17
She found the headquarters and was admitted. The officer showed her a detailed map of Hong Kong and she was able to point out her house. He then telephoned the Japanese in that section. We never got the board, but we were unmolested in the future. I had been unable to find anyone with authority to issue passes, but civilians began to appear on the streets. The Chinese looters were all extremely busy entering unoccupied houses and tearing up even the floors for firewood. We saw more beautiful polished furniture being cracked up by heavy stones and expensive laboratory instruments being carried away by looters from the recently equipped Science Building of the University. Every now and then a Japanese gendarme would come out and shoot a looter and the others would disappear by magic. We would see them scurrying into lanes and hiding behind walls. When the Japanese returned to his post, they would come out again in hordes. Sometimes the Japanese would catch a few and line them up in front of their quarters. They would make them carry heavy stones on their shoulders. These looters would sometimes stand there all night. Underfed, how did they do it?-the strength given them through terror. The first Sunday after Christmas, we were visited by a group of Japanese, one of whom said he would be off duty in the afternoon and would like to return for a meeting. He did return and told us that he had missed his Christmas and would like to celebrate by singing Christmas carols. After we had sung several, he asked if he might be allowed to play the carols on the piano. We read the Christmas story from the Bible, and he produced a Japanese Testament with a khaki cover.
He then prayed in Japanese.
He was a student for the ministry and had been organist in his training school when drafted to the army.
After a little service Mrs. Clift served tea.
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