Poppy and the Thief

by Lucia Masciullo

  ‘Silence!’ the teacher shouted. ‘And you,’ he said, pointing to Poppy, ‘sit over there.’

  After telling the children to copy the poem into their workbooks, he approached her.

  ‘Now, what is this about Moyhu?’

  ‘My name is Kal, sir. Moyhu is my older brother and I’ve been looking for him everywhere.’

  The teacher looked at her sympathetically. ‘I hate to disappoint you, Kal, but your brother is no longer here. I was sorry to see him go. He was a wonderful help around the school and with the children. He left suddenly a few days ago … said it was urgent.’

  Urgent. Poppy hoped Gus wasn’t going back to Bird Creek to fetch her. ‘Did he say where he was going?’ she asked.

  The teacher shook his head. By this time the children had grown even more restless. Some of the older boys were flicking wet balls of blotting paper up onto the ceiling with their rulers.

  The teacher took his stick and struck the floor. ‘You, James Percy and Harold Murchison, are both to stay after school. The rest of the class is dismissed.’

  Poppy slipped out the door of the classroom. She knelt on the ground to rearrange Fisher’s harness and smooth his fur. ‘He was here, Fish, and only a few days ago, too.’

  She could hear the children packing up to go home so she hurried away.

  A weariness came over Poppy as she walked back to Dr Lin’s herb shop. She was tired, so very tired. She seemed to be chasing Gus’s shadow, always a few steps behind him. She was still worried that he might be heading back to Bird Creek. She didn’t know what the date was, but she was sure her birthday was only a few weeks away. Is that why he suddenly had to go? She felt so small and helpless.

  Ah Lam, Dr Lin’s helper, unharnessed Fisher and handed Poppy a shilling. She looked around for the doctor but was told he had left. She would ask him about the letter later. Fisher was glad to be rid of the harness and shook himself vigorously until his fur was smooth again.

  ‘Come on, Fish,’ she said. ‘It’s been a long day and you deserve a swim.’

  Out on the main street, Poppy and Fisher walked along the footpath behind two girls. Their blonde curls hung down their backs like cornsilk. They were walking arm in arm and talking excitedly about a big wedding the next day. Poppy overheard words such as ‘bride from China’ and something about ‘aa gold necklace that came from the Emperor of China’s treasure chest’. The girls giggled. How happy they are, Poppy thought, remembering how she and Blossom used to giggle just like that.

  As soon as Poppy reached the riverbank, Fisher ran into the water and began swimming. Watching Fisher the waterdog always lifted Poppy’s spirits, and she lay back on the warm sandy bank. Slowly the sounds of the town grew faint and she drifted into sleep.

  ‘Hello … hello,’ came a voice from above.

  Poppy opened her eyes.

  A boy knelt beside her, patting Fisher. ‘You were at my school today,’ he said. When he smiled, two dimples appeared in his cheeks. The boy had hair the same colour as the sand. ‘Your brother is a really good runner.’

  Poppy sat up, returning his smile.

  ‘He’s good at lots of things,’ the boy continued. ‘He taught me and James how to track wild animals and find berries in the bush to eat.’

  ‘Did he say where he was going?’ Poppy asked. ‘I have to find him.’

  The boy shook his head. ‘No, sorry, but I did see him leave. There were two men, black men, and they led him away.’

  Poppy’s heart froze. ‘Were they police trackers?’

  ‘I don’t think so. They weren’t wearing uniforms or nothing. When Moyhu saw me he waved and smiled, then went off into the bush with them. I thought they must be his relatives.’

  Poppy was puzzled. ‘Which direction did they go?’ she asked.

  The boy pointed. ‘That way … towards Beechworth.’

  Poppy looked in the direction the boy was pointing, hoping Gus might miraculously walk out of the bush.

  ‘Well, I best be getting home before it gets dark or my father will kill me. I just came to tell you that.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Poppy said.

  ‘I hope you find him.’ The boy hesitated, gave a small smile, and limped away. One of his legs was shorter than the other.

  Poppy was relieved. At least Gus was not going back to Bird Creek. And he was still heading in the direction of Beechworth. But who were those two men?

  OIL lamps like cats’ eyes glowed in windows along the main street. It was too late to go after Gus now, Poppy thought. And she still had one more thing to do before she left Wahgunyah. Now was the time to ask the doctor about the Chinese letter and Jimmy Ah Kew.

  She hurried back to Chinatown hoping this time to find Dr Lin in his herb shop. The front door was locked with a big brass padlock, but there was a light on in an upstairs room. She knocked loudly. Tian’s face appeared behind the dusty glass. She waved at him and he pushed open the small window and leaned out.

  ‘Is your uncle at home?’ she asked.

  Tian shook his head. ‘He see sick person.’ Then a happy look appeared on his face. ‘Kal, you help me, all right?’

  Poppy was suspicious. ‘Help you how?’

  ‘I got go out. Very important.’

  ‘So, go out. What’s stopping you?’

  Tian looked down. ‘Door lock. I go fantan house in afternoon. Uncle find out. Make me stay in room.’ He grinned. ‘But ladder in shed. You get. Put by window …’

  ‘Wait a minute,’ Poppy said. ‘I need to see Jimmy Ah Kew.’

  ‘What for you see Jimmy? He big man, most big man in Wagunyah. No want see you. You just get ladder, help Tian.’

  ‘Tell me where Jimmy Ah Kew lives, and I’ll think about your ladder.’

  ‘He have big store up street. That way,’ Tian said, exasperated.

  ‘How will I know which one? All the signs are in Chinese.’

  ‘He sell everything … and post office inside too.’

  ‘Thanks, Tian,’ Poppy said, waving up at him. She turned to leave.

  ‘Wait! You say you get ladder!’

  ‘I said I’d think about it.’ Poppy grinned as she walked off. That was a small payback for Tian taking Gus’s gold.

  Poppy peered through the glass into the darkness of Jimmy Ah Kew’s store. She tried the front door, and to her surprise found it unlocked. She pushed it open.

  Voices rose and fell in the back room. Poppy tiptoed towards the half-open door and peeked in.

  A group of men sat around a table, drinking from tiny white cups and cracking seeds between their teeth then spitting the husks on the floor.

  At the head of the table sat an upright man with intense brown eyes. His hair was thick and black. He said something in Chinese then banged the table with his fist. It must have been a joke, because everyone burst into laughter, raised their tiny cups, tossed back their heads and poured the liquid down their throats. That must be Jimmy Ah Kew, Poppy thought, a little afraid.

  The room fell silent suddenly. Jimmy Ah Kew lifted a small wooden box from his lap and placed it on the table. He then removed the lid and spoke in a soft voice. Everybody leaned in, blocking Poppy’s view.

  She peered around their heads but still couldn’t see, so she drew in a little closer and stood on tiptoes.

  Jimmy Ah Kew held something wrapped in peacock-blue silk on the palm of his hand. When she saw what was inside the cloth, Poppy’s eyes grew wide.

  It was a gleaming gold necklace with a creamy white pearl as big as a kookaburra’s egg. Poppy remembered the two girls she’d heard in the street talking about a necklace that came from the Emperor of China’s treasure chest.

  Jimmy Ah Kew’s eyes lifted. He frowned when he saw Poppy and quickly slipped the necklace under the silk cloth. ‘You, there! What you do here!’ he said.

  Trembling, Poppy stepped into the room, her precious letter in her hand.

  ‘I … I have a letter,’ she stuttered.

  ‘No post today. Shop clo
se,’ a short squat man said.

  ‘I don’t want to post it … I want to show it to … Jim… I mean, Mr Ah Kew. It’s his seal on —’

  ‘No send today. He busy!’ the man said.

  ‘Please, it’s important.’

  The man grabbed Poppy by the shoulders, swung her around and marched her to the front door.

  At the entrance his fingers relaxed. ‘You come back, two day time, all right?’ he said. ‘Mr Ah Kew, he get marry. You see bride at wharf tomorrow.’ Then he gently shoved her out the door.

  Click, clack went the bolts.

  A wet nose nuzzled Poppy’s hand as she sat on the worn step. Fisher rested his head on her lap.

  ‘What am I going to do, Fish? We have to find Gus, but I need to know what’s in this letter and why Jimmy Ah Kew’s seal is on it. I have to wait a little bit longer.’

  That night, Poppy and Fisher slept under Jimmy Ah Kew’s store. The sounds of men drinking and laughing drifted down through the floorboards. She couldn’t understand what they were saying, but she knew it was how her father would have sounded. For the first time in her life, Poppy could almost see what he might have looked like. But along with the knowing came a question filled with anger – Why did he leave us?

  She clutched the Tear Jar close to her heart. It was warm in her palm. ‘Why did he leave us, Napu?’

  The following morning Poppy was awakened by the sound of thunder. Opening her eyes, she peered through the wooden slats expecting to see rain, but instead she saw a mass of feet wearing black cloth shoes. It wasn’t thunder at all but people walking around above her.

  Out on the street was an odd-looking carriage sitting on the ground. It was a box on two shafts that extended to the front and back, with no wheels at all. The box had a window on the side, and a seat, and was open in front, with a curtain hanging down. A sedan chair, Poppy thought.There was a drawing of a sedan chair in The Book of Knowledge, but she never expected to see one here.

  The sounds of gongs, cymbals, drums and trumpets rang out. There was a scurry of feet and two men lifted the carriage off the ground. The air was filled with excitement and the beating of the drums resonated inside Poppy’s stomach.

  It was the day of Jimmy Ah Kew’s wedding! She quickly gathered her things, crawled out of her sleeping hole and tied a rope around Fisher’s neck. He struggled against her. ‘I don’t want to lose you,’ she said sternly. Then she hugged him. ‘You want to see the bride, don’t you?’

  At the head of the procession she recognised Jimmy Ah Kew, dressed in a long blue gown. He was on a bay-coloured horse and looked like a Chinese Emperor he sat so proud and straight. About fifty men made up the procession, dressed in bright, colourful robes.

  It looked as if the whole population of Wahgunyah had come out to watch the celebration. The shops were closed and families lined the main street.

  ‘There’s Tian,’ Poppy said to Fisher and ran to catch up with him.

  ‘So your uncle let you out,’ she said as she came up behind him.

  ‘Why you not get ladder?’ Tian asked, turning around and frowning.

  ‘It was for your own good, Tian,’ Poppy said.

  ‘I know what good for Lin Tian,’ he said, pounding his chest.

  ‘You think you know, but you don’t. Look at all the trouble you’ve got yourself into.’

  ‘You, me, no friend no more,’ he said, crossing his arms and turning slightly away.

  ‘When is Jimmy Ah Kew’s bride coming?’ she asked, ignoring his comment.

  ‘I hear boat. Quick.’ He grabbed her arm and led her down the street, pushing his way to the front of the crowd to where the paddlesteamer had docked. He made room for Poppy and Fisher and they waited together.

  Moments later, a hush fell over the river and the door on the top deck opened. Out stepped an older Chinese man.

  ‘That bride uncle,’ Tian whispered.

  Then the bride stepped out. Her face was covered with a red veil, so Poppy couldn’t tell if she was pretty or not. But she was wearing a beautiful dress embroidered with a Chinese phoenix. The bird’s tail feathers trailed down the length of the skirt to the hem. And peeping out from the hem were the tiniest feet Poppy had ever seen. They were about four inches long!

  ‘She very young, only twenty,’ Tian said. ‘Jimmy old man. But rich.’ A strange look entered his eyes.

  Just at that moment Jimmy Ah Kew stepped forward. The bride and groom bowed to each other, and Jimmy led his wife to the sedan chair. She lifted her dress with her small hand and stepped inside. The curtains were drawn, the chair was lifted off the ground and the bearers trotted away.

  ‘Oh, I wish I could see her face,’ Poppy said, turning to Tian. But he had already gone. Such an odd boy he is, she thought.

  The crowd began to disperse. The procession was making its way back through the streets of Wahgunyah to the Chinese section of town.

  The festive atmosphere had raised Poppy’s spirits and the thought of food filled her mind. She bought a loaf of bread at a bakery with some of the money the doctor had paid her and shared it with Fisher.

  As they sat on the side of the road eating, Poppy heard a commotion coming from the direction of Chinatown. At first she thought that it was part of the wedding festivities but then she realised that the voices sounded angry.

  She saw Tian running up the street. He ducked down a laneway beside some shops. What is he up to now? she wondered.

  The shouting from Chinatown was growing louder. People were running back and forth, heading her way. Poppy looked at the laneway down which Tian had disappeared.

  She stood up, told Fisher to stay, and walked over there just in time to catch Tian poking his head out, looking furtively up the street. When he saw her he jumped, putting his hand to his chest.

  That’s when she saw a corner of blue silk cloth poking out through a hole in his shirt.

  ‘What have you got there?’ she asked, suspiciously. The shouts were growing louder behind her.

  Tian looked panicky, his eyes twitching and darting about. But his hand seemed to belong to someone else. Ever so slowly it drew out a bundle from under his shirt, a bundle wrapped in blue silk.

  The shouting was close now.

  Suddenly Tian thrust the bundle towards her, then turned and fled. It slipped out of Poppy’s hands and fell to the ground, opening there with a metallic flash. Her breath caught. It was the priceless gold necklace — Jimmy Ah Kew’s present to his new bride.

  Poppy knelt down and picked it up carefully just as three men, their queues wrapped around their necks, stopped at the head of the laneway. They were breathing hard. One of them held a large meat chopper in his hand.

  She looked at them, and suddenly she saw herself as they saw her.

  ‘Jok jaw ge chuk la! We’ve caught the thief!’

  POPPY was taken from the storeroom where she had been left, her hands bound with rope. She was half-dragged, half-carried outside, to the back of Jimmy Ah Kew’s shop. The yard was full of men. All were silent as the guards thrust her down on her knees before a man sitting in a chair. It was Jimmy Ah Kew.

  He glared at her, saying nothing. The silence was terrible. She turned her head to look around and up at the men staring down at her and caught a glimpse of a red-veiled face peeking from behind a curtain in an upstairs window. Jimmy’s new bride.

  While lying tied up in the storeroom she knew there was nothing she could say, nothing they would believe. They had seen her yesterday at Jimmy Ah Kew’s shop, and they knew she had seen the necklace. It made perfect sense, even if it was all wrong. Poppy shook with fear.

  Some of the men had been whispering to Jimmy Ah Kew. His eyes flashed and he turned to her with a terrible, fierce smile. ‘You know what they say to me?’ he said. ‘They say you nobody. You have nobody. And nobody miss you if you disappear.’

  Poppy went pale. ‘But I …’

  ‘Quiet!’ Jimmy Ah Kew roared. ‘You dare speak? You, who make me lose face in front of
everyone? You, who insult my bride, who insult me?’ He banged his fist on the arm of his chair, and there was a murmur from the crowd. Standing up, Jimmy Ah Kew spoke angrily in Chinese, pointing around in a circle to the group of men, then pointing down at her. ‘I ask them,’ he said, ‘who tell me why we no kill you.’ He glared down at her. ‘Why no take your little thief life?’

  Poppy couldn’t meet his eyes. She leant forward, putting her forehead on the ground, and trembled all over. The noise from the crowd of men grew to a shout.

  Then suddenly stopped.

  Poppy twisted her head to look, and saw, upside down, Tian walking towards Jimmy Ah Kew, the crowd of men opening up to each side in front of him.

  When he stood before Jimmy Ah Kew, he spoke in Chinese, pointing down at Poppy. As he did so, men from either side jumped at him and held his arms. Jimmy Ah Kew stood up and struck Tian in the mouth. He gave a command to the men holding the boy, then jerked his head towards Poppy saying something else. She felt herself being lifted off the ground. She looked at Tian, who was being bound with rope.

  Poppy was taken to the storeroom, her bonds cut. But the door was kept locked. She was still shaking uncontrollably. Tian had confessed, that was clear.

  Just then the door opened. It was Dr Lin, with Fisher following behind. Fisher ran up to Poppy and licked her face excitedly. She hugged and squeezed him.

  ‘Your dog came to my clinic,’ Dr Lin said, sitting down on a large roll of blue cotton cloth. ‘He bark until I come out, then he lead me here. Aiya,’ he sighed. ‘I am sorry for what my nephew did.’

  ‘Have you spoken to him?’ Poppy asked.

  The doctor nodded. ‘He said when he see you taken away, he follow. Then, when he hear Jimmy Ah Kew shouting at you, he feel something inside. Something he never feel before, he said, like stab in heart. I tell him is conscience.’ Dr Lin smiled sadly. ‘That boy not really bad, he just never know right from wrong. I blame poor dead brother. He laugh when Lin Tian do something wicked. I tell him that is no good for his son. Then he laugh at me.’