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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 all I can see。 But he checked himself at the last moment； certain that there was something out there that the old man wished him to see。
For long moments he moved the eye of the glass over the terrain an inch at a time but he saw nothing new to report。 Still； it nagged at him and he moved the glass upwards； scanning。 Nothing。 Then downwards towards the earth。 Below the on…rushing storm； he saw the women in the rice paddies； the flat wet fields without the protection of a single tree or even a makeshift lean…to。 Almost in concert； the women bent to their tasks； leaning over； reaching for and pulling at the growing rice。 Their skirts were pulled up in the centre； tied in huge knots between their bent legs； woven sacks encircled their backs so that they had the aspect of beasts of burden； water covered their bare feet to the ankle。
'The women are still working；' the Colonel said； 'as if the storm wasn't there。'
'Ah！' So…Peng said； nodding。 'And what does this tell you； Colonel？'
The Colonel took the glass from his eye； lowering it to his side； looking at So…Peng； at his yellow hairless head； the grey wisp of his beard hanging straight down from the ultimate point of his chin； the dark serene eyes regarding him coolly as if from some other age。
'Hmmm；' So…Peng murmured and nothing more。 He was fully aware。
'They know something we don't；' the Colonel said。
By that 'we' the Colonel had meant； however implicitly； Westerners。 Yet So…Peng now had to make up his mind whether the Colonel was being serious or merely condescending。 So…Peng； not unlike every Asian on the continent； had had far more experience with people expressing the latter sentiment。 Yet he did not dismiss the Colonel summarily as he very easily might have； so that even at this early stage he must have had an instinctive reaction to this man。
For his part； the Colonel knew only too well that he had e to a crucial nexus in his relationship with Cheong。 This man's blessing was imperative for her。 Why it had not been necessary at her marriage he could not understand。 Yet he…knew that for her to depart from Singapore； So…Peng had to bee an active agent。
That this house； this town were so isolated； so totally unknown to the Western population； made the Colonel all the more apprehensive。 He was painfully aware that many Chinese had no great love for Westerners； those barbarian giants from across the sea。 That this dislike … indeed this enmity … was； at its core； mostly justifiable； made no difference to him at this moment。
But the Colonel had a great love for these people； for their life； their history； religion and customs； and it was this knowledge； chiefly； which heartened him now； which prompted him to say； 'There is no doubt； sir； that we have much to learn here but； I feel too； that the most advantageous of situations involves an exchange； initially； of information but； more important； leads from there to an exchange of … confidences。'
So…Peng's hands were inside the wide sleeves of his robe as he crossed his arms over his thin chest。 'Confidences；' he said meditatively as if the word were some new and exotic flavour he was testing on his palate。 'Well； now； Colonel； 〃confidences〃 may have many meanings … inflections and contextual placings determine that。 Whereby； my boy； I might be led to believe that you had meant by it； secrets。'
'That may not be very far from the mark； sir；' the Colonel replied。
'And what；' said So…Peng； 'makes you think that any such intimacy should be extended to you？'
The Colonel kept his gaze steady； his eyes impaled by those he saw in front of him； and so intense became this look that at
length the other's face seemed to disappear； leaving behind that pair of lights swimming alone in the atmosphere； hovering in lambent conversation。 'There is； firstly； respect； sir。 Then there is knowledge； knowledge sought and assimilated。 There is acceptance； of what is and what was … the understanding of one's role within the matrix。 Then there is the curiosity to learn the unknowable。 And lastly； there is love。' This being said； the Colonel relaxed somewhat； knowing that he had spoken his heart； expressed himself in a manner both pleasing to himself and honouring his wife。 There was naught else to be done now。
Yet when So…Peng next spoke； it was directed not at the Colonel but at his wife。 'Cheong；' he said。 'I believe that Chia Sheng is calling for you。 Her voice drifts up to me in this charged air。'
Without a word； Cheong bowed and departed。
The Colonel stayed where he was； silent。 Beyond their frail enclosure the storm came on。
'Cheong tells me that you are leaving for Japan shortly。'
The Colonel nodded。 'Yes。 Tomorrow。 I have been asked to work with General MacArthur in reconstructing a new Japan。'
'Yes。 There is much prestige in such work。 A place in history； eh； Colonel？'
'I hadn't thought about that； quite frankly。'
'Do you not think；' said So…Peng； 'that this reconstructing； as you put it； is best left for the Japanese people to decide for themselves？'
'That would be the ideal； of course。 But unfortunately certain elements within Japanese society have misdirected them throughout the last two decades。' When the other remained silent； the Colonel continued： 'I am certain you are quite aware of their activities in Manchuria。'
'Manchuria 1' So…Peng scoffed。 'What have I or my people to do with Manchuria？ It is as a slum on the far side of the world to us。 I would just as soon allow the Japanese and the Bolsheviks to fight between themselves for it。 Manchuria； from my point of view； would be no great loss to China as a whole。'
'But the Japanese sought that land as a foothold into the rest of China。 There they would have built their military bases
from which they would expand。'
'Yes。' So…Peng sighed。 'Their imperialist nature saddens me deeply … at least it did when I was a youth。 Yes； then it was like a thorn in my side； for the Japanese way is the way of militarism。 It always has been； it cannot be otherwise。 It is the