by John Muir
CHAPTER 22
LOOSE PLANS FOR SEARCHING
VIP Hotel - Day 4
Pater's thoughts were only reinforced by the taxi driver's information. He had dropped off the lady that had spent the night with T.A., outside Robinson's Supermarket. He watched the lady as he circled round hoping to find another fare. The lady crossed the road and immediately got into another taxi which headed back in the same direction from which they had come.
Pater was amazed. He felt certain that the woman had intentionally used a simple but effective evasion technique to avoid being followed. The thought that she may have been arranged as a distraction by Yamada for T.A. fitted in with her physical description as non Filipina, looking more like either Chinese or Japanese. Yamada would not have wanted T.A. to talk with anyone outside Yamada's influence in case T.A. said he was going to be with Yamada.
"Nilo, do you have four men friends, even better if it's four relatives, who could help?" asked Pater. "Also, maybe one more that has a private jeepney. Big enough for 12 passengers."
"Sure. For how long."
"Several days at least. I'll pay for their time. But it's urgent. We've gotta get to Iligan as soon as possible. Preferably if they can also sing a little bit."
Nilo gave a puzzled look, and grinned, "The money makes it easy. I'll go now."
As Nilo left, Henry and Rangi looked at him curiously.
"What's with the singing bit?" asked Rangi. "Strange time to form a choir?"
"Just some way we might need to let T.A. know we are in the area."
Pater phoned the Ruben Consuelo, the reporter, at his contact number and left the message that he would be in Iligan tomorrow.
"When Nilo gets back, I'll tell you what I plan to do."
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Paradise Plantation - Day 4
Ueda had sat in the shade near the clearing work. He had dozed occasionally, but whether it was dreams or thoughts he could not tell. Thoughts of Iti and the driver Hayashi kept flashing into his mind. He only wished he could have told them about the expected ambush. That though, he agreed, would have possibly negated Yamada's plans.
He was not sure whether he wanted Yamada to find his treasure tonight, or ever. But if he did, at least Ueda might be able to sleep. Then again, maybe not. If they found the treasure he would have to organise and load the treasure into the secret panels of the truck. More time without sleep.
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Near Linamon - Day 4
Siti's favourite uncle, Omar Asani, visited. He was not really an uncle, but her Father's cousin. She called him uncle.
While Zahra, Omar and her sat crouched in the bedroom waiting for the return of her Father, they watched the Hapona.
Omar enjoyed playing the role of a teacher, even though for the moment he was earning his income as a fisherman. He made the two girls practice phrases in English. At other times he would tell the girls about the world away from the small narrow-minded and isolated barrio in which they lived. He had worked on cargo ships which travelled as far away as the Middle East.
Siti had always listened, fascinated by Omar's stories since she was very young. He was a good story teller. He always told her that until she could speak English fluently she would be trapped where she was. His own children were all quite proficient at English.
The lessons in English at school were dull and never interesting. But with Omar it was fun and he always made it easy to try different things.
They were practising English when her Father, Salim, returned. She knew the expression on his face meant bad news for everyone. She just hoped he would not revert to kicking the helpless Hapona to relieve his frustration.
"Doesn't look like good news," said Omar.
"They said it is too much. They don't have P200 million pesos," replied Salim.
"That's nearly US$3 million. Much more than if you robbed all the banks in Mindanao. Why don't you ask for something they can pay."
"Like what?"
"P30 million. That's more than you and me and all our families need in this life. We could all have nice houses and good cars, servants and investment money to live on."
Salim shook his head negatively. "I want to hurt him and make him pay for all the murders and crimes his family has done."
"Well P50 million then, but anything more than that they could never raise, and it will still take more time. They won't pay anything if he's dead. It's all taking too long. It's all too slow. Every day means more danger. And every day this Japanese does not eat is another day closer to his death. He should be in a hospital."
Salim looked at the prone body and nodded in the affirmative.
"I love you like a brother Salim, but if the army ever finds out, you will be killed. Your children will be without a Father as well as a Mother," said Omar.
"It was supposed to be over quickly."
"Then do something to make it finish quickly. This waiting for replies in the newspapers will take weeks. Go to Iligan. Get that unbeliever reporter Consuelo to hurry things up. He is dealing with that hypocrite accountant from the company. Just be careful. Control your anger. Make your demands ones which can achieve the goals, not something impossible.
Salim nodded again.
"I will tell my understanding wife," Omar said with a grin. "I will stay here to watch over the Japanese and your girls. She might have to sell more T-shirts to tourists at the resort. I will still have to catch some fish but I will only stay out until I have enough to eat. Besides, I can work here on my little secret surprise I have for her."
"What's that?"
"Until I am sure it is going to work, it is still a secret, even to you. You go. I'll stay."
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VIP Hotel - Day 4
Nilo returned with his brother and four cousins just before sunset. Pater was sure that Nilo had planned the timing so they would all be fed in the hotel dining room.
He watched them eating as though they were taking on enough food to build a stored amount for lean days ahead. The dining room TV was on as usual, with the waiters spending more time watching it than serving patrons. The evening news had begun. Pater listened carefully for any news about the kidnap
"And in Mindanao today, the search goes on for kidnapped Japanese industrialist Ken Yamada. A ransom demand for P200 million has been received at the Head Office of Paradise Exports. Army and Air Force personnel are involved and are sweeping the area between Marawi and Iligan looking for clues as to the whereabouts of the kidnappers or Mr Yamada. The Philippines constabulary say their inquiries have been made difficult by the lack of co-operation of the locals. The Japanese Government has expressed deep concern about the lack of progress in the investigation. Local newspaper reporter, Ruben Consuelo, will be phoning with an up to the minute report in the late news bulletin."
Dinner completed, they all went to Pater's room.
"Sorry Marivic, but we must face the possibility that T.A. might be dead."
He noticed she visibly winced, and Nilo let his head drop.
"Though I think he might have been kidnapped with the Japanese, or in mistake for the Japanese. The Japanese has not reappeared since the kidnap, but his old loyal bodyguard has. Apparently the bodyguard has phoned the company. But the bodyguard seems more interested in supervising work by labourers somewhere that no-one will tell me. The company's Head Office man, their accountant, doesn't seem to be in any rush to find the ransom money either. Reckons most of the company money is tied up in overseas term deposits. He says he will have to borrow locally to pay for the release of the kidnapped Japanese."
Pater looked around at all their faces as he paused for effect. Then he went on. "Why? Maybe the bodyguard knows the Japanese is safe, or, the bodyguard is in on the kidnap. But then, if he was in on the kidnap, he would be pushing to get the ransom paid quickly. He isn't. Then if his boss was kidnapped you would think he'd be rushing around everywhere to find him. He isn't."
Pater looked at all their faces again.
"Or are the accountant and the bodyguard in cahoots? So many possibilities."
"If the Japanese has not been kidnapped, is it a real kidnap or is it a plan by the Japanese to disappear? I have checked with certain friends in Manila, they say there isn't any investigation into any aspect of this Yamada's businesses or his life. Apparently though his wife and family have returned to Japan, quite upset according to those I asked. It might be acting, but they don't think so."
None of the listeners interrupted.
"Therefore it seems that the kidnappers probably think they have Yamada. Instead they got T.A. That is a cause for concern. Because if they find out they've got the wrong person, they'll probably kill him. So we've got two people to find. Yamada, and T.A. If we find T.A., I don't give a shit about the Japanese. If we find the Japanese, we've got to hide him and make sure that nobody knows he's alive. If the kidnappers know we’ve got Yamada, and they’ve got a ring-in, they’ll kill T.A. Everybody agree?"
Affirmative nods came from all those listening.
"Where do we start looking?" asked Nilo.
"Iligan I reckon. That's where the last few messages have been left. Some kid has always run into the newspaper office or the cannery head office with a message. The kidnappers haven't got time to keep taking transport to Cagayan. And I doubt if they're travelling from Marawi. So I reckon the kidnappers are in Iligan or nearby."
"As to where Yamada is, if he isn't with the kidnappers, then he'll be hiding on one of his properties. I reckon Yamada's alive mainly because if he had been in his car, both of the bodyguards would have been with him. Then there would have been three bodies on the road. If T.A. had been in the car at the time of the kidnap as well as Yamada, then T.A.'s body would have been on the road too."
"There are only three people here who know T.A. by sight and who he knows. Therefore we have three groups. One group is Marivic, Rangi and Nilo's brother. Next is Nilo, Henry and one of your cousins. Then me and your other two cousins. The last cousin stays with the jeepney, he's important for all of us. He'll have a mobile phone and we'll give him the last r/t."
Pater wanted the jeepney driver to feel important and not sleep on the job.
Pater looked directly at the jeepney owner. "You my friend must always be ready at a moments notice to get help to whoever needs it as soon as you can. Now it's back to school for all of you who don't know how to use a mobile phone or a r/t. Henry, Rangi and myself will show you. Then we'll start the singing lessons."
That brought a few strange stares.
The training on the equipment was detailed and thorough over the next 30 minutes.
"T.A. is a Kiwi. That is to say he is a New Zealander. Also he's been living in Australia. Now, in our search we'll be doing a lot of walking, up and down various streets. He might be in one of the buildings that we walk past. He might not be able to see us, but there's a damn good chance he could hear us. If he can hear us and know we're from New Zealand or Australia, he might be able to call out. Let's increase our chances of him knowing we're around by learning a few simple songs that would only be able to be sung by a Kiwi or an Aussie."
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near Linamon - Day 4
With their Father gone, Siti and Zahra felt more relaxed. Their uncle, Omar, always seemed to have a calming influence, even on Salim. He spent an hour, practicing English phrases with dozens of repetitions, role playing situations of meeting people using the English phrases that would be used.
The two girls often giggled with embarrassment at their own lack of linguistic abilities. Siti kept glancing at the comatose figure.
Just as quickly as Omar had slipped into the teaching role, he stopped and crouched beside the Japanese. When he started to examine the chain and padlock that held the figures arms, Siti got the key from behind the curtain covering the door.
"Thank you," Omar said clearly in English. He had not slipped totally out of the teaching mode.
"You are welcome," replied Siti taking up the challenge.
"Very good, very good."
Omar removed the manacle from the Hapona's left wrist and allowed some slack in the chain. Now only the left ankle and right wrist were manacled.
He felt the area around the rib cage. Apparently satisfied there was nothing broken he began to try and lift the Hapona to a sitting up position. Reverting to his own Visayan language, "You are a heavy one. Come on you girls, give me some help."
Both the girls rushed to help lift. Then almost dropped the Hapona when he started to moan.
"That's nearly like.....," Siti cut her words off when she realised what she was going to say.
"Like what?" asked Omar.
"A little bit like the way he moaned this morning when I tried to move him."
The Hapona's head rolled uncontrolled in different directions.
"Siti, get behind him and hold his head upright. We'll try and get some action from this guy. He's been lying down too long. Rub his neck to help circulate the blood to his brain."
Siti knelt behind the Hapona, the Hapona's back supported by her chest. She held his head erect with her left palm on his forehead and massaged the back of his neck with her right hand. The Hapona moaned softly. Siti felt the desire between her legs start again, then felt her face turning red with embarrassment.
"Zahra, you work on his feet. We've got to get more than just water into him. By the way, you've both done an excellent job. The swelling's almost totally gone, just bruises. I can't understand why he is so hairy."
After about ten minutes, Omar nodded for them to lower the figure to the floor.
"Leave him for a while. I'll explain what's happened to your Ati and I'll bring some fish for us to eat."
Omar looked at Siti. "You can make a thin fish soup, and we can feed some of that into him instead of water."
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Paradise Plantation - Day 4
The workmen had gone, machines switched off and left where they were when the sun set. Ueda walked slowly back to the small nipa hut where Yamada had remained out of sight for the day.
Ueda felt drained, even though he presumed he had managed to snatch some small naps under the tree. His brain had begun to signal the early signs of a headache.
As he entered the door of the hut and saw Yamada, he bowed courteously. Yamada responded.
"You look terrible," said Yamada. "Here, have some of this."
He offered Ueda a bowl of soup. Ueda accepted and cupped the bowl in both hands as he bowed again.
"After that, I have prepared some rice and fish for us. Tonight, you can sleep. I will check the ground. As soon as you have eaten, have some saki. That will help you sleep. Not too much, I might need you in a hurry if I find something."
Yamada had left the hut with his metal detector before Ueda had finished his soup. He helped himself to fish and rice, filled a small glass with saki, rolled out his thin mattress and was asleep before he had taken a sip from the glass.
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near Linamon - Day 4
Siti had crouched close to the Hapona since her uncle had left. His eyelids were opening more frequently than before, but the stare was still vacant.
It was after 9:00 P.M. when Omar returned. He had brought with him a trolley loaded with boxes and thick glass. Siti, though curious, did not ask what it was all for.
He gave the fish to Zahra, who immediately began the preparation of the evening meal. Omar needed several trips to carry his load and equipment up the stairs, which he placed in the bedroom with the sleeping Hapona.
After they had all eaten, Omar sat the Hapona up as he had before, and using a spoon, forced the lukewarm soup through the Hapona's lips. The Hapona's mouth and jaw moved in a positive and conscious effort reflecting that he was swallowing the thin liquid.
He sent the girls off to bed telling them that he would be gone before first light to catch some fish to eat.
The girls rolled out their mattresses in the lounge and bedded down, but getti
ng to sleep over the noises from the bedroom was difficult. Tiredness eventually overtook them and they drifted asleep.
Omar had begun to work on the wood that he had brought with him. Without using the intermittent and unreliable electricity supply, he used his gas lamp which cast eerie shadows around the room. The noises he made to disassemble the large ammunition boxes were louder than he had expected it to be. Next he had begun to make careful measurements. After measurements of the boxes and making shallow markings on the inside of the disassembled boxes, he checked and rechecked his markings.
He stopped working when he heard the Hapona start muttering. It seemed the Hapona was repeating the word 'No' and 'Don't' over and over again. He listened carefully to try and confirm what he was hearing. It confused him. Surely the Japanese would be talking Japanese even if he was multi-lingual. In the state he was in he should naturally revert to his native tongue. If not using Japanese, then why was he not speaking a Filipino language? Why would the Japanese be talking English? Surely that was the least used language of all those he spoke?
The mumbling stopped. Omar continued his crouch and watched the Hapona closely. He saw the eyelids open and stare toward the ceiling, then blink sleepily before moving his eyes slowly backwards and forwards trying to focus on the ceiling. Omar just watched without intervention.
The Hapona turned his head sideways slowly toward him, eventually settling his gaze on Omar's face. After a few seconds of silence and slow blinking of the Hapona's eyelids, he moved his mouth slowly trying to speak.
He made out the faint word 'who', before there was another long pause.
Omar sat the Hapona up easier this time. While supporting his back with his left arm, Omar held a cup in his right hand and fed the semi-conscious figure some cold fish soup. When the cup was empty, he eased the Hapona down onto the mattress. The Hapona was still too weak to be dangerous.
Very faintly the voice started again.
"Who are you?"
Omar wondered again why the Japanese was speaking English.
"I am Omar. Who are you?"
Omar waited a long time for the reply. When it came, it was faint.
"I can't remember."
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