Sarah folded up the will, relieved that the mystery had been solved. She would contact the solicitors by telegram as soon as she returned to Singapore.

Amah was woken gently from her sleep, and once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill of water, they slowly made their way to the gravesite. The curious Malays watched from a distance as the padre conducted the service and Philip’s coffin was reverently lowered into the ground at the foot of the headstone Sarah had chosen. The padre then moved to the marble headstone Sybil had selected to mark Jock’s passing, and said a prayer.

As the funeral director and the padre left to return to Singapore and the others began to drift towards the house, Sarah stood beside her mother, reading the epitaphs:

Philip Tarrant 1913–1945

Beloved son of Henry and Maud Tarrant

Died in the service of his country

Sarah’s tears blurred her sight as she looked across at her father’s memorial.

John Angus Charles Fuller (Jock)

Beloved husband and father

Killed at Sonkrai date unknown

Rest now in Eternal Peace

‘Come on, Mummy, let’s go back to the house and let the boys finish up here. I know Amah wants to do a short Buddhist ceremony for them both.’

‘I don’t think I can take much more today, Sarah. Do I have to be there?’

‘It’s important to Amah, and she’d be very upset if you don’t show. You see, the Buddhists believe in Samsara – the circle of life – and Jock and Philip must be given the proper rites and prayers so the good deeds they have done will lead them closer to enlightenment and on to the next reincarnation.’

Sybil grimaced, but reluctantly joined everyone by the natives’ Buddhist shrine which stood at the entrance to their quarters.

Amah directed the Malay women to collect flowers and fruit to decorate the statue of Buddha that they’d managed to hide from the Japanese. Once she was satisfied that all was ready, she knelt painfully, lit the joss sticks and candles she’d brought, and began to pray.

The sing-song words were unintelligible to the Europeans, but the message was clear. Jock and Philip’s souls were now with Buddha, who would help them on their way towards enlightenment and rebirth.

Amah had to be helped to her feet and leaned heavily on Jim’s arm as she smiled beatifically at them all. ‘It is done,’ she said. ‘Now I must rest, for I am very tired.’ She reached for Sybil’s hand. ‘Thank you, Mem, for bringing me home.’

When Sarah went in the next morning to wake her she wasn’t too surprised to discover that Amah had slipped away from them during the night. She looked so peaceful, the lines of pain and weariness made smoother in death, reminding Sarah of how lovely she’d once been.

Sarah sat beside her for a while, and then closed the shutters before going to tell the others. She left the house shortly afterwards and went to inform the native women who came to decorate her room with more flowers and candles and incense before they said prayers over her and sat with her until the third day when, as is the Buddhist custom, she would be buried.