Embassy Visit
'COME TO MY OFFICE NOW.'
'What about the film? It's not developed yet.'
'You should have got it done here at the Embassy.'
'How do I know what equipment the Embassy has? I thought I was doing the right thing. And at my expense, I might add.'
Kev was losing his temper with Mr Black.
'You get expenses if that's what you are worried about!'
'It is not the money; I donʼt enjoy being ordered about,' said Kev.
'Okay, okay, calm down. Get the film and get here as quickly as you can,' said Black, ordering again.
'I'll get the first bus in the morning as long as the photographs are ready.'
Kev replaced the phone aggressively as a thought struck him: what to tell Skylab. Kev got back on the phone.
'Mr Black, please.'
'He has left the office.'
'Tomorrow I am coming to see him. But I have a problem; I wonder if you can help?'
'How can I help?' Black's secretary asked. Kev began nervously, not knowing where to start.
'As you know, I plan to marry my girlfriend soon. But if I keep nipping off to the jungle or Bangkok for the Embassy, there will be some difficult questions. Or worse, suspicions I have a secret girlfriend. I donʼt want to lie to her, and I canʼt tell her the truth. Can we, I mean, you and me, make it look like you, i.e., the Embassy needs to meet her before they allow her to marry a British man?'
'No, I can't do a thing like that.'
Kev was thinking. The secretary came to his rescue and said, 'But I can take her aside. And tell her what it's like being married to an Englishman. You can then meet my boss in peace.'
Kev called Skylab and asked if they would allow her to go to Bangkok with him. She replied, 'We donʼt need to be alone. I have friends and family in the city who can chaperone me'.
It's all fixed. Once the Black meeting is over, he can enjoy quality time with the lady of his dreams.
Skylab, bag in hand, crossed the road from the family guesthouse. On the way to the office, her schoolroom and her boyfriend's bedroom. It made her think of things a good Thai girl should not contemplate. As she skipped up to the front door, movement caught her eye.
Kev was moving around. She could see shadows through the glass at the top of the door. Kev must be up and ready to go. As she readied the front door key, the door burst open, and a man half fell and half-ran past her and up the road, with Kev in pursuit.
The man was too fast. By the time Kev reached the corner, there was no sign of the Olympic-paced sprinter.
'I think he left empty-handed, but I wonder what was he looking for?'
'He had nothing in his hands that I could see,' said Skylab. 'Do you want to call off our trip,' she asked.
'No, unless you are worried?'
'No, no, I am fine. But we had better wake Nick and tell him to watch out.'
Nick was not scared of anyone. 'Now bugger off and let me sleep,' was his concerned comment.
'He was not ready for an early morning chat. I left a note for Nick when he wakes up, telling him to report what happened to the police. I wonder what that guy was after?'
'And how did he get in?'
'Yes, lucky I was up early and disturbed him; Christ, he was quick.'
'Are you sure that it was a man? I am not so sure you know. The person moved like a woman,' said Skylab.
Skylab had pleaded for a special favour from the camera shop the day before. She persuaded them to hang the bag of snaps on the door handle. The shop was an easy walk to the bus stop. Sure enough, a plastic bag with her name printed on it, with a note that said, 'Amount due.'
Even after the delay, they caught the first "Blue" bus, two seats near the front. On reaching Bangkok, they jumped into a nearby cab.
As the taxi arrived at the Embassy, a well-dressed lady met them and hurried them to Mr Black's office. Skylab looked puzzled at the special attention they were offered. She thought perhaps all Englishmen were treated like this.
Black's secretary came in and led Skylab into another room. She welcomed her and offered her a drink.
'Would you prefer hot or cold?'
Her next hour was enjoyable. She was told how British weddings were held and how to make them legal in British law. They also told her about a UK divorce and what she could expect if the worst happened. Then she was asked about her family, which Skylab thought was normal until she was asked if any family member was ever in trouble with the police. If that was odd, the next question nearly floored her.
'Are any of your family members of the Thai Communist Party or associated groups?'
'What is this all about?' asked a very concerned Skylab.
In the next room.
'Right, Kevin, let me see the pictures.'
Mr Black and the lady pored over the shots. They left Kev staring at the window until joined by Sombat. At last, Kev got to say what had happened earlier that morning.
Mr Black and the superior lady were bent over the pictures, pointing and passing comments.
'Excuse me, Mr Black, but you had better listen to Kevin.'
'What now, donʼt tell me it's about his wedding?'
'No, sir, somebody broke into his place this morning.'
'Right, Kevin, tell us exactly what happened.'
'Yes, then weʼll ask what your girlfriend saw.'
Who is this lady wondered Kev? When Kev had finished, they asked Skylab to join them. To state accurately, in Thai or English, what she saw and what she thought happened.
Skylab was a bright girl; by now, she knew she was not here to discuss weddings.
'I am saying nothing, in Thai or English, until you tell me what is happening. I want to know my husband to be, is not in any trouble.'
The mystery lady left the room. Ten minutes later, she returned and nodded to Black. So, it was agreed that Skylab could be brought up to speed regarding Kaeng Krachan.
The lady took over.
'I work mostly in London. Sometimes, I have to go overseas if a situation requires me, and yesterday, they asked me to come here. To deal with something that could affect both England and Thailand. Kevin is in no trouble. Mr Black and I will try to keep him out of trouble. But we need his help.'
Skylab's thought process had a lot of barely understood information to work through. She did not know what to think, how serious this situation was, or how dangerous it was for Kev and anyone who knew him.
'Now, Miss Thantawan, or shall I call you Skylab? I think we will also need your help. Are you willing to assist us and your own country?'
'How do you know my real name, even Kev does not know it?'
'When I left the room earlier, I was handed a sheet of paper with your details. And some interesting family information. Maybe you donʼt know, but your uncle worked with us during the war. He was a hero who bravely acted against the Japanese.'
'He did not tell us anything about his part in the war, just that he broke his leg playing football.'
'No, my dear, it was not playing football. I can tell you the full story one day, but today, we have more pressing things to discuss.'
Her mind, if it had been close to overload before, was now in a tumble dryer whirl.
Sombat took over the questioning. 'How much cash do you keep in your offices?'
Almost nothing answered Kev.
'Any deposits get paid directly to the homeowner; we get our cut later. If Nick does any building work, it gets paid in instalments. We buy building supplies occasionally, so there would be cash for that, but none is currently in stock. Skylab, how about in the school?'
'A few pupils still owe us; there are about 400 Baht in the cash box.'
'So it was not money he was after.'
He said, 'What valuables do you keep in the house?'
Skylab laughed, 'Not even an engagement ring.'
Skylab had just learned about the betrothal English style. Nearly always with an engagement ring first! Kev reddened.
'You may think this is a laughing matter, but it is not!' Bellowed Black.
'Did you report this break-in to the police?' asked Sombat.
'No, we left Nick to do that; I thought you wouldn't want us to be late,' said Kev, showing a flicker of anger.
'So, it was a chance robber, hoping for something left about, or...' Sombat was cut off by Skylabʼs interruption.
'Excuse me, but we live in Hua Hin. We get very little planned crime; if you leave a bag full of belongings unattended on the beach, maybe it will go. But I have never heard about a skilled burglar working in our town.'
Sombat carried on, 'Someone was looking for something else. Information plans, or maybe a photograph.'
'Oh! Come on, Sombat,' the lady raised her hands in exasperation. We have already worked that out. That is him.'
She was pointing at a man in one photograph - the turtle man.
'This man, known only as Pu Yai. Both Thailand and Britain have wanted him for years. His first known crime was in 1975, blowing up a temple in Bangkok; he hates religion, and he hates the government. He must have arranged for someone to steal this photograph. Or it was him?'
'No, I would say the person was younger and much fitter,' suggested Kev.
The lady stood up and put her hand out, first to Skylab.
'Thank you both for coming up to see us. There will be other occasions when we will need your help as the people on the spot. There is an envelope prepared for you outside. You can call me Miss Young. Goodbye, and good luck.'
As they left the outer office, the secretary passed an envelope to Skylab. She looked at Kev and said, 'She had better look after that. Bye.'
Skylab pushed the envelope into her handbag, leaving Kev puzzled but not daring to ask.
The taxi took them to the nearby Central Department Store at Chidlom. The Chidlom shop was large and modern and had a popular coffee shop, which Skylab knew well. One waitress remembered her from her college days.
'Hello, long time no see.' She cheerfully greeted them. The couple ordered their drinks and got themselves settled at a corner table. Skylab wanted no one looking over her shoulder as she opened the envelope.
First, she showed Kev the money under the table; it was quite a lot, but she did not want to take it out publicly. Then she showed Kev a photocopy of a newspaper clipping. It was about her uncle. The Times of London had printed an article about a Siamese man who had shown incredible bravery under fire, saving the lives of four British soldiers in Burma. That man was her uncle. She burst into tears.
Off they went to meet the Bangkok branch of the family. All the family were shocked and proud to hear about their relation, and what he had done in the war. Thankfully, nobody thought to ask how and why they discovered his secret.
They were keen to meet Kev and excited to hear about the wedding. Poor Skylab did not get a word in. They discussed the wedding plans over and over. Food was ordered, and beer and more food arrived. So far, the evening was going well.
Then, the difficult topic of sleeping arrangements was brought up. As they were guests of Bangkok folk, very modern, they decided it was "up to themʼ'. They were to sleep in the same room, and what they did in that room was "up to themʼ'.'
Bright and early, the happy couple waved their goodbyes. Kev wanted to go back to Central Chidlom. He had spotted a jewellery store and noticed they were having a sale.
Skylab was bubbly, but the choice was huge - too vast. She took ages to pick a suitable engagement ring. It was beautiful: a sapphire with two small diamonds, one on each side of the central bluestone. It cost more than Kev was planning on spending, but she was worth it.
Kev got down on one knee right in the middle of the shop. His words were mumbled, but the meaning was clear. The nearby shoppers and the open-mouthed store staff all clapped. One was even crying as she heard Skylab say:
'Yes!'
She looked forward to showing her new ring to her friends and family in Hua Hin.
Back in Hua Hin, there was a tap at the door to Emma and Giʼs's beach house. Giʼs's turn to walk the dogs today, so Emma was alone in the house.
'Did you get them?' asked the elderly man.
'Sorry, no sign of any photographs,' answered Emma.