A bonnie baby girl born to Joyce and Keith!Happy news that dispelled the unease from my disturbing dream.

We celebrated over tea at Jiro and Sayako’s, where Irma was bubbling with excitement, as if she was a proud new grandmother. ‘The most beautiful baby madchen! Such an easy birth, too, baby popped out in less than an hour!’ Keith, unable to get a word in edge ways, smiled contentedly.

Keith left shortly for the hospital to join baby Anna May and Joyce, and Irma's tone suddenly changed. Turning to Masaya, she said, ‘I didn't want to bring up gloomy news in Keith's presence, but tell me Masaya, what do you know about man called Meisinger being here in Shanghai? Refugees are worried he will push Japanisch to treat Jews in same way as Germany. And they hear that Jews there are being shipped by trainloads to concentration camps.’

Irma bore her eyes into Masaya's face, making him look down into his whisky glass.

After a long pause, he finally said that Meisinger had been in his office meeting people, but his intentions were unclear.

‘We think he's here to collect information on Germans,’ Masaya said, ‘to root out any spying activities that's anti-Nazi. You know how complicated Shanghai is, with thousands of Jews and Russians and underground activities, never sure where people's allegiances lie.’

‘We don't think he's here to be involved with the treatment of the Jews,’ he added.

Irma persisted. ‘But Masaya, rumours are flying, the refugee community is very much distressed!’

His expression was so pained, I could barely look at him. He closed his eyes for a while, and I wondered whether it was to suppress tears. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Tamiko's hand softly reach over and give his forearm a gentle squeeze, but Masaya appeared lost in a still numbness.

Irma quickly saw the distress she was causing, and reverted to her motherly persona. ‘Masaya, Liebling, I know you are doing what you can, and all Jews are grateful to your office for showing real care. Don't take what I say to heart.