15
The following morning, after Douglas had left for the Batu Lembah estate, Evie picked up his unread copy of the Straits Times. Glancing at the editorial, she was drawn into reading it. Evidently Britain’s declaration of war was to be interpreted as a cause for rejoicing. Remembering the conversation of the previous night about the complacency of the colonial government and the military, she read with disbelief:
‘At this safe distance from the scene of battle, with our defences perfected and Japanese participation in the struggle on the side of Germany an extremely remote possibility, Malaya has little to fear.’
She folded the newspaper and set it aside. It was impossible to concentrate. The war seemed very remote from her here, whereas what had happened the night before still caused
