“Sister…” said Fung Cheung, but Guet Imm was no longer there. Fung Cheung looked around, stunned.
Even to Tet Sang, more used to wonders, it was startling—the abruptness with which Guet Imm was carved out of the world. At his tokong, there had been proficients in shaping the air, but they had not been encouraged to display their abilities where there was no need. The most he had seen was votaries levitating briefly while meditating; they had never got very far off the ground, and not for long. Guet Imm’s gifts from the deity were on a different level.
He had assumed from her levity that she could not have been a very senior votary, though all anchorites were given a certain measure of deference, treated as a class above and apart. Madam Yeoh’s failure to recognise her had seemed to confirm his assumption. But Guet Imm must have been a person of considerably more importance at her tokong than he had realised—so important that a transient acolyte like Yeoh Gaik Tin would not have been admitted to the secret of her powers.
Rimau was saying, “We should go,” when Guet Imm reappeared next to Fung Cheung. He jumped.
“There,” said Guet Imm. She was holding out a bag in which the sarira gleamed. “Go to Madam Yeoh before you leave Kempas, and collect the balance. If you ask herfor help, I think you won’t have so much trouble with the mata. But even if she decides not to help, you can bribe the mata with the cash.”
Fung Cheung took the bag from her hand with care. All three men—Fung Cheung, Rimau and Ah Hin—were looking at Guet Imm as though she might hit them with a jampi if they made any sudden moves.
“And you?” said Fung Cheung.
“I’ll draw the bandits off your track,” said Guet Imm absently. She looked distrait, as if, having cut herself off from the group, she had already departed in spirit. “Don’t worry about me.”
Fung Cheung hesitated. For one who, like Tet Sang, had known him for so long, his feelings were transparently inscribed on his face—relief that Guet Imm was proposing to solve the problem of herself and the bandits in one go, but also a sense of obligation, a debt incurred. It would have suited Fung Cheung better to have deposited the nun at Yeoh Gaik Tin’s house—he would have felt then that she was properly settled.
Sure enough, after a pause, Fung Cheung said, “You don’t want to take up Madam Yeoh’s offer, sister? A safe haven is nothing to sniff at in these times.”
Guet Imm smiled faintly. It didn’t reach her eyes. “That was Brother Tet Sang’s idea.” She didn’t look at Tet Sang. “His intentions were good, but I am not qualified to be a rich woman’s tame priestess. You see, I was an anchoriteat my tokong. You don’t go into seclusion because you are good at respecting authority. Brother Tet Sang will be able to explain.”
“No,” said Tet Sang, “because I’m coming with you.”
He hadn’t known what he was going to say before he spoke, but once the words were out, peace settled on him. His path was clear. He had not felt such certainty since he had left the tokong at Permatang Timbul.
“Wait, what?” said Fung Cheung.
“Second Brother!” said Ah Hin.
The blood drained from Guet Imm’s face. Then it rushed back and she went a brilliant red. “What do you mean, ‘coming with me’?”
“I mean, I am going to leave the group and follow you,” said Tet Sang, enunciating so as to avoid any possibility of a misunderstanding.
“But you can’t,” said Guet Imm. “You have to stay with the brothers.”
“That’s right,” said Ah Hin. “You have to stay with us!”
Tet Sang was gazing at Guet Imm, but he spoke to Ah Hin.
“I am not under any contract,” said Tet Sang. “There’s nothing to say I must stay here or go there. You were fine before I joined you all, and you’ll be fine without me.” He paused. “Of course, it depends on whether Sister Guet Imm minds if I come with her or not.”
“What are you talking about?” said Guet Imm. “You’re the one who wanted to get rid of me!”
“It would have been good for you to stay with Madam Yeoh,” said Tet Sang. “If you could take it.” He shrugged. “It was a wrong decision. I’m sorry, sister. I should have asked first. Do you want me, or should I stay with Ah Lau and the brothers?”
“Want you!” said Guet Imm peevishly. “Do you have to ask?”
Ah Hin turned to Fung Cheung. “Big Brother, say something!”
“You’re not going to let this happen, Cheung?” said Rimau.
Fung Cheung looked from Tet Sang to Guet Imm. He whistled. “Oh, it’s like that, is it?” He didn’t sound surprised.
Neither Tet Sang nor Guet Imm was paying any attention to the others.
“You’ll regret it in time,” said Guet Imm. “You’ll start scolding me…”
“Regret for what? If it doesn’t work out, then we go our separate ways,” said Tet Sang. “Nobody is swearing any oaths. But if you’re hoping I won’t scold you, then I better not come.”
