Dragon Land

by Maureen Reynolds

  The steward took my case to my sleeping quarters, where I sat down and cried. ‘What have I let myself in for?’ I said quietly through my tears. Once in bed, however, the rocking of the train soon sent me to sleep, and the next thing I remembered was the steward bringing me my morning cup of tea.

  ‘We’re just coming into London, Miss.’

  For a minute I couldn’t think where I was; then the full realisation struck me as I stumbled out of the berth and had a quick wash just as we pulled into the station. A porter took my case to the waiting taxi, and I looked out onto the foggy London streets as we sped across the city towards the docks.

  When we reached my destination, the ship was waiting for the passengers to embark. It was called SS China Rose and the long-ago memories of walking around the harbour at Dundee with Mum came flooding back. I had chirpily exclaimed then how I wished I could be a pirate and I remembered Granny telling me to be careful what you wished for because it might come true. Now here I was being confronted with my childhood wish and I suddenly felt terrified.

  The dock was busy with people and luggage, and there was a cacophony of noise as sailors, men, women and a few children walked up the gangplank, busy turning to look at friends or relatives who stood on the dock, some of whom were smiling and waving, but a few were crying as they said goodbye to their loved ones.

  Ahead of me was a large woman dressed in a thick woollen coat with a huge fur collar and carrying an enormous leather handbag. She was urging a young blonde-haired woman to get a move on. ‘Hurry up, Elsie. I’m freezing, standing here while you dither about.’

  Elsie turned an apologetic face to the woman. ‘I’m sorry, Mother, but I feel a bit queasy.’

  The older woman snorted. ‘Don’t be stupid. We haven’t sailed yet.’

  With this comment, Elsie sprinted up the gangplank and stood by the ship’s rail, gazing down at the sea of faces that surged forwards in order to get a better last look. She had a very pale face under a grey cloche hat and she looked very unhappy, as did her mother when she joined her.

  ‘I hope that steward doesn’t bang my case on his way to our cabin,’ she said as she followed the case’s departure through narrowed eyes, her lips clamped together with displeasure.

  By now I was beginning to get excited at the thought of this long sea voyage, and when I saw my cabin I was enthralled. It wasn’t a big space, but it was all I needed, with a neat bunk bed, a desk that doubled as a dressing table, a wardrobe and a small bathroom. Margaret had said she had paid extra for my passage, for which I was grateful.

  The first thing I unpacked was Mum’s small carriage clock. I had asked Margaret if she wanted to keep it, but she had said no.

  ‘I remember that clock, Lizzie, and Beth always loved it, even as a child, but now it belongs to you.’

  I was pleased that Margaret had made room for Granny’s furniture, especially the grandfather clock, but I had packed Granny’s photo album along with my two framed photos, and I soon had the cabin looking more like my bedroom at home.

  I went up to the deck and stood looking as the ship slowly slipped its anchor. To begin with, we passed wharves where there was a strong smell of fish, oil and wet wood. Hordes of men stood on the docks while high cranes lifted crates from the ships’ holds. Once on dry land they would be loaded on trucks and wagons to be taken to the many warehouses that lined the river. The air was filled with the voices of the dockers as they negotiated the cargoes.

  Shortly, we left all that behind as we headed into the open sea and began the journey into the unknown. I could smell the salty tang of the sea, and the river changed from brackish, oily water to white-tipped waves as the ship headed into the wind.

  I had the feeling I was beginning a new stage of my life. I was still grieving for the mother and granny I loved, but Margaret had been right, as she usually was: life had to go on, and it wasn’t what you did with your life but what you didn’t. That was where true regret lay.

  I looked around as I stood at the rails, but apart from a few hardy men who were taking a brisk walk along the deck it appeared as if most of the passengers had elected to stay in their cabins or in the lounges, where I had noticed comfy-looking chairs and tables. Perhaps the wind was too cold for them, but I relished the thought of the journey ahead and I also wanted a last look at the receding land I was leaving behind.

  30

  THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

  Margaret had given me some tips about etiquette aboard a ship, so on the first evening I wore a silver-grey satin dress with matching sandals as I made my way to the dining room. It was almost three-quarters full when I entered, and the waiter showed me to my table, where two women and an elderly man were already seated.

  I thought I would have had a single table, but most tables held four or six passengers, so it looked as if everyone was sharing. I noticed Elsie and her mother were sitting next to an elderly couple and Elsie’s mother was talking loudly to them. Either they were deaf or this was her natural tone of voice.

  My companions turned out to be a retired major by the name of James Watters, who was travelling to India, and two middle-aged ladies, Ada and Hannah Jones, who were disembarking at Port Said.

  ‘We’re going to join our brother David in Egypt,’ Ada said.

  Hannah added, ‘Yes, he’s working on an archaeological dig there and we’re going to visit him for the winter.’ She turned to her sister. ‘It gets so cold in Wales, doesn’t it? So we thought it would make a nice change to get away to the sun.’

  Major Watters said he didn’t mind a bit of cold weather. ‘I believe it gets too hot in Delhi, where I’m going, but I won’t be gone long, as I’m taking my brother back with me to Edinburgh because he hasn’t been well. He’s retired from his job as an army doctor and we hope to return back home to the family house.’

  Three pairs of eyes looked at me, asking me to tell them my story, but my life seemed very mediocre compared to theirs, so I simply told them my mother had died and I was now going to teach in a school in Hong Kong.

  Hannah looked at her sister. ‘Doesn’t that sound wonderful, Ada? Going to the Far East.’

  Ada said it was and they then tried to put names to the rest of the passengers as we ate our meal, which was delicious. I went back to the lounge with them, where we had coffee while the colonel had a brandy. I looked at my watch and wondered if Margaret was having her gin and tonic, and I suddenly felt homesick. I noticed Elsie and her mother were sitting together with their coffee and the older woman was doing all the speaking, although I couldn’t hear what she was saying. Elsie looked miserable and I felt sorry for her.

  Later, before going to bed, I walked around the deck. The moonlight was shining on the water, looking like a long silver road, and I stayed outside until I felt cold before going into my cabin.

  I was beginning to enjoy my time at sea until a couple of days later I awoke and I felt the cabin floor swaying. When I went outside, the sea was very rough, with large waves. ‘This must be the Bay of Biscay,’ I thought. Margaret had warned me it was always a very rough passage here.

  I made my way to the dining room and was surprised to see it almost empty. I had the table to myself, and as I ordered breakfast the waiter said, ‘I see you’re a true sailor, Miss.’

  ‘I’m sorry, but I don’t understand,’ I replied.

  He waved a hand over the empty tables. ‘Most of the passengers are in their cabins. Seasick they are, poor souls.’

  It was the same all that day, and the next, and it wasn’t until we were almost at Gibraltar that people started to appear. I was lounging on a deckchair when Elsie walked past. She looked even paler than when she had first boarded the ship.

  She glanced at me as she passed, then turned back.

  ‘Hullo, do you mind if I sit beside you?’

  I said I didn’t mind, so she stretched out beside me. The sun was much warmer now and she sighed.

  ‘I’m so glad it’s getting warmer and that I’m finally
getting over that awful seasickness. Did you have it as well?’

  ‘No, I was lucky, and I had the entire dining room to myself.’

  She looked at me in amazement. ‘You were able to eat?’

  I said I had, and I introduced myself. ‘I’m Lizzie Flint.’

  She held out a slender white hand. ‘Pleased to meet you, Lizzie. I’m Elsie Lomax.’

  I almost said I knew her name. I noticed the wedding and engagement rings on her left hand, and she saw me looking at them. ‘I’m Mrs Elsie Lomax.’ She sighed. ‘My mother is still under the weather, and although I feel fine now I don’t think I can stomach anything to eat.’

  ‘Where are you travelling to, Elsie?’ I said, thinking they were just going on a short trip to the sun.

  ‘I’m going to Shanghai.’

  I almost fell off my deckchair. ‘What? Shanghai in China?’

  ‘Yes, I’m going to join my husband, Ronnie, who works there.’ She opened her small handbag and took out a photo. It showed a tall, young, good-looking man in a striped blazer and flannels gazing insolently into the lens. ‘This is Ronnie. His father owns cotton mills in Lancashire and China. He sent Ronnie out there to manage those mills. He isn’t happy there and wants to come home, but I have to go and join him because his father has told him he has to stay there for some time. We met at Edinburgh University and got married six months ago. Poor Ronnie wanted to be an artist, but his father said that was a namby-pamby thing to do and that he would be better off running the mills in China.’ She looked so unhappy as she put the photo away.

  ‘I’m really sorry to hear that, Elsie. Could he not have told his father he didn’t want to go?’

  ‘Actually he did, but his father said he would stop his allowance if he didn’t go, so he had no choice.’

  I didn’t agree with that, but I stayed silent. Elsie’s husband could have defied his father and looked for a job in order to support himself and his young wife, but hadn’t.

  ‘Is your mother going to stay with you both when you get to China?’

  She shuddered, as if caught in a chill wind. ‘Oh lord, no. She’s coming with me in order to see where I’m going to be staying and make sure the place is safe. She wrote to Ronnie’s father and demanded a return fare for herself in order to scrutinise the arrangements in China, so Mr Lomax came up with the ticket.’

  I tried not to smile. The thought crossed my mind: ‘I bet he did.’ When it came down to Mr Lomax versus Elsie’s mother, it would have been no contest.

  ‘Where are you heading for, Lizzie?’

  ‘I’m going to teach in a school in Hong Kong and I’m really looking forward to it.’

  ‘I wish I felt the same as you, but I’m dreading going to Shanghai. I’ll be glad to see Ronnie again, but China’s on the other side of the world and I’m trying hard not to think about it.’ Then she suddenly said, ‘Here comes my mother. She’ll be wondering why I’ve left her alone in the cabin.’

  Elsie’s mother was an imposing figure as she strode towards us. ‘Elsie, I was wondering where you had got to.’

  For a brief moment, I had an amusing thought. Where on earth did the woman think her daughter had gone? After all, we were in the middle of the sea on a ship.

  ‘Mother, this is Lizzie Flint. We were just sitting in the sun and having a chat. Lizzie, this is my mother, Mrs Burton.’

  Mrs Burton was the kind of woman who gave one a good look-over before speaking. I must have passed muster because she inclined her head. ‘Pleased to meet you, Miss Flint.’ She turned to Elsie. ‘I thought we might have a stroll along the deck, then I might manage a cup of coffee.’

  Elsie stood up, but before she followed her mother’s back, which was still clad in the thick woollen coat, she said, ‘Maybe we can meet up later in the lounge and have a coffee.’

  I smiled at her. ‘I’ll look forward to that, Elsie.’

  As the two women walked off I was able to return to my book.

  The next few days passed in this lazy fashion, and Elsie and I spent a lot of time together, either lazing on the deckchairs or sitting in the lounge. I was also enjoying the company of my dinner companions. Major Watters mentioned he had fought in the war.

  ‘I try not to think about it too much,’ he said one evening. ‘They’re calling it the Great War, but there’s nothing great or glorious about it. I’ve enjoyed my army career, but I’m also glad I’m out of it, because I think there will be another war in the near future.’

  The two ladies looked horrified, and Ada said, ‘Oh, don’t say that, Major. The last one was bad enough and we don’t want any more young men slaughtered.’

  I felt tears spring to my eyes.

  Ada looked alarmed. ‘Are you all right, Lizzie?’

  I said I was. ‘It’s just that my father was killed in 1917 and his body was never found.’ I almost added that it killed my mother too, but I didn’t.

  The major put his hand over mine and his voice was rough. ‘So sorry to hear that, Lizzie, but there were hundreds of men who died like that, with no known burial site.’

  Hannah and Ada looked at me with concern and I tried to lighten the situation. ‘Tell me about your brother, David.’

  Ada said, ‘He loves pottering around the temples and ruins in Egypt and they’ve found some really ancient relics.’

  ‘He met Howard Carter,’ said Hannah. ‘It was just after he discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb. David wrote and told us about the wonderful things found with the mummy. Then there was the tragic story of Lord Carnarvon being bitten by a mosquito and dying. David said a lot of people thought it was a curse from the tomb.’

  I remembered how Granny, Mum and I had been reading about this wonderful discovery and I mentioned this to them.

  ‘We were the same, weren’t we, Ada?’ said Hannah.

  Ada said they were, and we all agreed what a great find it was as we ate our meal.

  31

  SHIPMATES

  We were approaching Port Said, and Elsie and I were standing on the deck with Ada and Hannah. We were all excited at the thought of being on land again. The two sisters said their brother was coming to meet them to take them to Cairo, where he had booked them into a hotel.

  ‘It’ll be so good to see him again, as it’s been over ten years since we met up with him,’ said Hannah. Ada was busy checking their luggage and I noticed a few people were going to disembark there as well.

  Elsie leaned on the rail and surveyed the scene. We had both decided to go ashore for a few hours, but Mrs Burton had objected. ‘I don’t want you to get lost in a foreign land, Elsie.’

  ‘I’ll be going with Lizzie,’ she said. Mrs Burton gave me a look, as if to say that wasn’t a good recommendation, but Elsie stood her ground. ‘You can always come with us.’

  Mrs Burton gazed at her daughter with a horrified expression. ‘What? Go ashore to be amongst a crowd of sailors and pedlars and goodness only knows who else?’

  Then Major Watters said he would accompany us, and Mrs Burton relented. The hot sun was beating down when we stepped ashore, but we were wearing large straw hats that shielded our faces from the heat. The major helped the two ladies with their luggage, and when the brother arrived in a battered-looking car, they introduced him to us. He was in his fifties, with a thin, sunburnt face and a lovely smile. He was dressed in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, and I noticed his arms were thin and sinewy, as if they were used to excavating his digs.

  I gave Ada and Hannah a hug. ‘I’m going to miss you both, as I’ve enjoyed hearing the stories about the excavations.’

  Hannah took out her handkerchief and wiped her eyes. ‘We’ll also miss you, Lizzie. Now mind and take care of yourself in Hong Kong and maybe we’ll meet again.’

  The major and Elsie said goodbye and the car drove off in a cloud of dust. The three of us explored the streets behind the port, but we were surrounded by children begging us to buy their wares. Elsie opened her handbag, but the major said it was best to ignore
them, otherwise we would be mobbed by more pedlars.

  The sun beat down on our heads, and after a couple of hours we all decided to go back to the ship. Mrs Burton gave us a look of triumph as if to say, ‘I did warn you, didn’t I?’

  It was just me and the major at the table that night, and although I liked him, he didn’t have the same sociable manner of Ada and Hannah. However, I was so excited to be sailing through the Suez Canal, and after the meal Elsie and I stood and watched as the ship negotiated the locks.

  The next night we were surprised to have Elsie and her mother sitting beside us. ‘I couldn’t stand having another conversation with that elderly couple we were sharing a table with because they are both deaf, so I asked if we could be moved here,’ said Mrs Burton to the major.

  Elsie gave me a shy glance while the major looked mortified. I was pleased to have Elsie as a companion, but her mother was a bit overbearing. She immediately launched into a tirade about her son-in-law and his father.

  ‘What father sends his only son to China just a few months after he marries my daughter? I wrote and told him what I thought, that his son is a bit immature, but he says Ronnie has to learn the business of cotton weaving and that he has sent one of his trusted managers to the Shanghai mills who will look after him and Elsie.’ She looked at the major as if hoping he would agree with her, but he just nodded.

  Afterwards in the lounge he normally only drank one brandy, but that night he had two. He drained his glass under the gimlet eye of Mrs Burton.

  As the ship sailed eastwards, I missed the company of Ada and Hannah, and I wondered if they were enjoying their sightseeing trip to the archaeological dig with their brother. I know the major wasn’t pleased having Mrs Burton as a table companion, although he liked to chat with Elsie.

  Mrs Burton took umbrage at this attention, and one morning I overheard her telling Elsie to watch out for the old goat, as she didn’t like him trying to seduce her.