The Island Where Time Stands Still Read Online Free PDF Page B

your word that you will not try to escape, but accept the very mild form of captivity imposed, for as long as you must remain here.’
    â€˜What if I refuse?’
    â€˜That would imply an intention on your part to assault Chung with the object of gaining possession of the gate key which he carries, or to steal it while he is asleep. As a precaution against either I should be compelled to place guards over you.’
    Gregory’s firm chin jutted out aggressively, and he retorted with sudden sharpness, ‘I don’t know what you are trying to hide, and I don’t care. But I have committed no crime and you have no right whatever to hold me as a prisoner. I will give you no undertaking of any kind, and you can do as you damn well please.’
    â€˜I find your attitude both regrettable and unbecoming,’ the doctor remarked. Then he added as he turned away, ‘You will have only yourself to blame for the additional restrictions placed on your liberty.’
    The ‘additional restrictions’ arrived an hour later in the form of three stalwart men all dressed similarly and carrying long staves. They wore broad-brimmed straw hats, belts and gaiters of brown leather, their blue blouses were embroidered both back and front with a large complicated Chinese character in red, and it seemed obvious that they were part of the local police force. After depositing in the dormitory the bundles they carried, two of them made themselves comfortable with Chung in his kitchen, while the third went and squatted by the gate. At intervals of two hours they relieved one another of gate guard. Then, as a further precaution against Gregory’s attempting to get away, shortly after sundown all three of them came to his cabin and, having salaamed politely, locked him in. It was little more than a gesture, as the door was a flimsy one and egress through the window prevented only by a permanently fixed wire mosquito screen; but had he forced either he would have had to risk attracting the attention ofthe guards by the sound of his breaking out.
    At the time he was just finishing his evening meal. When he had toyed for a few minutes longer with the highly-spiced contents of the dozen or more little bowls that Chung had brought him, he pushed the tray away and, for the first time since he had arrived in the island, began deliberately to set his wits to work.
    In the past there had been occasions when his life, and sometimes more than his life, had depended on his regaining his freedom. Now, there was no more to be gained than the satisfaction of an idle curiosity. But, quite unconsciously and in blissful ignorance of the type of man with whom he was dealing, Ho-Ping had, most ill-advisedly, provoked him with a challenge. Gregory had always been a lone wolf. He did not take kindly to any form of discipline. He had never allowed anyone to dictate to him, and he was much too accustomed to doing what he pleased to start submitting to that sort of thing now.
    Presently the door was unlocked by one of the guards for Chung to retrieve the dishes, and Gregory smiled at the elderly Chinaman. Dr. Ping’s fears that he might attack his servant were quite unfounded. He might have stolen the key to the gate while the man was sleeping, but he would never have used brute force on anyone who had cared for him kindly while ill. All the same he realised that having had a watch set on him was going to make it much more difficult to get hold of the key by any means, and now even that would be only half the battle; for, having got it, how would he be able to evade the vigilance of his guards in order to use it unchallenged?
    Sleeping on this problem brought no answer to it, and next morning he paced the terrace with considerably more vigour than usual. Taking long strides, his arms hanging loosely and his head thrust slightly forward, he walked quickly up and down while his mind worked with equal swiftness. A dozen embryo plans started