“We give the woman too much face,” he persisted. “If Second Brother hadn’t taken her along to Sungai Tombak, we’d have our money by now.” He jabbed a finger in Tet Sang’s chest, making Tet Sang stagger. “You’re the one who didn’t want her to join in the first place. Why did you change your mind? She sucked your dick, is it?”
Ah Yee’s jab had really been more of a shove.He wants to piss you off,Tet Sang reminded himself.
“Go to sleep, Ah Yee,” he said, swallowing his irritation.
But it was too late. The moment Ah Yee had touched Tet Sang, Guet Imm had put down her ladle.
“You and Brother Lau are really good, brother,” she said to Tet Sang, in a honeyed voice. “The way you take pity on the soft-minded, the deity will surely reward you!”
Ah Yee said, “You mean the deity will—”
“No, I don’t mean she will grant sexual favours, brother,” said Guet Imm serenely. “The Pure Moon is a goddess, you know. You mustn’t confuse her with the girl who laughed at you today when you were grovelling to the mata. That must have been very embarrassing!”
“Shut up!” growled Ah Yee. He cuffed her—or tried to. Guet Imm caught his wrist.
“Ah Yee!” said Fung Cheung, half-rising, but Tet Sang was looking at Guet Imm.
“Sister,” he said in a warning tone.
But this was the excuse Guet Imm had been waiting for. She ignored him.
“Oh, brother, that was a bad idea!” she said softly, shining eyes fixed on Ah Yee.
Ah Yee screamed, yanking back his arm, but Guet Imm wouldn’t let him go. He shoved his other hand into his robe. When it emerged, it held a blade.
The men were all on their feet.
“Come, brother, enough already,” said Ah Wing, hovering apprehensively behind Ah Yee. “There’s no need for all this!”
“Sister, get back!” shouted Ah Hin.
“I am going to chop offeverybody’sdicks!” snarled Fung Cheung.
Guet Imm did not seem to notice the noise. When Ah Yee lunged at her, he found she was no longer there. She pinned his arm behind his back and slipped the knife out of his hand.
“Argh!” said Ah Yee. He twisted around, his face purple. “Go and die, you fucking whore, and your precious deity too!”
Guet Imm elbowed him forcefully in the side. As he gasped, she hit the back of his neck, downing him. Once he was on the ground, she kicked him in the stomach for good measure.
“Sister, that’s enough,” said Tet Sang. To immobiliseAh Yee was one thing, but that last kick had been pure spite.
But Guet Imm wasn’t listening, to him or the others, who were each loudly articulating his opinion on what she should do or stop doing. She dropped to her knees, seized Ah Yee by the forelock and pulled back his head. Firelight gleamed off metal as she raised the blade she had taken from him.
It was not the time to remind Guet Imm of the Pure Moon’s decrees against unnecessary violence. Tet Sang grabbed Guet Imm’s arm, squeezing mercilessly. When she loosened her grip in surprise, he snatched the knife out of her hand.
“I said,that’s enough,” he said.
“Quiet, all of you,” he added over his shoulder to everyone else. “They could hear you from Kempas! You want the mata to come and catch us?”
Guet Imm was still clutching Ah Yee’s hair as though she was considering simply breaking his neck now that Tet Sang had deprived her of the knife. He had no doubt she could do it.
“He insulted the deity!” she said.
“So what?” said Tet Sang. “She’s a goddess. What does Ah Yee’s insult matter to her? If she wants to punish him, let her punish. For humans, she set limits. You are about to go over.”
Everything Tet Sang said was unarguable according to the doctrines of the Order. Still, Guet Imm wavered. “None of the deity’s rules are set in stone. You’re allowed to exercise discretion.”
Tet Sang gave this sophistry the attention it deserved. “You’ve done enough, sister. Let Ah Yee go.”
