India Dark by Kirsty Murray Page A

dead sailor?’ she whispered.
    I glanced around the docks, at the crowds of Chinamen, Malays, Europeans and sailors of all nations. There were so many cheerful people alive in the world, it was awful the way Poesy wanted to spoil my chink of happiness. I was sorry that other people died but it was lovely to be alive. Thinking of dead people made me queasy. I shook off the feeling and climbed into the rickshaw, squashed between Poesy and Valentine.
    As the rickshaw trundled through the streets, I leaned out and savoured every bit of the town. Hawkers shouted at passers-by and the air was filled with strange smells, spicy oils and sweet-smelling smoke. I wanted to shout, ‘Singapore, I love you!’
    Our rickshaw had huge penny-farthing wheels, a black leather shade pushed back and long poles that the driver clasped in his sinewy hands. He was skinny and bare-chested with a lank scarf around his neck, ragged trousers and bare feet. I couldn’t see his face beneath his straw coolie hat but I’m sure he was a Chinaman.
    â€˜I hope we don’t have too many natives or Chinamen come and watch us,’ I said. ‘My mother would faint if she knew that I was being watched by Orientals.’
    Poesy gave me a snitty little look and said, ‘I can’t imagine that Mrs Sweeney has ever fainted in her life.’
    â€˜No one likes a snide miss, Poesy Swift,’ I said.
    Poesy sucked in her lower lip and frowned. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to come out like that.’
    â€˜She’s been spending too much time with Clarissa, Tempe and Ruby,’ said Valentine.
    Poesy hung her head and fidgeted with her hands.
    â€˜What did Tempe and that lot want with you anyway? You never did tell us why they invited you into their cabin. And what’s been going on between you and Eliza? You’ve turned into quite the little pet of the big girls, haven’t you?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ she said. But of course she was lying.
    â€˜Well, now that we’re in Singapore, things will be different. You can share with me and Valentine again. You don’t have to put up with those older girls bossing you around.’
    â€˜Lizzie never bosses me.’
    â€˜But she took you away from me. If it hadn’t been for me, you wouldn’t even be a Lilliputian, Poesy.’
    She looked at me with those big blue eyes as if I had said something outrageous. Why couldn’t she admit that but for me she never would have joined up?
    â€˜Can’t you see? Eliza doesn’t really like you,’ I said. ‘She’s only using you. She used to be best friends with Tempe and Ruby, but since they squabbled Lizzie refuses to share a cabin with them, so she’s made you her little puppet. It’s not fair. You’re my friend.’
    Poesy frowned again and took a long time to reply. Sometimes I had to wonder if she was quite a duffer. ‘Why can’t I be everyone’s friend?’
    I nearly snorted in irritation. Then Poesy slipped her damp little hand over mine.
    â€˜You have to understand, Tilly. Lizzie is like a big sister to me. She’s almost a grown-up.’
    â€˜No she’s not,’ I said. ‘She simply thinks she is.’
    â€˜Let’s not argue,’ said Poesy, doing her trick of turning things away from what was important. She leaned forward to look out at the street. Valentine began prattling about Ruby, Tempe and Clarissa again, worrying at all the details of whether Mr Arthur would go on giving Ruby the best roles simply out of guilt. Poesy didn’t say anything; even though she must have seen and heard things that we hadn’t, she kept her little mouth shut tight.
    I could have wept with relief when we reached our hotel, to have a proper roof over our heads. At last! A room where the floor didn’t creak and move beneath my feet! The whole building was white, with deliciously deep-set verandahs, and it overlooked