21
The only person Evie told about her strange encounter with the Taoist monk was Mary Helston.
‘There’s a lot of wisdom among the Chinese,’ Mary said, ‘if only we listened to it. We British are all too quick to assume that we have all the answers and that other races and cultures are decidedly second-best with nothing to offer us.’
‘Are you religious, Mary?’
Mary thought for a moment. ‘I go to church. I believe in God. But I received little comfort from the vicar when Ralph died. I suppose I go more out of duty, and because it’s expected. But I feel closer to God when I enter a church outside of the services and just sit down and pray in silence. Or even don’t pray at all.’ She smiled. ‘To tell the truth, Evie, I find being somewhere like Penang Hill or walking along the beach I can j
