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amed like a tropical rain forest； it seemed to him as if Asia's bulk were sliding slowly downwards onto the top of his head； suffocating him in a blanket of endless marshes； mosquitoes and men； the crick in his neck would return； paining him worse than ever。
But this was all before the appearance of Cheong。 To the Colonel it was nothing short of miraculous； as if she had e into his room； not from the streets of Singapore； but from the cloud…filled sky。 That first evening； when he had turned her over to tiny Pi to be bathed and clothed； and standing by his polished teak desk； taking his first long drink of the day； he felt the tiredness washing away from him like a residue of salt drowned in a hot shower。 He thought only that it was good to be home after so long a time at work。 Yet perhaps this had been only the most mundane part of it； for when he recalled that time many years later … as he was often wont to do … he was not at all certain of his motivations or his feelings in the matter。 He knew only that when she had been brought back to him in his study； when he saw again her face； for the first time since he had left England in the early part of 1940 to e East； he no longer seemed obsessed with Asia。 He stood watching her e towards him； feeling like a house bereft of the ghost that had haunted it for so long； now empty； waiting to be filled by new and more substantial tenants。 He recognized then his spirit； unchained at last； dancing inside of him and he felt that here before him was his true reason for seeking out the mysteries of Asia。
He studied her face； using the light of the breaking sky； the day's last light； a spurt before darkness fell pletely； with the innate fierceness with which he had applied himself to the destruction of the enemy。 This was a most formidable talent in the Colonel； one that was highly respected among the Americans as well as the British military and for which he had been amply rewarded by one battlefield promotion after another。
It was… not； he felt； a purely Chinese face。 This he derived not from any overt configuration of features but by the overall aspect。 There was； for instance； nothing classic about that face。 This the Colonel found utterly fascinating； not to mention charming。 It was oval； longer than it was full。 She had high cheekbones； very long almond…shaped eyes and a nose less flat than one might normally expect。 Her lips were wide and full and； with those eyes； were her most expressive features。 Later on； he would be able to tell any nuance of changing mood just by a glance at her lips。
Pi had pulled Cheong's long hair back from her face and； having first endeavored to do away with the ragged ends； had tied it tightly back with a red satin ribbon so that it hung down across one shoulder in a long ponytail； so thick and gleaming that the Colonel thought of her more at that moment as some mythical creature e to life。 She was； he felt； so densely oriental that it was if she were the living embodiment of that vast flat crowded land。
'How are you feeling？' He said this in Cantonese and； when he got no response； repeated the question in Mandarin。
Tine now。 Thank you；' she said； bowing。
It was the first time the Colonel had heard her speak and he was somewhat startled； never having heard such a beautiful and musical voice before。 She was tall； almost five…nine； with a figure as slender as a willow but as shapely as any man could wish for。
'It is most fortunate that I met you；' she said； her gaze directed at the floor。 She tried in vain to pronounce his last name。 'I am most ashamed；' she said； giving it up at last。 'Pi coached me all through the bath。 I am most humbly sorry。' 'Don't be；' the Colonel said。 'Call me Denis。' This she could manage； pronouncing the D sound in a way that had no analogue in the English language。 She repeated it twice then said； 'I shall not forget it； Denis。' By that time； the Colonel knew that he was going to marry her。
When the Colonel received the request by American courier via British liaison to join the American SCAP … the occupation forces … mand in Tokyo as an adviser to General Douglas MacArthur； the first thing he thought of was how he was going to tell Cheong。 There was no question of his not taking the assignment。 Already he found himself chafing to be in Tokyo。
It was early in 1946 and this part of the world was still reeling from the emotional fall…out caused by the explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki； the effect was incalculable； the ramifications endless。
He had been married to Cheong for four months and she was three months pregnant。 Still he had no second thoughts about abandoning Singapore； which he thought of as much his home as England ever was。 Beside the fact that he felt it was his duty to take the assignment at SCAP headquarters； he further understood quite keenly the plex problems that had developed within Japan since its unconditional surrender； ending the war； last year and he was eager to immerse himself in what MacArthur had called 'steering a bold new course for Japan'。
The Colonel deliberated only a moment before he called Danvers in and told him that he was leaving for the day； if anything important came up he could be reached at home。
He arrived at the house to find Cheong taking care of him personally； having shooed Pi away from the doorway at the first hint of the jeep turning into the driveway。
'You are home early today； Denis；' she said； smiling。
He climbed out of the Jeep； dismissed the driver。 'I suppose now you'll tell me that I'll be in the way of the servants' cleaning；' he said gruffly to her。
'Oh no；' she cried； linking her arm in his as they went up the stairs and into the house。 'Quite the opposite。 I've patted them on the behinds and told them to do the work in the kitchen that they have been putting off for oh…so…long。' They went down the hall and into his study where she poured him a drink。
'Ah；' he said； taking the chill glass from her。 'Have they done anything for which they should be punished？'
'Oh no。' She put her small hand to her mouth as if shocked by the notion。
He nodded； happy inside himself。 'Of course you'd tell me if that were the case； wouldn't you？'
'Not at all。' She indicated that he should sit in his favourite chair and when he was fortably settled within its soft embrace； his long legs stretched out on the carpet before him； one boot set over the other； she knelt at his side。 She wore a deep blue brocaded silk robe with a mandarin collar and wide bell sleeves。 Where she had obtained this rather remarkable garment the Colonel could not imagine and he had not the bad taste to ask her。 'That is none of your concern；' she continued。 'I am the mistress of this house。 Discipline is here my concern as it is yours downtown。' She meant at the garrison house。 'You must trust me to maintain a perfect aura within our house。 Tranquility is all…important to the health of one's spirit； do you not agree？' And when he nodded； watching her eyes； she continued。 'The tranquility of one's house is not only confined as to its location and the servants therein but also to its major occupants。' She paused and the Colonel； who had been calmly sipping his drin