The Zondon: Terrorists and Aliens (an International Suspense Thriller)

by RobCharters

  * * *

  Ernie and May Lin decided it was time to tie the knot. They talked to Rabbi Simcha, but he thought it would be more appropriate for gentiles to be married in a church rather than a synagogue. He even helped contact the priest in charge of the Church of the Appearance, whom he knew, but he promised them a proper Jewish reception afterwards.

  Ernie's parents arrived on a moment's notice. They even manage to dig up Eddie. Of course, Uncle Abdul came as well.

  Whatever misgivings Eddie might have had, he knew how to match his disposition to the occasion. 'So this is what you've been gallivanting about the globe for, a wife! If only I'd known!'

  'Actually, it was about something else,' Ernie began. 'Ed, do you remember those dreams I used to have?'

  'Oh, yea, outer space, UFOs, crystals, do you still have them?'

  'Not lately, but May Lin used to have them too.'

  'No kidding!' responded Ed.

  'She also has a twin sister who thought she was a bit off her rocker.'

  'Oh!'

  Just then, Les entered.

  'Les,' called Ernie. 'Meet my brother, and tell him about your twin, and about those dreams you had.'

  After Ed had similar introductions to others in the group, he asked Ernie, 'So, what did you do? Advertise on the Internet for twins who had dreams of space?'

  'Mum and Pop never told you about the green shooting star they saw on their last night Pop was digging at the tomb, did they?'

  'No.'

  Ernie pulled out the crystal.

  'What the --'

  'I found this the night I opened the tomb. The dreams led me to it.'

  'So you've started a U.F.O. cult then.'

  'Not really. It's just that we all arrived on this with a mission to fulfil.'

  Uncle Abdul made his entry at that point. 'They're on a mission from Allah. I know, because I also saw the light from that thing when it came down.'

  'Oh my God! Don tell me you're in this too!'

  Ernie realised that this was too much information for Ed's rational mind to absorb all at once, so he changed the subject.

  He began telling Uncle Abdul of their experiences in Kabul and New York, but soon he wished he hadn't. All Abdul could do for the next half hour was fume about what an immensely evil brother-in-law he had.

  'I said nothing about you volunteering for any sort of mission,' he kept repeating. 'He was only repaying an old favour, he said. No more! Ha! The scoundrel! Opportunist!'

  Finally he ended on a more cheerful note. 'But, then, you did subvert the whole operation, didn't you! Ha! So he eventually got what he deserved!'

  Edmond and Nitaya also wanted to be married, so they made it a double wedding. The priest of the Church of the Appearance officiated. Edward was Ernie's best man, Gilbert was Edmonds. Uncle Abdul gave away May Lin, and Rabbi Simcha, Nitaya (his first time in a church). Ibrahim was the ring bearer, and Rosa was the brides maid for both brides.

  Afterwards, as the rabbi promised, there was a sumptuous feast at the King David Hotel. The Yeshiva boys were there (they had been reluctant to attend a Christian ceremony in a church). Every kosher delicacy that could be imagined was laid out, and a band was playing traditional Hebrew and Yiddish tunes.

  This was just as much a celebration of reunion of the seven Zondon as it was the two marriages. Rabbi Simcha told of his life long prayer for the return of the seven planters of the garden, and the sign he was promised, and how it was now answered. Next, Alec Magawan related the story of his and Marie's sighting of the shooting star. He was followed by Uncle Abdul who told of his experience the night the crystal landed, of accompanying Ernie in recovering it, and his joy that all seven had been regrouped.

  Ernie kept glancing over at his brother. He was listening with interest, but it was hard to tell what he was thinking.

  Between every speech, the rabbi was pouring everyone more vodka and proposing toasts to this and that, with everyone raising their shot glasses (Thomas, Rosa and Ibrahim their coke glasses) to shouts of l'chaim.

  * * *

  The wedding was on the day following Joseph's awakening, the last thing the Glaat either expected or welcomed. Of course, the event made waves in the cosmos.

  All that morning the Glaat probe had gone here and there throughout the city, now hovering above the Ron Hotel, then moving at near light speed to the spot over the yeshiva, then to the Bar Kochba settlement to see if Joseph was still staying in his flat, and then randomly to various parts of the city and back to the earlier spots. Had anyone observed the transparent pyramid against the white sky, they would have concluded that this was one disturbed pyramid. Some of the birds may have arrived at that conclusion.

  As the group of them were getting out of two rented vans in front of the Ron Hotel, their green crystal hummed.

  Ernie put it on his forehead and immediately, saw the probe hovering some distance over Jaffa Road.

  Suddenly, he realised a new function. The probe used by the Glaat was, in fact, a two way communications device. By zooming in on it, Ernie was able to detect the Glaat at the other end and pinpoint his location.

  Stanovitch was in Bangkok; the Dusit Thani Hotel, to be exact.

  Next, he determined the molecular alignment of the probe. By remembering it and storing the information, their green crystal was now programmed to locate the other probe any time they chose.

  Now, he focused a dyni beam on to the probe, as intense as he could make it.

  From the ground, some could now see a bright point of light dancing about. It even shone in daylight. Then, it exploded with an audible and visible explosion, loud enough to disturb some people who were still shell shocked from the explosion of Joseph's Mini.

  Ernie turned to May Lin. 'It looks like we take our honeymoon in Bangkok.'

  'And what sort of honeymoon will that be, ah?'

  Chapter 50

  They booked ten seats on the next day's flight to Bangkok. The extra three were for Edmond and Nitaya (because Nitaya could help with Thai language and culture), and Thomas Gromley (because he insisted on going). The following morning, they set out to the airport in Tel Aviv and checked in. Ibrahim, as was his job, logged into the Internet before boarding and changed all the names.

  As soon as they arrived in Bangkok, before even going through passport check, Ernie took the crystal and discreetly got a location on Stanovitch's remaining probe. Even though it was locked inside a suitcase, they were able to tell it was still inside the Dusit Thani Hotel. However, the room was empty except for the suitcase and some other belongings.

  After that, they took the airport taxis to Les' and Ed's flats.

  Les Armstrong and Ed Durant still had their full serviced flats in a complex on Soi Wat Poman off Sathupradit Road. They rented one more flat, paying by the week. Gil and Joseph slept in the lounge of Ed and Nitaya's flat; Thomas, Ibrahim and Les slept in Les' lounge, so Rosa could sleep in the bedroom. The extra flat was reserved for the first night of Ernie and May Lin's honeymoon, whatever there was to be of it. At least they could do what honeymooners do on their first night without being bothered. As for Ed and Nitaya, they already knew the joys of married life, even before the wedding.

  While Ernie and May Lin began their new adventure, the others, accompanied by Boz and Bless, visited the night-time outdoor market along Silom Road. Bless and Nitaya introduced them to delicacies like kueytieo phat thai, and somtam with North-eastern style bar-b-q chicken and glutinous rice.

  The nearly completed skytrain station served as a roof over a portion of the business district that transformed into an outdoor market at night. Below the plate glass of a Deli France, a Burger King, a Boots Chemists, and countless boutiques, banks and brokerages, were numerous outdoor stalls that opened only at night. In the midst of everything vendors offered fake Rolex watches and touts showed their little photo albums of naked women. Soi Patpong, the red-light district made famous by GIs during the Vietnam War era
, was identified as such by a big sign arching the entrance. Further down, was Soi Taniya, the Japanese version of Patpong, where the women did it geisha style -- with a similar arch.

  After they had eaten and shopped to their heart's content, they bought some things to bring back for breakfast. The next morning, they knocked on Ernie and May Lin's door and the first instalment of their honeymoon was over (Ernie promised more later).

  After feasting on bread with strawberry jam and coffee made from sachets of 'three-in-one', they checked the crystal again.

  The probe was still inside the suitcase and the room was exactly as it was. Obviously, Stanovitch was away somewhere.

  'Why don't we just go there and take it?' suggested Les.

  So, Les and Ernie took a taxi to the Dusit. There, they went to the front desk and asked if Nicolai Stanovitch, room 733 was in. He was away for a few days, they were told. He left yesterday. They weren't sure when to expect him back.

  Discreetly, Ernie and Les went to the lift and ascended to the seventh floor. From there, they found room 733, and used the crystal. With a dyni beam, guided by meefa vision, they unlocked the suitcase. Then, they manipulated the probe so that it pushed its way out.

  Then they sent it around the room to look at whatever was there. There was a tourist brochure opened to a page on Chiengrai. A phone number was underlined. It appeared to be that of a hotel in Maesai. Ernie memorised it.

  Next, they unlocked the door, using a dyni beam, and the probe was theirs. Everything was closed and locked, just the way they left it, except the clear crystal pyramid was in Ernie's pocket.

  'I say, we could have used this thing in Korea, couldn't we,' said Les.

  Then they went back to the flats.

  'He's on the move, obviously,' said Les, and everyone agreed.

  'I wouldn't doubt he's on his way to collect the briefcases,' said Joseph. 'In the Golden Triangle, is he? I should have guessed.'

  'So, we have no time to lose then,' said Ernie.

  It was decided that the Zondon, except for Ibrahim, would go to Chiengrai. Thomas asked to go along, so they agreed. Ibrahim would stay with Ed and Nitaya in Bangkok until they returned. The situation they were likely to meet wasn't a good place for a 12 year old boy.

  That afternoon they took a plane to Chiengrai. The airport there being just off the highway running between the city of Chiengrai and the boarder, they rented a van to take them to Maesai, the boarder town. On one of Ernie's backpacking excursions, he had been impressed with the atmosphere of the Maesai Guest House. To get there, the van went into the town of Maesai on the highway that ends at the bridge over the border. From there, they turned left and took the road that runs parallel to the river, all the way to the end, where a footpath ascended a hill straight ahead. They paid the driver and walked up the footpath. Just over the hill was the Maesai Guest house.

  The guest house is right on the bank of the Maesai river, and directly opposite is the town of Tachilek, Myanmar. Burmese children on their way home were shedding their shirts and green school loungis (Burman for sarong) and jumping into the river. Some had no underclothing, but that didn't seem to matter.

  'This is the place for honeymoon,' said May Lin to Ernie.

  'We might have one yet, if things go as planned.'

  Ernie saw no reason why they wouldn't. The seven were regrouped, they had destroyed one of the Glaat probes and obtained the other, and their combined strength was now greater than the Glaat's. What could possibly go wrong?

  Calling the number Ernie and Les had found in Stanovitch's room at the Dusit, May Lin learned that it was for the Top North Hotel. She enquired if there were a guest named Nicolai Stanovitch.

  There was, but he had just left that morning on a trek to the interior of Myanmar, and would be back in about four days. To find out where he went, they would have to cross the border and ask around at the tour companies that specialise in taking tourists to visit the tribal villages.

  It was decided that Ernie, Les, Gil and Joseph would go, as this could mean trekking in the jungle if necessary. Rosa wanted to go along as well, and so did Thomas.

  Thomas had been along on other trips already, and so far had proven useful despite having no Zondon senses. He could be of help where an extra hand would be needed. But Rosa? She was positive that something along the way would require her help. Besides, she had done a lot of outdoor work.

  May Lin agreed to wait alone at the guest house until they returned.

  The five set off.

  There were busy markets lining the main road, both on the Maesai side and in Tachilek. In Tachilek it was down to the right of the highway embankment, where shops and outdoor stalls lined a network of pedestrian streets.

  On the highway itself as well as on the bridge, were numerous raggedy children running after foreigners and well off looking Thai, begging for handouts. As soon as anyone would prove so generous, every young beggar would crowd around. Ernie had bought a bag of oranges and handed one to each child that approached. At least the children were happy, even if it didn't support their parents' drug habit.

  After going through the formalities, they each received a one day visa for Myanmar.

  Next to the Myanmar immigration was a tour office where one could book inland tours. They inquired if a Russian with a square burn scar on his forehead had been in. The answer was 'no'.

  They continued to walk along the raised highway, meeting more beggars, rickshaw drivers offering tours of the town, and children trying to hawk little alarm clocks, screw-driver sets and other cheap imports from China. Also available were American cigarettes.

  When they reached the town centre, consisting of a small roundabout and a street running parallel to the river, they asked some rickshaw drivers if they had seen a big Russian man with a square scar on his forehead.

  Yes, one of them said. A man of that description had met a convoy of three four-wheel-drive vehicles and had gone off that-a-way.

  And where did that-a-way lead to?

  Probably into Shan held territory, or beyond that into that controlled by the Wa militia. It was unusual for foreigners to go in that direction. Usually, they went the other way. Maybe he's in the drug trade?

  Some seemed to know for certain that he was, as his face was familiar to them.

  Nearby there was an outdoor coffee shop called 'Valentine', where men in loungis were seated around low tables, sipping the local coffee, indulging in the latest gossip. The six found two tables in a quiet corner and each ordered a cup. There were local pastries set out in a tray in the middle.

  Discreetly, they took the green crystal, and exerted a zeta field that would hide them from notice. Then they sent the probe floating straight up out of sight, and then off in the direction they were told Stanovitch had gone.

  The roads beyond the town went through some agricultural area and then into mountainous jungle. There were government checkpoints here and there. One road was especially heavily guarded, so that probably went into an area not under government control.

  Tracing that rout, they realised they would need a zeta field just to protect them from the local militias. Tracing it even farther, they came on a convoy of three four-wheel-drive vehicles. In the middle one was Stanovitch.

  They were transmitting a zeta field through the probe, so even the Glaat was unaware of its presence overhead. Phondesh wondered why the Glaat had never done the same when using the probe? Then he realised that the green crystal had the capacity to see through zeta fields.

  Back to the coffee shop.

  'A perfect location,' said Joseph. 'Obviously, he's making for General Li's headquarters. "Robert E. Lee", Stanovitch used to call him. His interests are strictly with the drug trade, with no political ambitions, so he wouldn't be tempted to use the bombs himself to blow up Rangoon. They can be moved via his network, normally used to transport heroin and amphetamines. He has an agreement with the Burmese, so his base would suffer little risk o
f government attack.'

  Immediately, they signalled the young lady to collect the money. She came and counted how many pastries were left in the tray, charged them for what was eaten and for the coffee. They paid her in Thai Baht. Everything in Tachilek seemed to be transacted in Thai Baht, being a much more stable currency than the Myanmar Kyat.

  Then they went to look for a vehicle for rent.

  Chapter 51

  They found an old army jeep for rent. To take it by themselves without a driver, they had to leave either their passports or something of value. Les left them his credit card and a Rolex watch (after he convinced them it was genuine). Gil took the wheel, as his commando training had included driving in off-road situations.

  Then, they were off along the road they had seen from the probe. Using a zeta field they were able to pass the checkpoints unnoticed. The gates were swung open for them as though it were an everyday thing for a jeep-load of Westerners to be off to visit the rebel camps. Oncoming vehicles simply moved over for them out of habit.

  Soon, they were on a dirt road leading into the jungle, and then the final checkpoint. Whether they thought the white Europeans were off to fight the Shan, or what, it was hard to tell.

  According to the probe, the convoy was almost a day's journey ahead of them, but still a great distance from the next village. They decided that now was the time to use another of the probe's properties.

  While still clouded in a zeta field, the probe directed a dyni beam, disabling each vehicle, one by one, beginning from the rear. Each broke down at a point where the next one wouldn't see it, the front most one, just as it was just beginning to reverse to find the others. The engines were so thoroughly disabled that they would require a full overhaul in a mechanic's garage.

  Driving all night, they should catch up with them by morning. Using meefa vision, they could speed on as though in the light of day.

  Right now, it was still light.

  They had passed several groups of Shan militia men who did nothing more than wave them by as though they knew them.