41I let myself into the apartment; disappointed once again that Weng had left without speaking to me. Is he avoiding me? We’d stopped talking so abruptly the other night. I stretch out on the sofa and close my eyes. I’ve had no rest the whole day. What with all the coming and going, the greeting of strangers, Kan Jieh’s bombshell has left me exhausted. Kit’s flat is a haven. Fifteen storeys above the madness in the pavilion below where the crowd is tucking into yet another obligatory buffet supper.
My cell phone buzzes. It’s Jeev. Suddenly I’m relieved, and pleased to hear his voice from across the Pacific.
“How’re you doin’? Have you eaten your first ten course meal yet?”
“Jeev, Ah-ku… she passed away before I reached home.”
“No. Oh no. It must have been such a shock.”
“It’s hard to
