‘So where is he?’ Evie was growing in impatience.

‘At the bottom of a shaft to a tin mine. The countryside is pitted with them. There was a virtual Gold Rush here for tin in the last century. They dug shafts all over the place. If they didn’t find any tin they just abandoned the workings and moved on. The jungle in some areas is like Swiss cheese. We lost a coolie a few months back. Fell down a shaft and no one noticed. When he was missing from roll call the alarm went up. It was nearly two days before we found the body. What was left of it.’ Overton gave a little shrug and Evie took an instant dislike to the man and wanted to thump him.

Oblivious to Evie’s distress, Overton ploughed on. ‘Mind you, that coolie might not have fallen. You never know with some of the Tamils. There might have been a fight and one of them could have killed him and dumped the body down a shaft.’

Reggie stepped in. ‘That’s enough of that, Overton. The mem doesn’t want to hear all this. We need to talk about Doug.’

The Assistant Manager had the grace to look embarrassed. ‘Sorry, Mrs Barrington. I didn’t mean to cause offence.’

‘Can we get to him now?’ Reggie asked.

‘I can take you there but it’s doubtful we can accomplish much until daylight. Not unless we want to have someone else at the bottom of a shaft.’

‘Take us there now. I want to see the way the land lies and be ready to get him out as soon as the conditions allow. All right with you too, Frank?’ Reggie placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

‘I’m in.’

‘I’ll come with you.’ Evie moved towards the door,.

Reggie stepped in front of her, palms towards her. ‘No, Evie. I must insist. You’ll do more harm than good. You’ve no idea of the conditions out there. You don’t know the jungle. We don’t want you at the bottom of another shaft. It would be better for you to stay here and raise the doctor on the phone. Telephone the Wellington estate, tell Freddie Reynolds there what’s happened and ask him to rustle up a rescue party and get over here as soon as he can. We’ll also need bandages and clean water, antiseptic. The houseboy will do what you ask.’ Turning to Overton, he instructed, ‘Right. Torches, rope, stretcher, blankets. Let’s go.’

When they had gone, Evie set the house boy to work to gather the medical supplies and went into the sparsely furnished room that evidently served as her husband’s office. At the desk she picked up the telephone, called the exchange and asked to be connected to the Wellington estate. The tuan, Freddie Reynolds agreed to alert the local doctor and promised to be at Batu Lembah himself within an hour.

The rest of the night passed in a blur for Evie as she paced up and down, waiting for the rescue party to return from the forest. The house boy, Ahmad, was a willing helper. He stayed on hand and before Evie needed to ask, he was ready with a fresh pot of tea.