Princess Play Read online

  Osman nodded. ‘But it was you who kept the case open. I think I would have taken Hamidah’s word for it if you had agreed.’

  Maryam leaned back against the wall, taking a deep drag of the cigarette. ‘I thought – that is, I still think – Hamidah may have told Kamal to kill Jamillah, but he was reluctant. That’s why she came to Kampong Penambang to do it herself. Well, Kamal isn’t as mean as either of his parents, but after a few years with his wife, who knows?’

  ‘Will they stay married, do you think?’Azrina asked.

  Maryam shrugged. ‘I don’t know if his mother-in-law will want him now that the family is so notorious and he’s in jail. We’ll see how devoted she is to family.’

  ‘But Mak Cik,’ Osman pursued, ‘why didn’t you think she did it?’

  ‘Oh, I thought she would have, no question. She killed her own husband practically with her bare hands!’

  ‘But what a husband,’ Rubiah interjected. ‘I can understand that.’

  ‘I believed Kamal when he said he found Jamillah already cold. That eliminated Hamidah and Kamal. Murad was mean, but he didn’t care enough to kill her. I think he would have killed if it suited him, but Jamillah was no threat, so why?’ They all nodded.

  ‘That meant it had to be her family, someone in the house who no one would question. It could well have been Zaiton. I mean, she spent time alone with her mother putting her to sleep, and surely she wouldn’t look suspicious at all. But a daughter killing her mother? I’m ‘not saying it couldn’t happen, just that I didn’t want to believe it.

  ‘It’s wrong to look at a crime in that way, I know, but what an awful thing that would be. No, I couldn’t think about that. Then it was either Aziz or Rahim. Aziz had no reason at all. So by default, it was Rahim. But I didn’t get to that fast enough to save Zaiton.’

  ‘You tried, Mak Cik,’ Azrina objected. ‘You asked to have her released.’

  ‘I couldn’t produce the actual killer. Not then. But I wonder if Zaiton would have been any better off if she knew it had been Rahim. She was heartbroken either way, poor thing.’

  ‘He should have stayed with her.’

  ‘He should have left her mother alone! It was silly! Really, what choice did Jamillah have with Zaiton already pregnant? Of course, she would have agreed to their marriage, after making them suffer a bit. There was absolutely no need to kill her as though she was standing in their way and would never budge. It was a waste of life, and look what it led to? How many people died because of it?’

  Maryam willed herself to calm down. This was, she reminded herself, her day off. ‘And even those who survived, like me, like Aliza, look what happened here. No, in the end, he was the devil himself with good manners.’ She looked morose.

  ‘Are you still interested in crime, then?’ Rubiah asked Azrina. She blushed and looked down for a moment, and then looked up with a mischievous grin. ‘I must admit, I am. Though it’s a lot harder to deal with in real life than it is in books. I can always guess the killer there, but this time, I really had no idea.’

  ‘It’s your first time,’ Maryam said kindly. ‘Just wait till you get some practice.’ She took another sip of her tea. ‘But it’s dangerous. I think I’m getting too old for it. Maybe you should take over – helping Osman, I mean. That way you can work together.’

  ‘How is your Kelantanese coming along?’ Rubiah asked, her glasses glinting in the sunlight.

  ‘Well, not so fast. I have to try to make it faster.’

  Rubiah nodded. ‘It’s important. Otherwise, how will you know what people are telling you?’ She gave Osman a significant glance.

  ‘And he needs an interpreter,’ Maryam added bluntly.

  ‘You’d think by now …’ Rubiah began.

  ‘Not now,’ Maryam put a hand on her arm. ‘This is no time to criticize.’

  ‘You’re right,’ Rubiah relented. ‘You’ve done a wonderful job.’

  Osman tried to smile with a mouthful of cake, but it was difficult.

  ‘I hear you’re planning a wedding,’ Azrina began. ‘Your son?’

  Maryam nodded. ‘It’s my next project.’

  ‘The songket will be marvelous, I think.’

  ‘They’ll never lack for fabric or fish sauce,’ Rubiah told her. ‘If they can live on just that, they’re set for life.’

  Malay Glossary

  Abang: Older Brother, a term of respect for someone somewhat older than you are. May also be used as a term of respect to a man roughly your same age.

  Adik: Younger sibling, either male or female. Also, a wife.

  Adik beradik: Brothers and sisters.

  Alamak: An exclamation of surprise.

  Alhamdullilah: Thank God.

  Amok: A condition where brooding and anger result in unrestrained violence.

  Astigfirullah: God forbid.

  Ayah: Father.

  Ayam Percik: Grilled chicken with coconut sauce and spices.

  Baju Kurung: The traditional dress of a Malay woman consisting of a round-necked, long-sleeved blouse ending between the hips and the knees, with a sarong underneath.

  Baju Melayu: Men’s formal traditional wear: a high necked, long-sleeved cotton shirt worn over a sarong.

  Batik: Wax print patterns on a cotton cloth. Also used as a generic for a woman’s sarong.

  Bersanding: The ‘sitting-in-state’ at a Malay wedding, where the bride and groom, in all their finery, sit on thrones.

  Bidadari: Heavenly nymphs. Sometimes pronounced bidandari, combining the concept of midwife (bidan) with nymph.

  Bomoh: A healer who uses both herbs and spells.

  Budu: Fermented fish sauce, much esteemed in Kelantan.

  Che: Short for Enche’ (mister).

  Cik: Miss.

  Durian: A fruit with a thick, thorny rind and creamy interior, with a distinctive smell.

  Enam Sembilan: Literally ‘six nine’; a club made with rope wrapped around it, which leaves a distinctive braided mark, and is used, usually, on busybodies, to humiliate.

  Hor: Kelantanese dialect for ‘yes’.

  Ikan Bilis: Anchovies

  Jampi: Magic spell.

  Kain Songket: The queen of Kelantan’s textiles; made of silk with gold or silver geometric patterns woven into it.

  Kakak: Older Sister, a term of respect for a woman somewhat older than you are. Also used as a term of respect for a woman roughly the same age.

  Kampong: Village.

  Kedai Runcit: General store: also a small stall selling necessities in a village.

  Kenduri: Feast.

  Keris: A wavy, bladed dagger; the traditional Malay weapon.

  Kurang ajar: Insufficiently taught: rude and badly brought up.

  Laksa (Laksa Kelantan): A popular dish with a thick curry sauce, usually with fish, vegetables and noodles. Every area has its own specialty; Kelantan’s is the richest and sweetest.

  Langsuir: A vampire like ghoul, the spirit of one who died during childbirth, which preys on pregnant women. It is usually seen in a tattered grave shroud.

  Mak: Mother.

  Mak Cik: Auntie, a polite form of address for an older woman.

  Mak Su: An aunt who is the youngest in her birth family (from bongsu, youngest).

  Mek: Young girl.

  Nasi Dagang: Rice cooked with coconut milk and spices: a staple at Malay dinners.

  Nasi Kerabu: Rice dyed blue, served with mint, basil, lemongrass, kaffir lime, torch ginger flower buds, raw vegetables, egg, grated coconut, chili paste and black pepper. Often sold as hawker food, wrapped in a banana leaf, and a popular lunch at schools.

  Onde-Onde: Small cakes made of rice flour, coated with coconut, with Gula Melaka (palm sugar) in the middle.

  Pak Cik: Uncle, a polite form of address to an older man.

  Pak Long: An uncle who is the oldest in his birth family (from sulong, eldest).

  Pasar: Market.

  Pasar Besar: Main Market.

  Pelesit: A familiar spirit, often kep
t in families for generations.

  Perahu: Boat, like a fishing boat.

  Rebab: A fiddle-like instrument played during Main Puteri.

  Sarong: A tube of cloth reaching from waist to ankle: usually in batik patterns for women and plaids for men. The cloth is tied on the side for women and folded over the center for men, and is worn ubiquitously in Kelantan and other traditional areas of Malaysia.

  Satay: A popular meal of grilled spice meat on skewers.

  Sayang: Sweetheart.

  Semangat: Life force, energy.

  Silat: Malay Martial Arts.

  Sireh: Betel nut.

  Songkok: A Malay man’s hat, brimless, usually of black velvet.

  Tahi Itik: A kind of sweet cake native to Kelantan. The name means ‘duck shit’.

  Talak: A pronouncement of divorce. Three talak make a divorce final, and require another marriage before the two parties can remarry. One or two talak (they are cumulative) don’t prohibit the parties from remarrying, and may be revoked.

  Teh Beng: Iced tea served with sweetened condensed milk.

  Tikar: A sleeping mat, used on the floor, usually of woven palm.

  Tok Mindok: The leader or ‘guide’ during main puteri.

  Malay Idioms

  Air digenggam tak tiris

  Water held in the fist will not leak: a miser

  Anak baik, menantu molek

  A good child and a pretty daughter in law: having everything one could want

  Anjing galak, babi pun berani

  The dogs are ready and the boar is brave: a fight where neither will back down

  Ayam bertelor sebiji pecah khabar sebuah negeri

  A chicken lays one egg and the whole country knows (as opposed to other creatures which may have large litters and keep quiet about it)

  Bagai se ekur burong, mata lepas, badan terkurong

  Like a bird in a cage, its body confined and only its eyes are free

  Berteh dalam kuali

  Popped rice in a cooking pot: constantly talking

  Bukan harimau nak kerkah

  He isn’t a tiger who will chew you up

  Cencaru makan petang

  The horse mackerel feeds in the afternoon: said of people who take their time deciding what to do

  Dapat pisang terkupas

  Finding his bananas already peeled

  Harimau menunjokkan belangnya

  The tiger shows his stripes: you cannot escape your true nature

  Hilang sepoh nampak senam

  When the plating is gone you can see the metal underneath: to see someone’s real character

  Macam itik mendengarkan guntur

  Like a duck listening to thunder: having no idea what you’re seeing or doing

  Masam muka macam nikah tak suka

  As sour faced as an unwilling bride

  Membeli kerbau ditengah padang

  Buying a buffalo in the middle of the field: buying without looking (a pig in a poke)

  Membuang garam kelaut

  Throwing salt into the sea: a completely useless task

  Pucat lesu macam ayam kena lengit

  As pale as a chicken plagued with ticks

  Pukul anak sindir menantu

  To hit the child to get at the daughter in law: to do something to someone to get at someone else

  Punggong dipukul gigi habis tanggal

  To hit the behind and knock out the teeth: to do something to someone to get at someone else

  Reba menantu api

  The tinder awaits the fire: a fight waiting to happen

  Salin tak tumpah

  Not a drop spilled: a child who is the spit and image of its parent

  Seperti anjing disua antan

  Like a dog poked with a stick: snarling and ready to fight

  Seperti anjing disua antan

  Like a dog poked with a stick: snarling and ready to fight

  Seperti gading dilarek

  Like polished ivory: of a beautiful woman’s skin

  Seperti kucing dengan panggang

  Like a cat and a roast: things which cannot be kept apart (like boys and girls)

  Seperti lotong meniti dahan kayu

  Like a monkey making his way across a tree branch: very carefully

  Seperti polong kena sembur

  Like a familiar spirit touched by water: furious

  Susu didada tak dapat dielakkan

  There is no avoiding mother’s milk: you can’t change your basic nature

  Untong ada, tuah tidak

  There is profit, not luck: to succeed by hard work alone

  Untong sabat timbul, untong batu tenggelam

  It is the fate of the husk to float, the fate of the stone to sink

  Usul menunjokkan asal, bahasa menunjokkan banga

  Character reveals origins, speech reveals breeding

  Acknowledgements

  My grateful thanks to Shahmim Dhilawala, Puteh Shaharizan Shaari and Ashikin Mohd Ali Flindall for their insightful comments on Malay custom. Doug Raybeck, who first introduced me to Kelantan, taught me Malay in college and offered valuable help, not the least of which was his analysis of Main Puteri and its meaning in Kelantanese society. Bonnie Tessler constructed my website, Valerie Vogel read my books with enthusiasm, and Esther Kirk, Michele Bowen and Bryn Barnard read tirelessly, draft after draft. Joanne Spicehandler encouraged me, Richard Lord, my excellent editor, worked wonders on the text, and Phil Tatham believed in the series.

  Thank you all!

  Kain Songket Mysteries

  Shadow Play (Vol.1)

  Shadow Play is the first in the series of Kain Songket Mysteries set in the northern state of Kelantan, Malaysia during the 1970s. Mak Cik Maryam, a kain songket (silk) trader in Kota Bharu Central Market, discovers a murder in her own backyard, shattering the bucolic village world she thought surrounded her. While the new Chief of Police, a pleasant young man from Ipoh whose mother’s admonitions about the wiles of Kelantanese girls still ring in his ears, wrestles with the bewildering local dialect, Maryam steps up to solve the mystery herself. Her investigation brings her into the closed world of the wayang kulit shadow play theater and the lives of its performers–a world riven by rivalries and black magic. Trapped in a tangle of jealousy, Maryam struggles to make sense of the crime in spite of the spells sent to keep her from secrets long buried and lies woven to shield the guilty.

  Princess Play (Vol.2)

  Mak Cik Maryam is plunged once again into the shadowy world of murder, hatred and madness when a fellow market woman is killed after a successful main puteri (princess play) curing ceremony. Suddenly, the villagers she thought she knew reveal secrets she never suspected, while her good sense and solid courage lead her to unmask the murderer among them. Follow Maryam in Princess Play, the second Kelantanese murder case in the Kain Songket Mysteries series.

  Songbird (Vol.3)

  Singing doves appear to be the gentlest of creatures, and songbird contests among the most refined and rarified of activities in the northern state of Kelantan, Malaysia. Yet passions run deep among the competitors, and a shocking murder stuns the community. Mak Cik Maryam must find the murderer before more innocent lives are lost. Her investigations take her throughout Kelantan, as she guides the police in the not particularly gentle way they have come to appreciate. Join Maryam in her latest adventure, Songbird, the third installment in the Kain Songket Mysteries series.

  About the Author

  Barbara Ismail spent several years in Kelantan in the 1970s and ’80s, living in Kampong Dusun and Pengkalan Cepa, studying Wayang Siam and the Kelantanese dialect. She holds a PhD in Anthropology from Yale University, and is originally from Brooklyn, New York.

  Princess Play is the second in Barbara Ismail’s series of Kain Songket Mysteries based in Kelantan. The first book in the series, Shadow Play, won Best Debut Novel at the 2012 SBPA Book Awards in Singapore and was shortlisted for the Popular–The Star Readers’ Choice Awards 2013 in Malaysia.

  For more information
about the author and her books, visit www.barbaraismail.com.

  Copyright

  First published in digital form in 2013 by Monsoon Books

  ISBN (ebook): 978-981-4423-43-4

  Copyright©Barbara Ismail, 2013

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved. You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce, or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

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