Jason’s answer was a five-character Chinese phrase, ‘feigning to be a pig, he vanquishes tigers’. ‘No, I do not pretend to be a Chinese person. I will pretend I am a Russian who speaks English like an Englishman. I have been to Peking and you have come down from there with me to help me surreptitiously join the Malayan government, both working to overturn the present system.’
The Emissary loved it. ‘But suppose we meet some government troops. That will be dangerous, won’t it?’ and gloom spread over his features.
‘There are none. I have arranged for the area to be left to us. Anyone we meet will either be to t’o yan or guerrillas. Ready to move?’ Yes, they were. ‘On our way’ and slowly downhill they went.
That first day they moved slowly, confident they had no worries about where to go having only come up the track recently. At the first night stop Jason talked to them all. ‘We may meet some guerrillas. What we will do tomorrow is practise what you leading four will say if a guerrilla walks around the corner, sees us, takes us for one of his crowd and calls out.’
Yes, that was sensible. ‘What I’ll do is clap my hands loudly and that will be the sign for a guerrilla spotting us and asking who we are. You all know our cover plan but until you have done it a couple of times the answer may sound unnatural. Think up a suitable reply and call it out when you hear me clap.’
It had been on the hesitant side the first time but by the fourth time a suitable answer came naturally. ‘Something like “We are on our way south. Is the track safe for us? Come and tell us about it.” Only when you think it time to call me and the Emissary will we appear, you having told them that the other two are waiting to be called for.’
24 February
That heli we think flew to Fort Tapong a couple of days or so back. Just the one. It has only just struck me. That hasn’t happened before, has it?’ Ah Soo Chye was talking to his two lieutenants.
No, the others could not remember it having happened but it could have done without their hearing it. Certainly they had heard helicopters flying over Kerinching’s ladang area but not so far west. ‘It could be a survey group, it could be soldiers but not many so there is no real threat to us. In any case we’ll move as we normally do, a t’o yan screen in front and their dogs in front of them. That way is how we are still alive after so many years working against superior forces, both in numbers and weapons. Let’s go and check. We’ll start at the place we know the police boats stop. It will take a couple of days to get there, what with collecting the t’o yan who have no idea of time. Even with four fingers they only know how to count up to three.’
The others thought it a good idea.
‘We can’t cross the river any lower than that boat point unless we come across a t’o yan raft which I don’t think is likely but they will know if there is one. We’ll only take one bodyguard each. Quicker that way.’
Loo See objected. ‘Suppose the people are those special ones who sometimes drop by parachute. They have good weapons and are quick on the draw. Better to take more than a bodyguard.’
‘I’ll take one. You can take as many as you like. Just make sure there’s enough tapioca for us for a few days before we set off.’
27 February
Ah Soo Chye’s group waded across the river at the boat point having spent the night on the far bank and, once ashore, caste around. All of them, Temiar and guerrillas, could read ground signs like a book. The signs of where boats, two of them it seemed, had been tied up were noticed. Once on land they soon picked up where the Police Jungle Squad had traipsed around, tracks moving a couple of hundred yards up the path before returning. Not a lot here, not worth worrying about, was the general opinion. ‘There’s lots of game a bit higher up,’ said one of the Temiar. ‘You have your weapons and we our blau to shoot with if you don’t want to make a noise. Why not get some meat instead of dried tapioca? The best place to start looking is a couple of hours walk north.’
27 February
Jason’s group moved slowly, his four Chinese in front followed by Jason and behind him Meng Ru. The Emissary had fully appreciated the role he had to play and had rehearsed what to say if asked as he walked, his feet hurting, behind that curious, optimistic foreigner in front of him. Having come so far it would be devastatingly disappointing to fail now so he simply had to play the part thought out for him. He had not had a decent meal for so long he felt a nagging pain in his gut. He hadn’t washed properly for so long he itched. He hadn’t been as tired as this for so long for … and his mind drifted and he lurched to one side of the track and tripped on a root that jutted out, nearly falling. Jason turned and said, ‘Let’s all stop for a rest. There’s plenty of time and it is still early afternoon.’
They sat down and rested.
The guerrillas in north Malaya never went any distance from their base without a Temiar ‘screen’ ahead of them to warn them about any Security Forces in the area and the Temiar had their dogs as their ‘screen’. It was such a foolproof system that Ah Soo Chye and his lieutenants had not been seen by any soldier or policeman for more than five years. That day it just so happened that the Temiars’ dogs had slipped away having smelt a wild boar so it was the leading t’o yan who instinctively ‘felt a presence’ ahead of him. Slowly, oh how slowly, he peered round a bend in the track and saw four guerrillas sitting down resting. No sentries? Or are they hidden? He slipped back and told Ah Soo Chye that there were some guerrillas sitting on the track, resting, just round the corner. ‘I did not see any sentries.’
Ah Soo Chye knew there were none of his men up in these parts but, of course, couriers from Ha La or Betong whom he did not recognise often used this track. He went forward, saw the four men about twenty yards ahead and called out to them politely, in the traditional Chinese method, ‘have you had your rice today?’
‘Yes, and have you?’ and before any response could come continued ‘We are on our way south. Is the track safe for us? Come and tell us about it.’
Ah Soo Chye called his men forward and joined them. ‘I was not expecting to meet anyone here,’ he said, hiding the fact that that was why he was where he was. ‘We have come from the other side of the river and,’ pointing to the men with blowpipes, ‘these men said we could find some animals for meat in this area. Have you seen any on your way down?’
‘No, but we have heard them and seen traces.’
‘You have no sentries out?’
‘Not in front but behind, yes.’
‘Let us introduce ourselves. We are …’ and Ah Soo Chye turned to his two lieutenants, giving their names. We are the main link between the t’o yan and the MCP HQ in Betong. Who are you?’
‘We four were very close to the late Tan Fook Loong, Commander 2 Regiment. The equipment we are wearing and our pistol were all captured from the enemy we managed to kill. Now we are under Comrade Yeong Kwoh.’
‘Now there’s a warrior for you,’ said Ah Soo Chye. ‘Yes, indeed, we have heard so,’ echoed the others.
‘How it is you are so far north in our area without our being told?’ asked with just a tinge of anxiety in his voice.
Goh Ah Wah looked around, furtively, lowered his voice conspiratorially and said, ‘it had been hoped to tell you but our task is of vital secrecy so I can’t tell you how our commander saw himself doing this.’
This fascinated Ah Soo Chye so much that, against all his training, he asked if he could be told. Goh Ah Wah deliberated, said, ‘please wait just a moment. I’ll go and ask.’ He got up and, to the others’ astonishment, disappeared round a bend in the track. Where could he have gone and why? was in each mind.
Goh Ah Wah told Jason what was happening. ‘Yes, tell them and if they want to see us two, come and fetch us,’ so he went back and sat down again. ‘Listen well. There is an English-speaking Russian who is based in Moscow. He was sent to Peking where he met a man associated with the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party.’ Goh paused and saw nothing but radiant astonishment in faces around him. ‘The Party ordered a man, Meng Ru, to escort him all the way to Betong. It took them six months. Once there they rested. The Russian’s aim is to pretend he is an Englishman. He speaks fluent English. He hopes to keep Meng Ru hidden until he can place him where he knows a government worker has died but the government won’t have heard of it. That bit may be tricky. The two sentries behind us are those two’ and he let that amazing story hang in the air while the others contemplated it. For a while silence reigned.
‘We would be honoured to meet there two extraordinary men. May we?’
‘You know how much either’s life will be worth if any of this gets out. I cannot stress how secret it is. However, if you will promise to say nothing I’ll go and ask them if they’re willing to talk to you.’
‘We promise, we promise,’ the three leaders said, almost in unison.
‘In that case I’ll go and see if I can persuade them to come and talk to you.’
Jason, face tightly bound with his camouflage veil and only his eyes showing although his fair hair not covered by his cap could be seen, and Meng Ru came round the bend in the track with Goh and greeted the three leaders. ‘I won’t tell you my name and if I were to give you one it would not be mine, nor will I tell you my friend’s’ was his opening gambit. ‘Also, if you want to put a sentry whence we have come, do so.’ They sat down in a small circle, gunmen guarding them.
‘I am Ah Soo Chye and these are Comrades Tek Miu and Lo See.’
Jason’s play acting came into its own. ‘So I am privileged to meet the famous trio!’ he exclaimed happily. ‘While I was in Peking I actually spoke to the Great Helmsman and he knew your names …’
He was interrupted by gasps of unexpected delight – and Jason’s four thought the Buddha-hearted Leopard can be as wise as he can be wild.
‘… and he said two things. “When the trio belch, the gwai lo defecate with fear” …’ – more gasps of delight – ‘“and their work with the t’o yan I regard as the bridgehead of the next invasion that will lead into the nation’s capital.” That is why I am honoured and pleased with this unexpected meeting.’ And if that doesn’t keep them on my side nothing else will. ‘Comrade Ah Soo Chye, before you tell me about yourself please take these as a good-will present,’ putting hand into his pocket he pressed two tins of Thai sardines and the jar of Ovaltine into the surprised guerrilla’s hand.
The guerrilla trio was dumbfounded by such generosity and showed it. Jason blessed Ah Fat and the Bear for their forethought. Then the guerrillas opened up and the main thrust of the trio’s remarks was that often they seemed to feel forgotten by those in Betong – ‘not at all. You are fervently appreciated’ – and that only by keeping the t’o yan happy, fostering their dislike for the Malays and trying to ensure that the government does not send soldiers to their ladangs did they think they would succeed in their task.
During the conversation Meng Ru was fully aware that Jason was learning all about what they were doing and added his bit. ‘It is not easy for me to speak kwang tung wa you are using as I am only fluent in kwok yi, which is not properly understood by you southerners. But if you speak slowly I can understand most of what you say.’
‘How will you manage to get to Kuala Lumpur, that’s where you’re going, isn’t it? It’s a long way from here.’
Jason saw Goh slightly ill at ease so said, ‘My escort has arranged couriers, safe houses, other dress, food and shelter from a bit farther downstream onwards. We think it will take quite a few months before we are settled in.’
‘Do you need escorting downstream?’ Loo See asked. ‘We are ready to help you if you do.’
This time Goh Ah Wah rallied. ‘No that’s not necessary but thank you for the offer. We arranged it all on our way up and any alteration will spoil matters.’
‘Fully understood,’ said Ah Soo Chye.
Jason looked at his watch. ‘Comrade Goh, our friend has had his rest so we must push on,’ saying which he stood up and helped Meng Ru to his feet.
‘Stay the night with us. Have some wild boar the t’o yan have gone off to shoot with their blowpipes. When they come back we will show you how to shoot with them.’
