Chiang Saen
THE COCKNEY GOT UP and paced; he went to a public telephone box. His call lasted a few seconds; he had seen Mad Mike. As had everyone in the surrounding area. Mike was hanging out of the bus doorway, swinging on one arm from the door handle. As his left leg made a neat semi-circle, he almost kicked a lady from her bike. For a reason only known to Mad Mike, why was he doing a Gene Kelly impression from the bus's open doorway? The only thing missing was the rain.
Mike jumped from the still-moving vehicle. Barely keeping his balance, he was closely followed by Pat, who thumped him as the bus stopped.
'What was that all about, you idiot? You nearly killed that lady; lucky you did not injure yourself, too.'
'I was glad to get off that bus; thank God that journey is over.'
They looked around, observing the people in the area. Was anyone looking for them?
'What now?'
'Not sure, I suppose we wait and see.'
After sitting on the bus, it was good to stand for a while and consider what was happening. People were moving to and from, not rushing about, going about their daily business without a care in the world.
'If nobody is here to meet us, we can find a guesthouse. Is that okay with you?'
'Sure, just wait a minute, look, someone is waving at us. See there.'
She pointed at an old truck with an even older driver. He was leaning out of the car window, waving furiously. The rusty truck was moving towards them at a snail's pace.
Someone had painted the name Baan Rub Aroon between the rust patches on the sides of the vehicle. The Cockney moved to a large, imported, powerful motorbike, a Honda Steed. It was parked across the road; he slid his leg over the saddle and waited. Kev and Skylab settled their bill for their drinks and waited.
Pat and the battered truck driver spoke for a few minutes. She and Mike clambered in. They each had only one bag, so they kept it on their laps. The Cockney grinned as he motored off.
Kev, with Skylab, followed their friends. They made a few turns past a wet market and pulled up at the front of a large house. It had been painted white in the distant past but now grey. The Baan Rub Aroon vehicle driver was happy to grab the bags and walk up the pathway with a sailor's gait.
'Welcome, welcome,' a spritely lady of undetermined age greeted them. I have booked your room for today and tomorrow. Enjoy your stay. They have told me to inform you that you will have a visitor at noon tomorrow. Enjoy the city and our garden, which has some interesting plants. I can show you later if you like.'
'What did she mean to enjoy the garden? What does she know?' Mike was becoming paranoid. He needed the bar sale to go through. Start afresh somewhere else.
As they went upstairs. Following the driver, who had become the porter, swayed from side to side like a seaman without a boat. The cleanliness of the place impressed Pat. Furniture and nick-knacks were dated but spotless.
'This is a lovely room,' said Pat.
'She's weird,' was all Mike could muster as he slumped onto the bed.
Outside, the 100cc machine was idling.
'Wait, donʼt rush; let's see if anyone else turns up,' said a red-faced Kev. The sun and the wind had given him unwanted colour to his cheeks. He looked like a new cricket ball without the stitches.
A few minutes later, Mike and Pat came out.
'I needed a rest,' Mike said.
'I am hungry, even if you're not,' said Pat as they walked in search of an eatery.
Kev tapped Skylab's leg.
'We'll now follow; if it's all clear, we can surprise them.'
Kev was feeling like the Russian guy from Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Mike was walking like a man who had just completed a marathon. She was almost sleepwalking, but Pat's nose tracked down her next snack. She sniffed at the scent of Northern sausages cooking nearby.
'In here, Mike, I love the smell of these,' she commented on the spicy garlic-laden snack. 'Come on, have some.'
They took a table at the back of the empty restaurant.
'Two bottles of Pepsi and a plate of those, please. Do you want anything to eat, Mike?'
The owner served the bursting sausages. Along with some fresh uncooked vegetables and some green and red chillies. Served with a side dish, a miniature woven basket containing sticky rice.
'I donʼt, but I bet they do. Look who is here,' said Mike.
The four friends caught up on their trips. Skylab excitedly explained how she felt as their plane took off and the scare she got when landing.
'But why did you come all this way?'
'Iʼm sorry for all the cloak and dagger stuff; I was, or should I say, am, worried about your deal, so much so, I called Black. It was his idea we came,' Kev spluttered.
Kev shifted his position, feeling uncomfortable about what he had to say, 'I don't know what this means, but it can't be good. Earlier, we saw the Cockney chap spying on you. Also, Black sent this.'
Kev pulled out the fax that had puzzled the hotel receptionist. It was crumpled and damp, but the image was clear. The text was not clear because no one knew what it meant until Mike studied it.
'Where did you get this?' he asked.
'You mean you know what it means?'
'I wrote it!'