Stephen had not seen or heard anything that the CIA hadn't already told him, but now he looked at Banta hopefully. "Waiting for what?"
"Our attack, of course," the colonel said, as if it were obvious.
"Attack who and what? Please be more specific-I must know our plans."
Banta's eyes narrowed. "Sao, I have been with your father for twenty years. In that span, you and I have met perhaps three times. You have never shown your father respect and yet he has always spoken of you with love and pride. Today you showed him nothing but disdain. I had hoped you would come and help him, but instead you hurt him again. He needs no more wounds, especially from his son. Take Jacob and return to Bangkok. The Chindit needs only those who believe in him."
Stephen was about to respond when Josh walked into the office. He could see from the look on Stephen's face that something was wrong. "What's going on?" he asked.
Stephen motioned to Banta. "The colonel thinks I should return to Bangkok with Jacob."
Josh replied coldly, "I can understand why, after the way you treated your father. He didn't need that from you. He's down and you just pushed him down further."
Stephen glared first at Josh and then at the colonel. "I am staying. As son of the Chindit I will be recognized as second in-command. Tell me the plans now!"
Banta kept his frown but smiled inwardly. He had just seen a fire in the younger Kang's eyes that he had seen in his Sawbaw's eyes many times. He shifted his gaze to Josh and motioned to the chairs. "Please sit, Horseman Hawkins. The Sao has commanded me to give him a briefing on our plans."
Banta stood. He dipped his head toward Stephen before turning and pointing at the map pinned on the wall. "The attack is planned for the eighteenth, a day before Martyrs' Day.
We are planning to infiltrate small units across the border beginning tomorrow. Their mission will be ..."
Stephen listened intently without asking questions until Banta began discussing the latter phase of the operation.
"... and when the students have blocked the roads we will attack the compound with antitank rockets. Once the breach is made, we will move forward-"
`Too many will be killed," Stephen interrupted. He stood up and walked to the map. "There is a better way to get in."
Banta shook his massive head as if dealing with a recruit.
"Sao, our people have made a complete reconnaissance of the Defense Ministry compound. There is no way in other than a head-on assault."
Stephen tapped the map. "Here is where we will get in."
The colonel looked at where Stephen was pointing and chuckled. "Sao, that is the Congress building. It is six hundred meters from the Ministry of Defense."
"Yes, you are right, six hundred meters. But that is where I entered the ministry every day for a year. There is a tunnel."
Banta's eyes widened. Stephen picked up a pencil from the desk and drew on the map. "The Congress Hall was built before the Japanese invaded. The British constructed an underground command post beneath it with connecting tunnels to other buildings and bombproof aboveground bunkers. Today just one tunnel remains. This tunnel runs from the Congress compound to the Defense Ministry, then four hundred meters beyond to the DDSI's underground command center. I know this because it was the only way the DDSI would allow me to enter their compound. They had me park my car at the Congress Hall. They would escort me to the tunnel entrance in the basement and lead me down the tunnel past the Ministry of Defense entrance to the underground command center."
Banta studied the newly drawn lines on the map. "I never heard of these tunnels before."
"They are a very well kept secret known only to the DDSI," Stephen said.
"How many guards did you see at the entrance of the tunnel at the Congress Hall?"
Stephen thought back and said slowly, `Two at the Congress compound gate entrance, two more at the Congress back and front doors, and two at the basement tunnel entrance. There were two guards at the Defense Ministry entrance as well." Stephen reached for his billfold and took out a yellow plastic card with his picture on it. "They know me, and I still have a pass to get in."
Josh shook his head and stood up. "Don't even think about it, Stephen. That card will just get you killed."
"Not if I have a concealed silenced pistol and a backup team to cover me."
Josh stared at his friend. "It's too dangerous."
Banta snarled at Josh, "He is right. Too many will die in a frontal assault. The tunnel is an excellent alternative." He quickly unpinned the map and laid it on the desk. "We need to change the plan and reorganize our assault force. What else do you know that will help?"
Stephen gestured toward Josh. "The date of the attack needs to be the nineteenth, during Swei's press conference.
Joshua has an idea about how he can get into the Defense Ministry during the conference and expose Swei. It will also guarantee that that butcher will be in the compound when we attack."
Banta's eyes widened again. "By the gods! No wonder the Chindit wanted you two with him. You both have demon minds."
Josh stepped up to the map while searching Stephen's face for an explanation. Stephen had not mentioned the tunnel to him and McCoy once during their discussions when traveling to the camp.
Stephen saw the questioning stare and set his shoulders with determination. "Little brother, it was best not to let your people know everything. Swei and his pye dogs must die.
Your idea will help reach your country's goal-killing Swei will accomplish ours."
Banta clapped Josh's shoulder. "Tell me your plan."
Josh could see that Stephen was filled with too much hate to think with reason. He shifted his eyes to the colonel. "The idea is for me to ..."
Ministry of Defense, Rangoon Prime Minister Swei rapped his fingers nervously on the desk. "All of your white powder is gone?"
The Triad elder seated before him nodded. "Yes, it was a very bad miscalculation on our part. A group of men calling themselves 'cowboys' caused us much damage. Our San Chu was forced to leave, for these cowboys knew all about his business. We feel this group operates within the American government intelligence organization. It's very disturbing-we had no knowledge of such a group. Very disturbing, and very expensive for us. Also, an elder's son is missing.
We believe he has turned traitor. This could substantially hurt our future plans in the United States. I see by your eyes that you are concerned about your funds. Have no fear, old friend.
We will abide by our agreements, but we ask your assistance in helping us recover our losses. White powder is a very lucrative market. We need you to supply us with more of this profitable powder."
Swei's chest tightened. "With all respect, my friend, it will be impossible to do so once my country is opened to the West. I have already destroyed the production facilities, and-"
The gray-haired elder raised his hand and interrupted. "We are well aware of what you have done, and we agree that further direct involvement on your part would be unwise. We have a plan that we believe you will accept. Your northern country will be plagued by problems with rebels and bandits, so your army will have to seal off this troubled area. The rest of the country will indeed be open and prosper-in the north we will prosper. Give us two years of freedom to grow the flowers and produce the white powder near your northern border. Your government will of course receive 15 percent of the profits."
Swei felt his heart pounding through his chest. "People in the West will know."
"My friend, they already know about you. But they will accept you because of the profits you will bring them. Nations look out for their own wealth-we know this and have used it to our benefit for years. You will be giving your people jobs and rebuilding your country while you are making Western companies rich. No, the charade will be accepted as it is in South America. You just have to say and do the right things. Trust us on this. We know and will advise you."
Swei lowered his eyes in defeat. "I accept your wisdom."
General Tan paced in fr
ont of his superior's desk. "We should have known the fornicating Chinese would do this to us.
Swei sighed with resignation. "They ask for only two years. We will have to live with the arrangement. Stop pacing and tell me what has happened to Xu Kang."
Tan's hooded eyes smiled. "He is sick and weak. Our patrols have picked up students and others returning from his camp. They report the Sawbaw is very feeble and has told them to go home and wait."
"Wait? Wait for what?" Swei asked.
The thick-chested general grinned like a ferret. "For the gods to give them a sign."
Swei chuckled. "A sign? Well then, let's give Xu Kang one. I will announce during my press conference that I will grant him amnesty if he will stay in his beloved northern Shan state. We'll let the Triad deal with him."
Tan snorted through his nose in laughter.
Thailand Border Colonel Banta pinned the map back on the wall. "I believe we have a good plan, Sao."
Stephen glanced at the notes he'd made. "Yes, it will work if all goes well and the students stick to the schedule." He shifted his eyes to Josh. "What do you think?"
Josh shook his head. "I still don't want you to lead the tunnel assault team. Let someone else do it."
Stephen leveled a stare at Josh. "And I don't like your going to the press conference. Can you think of substitutes who have our knowledge and can do what we can?"
Josh's eyes showed that he couldn't. He looked back at the map. "You still need information about the inside of the Defense Ministry, especially their command center."
Banta smiled. "No problem. We have a Burmese corporal who deserted to us a few weeks ago. He was a radio repairman for the Defense Ministry and worked in the command center. He did not know about the tunnel, but he has already made us sketches of everything else. He will tell us what we need to know."
Stephen patted Josh's shoulder. "Contact McCoy with the radio he gave us and start to make the arrangements for your plan. Have him pick you up in a few days to prepare. Colonel Banta and I will discuss our assault plan with my father and begin drilling the assault force." Stephen's eyes locked into Josh's. "I want you to take Kaska and Jacob with you and arrange for their safety in Bangkok."
Before Josh could respond, a captain ran into the hut.
"Colonel Banta, we have found another spy!"
Banta slowly turned to Stephen. "What are your orders, Sawbaw?"
The title was not lost on Stephen. He took his father's pistol belt from a peg on the wall and put it on. Raising his chin, he said to the captain, "We'll make the pye dog talk then hang him. Lead me to him."
Banta stepped up beside Josh as Stephen left with the young officer. "The gods have their wish. He is a Sawbaw now as was their will."
Josh took a breath for strength and walked out the door in silence.
Chapter 25.
The next morning Josh was roused by a poke in his ribs.
He opened his eyes and looked into the twinkling eyes of a small, mop-haired boy. "Uncle Joshua, my father said to wake you. Are you really my uncle?"
Josh sat up with a tired smile. "Yes, I am your uncle. And do you know what uncles do when they're poked in the ribs?"
"No," Jacob answered innocently.
Josh got up and peered down at him. "They poke back!"
He grabbed the boy and began tickling his ribs. .
Jacob laughed and fought back playfully. He finally broke away and dashed a few steps, then turned and yelled, "Come with me, Uncle! I'll show you where we eat and the rest of the camp. Grandfather has shown me everything. He is a great Sawbaw, and he has lots of homes in his other camp.
He told me he would teach me to ride." He stepped closer with wide eyes and offered his hand.
Josh took it and allowed himself to be led down the but steps. On the porch of the headquarters Stephen was sitting at a table with a group of men looking at a map. He glanced up when Josh passed and gave him a nod of thanks before looking back at the map.
Josh spent the entire morning with Jacob, who truly did know the camp inside and out. He was just as familiar with the seedy town that he was now escorting Josh through.
Jacob stopped and motioned to a shell-curtained door out of which music was blaring. "This is a soldier's rest place.
The girls inside give them baths and make them forget their troubles. Grandfather says every soldier needs such a place to rest now and then. I hope I can be a soldier soon, since the girls inside are very pretty and smell wonderful. I like talking to them."
Josh nudged his guide along. "Yes, I'm sure. What's this up here?" he asked, pointing quickly at the next building.
Later that afternoon, Jacob led a weary American up the steps of the sleeping hut. Josh abruptly halted. Xu Kang sat in a chair on the porch with his feet propped up on a stool.
His color had returned, as had his bright, infectious smile.
Jacob ran ahead and hugged the old man, and Xu Kang patted the boy's back. Then he gently pushed him back with accusing eyes. "Did you visit with the night hens again?"
Jacob lowered his eyes and motioned to Josh. "Uncle Joshua wouldn't let me."
The old man laughed and raised the boy's chin. "Good for him! Now go march with a formation of recruits and learn some discipline. There will be time for the night hens when you are older."
Xu Kang motioned to a chair beside him as Jacob ran down the porch steps. "Sit, Horseman. I hear my grandson took you on a tour of our host village. What did you think of it?"
Josh sat down and shrugged his shoulders. "It's interesting.
I saw everything from raw opium to Coors beer, plus every type of rifle and pistol ever made. Why do the Thais let this place exist?"
Kang swept his hand toward the camp gate. "This is noman's-land. It is where the traffickers, gunrunners, black marketeers, and political refugees come. The Thai border patrols leave this place alone, for it provides valuable information.
Spies are everywhere, but I have known these people for years, so I know who the spies are."
Josh changed the subject. "Jacob's really something. I had fun with him today."
Kang leaned back with a nod. "He reminds me of you and Stephen when you were young. You two boys stole my heart then-now Jacob has stolen it again." The warlord turned and looked back at Jacob, who was marching at the end of a file. "I regret none of it and apologize to no man. I have lived life to the fullest and now gaze upon my grandson while his father takes my place as Sawbaw. I would change nothing, Joshua. The simple dream of an old man has come true. Is it possible for you to understand this?"
Josh patted the old man's back. "I understand, but I am very concerned about Stephen's leading the assault."
Kang shook his head and gazed into the distance. "He will not lead-I will. The gods have willed it. It is for me to enter the cave to face the cobras. I have seen the vision many times and must follow the gods' wisdom."
"Xu Kang, with all respect to the gods, you must let younger warriors lead. Your people need you."
"Ahh, spoken like an American. You worry about this old man and about our people. Joshua, every man has such a cave within him ... but few face the darkness and enter. It is my kan. You, my son, understand kan . . . it has brought you home. I have to lead as you had to return ... the gods ... the gods have willed it."
Josh nodded in silent understanding, got up, and walked inside the hut. He lay down on his reed mat and closed his eyes to take a nap before the all-important meeting. He understood kan all too well.
Josh sat at the back of the crowded room. Four oil lamps hanging from sayo-wood beams cast a yellow-orange glow over the faces of the men and women who sat at the table.
Sawbaw Xu Kang was notably absent from the group, making Stephen the oldest person at the table. To Stephen's right was Colonel Banta, who was completing a situation update by telling of Swei's planned news conference.
Josh scanned the young leaders' intense faces. They were students, businessmen, peasants, soldiers, and
even a monk.
They represented different races, sexes, beliefs, and religions, but they all had two obvious things in common-they considered themselves Burmese and they all desperately wanted change.
Josh shifted in his chair to watch Stephen and felt a chill.
He had removed the bandage from his face to reveal an ugly, purplish-red gash across his cheek, and his burning eyes were locked in a distant, foreboding stare.
The colonel concluded his situation update, and every pair of eyes in the room looked at Stephen. He stood and smiled his father's confident smile as he looked into the expectant faces. "In seven days it will be over. We have one chance and it depends on perfect timing. The colonel has just told us General Swei will give a news conference in the Defense Ministry compound in seven days. During the conference, we will strike. We will begin the operation by . .."
Forged in Honor (1995) Page 39