The White Amah (34 page)

Sick and tired of being in the spotlight, David had arced up at the idea of having a television crew filming their every move. ‘Mei Li’s been through a terrible experience,’ he’d said. ‘Surely she deserves some privacy.’

‘But we’ve got to strike while the story’s red hot,’ Benny had countered. ‘And if, as you say, you’re genuinely committed to fighting the logging companies, you’ll never get a better chance to publicise your cause. Think of the size of your audience and imagine the size of the donations it’ll bring in. This will make the
Tuff Love
special look like small bikkies.’

He had turned to Mei Li. ‘And to give your mum her due, Mei Li, no other program has ever generated more money for a charity,’ he said, delivering his killer argument with a disarming grin.

‘Do you really think Mei Li wants to see her grandparents for the first time since their daughter was murdered with a whole lot of media types spying on her?’

‘S’okay, we do it,’ Mei Li said, cutting in. ‘More important people know cutting trees destroys lives than me and you being watched by millions.’

Bravo, Mei Li, thought Benny. He remembered how, in her halting English, she had persuaded David that the interests of her people were the most important thing. That grandmother of hers must be something special. He was looking forward to meeting the woman who’d moulded Mei Li’s attitudes and values.

‘What’s that you’re reading?’ Benny enquired as Sandy politely closed her book.

‘It’s a biography about the White Rajahs of Sarawak,’ said Sandy. ‘I bought it at the airport in Miri. Did you know that a British family, the Brookes, ruled Sarawak for over a hundred years?’

‘How fascinating,’ said Benny, feigning interest. After all, she was Lady Sandy Chadwick and the influence she had over her husband was legendary. It couldn’t hurt to encourage her. Who knows, she might persuade Josh to change agencies. He flashed his practised smile at the rock star’s trusting wife. ‘Maybe we could mention something about them in the program.’

‘Yes, well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about,’ said Sandy with a shy, winsome smile. ‘Did you know that Tuff’s real name is Crystal Brooke?’

‘Yeah,’ said Benny, trying to keep a straight face. In his estimation, changing that ridiculous name was one of the few sensible decisions Tuff had ever made.

‘Well, you’ll probably think this is far-fetched but wouldn’t it
be marvellous if Mei Li turned out to be related to the Brookes? Apparently there are scores of their love children popping up all over the world. Imagine what a great story that would make.’

‘It certainly would be a an interesting angle,’ said Benny, intrigued by the possibilities. But that was too big a stretch even for him to get the public to buy.

Scarcely a minute had passed before he turned eagerly towards her. ‘Would you mind letting me have a look at that book?’ he asked, his lively, intelligent eyes gleaming with half-formed schemes.

Forgotten scandals from the past didn’t trouble the long-lost descendant of the White Rajahs. The sound of gongs and drums floated across the paddy fields, the feast was spread out on mats in front of the longhouse doors and the children in decorated canoes strewed blossom on the water. The bride and her groom had come home.