Elephant Run

Hilltop leaves a note for Nick from his father in the natshin, or area to place offerings to the mischievous nat fairies. Nick is working in the garden, which has been transformed in the Japanese style under Sonji's direction. Sonji was a “gardener [...] and famous haiku master” (135) before the war, and he had met Hilltop in Japan. Nick picks up the note while Hilltop distracts Sonji. Bukong then shakes the keys to indicate Nick must be locked back inside. Mya is with him. Hilltop asks if he can speak to Mya, and Bukong agrees. 

Hilltop talks with Mya about escaping the plantation. He asks if she can slip a note under Nick's door. She isn't sure, but he scribbles it anyway and tells her to deliver it before midnight. The chapter goes back in time a few months to Mya's experience after the Japanese invasion. Mya worked for a while in Hawk's Nest and was treated kindly by Bukong, unlike many other servants. She lived in the village with her aunt Kin-Kin, until Kin-Kin contracted malaria and died. After that, Bukong moved her into the house and promptly proposed that she marry him. He tells her that she needs protection and paints a vivid picture of their lives after the Japanese leave: “Instead of being a servant, Mya, you will have servants. I will make you the queen of Hawk's Nest” (143). Mya is terrified and tells Hilltop as quickly as possible. He prepares a plan to help Mya escape. 

Nick waits for a while before reading the letter, trying to avoid any sudden interruptions by Bukong that could lead to confiscation of the note. He finally opens it when Bukong is scheduled to feed the officers dinner. The letter is from his father; in it, his father reveals that he was taken overseas with other English and Australian prisoners. Conditions were deplorable, and many died of disease and starvation. Jackson can't escape—he isn't in good enough health and is too far from British territory to survive. Jackson is now in Burma working on the railroad, and he asked a monk to pass this letter to Hilltop. Jackson hoped that the Colonel would send Nick to India, but rumors made him believe that wasn't the case. Nick memorizes the letter, dims his candle, and prepares for bed. As he removes the longyi he places under the door to hide the light from his candle, he sees another note. It tells him to prepare for a visitor that night.