standing on the floor nearby. “Revive him and proceed with the
questioning.
You know where to reach me when you’re through.”
“Yes, sir!”
Hsiao turned, his eyes meeting those of a man who stood in the shadows
outside the circle of light. The agent known as Sword had arrived only
moments earlier. “Come with me.”
“This is insane, General,” the man said as they walked away. “Kidnapping
American naval personnel was never part of the plan!” The stacked
crates rose like canyon walls around them, creating privacy, and Hsiao
allowed the challenge to pass without rebuke. Sword was tense, on edge
… and would have to be handled with great care.
“It would be better if we had officers for questioning as well,” Hsiao
said softly.
“Officers! No! Impossible!”
“Flight officers would be best,” Hsiao continued as though he’d not
heard Sword’s words. “They are certain to know the procedures we are
interested in.
These low-ranking seamen”–he jerked his head back over his shoulder to
indicate the prisoner—“may not be sufficiently trained for our
purposes.”
Behind him he heard Phreng’s voice questioning … demanding.
“You do not understand, General!” The man was almost frantic now. “It
is far more dangerous to kidnap officers.”
“I fail to see how.” He walked several more steps, then added, “There
will probably be a number of Jefferson’s pilots in Bangkok tonight.”
“Yes, sir.” Sword stopped.
Hsiao paused, waiting for him to go on. “You know where such officers
could be found, do you not? You are in a position to know, certainly.”
“I want no part of this, General Hsiao. I never anticipated this. My
position in the government could be-”
“Your position, Colonel, is with me!”
The words seemed to shock the other man.
Hsiao was aware that his entire plan could never have been carried off
without this man … senior aide to the That Army’s General Duong …
and liaison officer with the visiting American naval forces. Colonel
Kriangsak had been invaluable already, but his greatest service was yet
to be carried out.
“An American officer has been calling my office all day,” Kriangsak said
reluctantly. “One of their pilots. He’s talked to several of my
people, says he wishes to discuss the possibility of his helping out in
the search for the Americans who vanished the other day near U Feng.”
Hsiao nodded. “Excellent. Excellent! Call him. Set up a place and
time to discuss it with him. And you will take some of my people with
you.”
“Sir, I don’t-”
“This may be the best opportunity we have for capturing one of their
people. Two would be better if you can manage it. We can use one
against the other that way.”
“But General-”
He was interrupted by a long, shuddering, drawn-out scream from behind
them. The scream went on and on and on before lapsing into a throaty
gurgle.
Then Phreng’s voice could be heard once more, harsh and insistent.
Hsiao kept his face impassive. Perhaps Kriangsak simply needed to be
reminded of the stakes in this game.
“Yes, General,” Kriangsak said slowly. They reached the door, where a
guard saluted. “I will see what can be done.”
As the door closed behind them, the screaming started again.
CHAPTER 14
1800 hours, 18 January
Near the That-Burmese Border
They’d left the camp in the late morning, traveling not on the road
which descended down the valley, but up the forest-clad slope to the
north, following a maze of nearly invisible paths which zigzagged among
the trees toward the crest. The girl, Phya Nin, had been put in charge
of the Americans. Two teenage boys under her command were detailed to
carry Malibu in a bamboo litter. This made for slow going, but it was
faster than if Malibu had tried to negotiate the climb on his crutch.
From time to time the way grew too steep for the litter bearers,
however, and Malibu had to get off and walk, helped along by Batman and
one of the Karen boys.
They walked for three hours, negotiating one forested ridge after
another. As nearly as Batman could tell, judging by the sun and his
compass, they kept heading north, deeper into Burma. His fears that the