailin. She was still running a temperature.

Lailin gulped down a little gruel reluctantly and held her mother’s hand.

Meanwhile Liang, Tung Chin, Lee Chang and Akong had come in with their food. They always ate their food together in Mei Lin’s room. They stood near Lailin and tried to divert her thoughts, saying different things. Soon, Lailin shook her head.

‘I won’t eat more. I am not feeling well.’

Wiping her face and changing the cold towel on her forehead, Mei Lin sat down to eat. Mei Fung was feeding her baby. The baby was crying.

Liang looked at her and said, ‘Lee Chang and I are going out. I will see if we can get milk somewhere. Let’s see if there are any Chinese medicine shops here. We have to make sure Lailin’s fever comes down.’

‘You will be in danger if you are caught,’ said Mei Fung.

Lee Chang and Liang went out. They walked through fields and villages. After some time, they stopped. To their utter surprise, they saw Ho Wang and Lao Thien Lee approaching from the opposite direction.

‘Where are you coming from? You were in jail, weren’t you?’ Ho Wang asked.

‘It is not exactly a jail. It is like a jail. We are still there.’

‘How did you come out?’

‘We sneaked out. We have come to find milk for Mei Fung’s baby and medicines for Mei Lin’s daughter.’

‘Oh! Come, I’ll take you to the shop.’

‘You have become very thin and weak, Lee ako.’

‘You too, Lee Chang.’

‘Where are you coming from? Hua qiao Nongchang is very far from here,’ Lee Chang asked.

‘It has been one and half years since we left that place.’

‘Did they allow you to leave?’

‘Don’t you know? The government has made new rules.’

‘New rules?’