Cheung flushed red again, but got hold of himself. “You were trying to secure Tak-Tam’s position too. It’s not your fault. It was the Kempeitai. The East River Column is our only hope.” While Cheung was not particularly partial to the Communists, he loved his friend, who was one. And the East River Column was the only group Cheung knew of here in Hong Kong that was resisting this new, brutal occupier. “We have to get those Red Sun bastards. Every last one of them.”

But because he had no choice, by nightfall, Cheung was back at the bar, whipping up a frothy glass of syllabub for Noma.

CHAPTER 37WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

September 8, 1942

It was barely dark when Ting-Yan arrived again at the clinic. I was there on my own. Tak-Wing had promised to be good and Emily had gone back to Tai Hang. The senior staff had all returned to their billets for the evening, except those who had rooms at the hospital, and they had turned in for the night. I was busy cleaning all the surfaces and making sure that supplies were in place for the next day. We hadn’t seen Selwyn-Clarke for over a week, and we were all very worried about him. We worried about each other too, but no one wanted to give up the work of our humanitarian project, which Selwyn-Clarke had dubbed the Informal Welfare Committee.

I was surprised to see Ting-Yan again so soon.

“Have you seen Tak-Tam?” Ting-Yan’s brown skin was smooth as ever but her usually bright eyes were dull with worry.

“Not since you were here with him last week.”

“He’s been gone almost that long.”

“Oh?”

“I’m afraid the worst has happened. Old Lee sent him on an errand, and he hasn’t come back. It’s not like him.”

“I’m sure he’ll come back,” I said, continuing to wipe down the counters.

“There are rumours of a Japanese ambush along the route he took.” Her eyes had a flat, dead look. The muscles around her mouth twitched.

This wasn’t a routine visit. She was really distressed.

I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tight.

She released a single sob. “Do you know what they do to them, Violet, when they catch them?”

“I have some idea,” I said.

There was commotion at the gate. Tak-Wing and Emily staggered into the clinic with a bang and clatter. Emily had a black eye and a bloody nose. She could barely walk. She blubbered uncontrollably as Tak-Wing did his best to hold her upright and keep her moving forward.

“What did you do to her, you monster?” I didn’t raise my voice. The words came out dead cold.

Emily got hold of herself with a massive gasp. “Violet—” She hiccupped.

“I barely touched her,” said Tak-Wing.

I ignored him. “Come on, Em, come sit down.”