(1989) The Guest of Honour

by Irving Wallace

  Den dashed out of the yard, leaving his friends behind,

  grabbed the front door of the Mercedes, yanked it open and flung himself in beside the driver. His eyes were still on his friends as he waved to them, and the car drove off.

  They drove on a half-minute with Den looking straight ahead through the windshield. Lost in thought, Den said, ‘Cripes, another boring day in school, except for arithmetic’

  ‘Umm,’ said his driver.

  They had come to the end of the block when the car veered sharply right.

  ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ Den cried out. ‘You always turn left here.’

  He twisted in his seat for Chalie’s reply. Only there was one thing wrong.

  It wasn’t Chalie in the chauffeur’s seat.

  Chalie had a pockmarked face. This driver had a smooth, plump, brown face with a long, pointed nose.

  ‘You’re not Chalie,’ Den said accusingly. ‘You’re someone else. What are you doing here?’

  ‘Chalie got sick,’ said the driver. ‘He asked me to pick you up.’

  ‘But this is the wrong way.’

  ‘No, it isn’t!’ a voice said from the rear. Den whirled in his seat to look behind him. He saw a moustached man crouching there, someone who must have been hiding down low on the car floor during the pickup. Den saw that the man was holding a silver gun, just like the ones in the movies. He put the barrel of the gun against the boy’s head. ‘Now you be quiet, young man, if you don’t want a hole in your head … Shove over. Move closer to the driver and make room.’ He gave Den a push. ‘Now move!’

  Den began to tremble, which never happened in the movies.

  The moustached man was short and squat. He climbed over the back of the car seat and squeezed himself down beside Den in front. Den was in a vice between them.

  ‘Now shut your eyes, because I’m going to blindfold you,’ the moustached man ordered.

  Quickly the man had something over Den’s eyes and secured it behind with a double knot.

  ‘I want to see my mother,’ Den’s voice quavered.

  The man tested the blindfold and was satisfied. ‘You’re going to see your mother. Unless you make trouble. Then you won’t ever see her or anyone else again. Now keep quiet. We’ll get you where you’re going in a hurry.’

  Marsop was in Noy’s presidential office, standing at her desk, riffling through her papers for a document he needed.

  He was startled by the shrill ring of one of the three telephones on her desk. The ring, and subsequent rings, came from the white telephone, the phone Noy permitted tj be used only for calls from members of her cabinet, or for emergency.

  The telephone was clearly for Noy, and Marsop shouted for her. There was no answer. Wherever she was, she was out of earshot.

  As the telephone persisted with its urgent ringing, Marsop decided that he could answer it.

  He lifted the receiver off the hook. ‘Hello. President Sang’s office.’

  The voice on the other end was a deep rumble. ‘Who is this?’

  ‘This is Minister Marsop.’

  ‘I must speak to President Noy Sang.’

  ‘I’m sorry. She’s not in her office.’

  There was a pause. ‘You can get a message to her?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Immediately?’

  ‘Why, yes. Who is this?’

  ‘I am on the staff of the army.’

  Marsop thought he recognised the voice. It was a strong bass that had impressed itself on him at cabinet meetings and military meetings. It was a voice that sounded like that of Colonel Peere Chavalit, second in command of the army in influence and Nakorn’s closest deputy. Although Marsop could not be sure.

  ‘Are you Colonel Chavalit?’ Marsop wanted to know.

  ‘That is of no importance. I wish to speak to President Noy.

  If she is not there, I will speak to you. You can convey my message to her.’

  Marsop nodded at the phone. ‘I’ll do that.’ The tone of the voice, what it was saying, had begun to sound ominous to Marsop. ‘I am ready to give her any message. Tell me what it is.’

  ‘It concerns her son Den Sang.’

  This was definitely ominous and Marsop held the receiver tightly. ‘Is anything wrong? Is he all right?’

  ‘Perfectly well.’

  This was puzzling. ‘Are you calling from his school?’

  ‘He left St. Mary’s a half an hour ago, as you can see from your clock.’

  Marsop sought and found the time on Noy’s desk. The time was 2:32 in the afternoon. Den had been scheduled for pickup - was always scheduled for pickup - at two o’clock by Chalie, Noy’s driver.

  Marsop swallowed hard. ‘Den - where is Den?’

  ‘With us. With friends.’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘We’ll get to that.’

  ‘How do I know Den is there?’

  ‘You wish to hear his voice?’

  ‘I do,’ said Marsop.

  There was a whispered consultation at a distance from the telephone, then footsteps, then Den. ‘Marsop,’ Den said shrilly. ‘I’m here. I am —’

  Abruptly he was off the phone. Marsop envisioned that it had been snatched away from him.

  The deeper voice was on the phone once more. ‘You have heard him.’

  ‘Is he safe?’ Marsop demanded.

  ‘Perfectly, if you attend promptly to the message I wish you to pass on to President Noy.’

  ‘Yes, I promise,’ said Marsop. ‘What is the message?’

  ‘I want to see President Noy at once.’

  ‘You can come to the palace -‘

  ‘Don’t be a fool. I want to see her on my terms, right where I am.’

  ‘If it can be done -‘

  ‘It must be done if President Noy wishes to see her son alive.’

  Marsop’s heart tripped. He tried to keep his tone even. Take this seriously, he told himself, but do not panic. ‘What -what is your message, sir?’

  ‘Listen, carefully. Do you have a pencil? Write down what I tell you.’

  ‘I have a pencil.’

  ‘Very well. Get this right… President Noy Sang must come to the corner of - the southwest corner of - Khan Koen Road and Bot Road, and she must come alone. Do you have that? Read’it back to me.’

  Marsop choked. ‘Southwest corner of Khan Koen Road and Bot Road. Alone.’

  ‘Exactly. Have her do that within the hour and she will see her son alive and safe.’

  Marsop stuttered. ‘It - it - it may be difficult for the president to leave the palace alone. She has a security guard that follows her every move. I don’t know if she can manage this.

  The voice on the other end was deeper and angry now. ‘She will find a way. She must come alone or the boy is dead.’

  ‘Wait! Do you have her car -?’

  ‘Her car is in the palace garage -‘

  ‘Let me drive her!’

  ‘No. she must come alone in a taxi, and no one must follow her. She’s to be dropped off three blocks away. Do you hear me?’

  ‘Yes -‘

  ‘I repeat. Alone. Or the young boy will be dead.’

  The hangup was loud and reverberated in Marsop’s ear. He held the silent receiver a moment and then he, too, hung up.

  This was shocking. The first thing he must do was find Noy, and then reason with her.

  He remained at the desk, hurrying through her papers until her found her day’s schedule.

  She was in a meeting with a half-dozen of her agricultural staff in the Rama Room.

  He went to find her, opened the door of the room, and saw that she was seated at a round table, listening to one of her advisers read to her from a report.

  Marsop crossed the room until he reached her, and then, beckoning, he bent down closer to her ear.

  ‘I must see you immediately,’ he whispered. ‘This is an emergency.’

  She met his eyes fearfully.

  ‘Outside,’ Marsop said.<
br />
  Excusing herself, she rose from the table and followed Marsop out of the room.

  In the hall, Noy grabbed at Marsop’s arm. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Don’t get too upset —’

  ‘What is it?’ she demanded again. ‘Tell me.’

  ‘Den —’ he began.

  Her hand went to her mouth. ‘Is he hurt?’

  ‘No,’ said Marsop quickly, ‘as far as I know he’s all right. Noy, he’s been kidnapped. The word was never used, but there’s no doubt it is kidnapping. They’re ready to free him, but there’s a ransom demand.’

  ‘What do they want?’

  ‘You,’ said Marsop. ‘I’d guess they’re ready to exchange Den for you.’

  Noy was astounded. ‘Me? What do they want with me?’

  Marsop was uncertain. ‘They want to talk to you.’

  ‘Who are they?’

  ‘I don’t know, Noy. The man who called on the telephone -he was actually calling you - I answered the phone - he had a deep voice, but not one I recognised.’

  ‘Marsop, tell me exactly what was said to you on the telephone.’

  He tried to recall every word for her. Then he handed her the slip of paper.

  She narrowed her eyes to read it. ‘Khan Koen Road and Bot Road,’ she read. ‘Go three blocks down to Uhon Square, then walk back to this corner.’ She raised her head. ‘Are you certain it was Den’s voice you heard on the phone?’

  ‘Yes, he was able to say very little. But it was Den.’

  ‘It could be a hoax.’

  Marsop was hesitant. ‘I doubt it, Noy. Den isn’t home from school yet.’

  Noy pulled at Marsop’s arms, and her voice choked. ‘Let’s get to the garage!’ she exclaimed.

  Preceding him down the stairs, entering the garage, Marsop heard her gasp. ‘Chalie!’ she called out.

  Crumpled on the floor beside the Mercedes was Chalie. Noy rushed to him and kneeled, taking his pulse.

  ‘He’s alive,’ she said over her shoulder. ‘My God, look at the blood coming from the back of his head. Call my office and have someone get a doctor. Wait here for him.’

  Back in her office, Noy waited restlessly for Marsop to return, trying to imagine what had happened, and what she herself should do next. In minutes, Marsop was back.

  ‘Chalie is all right,’ he reported. ‘A minor fracture but he’ll be on his feet by tomorrow.’

  Noy listened, and then shook her head. ‘I guess it’s not a hoax. They have Den. I must go along with their demand.’

  ‘I’d like to come with you,’ Marsop begged.

  ‘You quoted the man as saying that unless I come alone, Den is dead. Didn’t you?’

  ‘That’s right.’

  ‘Then I must go alone, Marsop. I can’t take chances with those lunatics.’

  ‘It could be dangerous.’

  ‘I have no choice. It’s me or it’s Den. For me, Den is everything.’ She wagged her head at Marsop. ‘How do I do this alone with six security guards following every step I take?’

  Marsop was at a loss. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Well, I know. Follow me to the kitchen.’ As they walked through the dining room, she went on. ‘The cook, Juliellen,

  she’s just about my size. Every day -‘ Noy glanced at her wristwatch ‘— just about this time, she goes out to the market. This time she will not go out. But I will.’

  As they went into the kitchen, Juliellen, who had been reading a newspaper, threw it down and came respectfully to her feet.

  ‘Juliellen -‘

  ‘Yes, Madame President?’

  ‘That sweater and skirt and apron you’re wearing, is that what you wear when you go to the market?’

  ‘It is, Madame.’

  ‘Do you have another set I can wear?’

  ‘You, Madame? Of course I have more, but -‘

  ‘Never mind, Juliellen, I need your clothes - instantly. Don’t say a word to anyone. I want to wear what you wear to the market.’

  ‘I also wear a shawl around my head.’

  ‘All the better. Go fetch your clothes. I’ll wait for you in the pantry.’

  Fifteen minutes later, when Noy emerged from the pantry, she was wearing a grey sweater and blue denim skirt identical to Juliellen’s. Taking the shawl from Juliellen’s hand, she tied it over her head, and tried to conceal her face in its folds. ‘How do I look?’

  ‘Not very presidential,’ Marsop replied.

  ‘This should get me past the front gate. Where do I get a taxi?’

  ‘A block south of the palace. There are always several in front of the church.’

  ‘Then I must hurry.’

  Marsop was at her heels as she started to leave. ‘Noy,’ he pleaded, ‘I can’t let you go by yourself.’

  ‘You must. Anything else will endanger Den.’

  ‘This may endanger you.’

  ‘Never mind. Just remain at my desk. I’ll get in touch with you. Can you give me some money?’

  Marsop reached into his jacket pocket. ‘What if you don’t call ?’

  ‘If you don’t hear from me in an hour, contact the police. They’ll be familiar with the area.’ She started to leave. ‘Marsop, you stand by, and pray for both of us.’

  After the taxi brought her to Uhon Square, she hastily paid her fare and left the cab.

  She surveyed the area, confused, then intercepted a young man carrying some packages and asked the way to Khan Koen Road and Bot Road.

  The boy pointed west. ‘Three or four blocks that way.’

  Checking her watch, Noy saw that she was still within the designated time. She began to walk as fast as she could. The walk seemed interminable. Suddenly she realised that she had arrived at her destination. She crossed Khan Koen Road to the southwest corner and stopped, and stood with her back to a cluster of trees, apprehensive and wondering if Den’s captors would deliver him.

  Realising she was wearing Juliellen’s clothes, and might not be immediately recognisable, she untied her head shawl so that her well-known face would be instantly identified.

  She waited five minutes, and was becoming more and more nervous, when she heard light footsteps behind her. She whirled about just as Den, unwrapping a blindfold, stumbled towards her, calling out, ‘Mother!’

  Noy ran to him with an exclamation of relief, and fell to her knees as he came into her arms. She hugged him as tightly as possible.

  ‘Den!’ she cried out. ‘You’re safe. Are you all right? Did they hurt you?’

  ‘No, Mother. I’m fine, but you must look out -‘

  But by then, when she looked up, there were two others looming over the pair of them. They were both husky young men wearing sunglasses, attired in army fatigues. Around their waists, through their loosely hung khaki jackets she could see holstered guns.

  One soldier tapped Den on the shoulder. ‘Let her go, kid. You can get going. She will stay.’

  ‘No -‘ Den protested.

  The nearest soldier tore Den out of her arms. ‘Go, while you can!’

  ‘But where —?’

  Noy had risen upright. ‘Do as they tell you, Den. Walk in that direction. You will find a taxi. Have it take you to the palace.’ She dug into her skirt pocket for some change. ‘Take these to pay the taxi. When you get to the palace go directly to my office. You will find Marsop. Tell him I will try to see him soon.’

  ‘Enough talk,’ the second soldier said harshly, fingering his revolver. With his free hand, he gave Den a shove. ‘Go, leave, at once!’

  Den turned away and began to run.

  Noy watched him, her eyes filling with tears of relief.

  The soldiers had flanked her now. Each had her by an arm. Roughly, they swung her around towards the trees.

  ‘Come, Madame,’ one said.

  ‘Where are we going?’

  ‘To have a talk with someone waiting for you,’ the first soldier answered. ‘Now get going, faster, faster!’

  Den Sang had found a taxi and t
aken it straight to the palace. Inside, he had hurried to his mother’s office, where Marsop was seated on a corner of her desk with his eyes fixed on the phone.

  The second that Den entered, Marsop rose and embraced him.

  ‘What happened?’ Marsop wanted to know. ‘Where is your mother?’

  ‘They took her, two men took her. They sent me out to see her on the corner, and then they followed and grabbed her and let me go. She told me to find a taxi and come here.’

  ‘But where did they take her?’ Marsop begged the boy.

  ‘I don’t know. They made me run way for a taxi. Then they started taking her towards the trees -‘

  ‘What trees?’

  ‘Trees at the edge of the park. I could see them after they took off the blindfold.’

  ‘You were blindfolded?’

  ‘Yes, then they untied it and there she was. Then they grabbed her.’

  ‘They had guns?’

  ‘Yes, Marsop, each of them under their army uniforms.’

  Marsop had been standing over the boy, and now he bent towards Den and took him by the shoulders.

  ‘All right, Den, now tell me about yourself from the start. You were in school. You left -‘

  ‘With my friends. I ran to the car and went inside.’

  ‘That wasn’t your car. Your car is still here.’

  Den lifted his hands. ‘It was the same car, Marsop.’

  Marsop understood. ‘They substituted another just like the Mercedes. Then what?’

  ‘I didn’t see Chalie at first. I was busy waving to my friends. The driver started the car away, and then I saw that he wasn’t Chalie.’

  ‘No, he wasn’t. What happened next?’

  ‘We drove away from the school. A big man who must have been hiding on the floor in the back jumped up, crawled over the front seat and pushed me to the middle. He took a handkerchief and blindfolded me.’

  ‘Did he say anything? Did the men speak?’

  ‘No. They drove on and on and then stopped.’

  ‘How long did the drive take you?’

  Den was lost. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Guess.’

  ‘A long time. Maybe fifteen minutes. Maybe more.’

  Marsop tried to analyse the drive, the distances beyond Khan Koen and Bot Roads, but it was impossible.