She laughed, tossing her head back, the breeze blowing her hair away from her face. “I’m sure it does. I may never return to India.”
“Why would you want to,” he said. “When you have all of this?” He made a sweeping gesture with his arm, pointing to the open seas.
Bennie smiled, the grin always making me shiver. “I have room on the boat for a full-time passenger.”
“Or two,” Thomas said, hinting they would both join him.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. I couldn’t deny that I had feelings for her, but I also realized she was probably about to rescue either her first former fiancé or her second former fiancé from the Japanese. My thoughts always returned to the kiss, sweet and lingering, unexpected and spontaneous. Maybe I was the diversion, keeping her mind from Balraj Patel and Sir Gregory Millburne. Perhaps she was my diversion, keeping Maggie a memory, but not an obsession.
We moved up the Sumatran coast, long stretches of white beaches accented with palm trees thrusting from the sand at angles of varying degrees. The landscape was occasionally interrupted by fishing villages marked by many boats anchored to poles thrust into the seabed a short distance from shore. The land stretched from the coast, increasing in elevation towards the interior with mountains of different heights dominating the skyline. The majestic beauty of the island was overwhelming, as were the natural dangers, as we sighted several peaks that appeared to be active volcanoes with wisps of steam drifting from the cones to the clouds.
By late afternoon we reached the Musi River, a broad waterway marked with small towns, an occasional home built on stilts by the shore, and numerous vessels of varying size. Small fishing boats and barges moved downriver from the oil fields at Palembang forty miles from the coast. Van der Meer’s home and plantation were located ten miles from the river's mouth.
It was shortly after dinner when the plantation lights became visible in the approaching darkness still a mile or so away. We anchored by a bend, hidden from the plantation. A handful of fishing vessels were docked within sight, allowing us to blend inconspicuously with the local populace. An occasional barge or freighter, confined to the deepest sections of the river, glided past on its way to the ocean.
The night was quiet except for the sound of the water parting for larger ships and the ticking of their engines as they passed. The shoreline was dark, covered with lush vegetation, and occasionally two small lights, eyes of animals reflecting the moon, could be seen peering from between the bushes. The night air was heavy and humid with a slight breeze offering relief from the heat.
We leaned on the rail gazing at the river, anchored trawlers, and passing barges, studying the stars that sprawled across the evening sky. We were just about to plan our reconnaissance of the plantation when a boat motored past. It then turned and came towards us.
“What is that?” I asked guardedly.
“I don’t know,” Thomas said. “What do you make of it, Bennie?”
“I think you should go below deck,” he said. “There may be Japanese patrols in the area. I’ll stay here and keep watch.”
We went into the kitchen and then down a slender set of steps that led to the engine room. We heard the sound of the approaching boat’s engine gradually growing louder. My heart pounded against my chest.
I looked at Thomas. A mask of concern draped his face; he leaned forward, listening intently. Lady Jane was pale. I think she knew by Thomas’s expression that we might be in danger.
The engine of the approaching boat throttled to an idle, and we heard it bump up against ours. Seconds ticked by as we anxiously waited for some hint as to what was happening.
“Anata wa nani o shite iru?” a voice called. “What are you doing?”
It was a Japanese patrol boat. I froze, afraid to make a sound, not even a breath. I turned to Lady Jane. Her eyes were wide with fright. She squeezed my hand.
Thomas held a finger to his lips. He crept towards the hallway, withdrawing a knife from a sheath on his shin.
“I can’t understand your jibberish,” Bennie said. “Leave me alone. I’m just a fisherman.”
“Anata wa nani o shite iru?” the voice repeated. “What are you doing?”
“Get out of here,” Bennie said nastily. “I don’t want any trouble.”
We heard the sound of someone climbing onto deck, heavy footsteps made by boots. They traveled the length of the deck, slow and methodical. I could imagine the soldier that owned them, probing and searching through fishing gear and toolboxes.
The footsteps edged towards the kitchen. I heard the door open. Lady Jane squeezed my hand tighter and moved closer to me. I barely breathed and said a silent prayer.
Thomas leaned against the wall, and motioned for Lady Jane and me to move towards the engine. Careful not to make any noise, we inched backward.
The footsteps came closer, approaching the stairs.
“Nani ga daundesu?” the soldier said. “What’s down there?”
“It’s the engine, you idiot,” Bennie said.
His remark was met with silence. I could imagine the standoff, neither man understanding the other, but both clearly knowing the other’s intent. Bennie had shown no fear, no intimidation, and no respect. I was sure the soldier was studying him, wondering if he was worth the bother of searching the rest of the ship. A minute passed, the silence deafening.
Then the footsteps walked out of the kitchen and across the deck. Seconds later we heard the Japanese boat pull away and return to patrolling the river.
CHAPTER 22
Bennie hurried down the steps. “They’re gone,” he said. “But that was close.”
“Why would they ever care about a fishing boat?” I asked. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“It doesn’t have to,” Thomas said.
“Thomas is right,” Lady Jane said quietly. “Nothing makes sense any more. Think about Chin or the little girl in the wagon in Singapore. Did any of that make sense?”
“We need to get out of here before they come back,” Thomas said. “Let’s move upriver and rescue Van der Meer and whoever. We don’t have the luxury of reconnaissance anymore. There’s no time to waste.”
Bennie and Adi cranked the diesel engine to life, and we were soon puttering down the river. Ten minutes later we anchored a few hundred feet from shore. A dock that served the rubber plantation was just upriver, deserted and a bit weathered, but functional. It was lit by a single lantern that hung from a post on shore. It would serve as a landmark for both the rescue and the boat’s location.
“George, can you come with me?” Thomas asked.
I was stunned by the question. I wasn’t sure what I could do, and I was terrified of the Japanese. But then, if I hadn’t been rejected by the military, I might already be fighting. I needed to go.
“Of course,” I said. “If you think I can help.” “Shouldn’t Bennie go?” Lady Jane asked.
At first I was offended. She didn’t think I could do it. But then I understood her reasoning given how Bennie had handled the man from the patrol boat. If I had to pick someone to bring to a fight, it would be him.
Bennie grinned. “I would love to. I’ll go get my knife.”
“Wait,” Thomas said. “Bennie should stay with the boat. The patrol may come back.”
The enemy’s return hadn’t occurred to her and fear flickered across her face. She looked at Bennie’s arm, the tattoo of the man biting off a snake’s head, and seemed reassured.
A few minutes later I stood by the railing, ready to depart. I realized I might never return. I could die on the island of Sumatra, unknown to my mother and father, my sister Angie and her husband Tom, or my friends at the London Times office, all of whom were enduring the damp London winter and German air raids. But I knew I’d be with Maggie if I died.
“Everything will go smoothly,” Bennie said. “Thomas knows what he’s doing.” He smiled, his eyes twinkling. “And he’s done it before.”
Lady Jane cast me a furtive look
. It was a dramatic statement, meant to reassure us, but it birthed a dozen questions. It just wasn’t the time to ask them.
“Trust me,” Thomas said. “We’ll be back with Van der Meer and Mr. Unknown, or your father, or whoever is there looking for you.” He was armed with a pistol and a small machete housed in holsters on his belt. An ivory- handled knife was hidden in his boot.
Bennie handed me a pistol. “Take this, George. You may need it.”
The weapon was heavier than I expected. I held it in my hand, getting familiar with it.
“This is the safety,” he explained. “Slip it back, and you’re ready to fire. It holds six shots. Here are some more bullets. Just spin the chamber and load them when it’s empty.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Hopefully I won’t need it.” I was overwhelmed by the realization of what I was about to do. I was not a firearms expert; yet my life might depend on the pistol I held.
"Let’s go, George,” Thomas said. "We need to do this quickly and get out of here."
I was about to face the enemy. Until now it had seemed surreal, more like a dream than reality. Now I knew it wasn’t. My stomach churned so violently I thought I would vomit.
Thomas looked at me quizzically. “Are you all right?”
I didn’t want to admit I was afraid, so I searched for an excuse. I saw Lady Jane watching me. "Yes, I’m fine," I said. "I just want a moment to say goodbye to Lady Jane."
She smiled. “Be careful, George. I’ll be waiting for you when you come back.”
“If anything happens to me, I just want you to know that I...”
“Nothing will happen to you,” she said. Then she kissed me lightly on the lips.
The kiss lingered, and I savored every second. “Hey, what about me?” Thomas asked, grinning. She rolled her eyes. “How could I ever forget you?” Then she gave him a quick kiss.
I smiled weakly, doubting I would ever be the only man in her life. Then I wondered why that thought had crossed my mind.
We swam to shore, moving slowly and maintaining a constant vigil for the enemy. Boats and barges still passed on the river, fishing trawlers glided by, and the moon lit a cloudless sky. The Japanese patrol boat was absent.
I quickly found that Thomas was a strong swimmer. I couldn’t keep up and started to lag behind. I was winded and weary, my muscles starting to burn and ache. Eventually he stopped and paddled in place, waiting until I caught up.
"Watch for crocodiles," he said softly.
"Crocodiles? Where?"
"Don't worry. I've only seen one so far."
I doubted he was serious, but I did find that I could move much faster. I sped by him and kept swimming. When I reached the shore, I hid among some shrubs near the dock and waited.
He emerged from the river and came towards me. "Don't speak unless you have to," he whispered. “The Japanese could be anywhere.”
With that warning echoing in my mind, I followed him into the underbrush. It was dense, but navigable, with a mixture of shrubs interrupted by palm trees. I sidestepped a large spider web, intricately spun, and spanning two branches several feet apart. The owner, a brown spider much larger than any I had ever seen in London, sat perched in the center, waiting for its prey.
“Be careful,” Thomas said. “It’s difficult to maneuver in the darkness. Stay close to me.”
Ten minutes later we reached Van der Meer's estate. Forty feet in front of the house a tiny campfire lit the darkness, the flame flickering into the night. Five Japanese soldiers lounged around it, drinking from canteens, smoking and talking among themselves. It was my first glimpse of the enemy. I felt my body tremble, knowing any one of them would kill me if given the opportunity.
Thomas motioned me forward. We crawled through the underbrush to the far side of the house. Once shielded from the soldier’s view, we scampered across the lawn and hid in the shrubs beside the building. Then we moved to a twelve-pane window and peered inside.
It was Van der Meer's study. Rows of bookshelves lined the walls, housing bright leather volumes. A mahogany desk covered with ledgers sat in the center of the room. Judging from the haphazard manner in which papers were strewn about, the enemy had searched his belongings.
A Japanese officer sat in a leather chair, gazing through black spectacles, and smoking a cigarette. He spoke to someone beyond my view.
“Move closer,” Thomas whispered.
I leaned against the window and saw Van der Meer strapped to a straight-backed chair. His head drooped to his chest, and his face was marked with bruises. A guard stood beside him.
“Where’s Lady Jane’s friend?”
“I don’t know,” Thomas said. “But we’ll find him.” The officer stamped out his cigarette on the hardwood floor. He walked to Van der Meer and asked a question. When no reply was offered, he smacked his face with the back of his hand. I wondered why the Japanese were so interested in the owner of a rubber plantation; what information could he possibly possess? I doubted it was worth beating him to get it.
"Wait here," Thomas said. "If anything happens, find your way back to the boat. I'll meet you there later."
"Where are you going?"
"To get Van der Meer." A second later he was gone, blending into the shadows.
I peeked in the window while the interrogation continued. Every few seconds I surveyed the area. I could still hear the guards talking on the front lawn.
A moment later the officer looked towards the library entrance. He motioned to the guard, who exited the room, closing the door behind him.
Several tense seconds ticked by. Suddenly the door burst open and Thomas barged in. The ivory-handled knife was in his hand, the blade stained with blood. He flung it forward with frightening speed.
The knife lodged in the officer’s chest. He stood upright for a moment, cast a bewildered look at Thomas, and sank to his knees. An instant later he collapsed.
I was shocked by Thomas’s skill with a knife. I knew he had acquired it through determination and practice. How many other men had he killed?
Thomas quickly untied Van der Meer. He bent over the officer and withdrew his knife. He had a difficult time; the blade was lodged between the ribs. He planted his knee on the man’s chest and pulled with both hands. It was buried to the hilt.
The two men moved towards the exit, disappearing from view.
I waited, hidden in the shrubs, the silence deafening. I wondered where they were, and what was happening. Maybe they were searching the rest of the house for whomever had come for Lady Jane. Or maybe the Japanese caught them as they tried to escape.
I heard laughter from the guards in front of the house. Nothing seemed amiss. I decided to keep waiting. I stared skyward as a cloud slid past the moon. Another minute passed. I glanced at my watch. I decided to wait four more minutes. Then I would make my way back to the boat, as Thomas had directed.
Three minutes later, Thomas and Van der Meer crept around the corner of the house. They hugged the wall, approaching through the bushes.
“Let’s get out of here,” Thomas said.
“How are you doing?” I asked Van der Meer.
“I’m a bit weary,” he replied. “And bruised and sore.”
“Where’s the other man?” I asked. “Or whoever.” “The Japanese took him upriver,” Thomas said. “Where?”
“Quiet!” Thomas hissed. He held up his hand and motioned us downward.
We lay in the dirt, hidden by bushes. It was quiet; only the sounds of the jungle were audible: the chirp of a cricket, the scurry of a squirrel, a monkey leaping from branch to branch.
Then I realized what was wrong. It was too quiet. The guards by the campfire were no longer talking.
I looked past the corner of the house. Two soldiers walked by followed by three others. I lay completely still, the sound of my heartbeat echoing in my ears. A few minutes later, two soldiers strolled by, arriving on the path the departing men had taken. Once they were out of sight, I started to rise.
I understood, and lay my head on the ground. Five soldiers had left, two had returned. There were three more. They were changing shifts.
I barely moved. Minutes passed slowly. I could feel Thomas and Van der Meer lying beside me. I was about to suggest leaving when I heard a laugh, followed by a cough.
Three soldiers emerged from the jungle. They came from the far side of the house where Thomas had gained entry and strolled across the lawn. They walked beside us, passing only inches away. They turned the corner and went to the campfire.
“Let’s go,” Thomas said.
We crept slowly away from the house and crawled into the underbrush, not speaking. We cautiously made our way towards the dock, moving slowly through the jungle, not making a sound. About fifteen minutes later, we reached the shore. We slid into the water, careful not to splash, and swam towards the trawler.
CHAPTER 23
We moved quietly through the water, protected by darkness. I was winded and weary, struggling to continue. Then I remembered Thomas’s crocodile warning. I had horrific images of the massive jaws crushing my torso, the rows of teeth tearing me apart. I was suddenly able to swim much faster.
As I caught up to Thomas, I saw he was struggling to keep Van der Meer afloat. I swam towards them.
“Let me help you,” I offered.
Together we towed Van der Meer to the boat, fighting the river currents. When we finally reached the trawler, Lady Jane was waiting by the rail.
“I was so worried,” she said with a sigh of relief. “You were gone for a long time.”
“Yes,” Thomas said. “Everyone’s safe.”
“Where’s Balraj or whoever was looking for me?” she asked.
Van der Meer waved an arm, gasping for breath. “It’s not...”
“The Japanese took him to the oil fields,” Thomas interrupted. “We’ll go there next.”
“Why would they do that?” she asked with alarm.
To Parts Unknown Page 15