14
from a solitary wood cutter, was deserted by Chinese. Some Japanese in cars and lorries passed us. We found the house as before and Ma brought me an almost new pram left by a neighbour. I was able to pile some of the rugs, etc., into it and Celene loaded up her doll's pram with her treasures. Ma stayed behind to put some of the things into the premises of the Italian school nearby. As we went back we sang "He leadeth me." It was a fresh sunny day and I was happy at the thought that the fighting for us was temporarily over, and that we should soon return home again and live quietly. I was quite prepared to be obedient to whatever rules were laid down. The Japanese sentries were all very friendly to Clyde who smiled and saluted them when we met. Several of them shook hands with him. Ma returned that evening to say that I had no sooner gone, when a lorry came and impressed him into service and he had to carry deserted guns the rest of the day. Su Mei said that now we had surrendered, she and the children would return to Felix Villas. She said if they went back, they could save the place from looting until I could get a pass. As I could get no news of what we were allowed to do, I could give her no advice except that the things did not matter to me as much as their lives. So she and Ah Ng and the children all set out to walk back. I did not think it wise to go back myself until I could procure a pass from the Japanese as we were counted as enemies, but the Japanese relationship to the Chinese was advertised as the brother helping his fellow brother to cast off the foreign oppressor. All the pamphlets dropped from the airplanes had this form of propaganda both to the Indians and to the Chinese. That evening Su Mei and party returned-but without Happy. They had reached home without incident, but during the day, there had been several Japanese soldiers about, and from gestures they made to Su Mei she was afraid to stay the
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker