The Gift of Rain

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses illness, death, and death by suicide.

Michiko and Philip take a stroll through Penang. By now, they know each other very well. He shows her the old buildings of Penang, remembering who lived in each one. He cannot buy them all, so many have been turned into bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. Now, he is beginning to wonder whether his restoration efforts are merely an attempt to “delay the inevitable” (369).

They visit Towkay Yeap’s house, which has been restored by Penelope Cheah. Inside, Philip is surprised to find that Penelope has even found portraits of Towkay Yeap and Kon. Philip is suddenly reminded of how much he misses his old friend. Later, they eat in a restaurant. One of the owners will not talk to him, believing him still to be a war criminal. The other owner is kinder to Philip, as she knows that he saved her husband’s life during the war. Philip has no desire to set people straight as to what really happened so many years ago.

Though Philip never found where his father hid his collection of keris swords, Michiko believes that she may have an idea. However, first she wants Philip to continue his story.