Chapter 03. Rushing Boy

On the afternoon of 18 April 1986, the tropical heat in Selangor, Malaysia, was stiflingly oppressive. The air hung heavy, as though a squall might burst from the heavens at any moment, and Teresa Teng’s “The Moon Represents My Heart” drifted lazily through the shophouse alleyways.

Mei Ling, a young mother from a Chinese immigrant family, was in the kitchen wearing a thin cotton t-shirt and a Malaysian traditional sarong patterned with vibrant flowers, brewing a pot of pork herbal tonic that her father-in-law favoured. Her husband, clad in checked shorts and a sleeveless vest, sat on the living room sofa to cool off from the heat. From the lounge, the rhythmic sound of four-year-old Lim Siu Hoi pushing a toy car back and forth could be heard. At the time, Siu Hoi was dressed in a thin yellow short-sleeved t-shirt featuring a cute cartoon character, blue shorts, and a pair of white children’s trainers.

Mei Ling: “Siu Hoi, time for a snack. Come along now.”

The moment Mei Ling lifted the pot lid and turned towards the lounge, an ominous silence settled over the house. The child, who should have been right in the middle of the room, was nowhere to be seen. Through the gap of the open front door at the end of the corridor, the brilliant Selangor sunlight beamed in. Immediately after, the loud, clattering sound of the boy’s little trainers scraping against the rough concrete as he bolted down the slope echoed outside.

Mei Ling: “Lim Siu Hoi! Oh good heavens, where on earth is that boy going!”

Mei Ling and her husband dashed out of the front door. But it was already too late. Four-year-old human boy Lim Siu Hoi was tearing through the alleyways of Selangor at a frightening speed with astonishing agility. His short little legs pumped alternately like an invisible motor.

Mei Ling, Husband: “Won’t you stop right there? Siu Hoi, if we catch you, you’re really in for a smacked bum bum!”

His parents shrieked as they gave chase.

 

Siu Hoi burst into a fit of giggles without even looking back. Every cell in the child’s body seemed to chant like the Johnny-cake from the folk tale.

Siu Hoi: “Mummy and Daddy couldn’t catch me! Nobody can catch me!”

At the corner of the alley, an ethnic Chinese woman in a stretched, faded shirt, a stained apron, and wide-legged trousers was tidying up her bicycle stall when her eyes widened in shock. The child had sped past her at an unbelievable pace, closely followed by his gasping parents in desperate pursuit.

Bicycle Stall Woman: “Goodness me, what on earth is going on? Little boy, it’s dangerous, stop this instant!”

The woman at the bicycle stall shouted out. Siu Hoi neatly swerved around her and cheered even more excitedly.

Siu Hoi: “Mummy and Daddy missed me! Bicycle lady can’t catch me either!”

 

Now the pursuers had grown to three. Further down the alley, two unruly schoolboys - wearing school uniforms consisting of white shirts with several buttons undone and olive green trousers - were smoking by the roadside and stepped out to block his path.

Unruly Schoolboy 1: “Right then, you little rascal! Got you now!”

Unruly Schoolboy 2: “Hey, stop right there!”

The schoolboys reached out, but Siu Hoi instantly veered off, gliding seamlessly through the narrow gap beside the drain.

Siu Hoi: “Mummy and Daddy missed me, bicycle lady missed me! You big boys get a cheeky face too!”

 

The child’s frantic steps headed towards a nearby building site. A heavily built Indian woman construction worker - wearing a rugged yellow hard hat, a dusty long-sleeved work shirt, and tough denim trousers - stood in his way while carrying sandbags.

Construction Worker: “Little one, it’s dangerous here! Come to me!”

She spread her strong arms wide, but Siu Hoi dazzled her with nimble footwork and darted right between her legs.

Siu Hoi: “You giant aunty missed me too! Nobody can catch me! Na-na-na-na-na~”

Following right behind, a rebellious Chinese youth in his twenties stuck out his foot. He was dressed in a shabby outfit consisting of a torn sleeveless shirt that exposed his shoulders, a leather waistcoat emblazoned with chaotic skull patterns, and black jeans ripped at the knees with rattling metal chains, along with heavy black trainers.

Rebellious Youth: “Kiddo, cut the games and stop right there.”

The youth threatened in a menacing tone, but Siu Hoi lightly leapt over his leg and shouted out.

Siu Hoi: “Scary uncle can’t catch me either! I’m going to keep running!”

 

His parents, the bicycle lady, the two schoolboys, the Indian construction worker, and the rebelliously dressed youth - a grand spectacle of local pursuers sweating profusely as they chased a four-year-old child unfolded. His feet showed no sign of stopping, and his clear, ringing laughter echoed through the exotic alleyways of Selangor. Where Siu Hoi was heading was the edge of the town, under the shade of lush palm trees where few people passed by. Reaching a dead-end muddy track, Siu Hoi’s steps finally came to a halt, while a crowd of breathless pursuers tightened their net behind him.

 

Just then, a black MPV slid quietly out from beyond the bushes. As the sliding door opened, a burly, muscular man stepped out with a gentle smile. He wore a tight black sleeveless vest that strained against his massive frame, revealing sweat-glistening, solid muscles, paired with wide-leg jeans, a leather belt, and leather shoes.

 

The man spoke to Siu Hoi in a soft, friendly voice.

Muscular Man: “My sweet little boy, there are scary people chasing you behind there. If you hop into my car, I’ll give you some lovely sweets and take you somewhere really fun. Come on, jump in.”

Having run all day, Siu Hoi - hungry and with aching legs - naively nodded at the man's sweet offer. Just as the child approached and fell into his arms without a shred of suspicion, the man snatched him up and instantly erased the smile from his face. With a manic look in his eyes, he pulled down his jeans and the boxer shorts underneath in one swift motion. The man thrust an uncannily long, 30cm magic stick right in front of the child and the pursuers, dangling it to intimidate them with overwhelming terror.

Muscular Man: “You’ve run a very long way to get here. Now You belong to me.”

He muttered in a low evil voice.

 

At that alien, horrific visual shock and beastly threat, the parents and neighbours who had arrived late and were gasping for air screamed and froze rooted to the spot. Four-year-old Siu Hoi, who had innocently embraced the man just moments before, was also gripped by a primal terror at the bizarre horror right in front of his eyes; unable to even burst into tears, he trembled violently as if on the verge of passing out. The man roughly threw the terrified, frozen Siu Hoi into the back of the MPV, and the door slammed shut with a heavy thud. Spouting exhaust fumes, the black MPV sped off and vanished beyond the chaotic roads of Selangor in an instant. Only Mei Ling’s shrieks and wails remained, collapsing onto the pavement and scattering into the sweltering air. The four-year-old's reckless escape - running away from his parents and mocking the entire neighbourhood - came to a tragic end in the cold darkness of the vehicle.