The Other Side of Paradise Read Online Free PDF Page A

yourselves while you’re here. Singapore’s the most wonderful fun.’
    He said, ‘Yeah, I’ve noticed how busy everyone is, having fun. They’re not too worried about the war.’
    ‘The war’s thousands of miles away in Europe.’
    ‘It’s not the war with the Germans that I’m talking about, Miss Roper. It’s the one with the Japs.’
    ‘The Japs? We’re not at war with them.’
    ‘We soon will be.’
    ‘That’s nonsense. What can they do?’
    ‘Take Singapore.’
    ‘Singapore belongs to the British Empire.’
    ‘The Nips might not think so.’
    ‘We don’t actually care
what
they think.’
    ‘I’ve noticed that too.’
    Milly stepped between them. She said brightly, ‘I hear there’s a marvellous new film on at the Capitol. Has anyone seen it?’
    Supper was served. The Bensons’ Indian cook had made a wonderful
biryani
, served with
sambar
and big rounds of
roti prata
. Susan steered well clear of the Australian doctors – there were plenty of other people to talk to. A sunburned rubber planter down for a few days’ jolly in Singapore introduced himself. He was from the north of the peninsula, he told her – about thirty miles east of Betong. He’d come out from England two years ago and gone straight there. He liked the work but it was good to get back to civilization for a break. His aunt was an old schoolfriend of Mrs Benson, so he’d wangled an invitation.
    He took a swig from his glass. ‘I’m a bit out of touch, to tell the truth, but Singapore looks much the same. A lot more troops around, of course, but that’s not a bad thing. Good idea to wave the flag, just in case the Japs get any silly ideas.’
    She said impatiently, tired of the subject, ‘What do you mean, silly ideas?’
    ‘Well, Singapore’s pretty important, isn’t it? Commanding position, gateway to the East, jewel of the Empire, and all that. The Japs would give their eye teeth for it. But of course, the Royal Navy’s got the sea approaches well covered. If the Nips try anything they won’t get very far with those big guns pointing straight at them.’
    ‘Can we talk about something else? It’s awfully boring.’
    ‘Sorry. Would you care to take a spin?’
    Milly had put a record on the gramophone and people were dancing to ‘Faithful Forever’. ‘With a Smile and a Song’ was probably on the other side; Milly had the whole
Snow White
set. Personally, she thought all the tunes were rather sickly.
    The rubber planter had two left feet and both of them kept landing on her peep-toes. Afterwards she danced with some of the army chaps, who were better, and then a man who had something to do with building bridges and droned on about tensile strength and soil resistance and pressure tables. ‘Really?’ she kept saying, looking over his shoulder at Milly capering about happily with Geoff. ‘
Really?
How fascinating!’
    Her feet were killing her, thanks to the rubber planter and the uncomfortable shoes. She hobbled out on to the verandah, sat down, undid the ankle straps and rubbed her toes. The rain was coming down in torrents, cascading like a waterfall off the eaves and drowning out ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ playing in the other room. Something to be grateful for.
    ‘Having trouble?’
    She turned her head. It was the Australian: the one called Ray. He was leaning against the door-post, arms folded – very outback.
    ‘No.’
    ‘I reckon it’s the shoes. You could come to grief in those.’
    ‘You’re an expert on ladies’ shoes?’
    ‘Not shoes, but I know all about broken ankles and blisters.’
    ‘Well, I don’t need any medical advice, thank you.’
    ‘Fair enough. Have a cigarette instead.’ He held out a case that looked as if it was made out of an old tin; the cigarettes inside were squashed flat.
    ‘No, thanks.’
    ‘Mind if I do?’
    ‘Carry on.’
    She watched him produce a box of matches and fire up one with his thumbnail. Not even a lighter, let alone a decent cigarette