Nguyen and Darah realised they would lose contact with Ca, but they wanted the best chance for educating their son and Nguyen noticed how Ca liked to spend time with the soldiers, especially Lee. They both knew his future did not lie within the village.
Lee looked at the family. He saw tears in Darah and Nguyen’s eyes but a look of hope and determination on Ca’s face.
Lee rubbed his chin while he pondered and told them. “Ca is too old to be educated and find a career in Phnom Penh. His best chance for a better life is to be a soldier.”
Although Ca and Lee had never spoken, Lee noticed Ca’s abilities and strengths while in the village. He knew this boy could not only be taught, but could also offer his knowledge in jungle skills and warfare, but something concerned him and he frowned.
“The problem is, he cannot speak Cambodian, so that will be his first major hurdle,” said Lee and looked at Ca.
“As my father said sir, I am a quick learner,” said Ca in Cambodian and smirked.
Colonel Lee looked at the teenager, furrowed his brow, and then smiled.
An hour later, Ca, Lee, and the soldiers left the village.
Lee took the sixteen-year-old Ca to the army garrison outside Phnom Penh where his five men took care of the teenager while Lee prepared his papers. Lee smiled as he filled out Ca’s details to enlist.
He wondered why Nguyen had called his son, fish, and knew that if the Cambodian soldiers found out the translation they would jibe him, but Lee thought that would make him tougher.
Lee transferred Ca, along with the other five soldiers to the garrison at Takethmey village, Kambol, Angsnoul District, Kandal Province, west of Phnom Penh. Colonel Lee would be Ca’s Commanding Officer, teacher, and unofficial guardian, which continued after his promotion to Brigadier came through a short while later.
— Chapter Ten —
“Okay Grimey, I go to the Control Centre. Remember, you aren’t alone, so don’t try anything,” said Mophi in his echoing growl. “Or then again… please do.” He glared at Grimes and made a slicing motion across his throat before grinning and leaving the hotel room.
“I hate that bastard,” said Grimes shaking with rage and fear.
Akhim grinned. “Remember what they say Julian; keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”
Grimes frowned at Akhim. “Whoever made that nonsense up didn’t meet Mophi, otherwise they would have said; keep your friends close and kick your enemies in the bollocks.”
Akhim smirked and said. “Never mind, only a few more weeks and then you’ll never have to see him again.”
“Yes, I know my friend,” sighed Grimes. “Okay, let’s get back to business.” They sat around a table scrutinising paperwork.
Fortunately for Grimes, their next phase did not involve Mophi, who went to see his mercenaries at the now completed Control Centre to brief them, and make sure the Vietnamese who worked alongside them understood what they had to do.
Grimes and Akhims plan would start the following morning when Grimes would know whether his careful planning and deceit would succeed. The biggest problem they faced was getting Kim from the airport to their Control Centre without arousing suspicion.
Grimes knew that there must have been a good reason that Thran had changed his daughter’s name, and why she did not work in Vietnam with him. He knew how important family bonds were in Southeast Asia and knew the only reason they would be broken was if the person was of a higher status and something would make him lose face. Grimes figured that Kim/Hern had some way embarrassed Thran. Grimes researched the Tangh’s thoroughly and found out they owned a home in Phan Yar, and he believed the answer could lay there.
He, Akhim, and three Vietnamese translators drove into Phan Yar village on a hot humid afternoon. They stopped at a small coffee shop in the village centre and the three Vietnamese men went around the village and market asking people questions, showing photographs, and trying to get information.
Due to the hot, sticky atmosphere, it became difficult for Grimes to bear, so he and Akhim remained drinking coffee inside the café and attracting interest from the locals.
They saw that villagers ambled around in *Ao ba ba, colourful silk pyjamas, South Vietnamese rural dress, and round palm-leafed conical hats, *Non La.
The few westerners that visited these parts usually went to Ky Anh town, so most of the villagers had never seen foreigners, especially two different in appearance, a Caucasian and an Arab.
After thirty minutes, one of the Vietnamese men returned to the restaurant with a small chubby old man who introduced himself as Pu-ed, the market boss and head of the village. “This man said he knew the Tangh family and he was a good friend of theirs when they first came here and built their beach house years ago,” the Vietnamese man told them.
Grimes, through the Vietnamese translator, asked Pu-ed to join them. He showed him a photograph of the Tangh’s and said. “So, you know this family?”
Pu-ed nodded and smiled. “Yes,” and pointing to the pictures said. “That’s Thran, his wife Nga, and their daughter, Hern. But I haven’t seen them for long time, ever since they sent Hern away for having a relationsh…” Pu-ed never finished his sentence as he looked at Grimes and asked. “Why do you want to know?”
“Oh,” said Grimes sounding nonchalant, “Thran is due to receive an award from my country and my government sent me to find out any information on the family. It is just routine, but any information you can give me I would pay handsomely. Would you like a drink?”
Pu-ed nodded, and over the course of the next few hours gave Grimes information about the Tangh’s visits, the times they came and went, and what they did around the village. Grimes listened while he plied Pu-ed with glasses of Ruou, strong urban Vietnamese whisky, which, when Grimes and Akhim tasted it they grimaced as it tasted like paint stripper.
Several hours later, when Pu-eds speech slurred, Grimes took an envelope from his pocket, laid it on the table, and asked. “You said they sent Hern away, for what reason?”
Pu-ed seeing the envelope stuffed with Vietnamese Dong notes, told Grimes about the rumours he had heard about Hern and Ca.
“And did you believe the rumours?” asked Grimes.
Pu-ed looked at Grimes through bloodshot eyes, leant over the table, and, almost knocking over his glass of Ruou, whispered. “Yes, and so did everyone else. They went everywhere together when she was here, and when she wasn’t, Ca would mope around singing some American song Hern had played the first night they’d met and told everyone it was Hern’s favourite.” Pu-ed smirked. “It devastated Ca when Thran sent her away.”
“Oh,” said Grimes and then looked at the interpreter.
Grimes smiled and speaking slowly so the interpreter asked the same question correctly, slid the envelope closer to Pu-ed and said. “Can you remember the name of the song?”
Pu-ed wobbled, looked at the interpreter, threw a Popeye squint at Grimes, and shook his head. “Nah, but it was something about American kids.”
Grimes sighed, as he thought back to the music of the eighties and then had an epiphany, ‘Of course,’ he thought, ‘and that’s why she’s called Kim.’
Grimes tried to contain his excitement as he thanked the now wankered Pu-ed and slid him the envelope containing 200 million Vietnamese Dong, approximately $10,000.
Grimes smirked and asked. “So, where can I find this, Ca?”
While Pu-ed counted the money, he smiled and slurred. “He will be at home or in a local karaoke bar,” and as he waved his finger in the air, gave them directions to Ca’s home near the beach. Grimes and the others left the café and got into the S.U.V.
“Jackpot,” said Grimes as he and Akhim sat on the back seat of the SUV smirking. “This will make our set-up a damn site easier.”
They drove to Ky Anh town and checked into a hotel while Grimes worked on his plan.
Several days later, they arrived at Ca’s now large modern brick house set back from the beach, where Ca and
Tuong were sitting on the porch playing cards.
A Vietnamese man got out of the SUV and went over to speak with Ca.
Grimes slid down the window and a few minutes later, Ca came over, looked at him, and frowned.
“What do you want?” he asked in Vietnamese.
Grimes smiled and asked, “Is you name Ca, and do you speak English?”
“Yes, a little,” said Ca, “Now, what do you want?”
Grimes smirked. “I have a message from a friend of yours in Thailand. Is there somewhere private we can talk?”
Ca looked curious, nodded, and invited him and Akhim inside.
While the Vietnamese men waited on the porch and chatted with Tuong, Grimes and Akhim followed Ca in the house and he took them into the living room and gave them a glass of water.
They sat on a sofa and Ca said. “I don’t know anyone in Thailand, so who is your message from?”
Grimes took photographs from his briefcase, laid them face down onto a small coffee table, looked at Ca, and smiled.
“Oh,” said Grimes. “Perhaps we have the wrong Ca, but by the way Hern described you it sounds like you. Do you know Hern Tangh?”
Ca gasped and looked wide-eyed at Grimes who picked up a photograph and showed it to him. Ca’s hand trembled as Grimes handed him the photograph of a smiling Kim.
Grimes leant forward and asked, “Do you know her?”
Ca nodded and then stared at Grimes who saw confusion in his eyes as he furrowed his brow, handed back the photograph, and said. “Yes, but that was a long time ago and my life’s changed since then.” Ca then frowned. “Why does she want to speak with me after all these years? Not only is she married, but she lied to me about her husband.” And through grated teeth, he said, “I never wanted to hear her name mentioned again.”
Grimes shook his head and sounded sullen. “Yes, she told me that she’d lied and deeply regretted it, but she wanted to protect you.”
“Protect me from who? Her father, Thran?” said Ca sounding angry. “I don’t need any protection from him.”
Grimes shook his head and with his voice quivering said. “Not only her father, but she is also afraid of her husband.”
Ca looked at Grimes with suspicion and asked. “So who are you? And what do you want?”
Grimes, knowing Ca would know nothing about the workings of Palaces or Royalty with Vietnam being a communist state, looked forlorn and told him. “My name is Julian, and my colleague and I, Sheik Yatitties, are Royal Ambassadors for our countries, and visit the Imperial Palace in Bangkok many times each year.” Akhim smirked and nodded as Grimes continued. “We have known Hern for many years and she is like a daughter to us. We know she has been unhappy for many years and when we visited the Palace recently she looked desperate. She told us she is still in love with you, so we thought we would come and ask for your help.”
Ca sat back on the sofa and Grimes could see him looking confused as he rubbed his temples as thoughts raced through his mind.
Grimes explained how Hern was unhappy and afraid of her husband, Pon, and how she feared for her life and the life of her son because Pon now knew about Ca. He told him that she was close to her son, even though her husband had forced her into marriage and always forced sex upon her.
Grimes said that after Pon found out about her past indiscretion, he’d handed their son over to the palace hierarchy to be raised by them. He then showed Ca photographs his team had fabricated on Photoshop of a battered and bruised Kim. He went on with his tale for an hour, turning over photo after photo of Kim taken by the private detective in Bangkok and doctored by his team.
Grimes and Akhim convinced Ca that they were Hern’s closest friends, showing him fake photos of them and Hern together, with the ominous face of Pon, lurking in the background. Grimes noticed Ca’s expression changing every time he looked at a photo. He knew all the signs of a good confidence trick working.
He leant over, looked into Ca’s eyes, and said. “Hern talked about you many times Ca. She told us how close you were before her father sent her away, and about your special song that she still often plays to remind her of you… Kids in America.”
Ca nodded and smiled. “Yes, Kids in America was our special song.”
‘Hook, line and sinker,’ thought Grimes as he watched Ca’s face change, from an emotionless looking Vietnamese man, to a love struck teenager, as the seeds of memories Grimes planted, knocked down the barriers inside Ca’s head. Grimes then told him that he and Hern planned to get her back to Vietnam by using a family crisis, and then she, along with her mother Nga, planned to stay in Vietnam so she could be with Ca.
Grimes realised Ca despised Kim’s father, so he said. “This has been planned for months without her father’s knowledge and all you need to do is pick Hern up at Hanoi airport when she is due to leave for Thailand and take her to the safe house which we have set up.”
Ca furrowed his brow and looked puzzled. “How long would she be staying?”
“Until Hern and her mother can persuade her father, Thran, to let her remain in Vietnam and away from the abusive Pon and stay with you,” said Grimes sounding delighted.
Ca nodded and asked. “When does she arrive?”
Grimes told Ca that Hern would be arriving soon, but said Thran would be with her while she was in Vietnam, which was why they planned to rescue her when she left.
“She will contact another friend of ours at the airport when it’s safe and he will then call you,” said Grimes, knowing Kim would call Pon to tell him she was on her way home and that was when his agent at the airport would make his move.
“After he calls you and you collect Hern, it will give you plenty of time to escape before anyone realises she’s not on the flight,” said Grimes and told Ca how they intended to get him and Hern to safety and be together.
“But,” said Grimes, furrowing his brow, “it all depends on you Ca. Without your help, Hern will not go through with it and remain in Thailand leading her unhappy life and continue dreaming about a life with you.”
Ca looked troubled and Grimes looked at Akhim, and smirked,
“I know it is a lot to take in Ca,” said Grimes and sighed. “But we need a quick decision. If you still have feelings for Hern, you will help her escape danger and find happiness again. She told me if you can’t, or won’t get involved, she will understand, but her love for you will never change.”
Grimes then put his hand over his eyes and sniffing back tears told Ca. “We are at our wits end but cannot help because our governments won’t allow us to get involved. We know how dangerous her husband is and we fear for Hern’s life. We will pay anything to get her to safety and be happy.”
Ca looked at Grimes and Akhim, who appeared upset and concerned. He thought about his family and the impact it would have on them, but he still had deep hidden feelings for Hern, which had now resurfaced. His thoughts felt in turmoil as he leant over and glared at the photographs laid on the table.
After several minutes, Ca looked at Grimes and with his voice sounding shaky, said, “Okay, I will help.”
Grimes left Ca to his twisting and turning thoughts as he and his team drove to the hotel in Ky Anh. He felt pleased knowing that Ca was now his puppet.
Akhim smirked. “Well done Julian, I can see why Mohammed gave you this task.”
Grimes nodded. “Yes.” he said, “It now makes things easier.”
The next morning, Grimes and his team drove north on route 1 to Hanoi, after first stopping off for an hour in Phan Yar to visit Ca and give him his instructions. Grimes said he would stay in touch and left Ca the well laid out details to study.
Ca’s wife counted out the 100 million Dong that Grimes gave them. Ca hadn’t told his wife the details, only that he had to pick foreign customers up from Hanoi airport and take them on a boat and fishing tour for a few days. His wife looked happy and believed him. However, Ca had a major concern that he never mentioned to Grimes and he needed to convince her brother and h
is best friend and business partner, Tuong, to get involved without telling his sister the truth.
Grimes and his team drove the seven hours to Hanoi. It was the most inconspicuous way to travel for foreigners in Vietnam and he still had wrinkles in his plans that needed ironing out.
He called the office that he’d set up in Hanoi several weeks earlier to check that everything was going according to plan. He asked whether the trunk that he’d sent from Ho Chi Mihn city had arrived.
Grimes arrived in Hanoi early evening, and while Akhim went to the hotel, Grimes went to the office and checked the contents of a wooden trunk, which would play an essential role in the next part of his plan. He had his secretary make an appointment for the following morning, left the office, walked around the corner to Xuan Dieu Rd into the Sheraton hotel, and strode over to the reception.
The receptionist told the manager who came over and in a cheery voice said, “Welcome back Your Grace,” he bowed and said, “your squire, Akhim, is already in your suite.” The manager smiled and asked, “Is Mr Mophi not with you?”
Grimes smiled and shook his head. “No,” he said. “My bodyguard is on another assignment. I require an early morning call at 6:30, with breakfast.”
****
“Good morning Your Grace,” said Thran, greeting Grimes at the door.
“Good morning Minister Thran,” said Grimes as they shook hands. Thran invited him inside and they went into the living room where Nga sat on an armchair looking unwell.
“Ah, good morning, lady Nga,” said Grimes sounding chipper.
He smiled and went over to Nga, who stood, smiled, and held out her hand.
Grimes took Nga’s hand and brought it to his lips.
Nga smiled, although she felt terrible, she loved the greeting from this English gentleman.
Grimes, seeing Nga looking pale and uncomfortable furrowed his brow and asked, “Are you feeling alright, lady Nga?”
Nga nodded and forcing a smile said. “Yes Duke Philip, but I have a stomach ache; I must have caught a bug.”
Bimat--A Vietnamese Adventure Page 13
