China by Edward Rutherfurd (historical books to read TXT) 📕

could get so bad, there is another solution: You should come, too. Hardly anyone’s served here as long as you.”

“I can’t desert the converts.” He shook his head. “I’m responsible for converting them. I can’t abandon them now. So if, God forbid, the worst were to happen, let’s not leave our children without either parent.”

“I’m just as responsible for the converts as you, Henry,” she replied. “You know it’s true. As for the children, both our girls are married. My brothers would always look after the boys. They’d have a home at Drumlomond. Once Tom goes to school, he’s not going to see us for years anyway—just the same as hundreds of children with parents serving all over the British Empire, who spend the holidays with relations in England and probably never see their parents until after they’ve finished school. Perhaps not even then.”

“We’ll wait a day or two,” he said, “and see.”

He was over at the legation all the following morning and came back soon after noon. “Word is that the Boxers have sworn allegiance to Cixi,” he reported. “They’ve been going through some kind of martial arts drill inside the Imperial City. I don’t know what it means,” he confessed, “and nor does anyone at the legation. How’s your father?”

“Oh,” she said, “Father’s being an absolute brick. He’s keeping Tom occupied.”

“What are they doing?”

“Playing cricket.”

—

Trader was quite enjoying himself. His grandson wasn’t complicated. Young Tom was just anxious not to make a fool of himself when he got to England.

“The other fellows will have been at school for three or four years already,” he explained. “I don’t know why my parents held me back so long. So I want to make sure I’m good at something that matters, like cricket, so that I don’t look like a duffer. One thing’ll do for a start, I hope. What do you think, Grandfather?”

“Do one thing well. That’s all you need at school. All you need in life, really.”

“I’ve got a cricket bat. And a cricket ball. Could you bowl at me?”

“Net practice without a net, eh? All right.” Trader didn’t like to think how long it was since he’d held a cricket ball in his hand, but they took over one end of the mission’s yard and started. He didn’t try to bowl overarm, but by throwing the ball with a short arm he could be pretty accurate. He could also put all kinds of spin on the ball. “Keep your bat straight,” he’d call. “Step forward and block those ones…” He hadn’t been in his school first eleven, but he’d been a useful all-rounder and he knew enough to coach young Tom quite effectively. When he grew tired of this net practice, he was quite happy to play catch with his grandson for half an hour, in front of the curious converts, until Emily rescued him.

“You’re a very good grandfather,” she told him.

“Enjoyed it, actually.”

“Can we play again tomorrow?” Tom asked.

“Of course we can,” said Trader.

“Can I ask you something, Grandfather?”

“I should think so.”

“At school, will they all wear white flannels for cricket? Father says I can perfectly well play in the grey flannels I have.”

“Well, of course your father’s quite right.” And also on a missionary’s salary, Trader thought. “I daresay we’ll sort all that out when the time comes,” he went on blandly. “It’ll be nearly a year before the next cricket season begins. You’ll be taller by then.”

“Thank you, Father,” said Emily as soon as Tom had trotted off. Trader smiled. The boy would have white flannels, the same as everybody else. He’d see to that.

Inside, she brought him lemonade and a glass for herself, too. “Father,” she resumed finally, “Henry and I are worried about Tom.”

“He seems all right to me.”

“It’s the Boxers. We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we think he ought to go to England at once. Just in case.”

“I see. What about you and Henry? Shouldn’t you get out, too?”

“Henry won’t desert the converts. And I won’t desert Henry.”

“I understand. But I don’t agree about you. You must think of your children.”

“Please don’t you start. Henry’s already…” She trailed off. “I’d love to see you for longer. It’s been so wonderful. But will you please take Tom home?”

“When?”

“Tomorrow. Or the next day at latest.”

“You know,” he said, “I came all the way out here to see you, spend a bit of time with you before it’s too late. But I was a bit concerned about these Boxers. So I’d thought, if things look bad, I’ll try to get you all to come back to England. Might be the last important thing I could do for the family.”

“So you came across half the world for us.”

“Not as if I didn’t know the way.”

“Well, Henry’s trying to force me, but he won’t succeed. And nor will you. So I’m afraid you’ll just have to take Tom. He’ll be very pleased. You’re his hero.”

“The boy doesn’t really need me on the boat, you know. Just put him on board. The captain will keep an eye on him. Give instructions for where he’s to be sent at the other end. He can go to Drumlomond. Easy enough with the trains.”

“Like a parcel with a label?”

“That’s how children are being sent about, all over the British Empire.”

“If Tom goes to England, where are you going to go?”

“If you leave, I shall leave with you and Tom. But if you stay, I’d rather stay with you. If you don’t mind, that is.” He smiled. “It was really you I came to see.”

“You’d be putting your life at risk.”

“Not much life to risk when you’re nearly ninety.”

“You’d stand there, sword in hand?”

“I used to be rather good with a sword, you know.”

“Oh, Father.” She got up and kissed him. “Will you get Tom on a ship, at least?”

He nodded. “All right.”

—

The feathery clouds in the east were gleaming red the following morning, and she wondered if it meant a storm. But by the time that