Part 10 (2/2)

Margaret returned to the verandah, but despite the lowered blinds and fan, she was hot as she listened to the two men talking about the plantation, while Philip was clearly bored.

'I'm very hot here. I'll take a little stroll outside under the trees. Come on, Philip,' she said.

It wasn't long until Roland emerged from the bungalow, followed by Smedley-Smith, who had donned a solar topee. The a.s.sistant manager shook Margaret's hand and said goodbye to both the Elliotts, before jumping on an ancient bicycle and pedalling away along the rutted plantation paths.

'That was all very satisfactory,' said Roland as they drove away.

'Roland! You have to get rid of that young man. It's disgusting.'

'What do you mean? The fact we caught him having an afternoon nap? No harm in that. In fact, I think it's a good idea.'

'No. That young Malay girl. She's living with him,' said Margaret.

'Nonsense. That's not on. Not allowed. She's just a housegirl from the local kampong.'

'She might be. But she's also living there,' said Margaret firmly. 'When I was walking outside I pa.s.sed his bedroom and I saw her clothes in there. When I asked her why they were there, she got very embarra.s.sed and ran away.'

Roland paused. 'Well, it's not an uncommon situation, Margaret. It gets pretty lonely way out here. Hard for a young man to be on his own all the time.'

'Then why do all the big companies forbid their single white staff from fraternising with local women? If Smedley- Smith was working for one of them and they found out what he was doing they'd s.h.i.+p him home. Anyway, what would your father say if he knew?'

'He wouldn't like it,' admitted Roland. 'But we are a family concern and I can bend the rules a bit.'

'Your father wouldn't. He'll send him off once he knows,' said Margaret.

'Margaret, Father is not going to know. Smedley-Smith is an excellent worker and I simply can't replace him. There's a war on in Europe, in case you've forgotten, so where do I get someone else to take his place?'

Margaret stared at Roland. 'So you're going to let this situation persist? And are you telling me not to say anything about it?'

'Yes, I am. I have to be practical.'

Margaret was quiet a moment then said briskly, 'Well, if that's the way it is, I'll strike a bargain with you. I won't mention this situation to your father ... but in exchange I think you should get me that Baby Austin car that Gilbert told you about.'

'Margaret! That's blackmail,' exploded Roland but just the same he sounded amused by her cheek as they got into the car.

Margaret stared out the window. 'I'm so looking forward to driving Bette around and showing her a few new places in my own car.'

Roland said, 'Well, I hope you girls enjoy Ipoh.'

When they pulled up back at the lodge, Margaret marched up the front steps and stopped as she saw Bette stretched out on a sarong on the floor of the verandah in her swimsuit and Gilbert bending over her, his face close to her bare leg.

'What on earth is going on?' she demanded.

Gilbert straightened up and held up a jar. 'Leeches, I'm afraid. We're covered in them.'

'Ugh. I hate those things,' said Margaret.

'I'll get the salt,' said Roland. 'That gets rid of them.'

True to his word, Roland bought the Baby Austin Tourer for Margaret, and Gilbert drove it to Utopia from Kuala Lumpur.

'I'll drive Gilbert back up to KL in the Olds mobile, as we have to attend a planters' meeting,' Roland told Margaret.

'Roland, the car is gorgeous. It will be so useful, thank you, darling,' said Margaret, experimenting with the fold-down roof.

'A deal's a deal,' grinned Roland. 'Father agreed, when I told him that I'd bought it. Said he didn't want women stranded here with no transport, especially as I'm moving around a lot more these days.'

'Gilbert, can you entertain Bette? I won't be long. I just want to savour my independence and get used to driving the car before I take pa.s.sengers.'

'I love the shape and the open roof. It can fit four pa.s.sengers, too,' exclaimed Bette as Margaret took the key from Gilbert.

'It's been checked out, and it's as sound as a bell. I had no trouble driving it here,' said Gilbert. 'So, Roland, we'll leave early tomorrow morning for the meeting then?'

'Yes. And thanks for bringing the car. Bette, make sure Margaret doesn't drive too far until she's familiar with it,' said Roland.

'She's a good driver. What meeting are you going to?' asked Bette. 'Aren't you going too, Margaret?'

'I don't think Margaret would be all that interested. My friends are telling me there is talk of Malays in the countryside aligning themselves with the communists,' said Roland. 'These communists are a loose, somewhat unstructured group and usually they have been in the big towns. Communist alliances in the countryside will destabilise the local communities and plantations, so there's an extraordinary meeting of the Planters' a.s.sociation to see what can be done about it. With the war favourably affecting exports, we have to make sure that these communist groups don't upset the applecart.'

Bette stared at Roland in alarm. 'So it could be trouble for the plantation, then?'

'I shouldn't think so, but best to be on top of things,' said Gilbert.

'I still think we should have a few more precautions in place other than what the government here is doing,' said Roland.

Gilbert wrapped his arm around Bette's shoulder. 'Keep smiling, Bette. Next time I come back what say we go into Taiping for a day, go to the pictures, have a slap-up meal?'

'Sounds fun. I'll look forward to it.'

'Well, I'm taking the car for a drive around the estate. See you in half an hour,' said Margaret gaily, as she drove off in her little Austin Tourer over the b.u.mpy roads of the plantation.

The two men left for Kuala Lumpur early the next morning and Margaret insisted on driving her new car over to show Eugene.

'I know you like walking over there, Bette, but come with me for a change. You must know every tree on the estate by now.'

'Not quite, but I do enjoy the silence and the smells and the scenery.'

'Well, I think it's time for a sisterly talk. What do you think about Gilbert?'

'That's a pretty direct question. Let me see,' Bette replied. 'He's a nice man. I think he would be steady and reliable. He's quietly amusing, too. Different from other men I know who always laugh uproariously at their own jokes. Gil is not too compet.i.tive, either. He's a good tennis player, but he seems happy to fool around and make me laugh and he lets me win. I like that.'

'I hate it when people hold back and don't play properly,' said Margaret.

'Yes, and then you hate it when you don't win against them. Margie, you're way too compet.i.tive, sometimes. I think I like Gil because he's a bit like me and doesn't take everything too seriously.'

As soon as she could organise it, Margaret drove Bette to Taiping and they spent a day there, shopping and seeing Margaret's friends for lunch before returning to Utopia. Margaret was thrilled with her independence and had the gardener polish her car each day. Margaret was thrilled with her independence and had the gardener polish her car each day.

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