Finally Tristan recognized it.
“It’s a helicopter,” Tristan cried.
“Get under the trees!”
They had barely darted beneath the branches when a large military helicopter thundered overhead, heading directly out to sea in the direction that the patrol boat had disappeared.
Emerging from the foliage, they stared at the aircraft, which was already a mere pinprick against the pale blue sky.
“Do you think they saw us?” Marissa asked.
“Nah!” Tristan said.
“But I’m surprised they didn’t see all this Hong Kong money spread out on the sand.”
When everyone felt rested from the cold swim, they started across the marshlands. Assuming Tse knew where he was going, the other three fell in behind him. At first an they had to do was traverse swampy grass, but eventually they had to ford some deeper streams.
“Any crocs around this part of the world?” Tristan asked nervously when he was up to his waist, holding his partially dried money belt over his head.
“No crocodiles,” Bentley said.
“But we do have snakes.”
“What next?” Marissa asked sarcastically.
But they didn’t see any snakes. They did encounter more than a few insects. As they approached the heavily wooded higher ground, the mosquitoes came in swarms. For Marissa, this was a new fear. She asked Tse about malaria and dengue fever.
“There is always some malaria,” Tse said.
“But dengue fever 19m not familiar with.”
“Never mind,” Marissa said. There were just so many things she could worry about at once.
“I suppose I should look on the bright side of things. We were lucky to get off the junk. Thank God for the Communist patrol boat.”
“That’s the attitude,” Tristan said.
“And at least we still have our watches,” Marissa added.
Tristan laughed, happy to hear that in spite of all that had happened, Marissa was capable of humor.
“Did you recognize the Caucasian man in the front of the powerboat?” Marissa. asked Tristan.
“He was the other man throwing chum overboard when Wendy died.”
“I’d vaguely recognized him,” Tristan said.
“From back when I worked for FCA.”
Reaching the edge of the marsh, they next climbed up through thick vegetation. Vines hung down from the branches of the trees. It was slow going. It took some effort just to go a hundred yards. Then the trees suddenly ended at the edge of a rice paddy.
“I recognize where we are,” Tse said.
“There is a small farming village ahead. Perhaps we should go there and get some food.”
“How will we get food?” Tristan asked.
“Will they take credit cards?”
We’ll use your money,” Tse said.
“They’ll take Hong Kong dollars?” Tristan questioned.
“Absolutely,” Tse said.
“There is a black market for Hong Kong dollars throughout the Guangdong Province.”
“Do we have to worry about the authorities in this village?”
Tristan asked.
“No,” Tse said.
“There will be no police. Only in Shigi will there be police.”
Turning to Bentley, Tristan asked: “What do you see as our major problem being in the PRO. After all, we have visas.”
“Only two things,” Bentley said.
“You have no entry stamp and no entry documents. Everyone must have a Baggage Declaration form. That is the form you must surrender when you leave the PRC.”
“But no one will hassle us while we’re here?” Tristan asked.
“I thought the first walloper we came across would nab us.”
Everyone looked at Tristan curiously.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“What’s a walloper?” Marissa asked.
“A policeman,” Tristan said.
“Am I the only one who speaks English around here?”
Ignoring Tristan, Marissa addressed Bentley.
“So we only have to be concerned about leaving the PRC?” she asked.
“I believe so,” Bentley said.
“Foreign travel has become reasonably commonplace in China, especially in Guangdong Province.
So no one should bother you. But without some help, you probably will not be able to cross back into Hong Kong or Macao. Without a Baggage Declaration and also without the usual things a tourist carries, like a camera, you’ll be considered smugglers and put in jail.”
“At least we’ll be safe,” Tristan joked.
“Since we don’t have anything to worry about currently, let’s go to that village and get some tucker.”
“Food!” Marissa translated for the others.