The Other Side of Paradise Read Online Free PDF

case.
    ‘Sorry if I spoke out of turn before.’
    ‘You certainly did.’
    He drew on the squashed cigarette. ‘The trouble is I can’t understand the way things are here. It’s weird. Nobody seems to see the danger this island’s in. Everyone believes Singapore’s an impregnable fortress.’
    ‘It is.’
    ‘So you all keep saying. But it strikes me that’s not true. It’s a myth. The truth is the island’s nothing like a fortress. It’s a reclaimed mangrove swamp with no natural defences.’
    She stopped massaging her feet and stared at him.
    ‘The Royal Navy’s the most powerful in the world and our naval base here is the biggest and best there is. And we’ve got
thousands
of troops here and plenty of air force planes. They can easily take care of those silly little yellow men – if they were ever stupid enough to try anything.’
    ‘The Japs aren’t stupid, Miss Roper. They’re very bright.’
    ‘Oh, so you’re an expert on Japs as well, are you?’
    ‘I spent three months in Japan and I learned something about the way their minds tick. They don’t take kindly to being looked down on or having their economy sabotaged. The whites think the Japs are inferior but the Japs reckon it’s the other way round. They believe they’re descended from a sun goddess.’
    ‘Which shows that they must be
very
stupid.’
    ‘Underestimating them is what’s stupid. They’ve spent more than four years practising war on the Chinese. And there are eighty million of them.’
    What a hideous accent it was! Far worse than American. ‘Really? Have you counted?’
    ‘Maybe your Government ought to start doing some counting. Since the Japs marched into Indo-China they’re a thousand miles nearer to Malaya. Doesn’t anybody realize that?’
    She hadn’t. But so what? They were still a long way away. ‘Do we
have
to talk about them? It’s all so tedious.’
    He shrugged. ‘Suit yourself. What’ll we talk about instead?’
    ‘Personally, I can’t think of a single thing.’
    ‘How about the weather? That’s nice and safe and English. Does it often rain like this here?’
    ‘This is nothing. When the monsoon gets going properly, in a few weeks’ time, it’ll pour for three months.’
    ‘My word! Still, you must have been used to bad weather in England.’
    ‘I’ve never lived in England. I was born in Malaya and I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve only been to England once.’
    He said, surprised, ‘I’d never have guessed it. You’re very English, same as all the expatriates here. They’ve brought the Old Country out with them, haven’t they? Transported it lock, stock and barrel – except for the weather. They had the sense to leave that behind.’ He drew on the cigarette again. ‘What do you do, Miss Roper – when you’re not having fun at parties like this?’
    ‘A secretarial course.’
    ‘Somehow, I can’t see you as a secretary.’
    She said sarcastically, ‘Really? What else do you suggest I should do?’
    ‘Well, if you’ve got any spare time, they need more volunteers at the Alexandra.’
    ‘You mean rolling bandages and running errands? Like Milly?’
    ‘No, not like Milly. You’d be no good on the wards.’
    ‘Why not, pray?’
    ‘You’re not the type. Can you drive?’
    ‘As it happens, I can.’
    ‘Could you drive an ambulance?’
    ‘I’ve no idea. I should think so.’
    ‘You could have a go.’
    The rubber planter appeared in the doorway, swaying and plainly the worse for gin slings. ‘Found you at last.’ He twirled his fingers. ‘How about another spin?’
    She put the shoes back on, fastened the ankle straps and stood up. ‘I’d
love
to.’
    Milly said later, ‘I saw you on the verandah with Ray. Rather dishy, isn’t he?’
    ‘Dishy?
Him?
’
    ‘Don’t you think so?’
    ‘No, I don’t. He’s awful. Look, Milly, I think I’ll head off now, if you don’t mind. I’m a bit tired. Could you tell Meng to send for Ghani?’
    ‘No need. Osman will