Inner Truth

by Philip Dole

  “But why are the Pengs your enemies now?”

  “Because they intend to ruin us.” Sunny paused to take a sip of medicinal tea for his inflamed connective tissue. “It began with the British surrender of Hong Kong in 1997. That is when Hu began diversifying operations. He moved to Yangon and put Fu, his only son, in charge shortly before he died in 1999. The Myanmar military exploits the Pengs’ access to weapons it cannot obtain otherwise because of the arms embargo on it. And the Pengs are more than happy to accommodate. In return it lets them conduct business without interference.

  “But since 9-11 their arms business has become riskier. They still deal in all kinds of weapons, but Fu, Hu’s son, decided the time had come to protect their wealth by diversifying into legitimate businesses. Fu realizes he will soon have to turn control over to his son Wu because he is growing old himself and wants to set their family up for a secure future. So Fu wants to buy into our business and reassume his father’s place as my partner.”

  Sunny took another sip of tea, paused and took a second. “Where were the Pengs when we were struggling to survive after the war? I shall tell you where. They were making money they kept to themselves. I asked Hu to invest in our business, but he was not interested. Yet when they need help, they expect me to treat them like the partner Hu once was. I shall not. They broke their word. They are traitors.

  “Ever since I refused, Fu has tried to ruin us. Their henchmen have attacked our workers on the docks. Their bankers have bribed our managers to quit, and they have burned our dry cleaning plants. They are buying our competitors and undercutting our prices. If we do not stop them, they will drive us out of business.” He paused and took another sip of tea.

  “Excuse me, sir, but I still don’t understand what you had wanted Niko to do?”

  “Even the smallest sparrow casts a shadow, young man. I told him to follow that shadow. Somewhere in the Pengs’ affairs is the solution to our problem. I shall know it when I see it. But now because of our misfortune, the paramount problem is freeing my grandnephew.”

  “With all due respect may I ask why you believe Wu is in the mountains of Morocco right now?”

  “A tiger cannot defeat a snake that is in his belly. And to our great good fortune I have a snake in Fu’s stomach. I have the utmost confidence in the information.”

  “And what, exactly, do you want us to do?”

  “You yourself believe your government will never release my grandnephew until it is convinced he is not working with the Pengs. Is that not true?”

  “Yes, I am convinced of that, sir.”

  “And do you know, young man, any way to convince them of that fact unless you lead them directly to Wu?”

  “No sir. I agree the most persuasive information we could provide Mr. Hacker is Wu’s present location. But what if he doesn’t believe us?”

  “Yes, there is a risk this might not succeed. But we must make the attempt. We can only hope if we give them photos of Wu and firsthand information of his current location, they will not ignore it. We must trust that evidence will satisfy your government’s doubts. Otherwise my grandnephew will be held indefinitely. Is that not what you believe?”

  “I believe as long as they suspect Niko might be connected to a serious arms dealer, they will hold him on any number of possible charges like money laundering until they can investigate it thoroughly.”

  “I am pleased you agree with my grandniece. She believes we have no choice although it is dangerous. Wu is the only man who can free our Niko, and we must find him.”

  Sunny had a yellow folder in his lap. He raised it slightly, and Lei stepped forward to take it in both hands, bowing deeply.

  “Open it.” She obeyed and inside found a photo of the Pengs, father and son together, and also one photo of each.

  “This is all the information we have, but we are gathering more. As you see, Wu left Yangon for Ketama via Madrid on November twenty-eighth. He is expected to return to Yangon by mid-December. It is likely the Pengs are selling weapons to one of the Middle East warring factions. That must be why Wu is in North Africa.”

  “Do you have a better fix on Wu’s location than ‘somewhere’ in Ketama?”

  Lei responded for Sunny. “No, this is all we know. But it is where they produce hashish. So we figure it is a dope for guns swap.”

  Tyler flipped several pages in the folder. “This picture of the son will be helpful. And with your permission I’ll share some of this information with Mr. Hacker immediately. He’ll appreciate the photos. I bet he’ll have a lot of questions we can’t answer, but we have to start someplace. At least it will give him something to chew on and some advance notice about what we’re up to.” He cocked his head at Lei. “Mostly it may help build up my credibility. If you permit, I’ll get him these documents right away. I’ll leave you with Mr. Hacker’s numbers and how to contact him if that becomes necessary.” He wanted someone in America to know where he was in case he disappeared.

  Sunny made a nearly imperceptible gesture, and the staff person approached Sunny closely and bowed slightly. Sunny spoke to him words Tyler couldn’t hear.

  Then Sunny addressed him. “You are embarking on a dangerous trip. So I give you permission to share the information I have given you with your government. But do not reveal the source. They will never believe a Chinaman. Everyone seems to have forgotten I was a hero for helping the Resistance.

  “I cannot foretell what awaits you, but be cautious at all times. Anticipate the worst, and prepare for it. You only need to identify Wu and his exact location. Leave the rest to your Mr. Hacker. We shall have to trust him. Do not endanger yourselves unduly. My grandniece is every bit as dear to me as my grandnephew.”

  The staff person returned, bowed and handed him a black bundle. Sunny slipped a plaited silk cord off, unwrapped the cover and held two objects, one in each hand. He extended one to Lei. “My dear grandniece, please take this. It is a true marvel. It is a satellite phone, and with it you can call me. Any time, any place. And I can call you, too. It also has a built-in global positioning system. So you will always know your precise location as will I.”

  She inspected it briefly and passed it to Tyler. He recognized the name Iridium. Weighing only thirteen ounces and about the size of a brick, an Iridium 9505 can call anywhere in the world. And the GPS can pinpoint Wu’s location if and when they find him.

  “Thank you very much. This will make it possible for us to stay in touch. That was very thoughtful, sir.”

  “Yes, dear Granduncle. Thank you. I shall call you every day.” Lei, too, seemed relieved they had a lifeline.

  “Call me at every nine a.m. Morocco time which is ten a.m. here. Then call again at three p.m. and nine p.m. Is that clear?”

  “Yes sir. We’ll call you tonight at nine p.m.” Tyler assured the elder.

  “There’s one more thing.” Tyler and Lei waited. Sunny grimaced and shifted his body on the settee. Then he beckoned them close. They exchanged puzzled looks. Sunny laid his gnarled hands on their shoulders, each finger joint swollen and red. Tyler closed his eyes in anticipation of being blessed. But he snapped them open when Sunny whispered, “Beware. We have been betrayed. Hung Ho is a spy for Peng Wu.”

  Chapter Eleven

  The Chang Residence

  Prinzengracht 45

  Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  Tuesday, December 6, 2005

  10:07 a.m.

  The secret Sunny revealed puzzled them as they walked down the stairs. Tyler asked Lei, “Why would Hung Ho help Wu?” He ran both hands over his head. “He’s just hurting himself.”

  Lei shared his confusion. “I know Hung Ho wants to control the family, but he almost does that already. Why doesn’t he just wait for Sunny to make it official? Sunny has already turned over all the day-to-day managing to him.

  “But I do know Sunny has
refused to acknowledge Hung Ho as his successor. That public designation is important to the Hing Ling clan.” She paused and seemed lost in thought. “I never knew exactly why, but I realized Sunny does not trust Hung Ho. And that must be the reason. He is a spy for the Pengs.”

  Tyler still didn’t understand. “Why he would be working with Wu? What’s in it for him?”

  Lei clapped one time. “Yes. That must be it. Hung Ho has always been jealous of how the Hing Ling villagers revere Sunny. He realizes he will never hold Sunny’s status even if Sunny publicly acknowledges him as his successor. So he is planning to desert us. He will throw in with the Pengs and turn his back on the rest of us.

  “He is so despicable. Our villagers depend on us. Sunny is their security and their glue. They know he has always been there for them. And Hung Ho plans to abandon us.”

  “Could Sunny be wrong?”

  “Of course, but he would not have warned us his only son is a traitor to the family and the village unless he believed it.”

  “I’m shocked by his treachery, too. I still don’t understand why he would do that. But that’s a question we had better leave for another day. You do know what this means for us, don’t you?”

  “No. What?”

  “It means Wu knows we’ve learned where he is and we’re coming to find him.” He arched an eyebrow. “So we can forget about having the advantage of surprise. Wu’s got plenty of time to organize a welcoming party for Hung Ho’s least favorite niece and her American monkey.”

  “Damn. I bet he will, the bastard.” She cursed under her breath. “So have you changed your mind?”

  Tyler reached out and held her face in his hands. “I gave you my word. Haven’t I made it clear to you I never break my word?” But can I keep my word? I don’t have any idea what will happen in Morocco’s no man’s mountains.

  “We’d better get cracking. There’s a lot of stuff we need to get.”

  Lei cancelled Tyler’s flight to Maui and added him to her flight. He made a mental list of what they needed. His N.O.L.S. training had shown him there was no substitute for sturdy hiking boots, good sleeping bags, and warm clothing. It had taught him one could endure almost any hardship if you’re warm, rested, and mobile.

  Lei wanted to bring the most powerful telephoto lens she could find, figuring the farther away from Wu she could stay the better. She knew just where to look. Photography was her kuleana.

  He knew they needed a detailed map of Morocco but had no idea where to get it. Their chauffeur offered to find that kind of map, and they accepted his help with gratitude.

  Tyler worried they would overlook something they would need desperately, something that would be so easy to pick up in Amsterdam but that would be utterly unavailable in Morocco. And of course those missing items would turn out to be critical. That is Murphy’s Law.

  He imagined what might happen in a “no man’s land.” He wished he could take a weapon with him. But he couldn’t get a weapon through airport security. In fact, he reminded himself to pack his trusty Swiss Army knife in his backpack, hoping airport security didn’t confiscate it.

  Lei’s usual camera shop had what she needed. In addition to a collapsible top-of-the line Bogen tripod she bought a Canon 400-800 mm telephoto lens for her Canon camera. It was huge and heavy. The lens and tripod would nearly fill one of the backpacks they planned on taking. She loaded up on a half dozen rolls of Fuji high-speed film, prompting Tyler to remind her it would be a quick business trip, not a sightseeing vacation.

  Tyler insisted they get Patagonia sleeping bags, Vasque Sundowner boots, and Kelty backpacks. Those were the best. Tyler was determined that if they failed, it wouldn’t be the gear’s fault.

  After shopping Tyler worried about the harm Hung Ho could do to them by telling Wu of their plans. So Lei changed their plans and didn’t tell anyone. They booked a connecting flight to Tangier from Casablanca, the previous destination.

  The intrepid duo arrived at the Tangier-Boukhyalef Airport in Tangier, Morocco, at five-fifteen p.m.

  “Wait a second, Lei. I have to use the john. Wait right here for me. Promise?” Tyler’s antennae had been working overtime since disembarking the connecting Royal Maroc flight.

  “I have to visit the women’s room, too. I will meet you right here.”

  Heading for their respective restrooms, they scanned the terminal for a Wu welcoming committee. Tyler had vowed to be on high alert until they were safely out of Morocco. He urinated and stepped to a sink to wash his hands. A stall occupant emerged and approached a sink on the other end. Tyler glanced at him, and their eyes met momentarily. Tyler finished washing and shook his hands vigorously before wiping them on his trouser legs because there were no towels. Then as he walked toward the door, the stall occupant cut him off.

  “Excuse me, sir.” The diminutive local man in a djellaba wore a black Oakland Raiders cap. He couldn’t have been taller than Lei and was so slight he probably didn’t weigh much more than she.

  “Yes.”

  “I would not go out there if I were you.” He spoke perfect English.

  “Why not?”

  “Because there are bad men out there, showing your picture to people, asking if they have seen you. They showed it to me, but I had not seen you until just now.”

  Oh, my God. Tyler ran both hands over his head. That clinches it. Hung Ho must have given my picture to them. Sunny was right. He’s in cahoots with them. I’ve got to warn Lei. Tyler asked the man, “Did those men show you any other pictures?”

  “Yes, they showed me a picture of a woman, too.”

  “Of an attractive Asian woman?”

  “Yes.”

  “Shit. I’ve got to get out of here.” He hadn’t been on the ground in Tangier for fifteen minutes, and he’d already been run up a tree by his enemy’s hunting dogs. He realized sooner or later they’d check the men’s room.

  “Why do you call them ‘bad men’?”

  “Because I recognize two of them from the mosque. They are always stirring up trouble at the mosque with talk about jihad.”

  What can I do? I can’t leave here. How can we sneak out? Tyler began to pace with frequent turns. He was running his hands over and over his head, obviously distressed.

  “Can I help you?” The small stranger held out his arms and spread them open. Still stunned by this turn of events, Tyler didn’t reply. “Do you need help?” the stranger asked.

  Tyler knew the answer but still stood mute. He realized he needed this man. No one else could warn Lei. Tyler had to make a quick decision, something that always made him uncomfortable. Is it crazy to trust this stranger? It’s a huge leap of faith, but what can I do? I’ve got no choice. I’ve got to take the risk. Damn, I hope this is right.

  Tyler stopped pacing and turned to the stranger. “Yes, sir. I do need your help. Very much. The woman and I must get away from this airport without being confronted by those men. I don’t know how, but some way. Will you help us?”

  “Why are they looking for you?”

  “It’s a long story, but we need to get to the mountains, to a place called Ketama.”

  “Are you going to Ketama for hashish?” His voice dripped with skepticism. “Everyone going to Ketama is going after hashish.”

  “No, sir. I promise you we don’t want any hashish. Actually we might have to act like we do. But believe me we don’t. We just need to find a man who is hurting the woman. We don’t know where he is exactly, but he’s in Ketama. Just as soon as we find out exactly where he is, we’re leaving Morocco. Without any hashish I swear.”

  “Will you hire my taxi?”

  Tyler had planned on renting a car but being driven by someone local who could be trusted was ideal. “Yes, you name the price.” They shook hands. “Deal. But first we must get out of here, my most welcome chauffeur. What’s your name. kind sir?”


  “Meddur, but everyone calls me Little Bo.”

  “Why do they call you that?”

  “Because I am a friend of the great Bo Jackson.”

  “Bo Jackson? The pro athlete?”

  “Yes, sir. Bo Jackson, the great two-sport pro.”

  “Who would have thought a Moroccan taxi driver would have ever heard of Bo Jackson?” Tyler asked rhetorically. But Little Bo answered anyway.

  “I had the privilege of driving Sidi Jackson all over. For two weeks. He gave me this.” Little Bo took off the black baseball cap he wore as carefully as if it was a tiara.

  “What is your name, sir?”

  “Tyler.”

  “How can I help, Sidi Tyler?”

  Tyler had no plan how to get away. “You can find my companion and tell her about the men looking for us. She went to the ladies room, and I hope she hasn’t come out yet. Start there, and when you find her tell her to stay hidden in the ladies’ room until I come up with a plan.”

  “What’s the woman’s name, Sidi Tyler?”

  “Lei.”

  “Will Lei believe me?” Little Bo had a good point. Tyler had insisted she trust no one and suspect all strangers.

  “Show her this.” He gave Little Bo his driver’s license. “Tell her that I’m hiding in the men’s room. Tell her we have to sneak out. Is your taxi here?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good. She’s got a better chance getting out alone because they’re looking for a couple. But being Asian is a dead giveaway.”

  “I have an idea.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I have some of my wife’s clothes in the taxi because I picked up her cleaning this morning.”

  “Won’t they see her face even if she’s dressed in your wife’s clothes?”