By the time we reached Dali the rain had really set in. Panda had described it as “an old town, you’ll love it”, but the urban sprawl we were now trying to negotiate could by no stretch of the imagination be described as “old”. Moreover, it seemed huge: another oriental metropolis I’d never heard of. Increasingly uneasy, I asked him when we’d arrive.
“Old town further on,” he assured us. “Nice place, nice hotel.”
Officially everything was ‘nice’, Panda’s default word. But all I could see was the rhythmic sweep of the wipers, beyond them a blurred urban landscape. We were driving ever deeper into a country that until a few years ago had been closed to almost all foreign barbarians. Beside me, Alexei was silent, grim faced. In the front, Freddie, never the garrulous sort, had given up reacting to Panda’s chat.
At last we swung off the main road, through what looked like a genuinely medieval gateway.
“This old town. Nice hotel in five minutes.” As he turned round to tell us, we almost ran down a cyclist, who fell off his bike with a clatter. We were now in narrow streets with low venerable buildings, something like the destination I’d been expecting.
Panda was correct on both the timing and description: the ‘Landscape’ turned out to be more like a wealthy trader’s mansion than a hotel. Not spacious, one would not expect that in the confines of an ancient walled town, but it had an intimate feel and was beautifully done.
The reception was in an interior courtyard, full of dark wood furniture and potted plants. Panda helped us check in and was about to take his leave when Alexei said,
“We’ll come with you to make sure Freddie is all right.”
“Not necessary. I look after Freddie now.”
“I promised his mother,” insisted Alexei, as though our charge were a child, not a fully-fledged adult.
Panda was not happy. After a moment he found an excuse. “Twenty minutes more to the Academy: the same back again. You must be tired...”
“It’s been easy for us, relaxing in the back. But it’s been a long drive and if you are too tired...”
Unable to lose face by admitting fatigue, Panda had no option, just growled, “No problem for me.” Then stomped back to the car.
I picked up our keys and asked the front desk to take the bags to our room. Then followed him out of the hotel.
29
We left the old town by another mediaeval gate and returned to the 21st century, the town of Dali petering out into something almost rural. We glimpsed water to our right: Lake Erhai. Panda told us the name meant ‘ear-shaped’. We had to take his word for it, because the rain was reducing visibility to a couple of hundred yards. Low cloud was blotting out all but the foothills of Panda’s promised mountains.
It didn’t seem too long - maybe only ten minutes - before we swung off the main road, towards the lake and a large white structure.
Panda turned round in his seat, no cyclists around here to knock down, and announced, “The Academy.”
The building stood in its own grounds at the end of a long drive, a square four-storey block, with crenelated roof and squat towers at each corner. A pretend castle. As we drew up at the main entrance I noticed the walls were disfigured by a series of cracks: a fairly modern construction, but not too well put together. Or maybe we were in an earthquake zone? Best not to ask.
Freddie picked up his bag, - he travelled light - and we followed Panda through the front door into a high-ceiling soulless area, the antithesis of our hotel. To the right a reception desk, ahead a restaurant with a view of the lake.
There was some hand shaking with a lady receptionist, who did not appear to speak any English, but picked up a phone to jabber a message. Panda apologised for the delay, filling in the time with a potted history of the building, which had started life in the 1990s as a hotel, but been converted to its present use five years ago.
The arrival of a young girl cut off Panda’s hotel spiel. “Ah, here she is. Meet Su.”
She was about Freddie’s age, specs perched halfway down her nose, pigtail held in place by a coloured band; dressed in jeans and a light blue fleece; Dali’s ‘eternal spring’ was on the chilly side and the building did not appear to be heated.
Su shook hands, smiled and said, “Welcome to the Academy, Freddie. I’ve been designated as your mentor.”
“Su speaks good English,” said Panda, unnecessarily. The phrase ‘Designated as your mentor’ was impressive, even if swotted up for the occasion.
“We use the mentor system for all our new guests, but especially for those from overseas,” she continued, confirming that her English, although accented, was excellent. “Follow me, I show you your room.”
We trooped up in Su’s wake to level four. Why no elevator? Never mind, it was good exercise. Freddie’s room faced the hills and was adequate, if not exactly homely: a basic en-suite with shower; white walls with one charcoal drawing of a karst landscape; a double bed. On the bedside table lay two packs of condoms; probably a legacy from the days of Chairman Mao, the Great Helmsman, who had allowed unlimited sex, but children only with state permission.
When Freddie had been briefed on his accommodation, it was down again to reception, where Panda announced, “Okay, let’s get you back to the hotel.”
“We haven’t yet seen what has brought Freddie all this way,” said Alexei. “The computer room.”
“Not interesting,” snapped Panda. “Just rows of screens.”
“Even so, we’d like to see it.”
Now Panda was embarrassed. “I’m sorry. Academy rules. Only our guests are permitted in the computer rooms.”
“Very well. But I promised Freddie’s mother we’d keep an eye on him, so we can’t just leave him. Need to keep in touch.”
“Of course. He always free to visit your hotel.”
Alexei turned to Freddie: “How about we let you settle in, then meet up again in a couple of days? Take you out to dinner. Fancy that?”
“Yea... great.” Freddie had so far not said much; given no indication of his feelings. But that was typical Freddie. Was he homesick? Excited? No way of telling.
With what turned out to be a flash of inspiration, Alexei then added, “Perhaps Su would like to come with you? Practice her English?”
I caught a fleeting glance from Su to Panda, as if to ask if that was okay.
After a fractional pause, Panda replied, “Of course she can come.” Slightly forced, I thought, but permission had been granted.
Su’s reaction was not at all forced. She gave a big smile and replied, “I look forward to it.”
30
Panda, rather grumpily, took us back to our hotel, then announced that his car would ‘unfortunately’ not be available for casual trips between town and the Academy. Taxis were cheap and plentiful. No arguing with that, so we thanked him and sent him on his way.
The Landscape hotel proved to be a friendlier place than Freddie’s clinical cell at the Academy. Our bedroom was done up in dark wood, floor and all, which made it cosy rather than gloomy. Plenty of traditional pictures on the walls and facilities well up to standard. A place we could comfortably call our own for a while.
It was good to be just the two of us together again: no Freddie. When we had unpacked, Alexei said,
“Dinner time. Let’s go out and see what we’ve let ourselves in for.”
The eating district proved to be a convenient three minute walk away, a street decorated with Chinese lanterns and menus also in English. We saw a sprinkling of Europeans amongst the predominant Chinese, some sitting at outside tables. Alfresco dining was still on the cool side, so we chose to go inside.
When we had ordered the food, full glasses of beer in front of us, Alexei leant back with a smile and said,
“So far so good.”
To check the facts, I delved into a pocket for our itinerary and announced: “We’re due to have another ten days here in Dali, before retracing our steps to Kunming and Hong Kong. Then home. A little ov
er two weeks in all.”
“Should be enough for Freddie to see what it’s all about.”
“It’ll have to be. Our return flights have been booked. Although if anything goes wrong, our Chinese visas last for thirty days from arrival in Kunming, which gives us some leeway.”
“Nothing will go wrong,” said Alexei with such determination I felt she was willing an easy outcome.
“How do you feel about Panda?” I asked.
“Wouldn’t trust him an inch. Although I’m not sure that matters. I don’t think he’s too far up the pecking order; just a foot soldier, told to fetch and get us installed. The boss is probably hiding somewhere in the Academy. And that’s a place which gives me the creeps.”
“They didn’t seem inclined to show us much,” I admitted.
“Which is why we need to make the most of Su. I may be wrong, but she strikes me as a sweetie.”
I nodded. “Good move of yours to invite her along with Freddie.”
“Be interesting to see if he takes to her.”
“I remember his mother dropping a casual remark about wishing Freddie would find himself a nice girl from Streatham,” I said. “Sounds like he isn’t into girls.”
“He’s twenty-five, for God’s sake!”
“Gay perhaps?”
“Haven’t heard anything about boys either.”
“We can’t all be sex maniacs, like you.”
She grinned: “People in glass houses...”
“Maybe Freddie is a late developer,” I continued. “Fact is, we still know next to nothing about him.”
“Can stay that way for all I care. As long as he keeps out of trouble and lets us see something of China. And of course comes home with us on schedule.”
“We should be able to assess the situation better in a couple of days, after our dinner date. Which leaves tomorrow free for sightseeing.”
We did just that. Became tourists. The weather disturbance which had made our drive up such a misery had blown itself out, cleansed the air and left a day sparkling with promise. The Land of Eternal Spring according to the brochures.
We spent the morning getting our bearings in the old town, which was full of quirky shops, food stalls and quaint architecture. In the afternoon it was out to Mirror Lake and the Three Pagodas, which under-sold itself on the postcards as it gave no hint about the monumental complex that lay behind. Chongsheng temples were a revelation, a site that would not have shamed a capital city.
It was with a sense of awe that Alexei and I went back to the same restaurant for dinner. Re-lived the temples. And our day. But with the realisation we were not in China to enjoy ourselves. Tomorrow it was back to work. To check on Freddie and make sure he stayed on the straight and narrow.
31
Freddie and Su arrived at 7.30, by taxi; Su in a red jacket, Freddie in his usual trainers and jeans - no one could accuse him of being a fashion icon.
Su led the way to the same eating street, but a different restaurant, where she was clearly well known. Said we should sit outside, hence her warm clothing, and entered on a long discussion with the waiter. I had offered to pay, but the culinary surprises would be hers.
When the mystery order had been completed and drinks were on the table, Alexei asked,
“How’s it going, Freddie?”
“Pretty cool. They’ve got some fantastic gear.”
“Good for hacking?”
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I mentally kicked myself. And received a sharp physical kick under the table from Alexei.
Su merely smiled, adjusted her pigtail with a little wriggle and said, “We’re not allowed to hack. Just get information. Educate ourselves. We’re an academy.”
“Has Freddie been a help?”
“Freddie is very good.”
I still couldn’t get my head round the fact that our gauche young friend was brilliant in his chosen field.
Alexei asked, “And you’re enjoying it, Freddie? Settled in?”
“You bet. Think I’ll need some more time here. To do the job properly.”
Freddie’s lack of social awareness made him oblivious to the fact that he had just dropped a verbal nuclear device. The reason Alexei and I were here was to make sure he did not stay any longer. That he returned to the right side of the cyber curtain and did not join the ranks of the opposition.
Su did have people skills and immediately tried repair the damage. “We’ll have to see about Freddie staying on. His visa might not be renewed. The Academy may need to free up his space for another guest.”
I had little doubt that if Freddie had the skills to benefit his hosts, any bureaucratic obstacles would be swept aside.
To put Freddie’s own feelings beyond doubt, Alexei then asked, “So you’d be happy to extend your stay if they invited you?”
“Sure. Why not? They’ve got stuff here I could never afford at home.”
“You wouldn’t be lonely? Homesick?”
Freddie looked puzzled, as though ‘lonely’ and ‘homesick’ were unknown concepts.
“No Cobber,” I added.
“You can fly animals out. Like people.” Freddie dismissed my objection.
“Su’s been looking after you well?” asked Alexei, innocently.
For the first time Freddie looked uncertain. The answer was obviously ‘yes’, so why the hesitation? Maybe because he was questioning his own reactions. Alexei and I had been pondering what lay behind the façade of Freddie Ricketts, a man who seemed to have spent most of his short life shut up in a South London bedroom. Now, for the first time, he was being bombarded by outside influences. Including a female influence. Su could well become the lynchpin for our future operations in China.
“Freddie and I are friends, aren’t we?” She laid a hand on his in a gesture that was almost maternal. Freddie smiled shyly, but made no effort to disengage. Amazing what a determined young lady could do to an impressionable boy in just two days.
I vaguely remember having a good meal, but with no recollection of the details. My mind was elsewhere: on the implications that Freddie might not want to come back with us, as planned. Su did her best to play down this scenario, constantly referring to ‘when you leave’, but this fooled no one. Pandora’s box had been opened and we had to prepare ourselves for the challenges it might contain.
In spite of these misgivings, dinner that evening in Dali old town was something of a social breakthrough. The few days we had previously spent with Freddie had yielded little beyond stilted, almost monosyllabic, responses. Under Su’s guidance, although still a million miles from being the life and soul of the party, he became almost human. Strung together some longer sentences. Offered the occasional opinion. Maybe she was easing him off the Asperger’s scale. Maybe.
Su herself was a delight. Although about the same age as Freddie, she was light years ahead of him in sophistication. Alexei’s efforts to probe her personal life had met with only limited success. Su would reply with a few snippets, then divert the conversation back to topics of her choosing. What we could gather that first evening was that she came from Shanghai, where she had studied maths and computer sciences. The mass of material coming out of California’s silicon valley and elsewhere was all in English, so she had added that language to her repertoire. A clever girl.
Su and Freddie caught a cab back to the Academy shortly before ten, leaving Alexei and me with one thought: time to tell Gudrun about the situation. Before leaving England we’d agreed that the fastest and most secure means of communication was by phone; provided we could get a signal. We needed to talk and discuss, rather than send emails or texts back and forth. A trial run the previous day had been a success, so it was with some confidence that I rang Gudrun’s number. I didn’t know exactly where she would be, but her playground appeared to be confined to Europe, so wherever I caught her the time should be early afternoon.
I only found her answer service, so we had to wait; were about to put the lights out when my ph
one came to life. I transferred my attentions from Alexei to business matters and brought Gudrun up-to-date.
When I had finished, Gudrun was silent for a moment, then said, “I’ll discuss this with my Stockmann colleagues, but it looks like I’ll have to come out and join you.”
“As bad as that?”
“We really don’t know. We’re monitoring what’s coming out of the Academy and can already detect Freddie’s handiwork.”
“So soon? He’s only been here a couple of days.”
“It’s like fingerprints. Or tapping out messages in Morse code. Every operator has his own personal style. It’ll be a while before Freddie can do any real damage - he first has to win their trust and then get used to their way of doing things - but we need to be ahead of the game. Play catch-up and you usually end up on the losing side.”
“When do you expect to be here?”
“A few days yet. Freddie won’t be coming home early, so there’s no rush. As long as I’m in position by decision time.”
“What do you want us to do?”
“Keep an eye on things. And me in the loop.”
“Shall I book you a room in our hotel? It’s nice and central, plenty of character.”
“Absolutely not! I’ll need somewhere bland and impersonal - a Hilton or Sheraton. Lose myself in the crowd. And as far from you two as possible. We’ve taken a lot of trouble to insert you into the Freddie Ricketts circle, hopefully without raising any suspicions. You’re just a young couple trying to help Megan with her difficult son. No ulterior motive.”
“How do we communicate when you get here?”
“With care. We’ll sort that out later. For now, just continue the good work. And let me know if anything changes.”
32
It was pointless hanging around Dali worrying, so Alexei and I decided to skive off for a few days. Sightseeing. Told ourselves we were gathering information on the local area. We moved on to the tourist Mecca of Lijiang, which was a picture postcard place of limpid lakes and snowy peaks, people displaying themselves in fancy costumes, a horseman pretending to be a Mongol warrior, everywhere a mass of flowers even a notice in English warning us to ‘Not make noise in the civilised ancient town’.
ROAD TO MANDALAY Page 13