The Sleeping Dictionary Page #3

it'll just seem

unfair to them.

Pull!

Would you mind?

That's it, perfect. Thank you.

Thank you.

Isn't she amazing?

What did she say?

There's not a precise

English translation for that one.

Cecil, these children

love having their photo--

She's wonderful.

I wish I looked like her.

Hands higher, please.

That's it.

Perfect.

Cecil, I don't think

she wants her photograph taken.

- Just a couple more.

- Truscott!

Go and see what's happening

down there, will you?

Ask her to keep up

that fierce expression, please.

- Cecil--

- Truscott!

I told you to go and see

what the devil's happening!

She won't understand.

She's Yakata.

You can tell by

the turquoise bracelet.

I studied them.

She was bleeding

through her skin.

Come away

and wash your hands.

There's a dozen more dead bodies

turned up at Laksai,

of their territory.

I'd better go up river

and have a look, hadn't I?

No, you hadn't!

It's dangerous enough up there

without an epidemic.

That's my job.

They'll have your head

as soon as look at you.

Besides he doesn't

speak the language.

Well,

I'll take Selima.

She speaks

half a dozen languages.

And Belansai, no one's

going to tangle with him.

Send that idiot Shipperly.

A few poisoned darts

might liven him up.

I'll set out

tomorrow morning, shall I?

Aggie,

I can't send Shipperly.

You said yourself

the man's an idiot...

If you're about to be killed,

at least stay for dinner.

Terrific girl, Cecil.

Isn't she?

Absolutely, yeah.

If you want a child

properly educated,

you've got to send them

back home.

But you can't be

in two places at once.

And I thought

it was my duty...

to stay with Henry.

Yes.

But they've done

a terrific job on her.

We're delighted.

She knows

all sorts of things.

And it means she's turned out

very self-sufficient, very capable.

Exactly the sort of girl

one wants to marry out here,

not some flimsy little miss

who's never left England.

And of course...

she's ever so fond of you.

Well, she's lovely,

like you say.

But I'm not sure

that I...

Love her?

I don't think I knew what love

was when I was your age.

I don't suppose you do.

Well, what is it like?

Well, it's, um...

it's companionship,

fellow feeling.

Now listen,

you want these schools

for the Iban.

Henry'll help you.

I'll see to that.

So...

what do you say?

I'm not really sure.

This is all rather sudden.

Don't take too long

thinking about it.

Neville's asked her

to marry him.

She'll be gone by the time

you get back from your trip

and you won't see her

for two years.

I'm sorry about

this afternoon.

I should have

stopped her sooner.

Selima?

You had other lovers

before me, didn't you?

Did you and they

have what we have?

Yes.

They were men

like you.

But...

I thought we had

something special.

No, we f***, that's all.

You're angry?

You're not telling the truth.

I'm angry, that's why

I'm telling the truth.

Half my blood is English.

That is more than

your king and queen,

but for you,

that is not good enough.

So Iban I'll be.

Rule me if you must,

but nothing else.

Go ahead.

Do your sex.

Don't mind me.

"Hands higher.

That's it.

Perfect."

"Dear Cecil,

Everything is going

very well.

We've reached the edge

of Yakata country.

Belansai calls them

'the invisible people.'

And even the Iban admit

they can blend into the jungle

like no one else.

They're fierce warriors,

but they live

as one big family.

Sharing is so much a part

of their way of life

that they have no word

for 'thank you.'

I look forward to seeing you

when I finally come home on leave.

I'll finish

this letter later."

It's not like any disease.

It's not famine--

there's rice in the huts!

It's a white man with a rifle--

aiming at you.

Listen...

He's gone now.

Thank you.

Can you track him?

- My God.

- What?

I think this could be

a new species.

It's like the buffalo leech,

but bigger.

Would you mind just

getting it off my back?

I don't want to hurt it.

Maybe they'll name it

after you, sweetheart.

Can you remember where

you were when it bit you?

No.

No, I can't remember where I was

when it bloody well bit me,

because I was in the middle

of the bloody jungle,

which looked like every other

bit of bloody jungle,

full of bloodsucking,

bloodthirsty,

bloody little bastards!

Good afternoon,

Mrs. Bullard.

Idiot.

They come across the mountains

from Dutch Borneo.

- Very difficult journey.

- That's pure silver.

They'll be making

a fortune.

And it looks like they don't want

any other Europeans to know.

Me get sickness.

They go away.

You'll be all right.

We'll take you down the river

in the morning.

They say you brought

the illness.

The Dutchmen told them.

What did you say?

I told them

you are a god

and will cure them.

Oh. Good.

Ask them if they

will eat with us.

The Yakata don't grow rice,

do they?

So they must have

traded for it.

The bastards.

The bastards! They wanted

to clear the mining area,

so they put poison

in the rice!

- Do we die?

- No.

No, it's a slow-working poison,

so it looks like disease.

So, my English friend...

do we arrest the miners?

What will the Yakata do

if we tell them?

Kill them all.

Tell them.

Explosie.

Explosie.

When I found you

lying there,

suddenly everything

became clear.

I want to stay

with you forever...

if you'll have me.

Where shall we run?

Run?

We can cross

into Dutch Borneo.

There's no need for that.

I love Sarawak.

But they'll stop us.

Oh, for God's sake,

the English aren't barbarians.

I'll sort it out.

Trust me.

I'll sort everything out,

I promise.

I know

my own people.

You want to marry her.

We say we've a right to be here

because we're a civilizing force.

How can we let our officers

sleep with the local women,

and not marry them?

You're not the first,

you know.

Let me tell you something.

I was a young idiot.

She was called Ipoh...

and I loved her.

But I made my decision,

and I never saw her again

until the day she died.

- You don't regret that?

- I did what was right!

I did my duty,

and so will you!

No.

No, I won't.

It's a good thing your father

didn't think that at Passchendaele!

Is it?

Maybe then he wouldn't

have drowned in a shell hole

so some senile old general

could get a knighthood!

God, you self-righteous

little prick!

- You'll do what I say!

- You let me--

Bit of

an administrative crisis.

Yes, I know

what's happened.

Everybody does!

I'd like a word

with you in private.

Selima...

The English have

sent word.

If you won't

give him up,

they'll charge him with

the murder of the white miners.

- Did you tell them?

- No!

They will charge me

as well.

That's why my father

asks you.

Look, there's a way

of doing things,

and if you change it,

our little world falls apart.

- You're the one that told me--

- For goodness sake!

Give her up and Henry'll send

you home on a year's sick leave.

You can come back

as if nothing happened.

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