Siew Li had heard some of this before, but it sounded different in Lina’s voice, measured and reasonable even when shouted over the grating mechanical music of the ride. It all made a lot of sense. Of course the British should get out of Malaya—it wasn’t their country, and they’d given up what moral claim they had by getting defeated in the war. Of course a system where people shared and everyone had enough was the right one. Why should some be rich while others didn’t have enough to eat?

Above all, she wanted to be like Lina. Turning her head, she surreptitiously glanced at the older girl’s profile. Such strength and determination. She thought of the British people she’d seen, their weak chins and watery eyes. Why had her country ever thought these should be the people in charge?

They rounded a corner and suddenly were in hell. Paper flames licked at the sides of their carriage, and demons prodded sharp pitchforks at them. Siew Li smiled dreamily. None of this was remotely frightening, and seemed frivolous now. There was work to be done.

“What will I have to do?” she asked.

“Come to the study sessions, then we’ll see. You have to learn proper thinking. When your mind is right, maybe you can be useful. Helping to organise. Passing messages, maybe even to the unions. You look about twelve, the police won’t suspect you.”

“The police?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Before she could ask any more, there was a last burst of spooky music and they were back in the open, rolling gently to a halt. In the bright glare of the carnival lights, it was momentarily hard to be sure what was real, whether that conversation had really taken place. Lina straightened her dress and strode to the nearest stall, where she bought two extravagant ice-cream cones with wafers and toppings. She handed one to Siew Li.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, just say you’ll do it.”

“You know I will.”

“And read Mao Dun,” added Lina. “Not the books they tell you to. Here. You can borrow one of mine.” She pulled a tattered paperback from her satchel and handed it to Siew Li. “I wouldn’t give it to you if I didn’t think you were ready for these ideas. It’s not safe.”

This was the first time Siew Li had heard of a book being dangerous. “Why did you ask me?”

“To the ghost train? You were there. I didn’t feel like
going alone.”

“No, to join you.”

“We need people with brains. I was like you once, looking from the outside, too scared to take one more step. So here you are. I’m pulling in.”

“Oh.” Was it permission she’d been waiting for? Perhaps.