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It was difficult to believe that it was so calm and tranquil here where they walked up the winding road； rising along the spine of a sprawling hillock。
Singapore had long since dropped from sight and； like a ship's anchor sent overboard； it seemed to be absolutely gone； part of another world which they had stepped out of and； passing through some invisible barrier； now found themselves in a land quite apart。 At least mat was how it seemed to the Colonel on that magical afternoon； how it came to him again and again throughout his life in dreams during the mornings' drowsy early hours。
On the far side of the forested hillock； all indications of the road they had been following disappeared and not even the semblance of a path through the foliage presented itself。 Yet Cheong seemed to have no difficulty at all in reorienting herself and； taking his hand； guiding them to the village of So…Peng。
It lay in a leafy shallow hollow with the beginnings of a basalt mountain at its back； a natural barrier behind which； perhaps； only the stormy sea lay。
They came upon one house that seemed in all respects similar to those around it and； having climbed its three or four wide wooden steps up from the mud of the streets； now stood upon its front porch； wide as a veranda in the old South of America； covered against the torrential rains and the baking sun of the seasons。 Here Cheong bade Denis remove his shoes even as she was doing。
The front door opened and they were ushered into the house by an old woman with steel…grey hair； elegantly coiffed； dressed in a long silk robe the colour of swirled ash。 She put her hands together in front of her breasts and bowed to them。 They returned the gesture and； as she stood upright and smiled at them； the Colonel saw that she had no teeth。 Her face was lined； to be sure； but the flesh still retained a hint of the vitality and beauty that it had obviously radiated in youth。 Her black almond eyes were as luminous as lanterns； shining with the inquisitive innocence of the little girl from out of the past。
Cheong introduced the Colonel。 'And this is Chia Sheng；' she said without otherwise identifying her。
Chia Sheng laughed； staring at the Colonel's bulk； and shook her head from side to side as if to say； 'What can one do with young people today？' She shrugged her thin shoulders and clucked her tongue sharply against the roof of her mouth。
Cheong； the Colonel noted； spoke only Mandarin and； without being told in so many words； he was aware that he should do the same。
They were in a room of some considerable size。 No other house he had been in Singapore； not even the main house of the estate bordering the mangrove swamps that had once been his； could boast of such space。 The outside facade； he saw； had little relevance once one was inside。
More odd； however； was the fact that this room was covered in tatamis … Japanese reed mats of a specific size by which all rooms in traditional Japanese houses were measured。 But more surprises were in store for the Colonel。
Chia Sheng led them wordlessly through this first room； sparsely furnished with low lacquered tables and cushions and little else； down a short dimly lit hallway。 Its far wall consisted of an enormous piece of jade so heavily carved that it became a latticework。 In its centre was a round doorway known； the Colonel had somewhere heard； as a moon gate。 These existed on the mainland of China in the houses of the very wealthy during the latter half of the nineteenth century。
Across the moon gate's opening a long bolt of silk hung from a bamboo pole laid crosswise。 It was grey。 Embroidered upon it was a royal…blue wheel…and…spoke pattern。 This seemed oddly familiar to the Colonel； and for long minutes he racked his brain until he recalled that he had seen the self…same bolt of cloth reproduced in a ukiyo…e print by Ando Hiroshige。 It was one of the Fifty…three Stations of the Tokoido series； he could not remember the title of the print in question。 However； it had shown the design to belong to a travelling daimyo。 Another mystery。 The Colonel shrugged inwardly as Chia Sheng led them through the moon gate； white shot with black and green。
They found themselves in a room only a little smaller than the first。 On three sides were folding screens of exquisite manufacture； dark colours ing to vibrant life； passing through the years as if they were but veils of smoke。
Scents now invaded his nostrils； the chalkiness of charcoal； the muskiness of incense； and there were others； subtler； delicate cooking…oil； tallow and still others impossible to define。
'Please；' Chia Sheng said； leading them past a low red lacquered table。 Freshly cut flowers in a bowl spread themselves at its centre。 They disappeared between the ends of two of the screens； which revealed a doorway of blackness； as if it had been cut out of the heart of a piece of onyx。
'The stairs；' Chia Sheng murmured and they ascended。 It was a narrow spiral staircase with room enough to climb in single file only。
The stairwell debouched at length upon a kind of tower which struck the Colonel more as a garret。 A green…tiled roof was supported at the four corners of the structure by wooden beams。 Otherwise there was an unimpeded view on all sides save the one where the basalt mountain； like some awesome leviathan out of mythology； loomed close enough to serve as guardian。
As they came into the garret； the Colonel's eyes fell upon a tall figure gazing out at the riding storm； a long glass held to one eye。 This was So…Peng。
'Wele； Colonel Linnear。' His voice was rich and deep and seemed to set the garret vibrating。 His Mandarin was oddly accented； in Western terms one might have said clipped。 He did not turn round； did not in any verbal way acknowledge Cheong's presence。 Chia Sheng； her mission perhaps at an end； left them； silently descending the winding stair。
'Please e over here and stand by me； Colonel；' So…Peng said。 He wore an old…fashioned formal Chinese robe the colour of mother of pearl。 It was woven of a material totally unfamiliar to the Colonel； for even the slightest movement of the old man caused its surface to pick up and reflect the fitful light in a most marvelous way。
'Look here；' the old man said； thrusting the glass at the Colonel。 'Look to the storm； Colonel； and tell me what you see。'
The Colonel took the polished brass spyglass； closed one eye and peered through it with the other。 Now within the elevation of So…Peng's eyrie； he felt the first tentative touches of the storm they had earlier observed； the wind was rising。
Within the confined circle of his extended vision； he saw the bloom of the clouds； now purple…black like bruises； and； too； the colour of the sky behind the storm had changed。 The solid…seeming yellow tinge had been struck through with tendrils of a pale green； such a hue the land…bound world could never produce。 Deep…throated rumblings could be heard now and again； rolling over the earth like an invisible tsunami； a tidal wave。 Dutifully； the Colonel related all he saw。
'And that is all you see；' said So…Peng。 There was no hint of an interrogative in his inflection。
Yes； the Colonel was about to say； that is