(1989) The Guest of Honour

by Irving Wallace

  pulled something like this, you invaded my privacy, tried to prevent me from having a day’s vacation. You succeeded in showing President Noy in a closeup in the worst way, dressed in a sarong, which made both of us appear frivolous and was entirely misleading. Now you’re trying to invade my privacy again, and I won’t let you.’

  ‘Mr. President, my job is to cover you, wherever you go. I’m merely fulfilling an assignment, as I’m sure you are. I hope you’ll be more understanding.’

  ‘I just don’t want you near me,’ the president flared. ‘I have more things on my mind than a ridiculous press interview. Just stay out of the way, and keep out of sight while I’m here. Thank you. Goodbye to you - and, I might add, good riddance!’

  In his suite at the Oriental Hotel, Underwood began to unpack his travelling bags, and then stopped doing so. He had no idea how long he would be here - an hour, several hours, a day or more. The thing to do as swiftly as possible was to find out why he had been summoned and what was going on.

  He telephoned Chamadin Palace, asked for President Noy’s office, and got Marsop.

  ‘I’m so glad you’re here,’ said Marsop. ‘We need you.’

  ‘What’s going on?’ Underwood wanted to know.

  ‘Can you come right over,’ Marsop asked, ‘or would you prefer I come to you?’

  ‘I’ll be right over,’ said Underwood.

  A half hour later he was in Chamadin Palace and was escorted to Noy’s office. Shown inside, he was surprised to see that Marsop was not alone. Noy’s son, Den, was with him.

  Underwood shook hands with the boy.

  ‘How good to see you, Den.’

  ‘Good to see you, Mr. President.’

  Marsop came forward and took Underwood’s hand. ‘I’m glad you’re here, Mr. President.’

  ‘I came as quickly as I could,’ Underwood responded.

  ‘I can’t tell you how much we appreciate that,’ said Marsop. ‘Please sit down.’

  Underwood took a seat and surveyed the office. He saw that he was alone with Marsop and Den. The swivel chair at the executive desk was empty.

  ‘Where’s Noy?’ Underwood asked.

  With difficulty, Marsop found his voice. ‘She’s been kidnapped.’

  Underwood was plainly shocked. He had not known what to expect, but this least of all.

  ‘Kidnapped?’ he repeated incredulously. ‘Noy’s been kidnapped? Why? By whom?’

  Marsop held up his hands to indicate he had no satisfactory answer. ‘We don’t know by whom. We can take an educated guess, but it is not a certainty. As to why, that is easier. Noy’s captors allowed her to speak to me on the telephone. She instructed me to tell the nation she will not run for election.’

  ‘That’s outrageous!’ Underwood exploded. ‘I expected her opposition to be unhappy. I did not expect them to go this far!’

  ‘They are serious,’ said Marsop.

  ‘What happened? Tell me from the beginning.’

  Marsop pointed to Den on the sofa. ‘It started with Den early yesterday afternoon.’

  Underwood came about in his chair. ‘What happened Den? Can you tell me?’

  The young man’s reply was negative. ‘I get mixed up, maybe because I’m scared. It is better Marsop tell you.’

  Underwood directed his attention to Marsop. ‘All right, you tell me.’

  Marsop nodded. ‘Very well. Noy takes her son to school when she can. Yesterday morning she decided to do so. She took him in the Mercedes with Chalie driving.’

  ‘Who is Chalie?’

  ‘The chauffeur. He was the family’s driver before Den was born, when Prem was still alive.’

  ‘He is reliable?’

  ‘Thoroughly. He had no part in this, as you will see. Anyway, they left Den off at the school, and then they drove back to the palace. Chalie was assigned fo pick up Den at the

  school, as he did every day at two o’clock. Chalie returned Noy to the palace, and then went to park in the underground garage. Someone was hiding there, and struck him a blow on the head and knocked him unconscious. We found him later. He’s alive, but with a fractured skull.’

  ‘Then another driver replaced him in the Mercedes.’

  ‘Yes and no. Another driver, but in a Mercedes that was a replica of the one in the garage. This car was waiting for Den when he got out of school. With his three best school friends he came across the schoolyard and jumped into the car, as he did every day. Only after he had been driven away from the school did he realise he was with another driver and something was wrong.’

  Underwood looked at the boy. ‘So you were abducted first. Any idea where they took you, where you were going?’

  Den made a face. ‘No, except the driver turned a different way.’ ,

  ‘A different way?

  ‘We always turned left to go to the palace. This driver turned right.’

  ‘Then what did you see?’

  Marsop interrupted. ‘Den could not see a thing, Mr. President. Apparently a man was hidden on the floor in the rear. He jumped up, climbed the front seat, and blindfolded Den.’

  ‘So he couldn’t see where he was headed?’ said Underwood.

  ‘Only that it took maybe twenty minutes. It’s hard to know exactly.’

  ‘So maybe twenty minutes,’ Underwood said to the boy.

  ‘I could not know,’ said Den. ‘It felt like longer.’

  Underwood understood. ‘It would if your eyes were covered.’

  Marsop went on to explain that the boy’s blindfold was removed after they had him inside what Den guessed was a second-storey room. The room resembled a living room, sparsely furnished, and there were four men in army uniforms in it.

  Underwood listened, seeking some clue. There were none. The abductors had not been amateurs.

  ‘Then they called Mother,’ said Den. ‘They told me I could see my mother again if she did as she was told.’

  ‘Could you hear what they told her?’

  ‘She was not there. They talked to Marsop. I heard a little. About coming to some place alone to be traded for me.’

  Underwood gnawed his lower lip. ‘Did Marsop think they were lying about having you?’

  ‘I guess so, because one of them with a deep voice said Marsop wanted to hear me, hear me speak. They took me to the phone. They said I could say, “Marsop, I am here.” They told me if I said anything else, they would kill me. I was scared. I did what they told me.’

  ‘And Marsop knew that it was you they had?’

  ‘Oh yes.’

  Underwood confronted Marsop again. ‘Tell me how the exchange took place.’

  Marsop described how Noy managed to leave Chamadin Palace in her kitchen maid’s clothes, undetected and alone. Then he explained how she arrived at the designated corner, was baited with the release of Den, but before she could follow him, two men grabbed her and took her away. ‘Then she was forced to call me.’

  ‘What she had to say was very clear?’

  ‘It was exact. Obviously she had been rehearsed in advance.’

  ‘Did she sound frightened?’

  Marsop offered a ghost of a smile. ‘You know her. She does not frighten easily. Noy sounded quite calm.’

  ‘Repeat for me the terms of her release once more.’

  ‘She will not run for election against Nakorn. I am to announce it on national television tomorrow evening. I am to say she is very ill, too ill to run. I am to say that the election, at her request, is to be held in one week.’

  ‘And after that?’

  ‘After Nakorn is elected, Noy will be released.’

  Agitated, Underwood rose and began to pace. ‘Do you believe that, Marsop?’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘You may be naive.’ Underwood gave Den a quick glance, and returned to Marsop and said in an undertone, ‘They may see fit not to release her.’

  Marsop had not even considered such a possibility. ‘Not release her?’

  Underwood dipped his head in
assent. ‘That’s right. She could be an embarrassment to her captors. Speak out. Tell how she was coerced.’

  ‘Would anyone consider this kidnapping to have been possible?’

  ‘Enough to put Nakorn in trouble, give him real opposition.’

  Marsop was helpless. ‘But what would they do with her?’

  Underwood glanced at Den, who had begun to whimper and said, ‘You know.’

  ‘They would do such a thing? Even if we met their terms?’

  ‘The stakes are high, Marsop. Tell me, when Noy spoke to you, how did you know she wanted me here?’

  ‘She did not mention you by name, of course.’

  ‘Of course not. She couldn’t.’

  ‘She suggested that I get someone from the outside to visit the palace and confirm that she was ill.’

  ‘You’re sure she meant me?’ asked Underwood.

  ‘Who else from the outside could she mean - especially since you were relatively nearby, in China.’

  Underwood stood still, briefly puzzled. ‘What did she think I could possibly do?’

  Marsop threw up his hands. ‘I have not the faintest idea. Perhaps your importance and arrival here would give her captors pause about what they were up to.’

  Underwood was doubtful. ‘No one knows I am here.’

  ‘Tomorrow your press will have it in print. Not why you are here, but that you are here. Also, spies - our army has endless spies — will know of your arrival in Lampang and checking into the hotel. It will be known everywhere.’

  ‘Do you think my presence in Visaka could influence Noy’s captors?’

  ‘Personally, I do not think so,’ admitted Marsqp. ‘However, you do have a relationship with Noy. She regards you as clever. She might guess you will start looking for people who could have some idea who’s holding her captive and how she might be rescued.’

  ‘Looking for people,’ Underwood mused. Suddenly, he sat up and snapped his fingers. ‘There might be someone.’

  ‘Someone?’

  ‘Percy Siebert.’

  ‘The head of your CIA station in the United States Embassy?’

  ‘Yes, Siebert. He knows Noy. He was with me when I brought him to Noy to speak of her husband’s death.’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Furthermore, he was countless other contacts in Visaka. He might be the direction to head for. He might give me a clue about where to start.’

  ‘You will see Siebert?’

  ‘As soon as possible.’ Underwood crossed to Noy’s swivel chair behind her desk and moved a black telephone closer. He dialled the United States Embassy in Visaka.

  An operator answered.

  ‘Percy Siebert, please,’ said Underwood.

  ‘Who is this, may I ask?’

  ‘The president of the United States.’

  The operator’s voice was uncertain. ‘The president?’

  ‘You heard me,’ Underwood snapped. ‘I must speak to Siebert at once.’

  ‘He’s out of the city, sir. I do not know his movements. I do not know where he can be reached. He will be back in the embassy in the morning. I can give him a message, sir.’

  ‘You give him this message,’ said Underwood. ‘Tell Siebert the president of the United States called and wants to see him at the Oriental Hotel bright and early tomorrow morning.’ Then with emphasis Underwood added, ‘Tell him it is top priority. I must see him as soon as possible.’

  It was early in the morning as Matt Underwood gulped a quick breakfast and awaited the arrival of Percy Siebert.

  A knock on the door brought in Secret Service Director Frank Lucas and two of his agents instead.

  ‘Your visitor is outside,’ said Lucas.

  ‘Send him in,’ said Underwood.

  Lucas said, ‘Well and good, but I’d like to leave two of my agents in the adjoining room.’

  The president’s response was emphatic. ‘I’m about to have a private talk with my CIA station head in Visaka. I prefer to have no one within listening distance, certainly not closer than the corridor outside.’

  ‘Well, I’d prefer -‘ Lucas began.

  ‘I’d prefer nobody around,’ Underwood cut him off. ‘This is the CIA and I don’t want a word overheard. All that I want to know is that you’ve swept this room clean and the other rooms as well.’

  ‘They’re clean, Mr. President. No bugs. You can speak freely.’

  ‘Good,’ said Underwood. ‘You and your agents post yourselves outside. When you’ve done so, send Percy Siebert right in.’

  While Lucas and the agents backed out, Underwood tried to organise what he would say to Siebert when the CIA man arrived.

  In a minute, Siebert was in the sitting room.

  The president pushed his breakfast tray aside, rose, and extended a hand to the CIA man.

  ‘Good to see you here again, Mr. President,’ said Siebert. ‘This took me by surprise. Your message indicated there is some urgency about meeting.’

  ‘There is,’ said Underwood. ‘Take that chair.’

  Siebert sat down, alert and wondering, and Underwood pulled up another chair opposite him.

  ‘This concerns President Noy, once more,’ said Underwood. ‘The last time I brought her up with you, it was a personal matter, a defence of myself. This time it is more serious.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘Do you know that President Noy is missing?’

  ‘Missing? I’m afraid I don’t understand you.’

  Underwood studied Siebert’s countenance to try to detect any contradiction in what he heard and what he already knew. He decided that Siebert was genuinely bewildered.

  ‘Noy has been kidnapped,’ said Underwood flatly.

  Siebert’s eyes bulged. ‘I can’t believe that.’

  ‘You’d better believe it because it’s true.’ He continued to study the CIA man. ‘I was sure you’d know something about what happened.’

  Siebert was still astonished. ‘This is the first I’ve heard of it.’

  ‘I thought the CIA had its finger on everything.’

  ‘I wish that was true. It isn’t. It’s a fallacy of fiction. We try to know a good deal, and we do know a good deal, but we’re only as good as our sources. No one even hinted at a kidnapping. What happened to Madame Noy?’

  Crisply, Underwood began to outline what he knew. He started with the call to Beijing from Marsop. ‘She wanted me here so I came at once.’ Underwood then recounted what he’d learned from both Marsop and Den Sang. He backtracked briefly to explain how the kidnapping had come about. He spoke of the abduction of Den, of the trade for Noy, and of Noy’s phone call to Marsop ordering him to withdraw her from the election to assure her safe release.

  Siebert absorbed it all, and uttered one word. ‘Incredible.’

  ‘It is incredible, kidnapping the president of a country in broad daylight,’ agreed Underwood. ‘Now that you’ve heard it all. I’m hoping you can shed some light on it.’

  Siebert made a gesture of surrender. ‘I’m as much in the dark as you are.’

  ‘Think back. Not even a hint from anyone at anytime that this could have happened?’

  ‘I swear to you, Mr. President, I don’t have a clue.’

  Underwood considered what Siebert was saying. ‘Then, you may have a clue to something else. Who could have done it and with what motive?’

  Siebert spoke instantly. ‘I think that’s rather obvious.’

  ‘I think it is, too, but I’d like to hear it from you.’

  ‘All right. Noy reverses herself and announces to the nation she will run for election against General Nakorn, and immediately —’

  ‘According to your information, would she win such a’n election? You were present when she showed her confidence in winning.’

  ‘Polls have her a shoo-in. So do my best contacts. People like her. Of course, Nakorn has a following, but not equal to Noy’s.’

  Underwood was satisfied. ‘Very well. Let’s go back to what you started to sa
y. Noy announces for election and immediately - immediately what?’

  ‘She’s kidnapped. The ransom is a stiff one. She must withdraw from the election.’

  ‘And who benefits?’

  ‘General Samak Nakorn. He would have the field to himself. It would be a Ya vote - a Da vote — he’d be the new president. Most people in Lampang, the majority, would be displeased. But those in your own government — yourself excepted - I mean Ramage and Morrison, would be mightily pleased. They could have an ally to massacre the communists and be true blue to the United States.’

  Underwood blinked at the last. ‘You’re not suggesting that Director Ramage or Secretary of State Morrison engineered this kidnapping?’

  ‘Good God, no. Ramage and Morrison are capable of many things, but not an act like this, especially when they know how you’d feel about it.’

  ‘So what you’re saying is that the real winner in this, the one person to instigate the kidnapping and demand Noy’s withdrawal from the election is the Lampang Army Chief of Staff.’

  ‘General Nakorn. He’d come out the winner in this.’

  ‘Are you accusing Nakorn of doing this?’

  ‘I’m not accusing anyone, Mr. President. I’m merely suggesting who stands to gain by it. Maybe Nakorn’ didn’t do it. Maybe one of his over-zealous aides decided to do him a favour. That’s a possibility. But a greater likelihood is Nakorn himself. He’s a ruthless sonofabitch, capable of any act of violence.’

  ‘So if I want to get to the bottom of this and save Noy, all roads leds to Nakorn.’

  ‘You have nowhere else to go. All other roads lead to a dead end. It’s Nakorn or nothing.’

  Underwood weighed the possibility. He did not like it.

  ‘You think a meeting with Nakorn provides any hope?’

  ‘As president of the United States, give him the go-ahead to wipe out the communists for your sake, and give him the added weapons to do so, and he may be co-operative enough to investigate this kidnapping. But it’s not a certainty. He still wants to be president.’

  ‘And I want to retain the president who’s been kidnapped.’

  ‘Difficult.’

  ‘I guess there’s nowhere else to go but meet with General Nakorn.’

  ‘You may get lucky,’ said Siebert dryly. ‘Don’t count on it.’