by John Muir
CHAPTER 28
NIGHT RECONNAISSANCE
Paradise Plantation - Day 6
Yamada wanted to be sure that he could still get more time out of the kidnappers. He instructed Ueda to phone Daniello Seville, the Finance Director, to reinforce the pretence of readying money to pay the ransom.
As he had done many times before on behalf of Yamada, Ueda phoned the normally servile and obliging Seville. Ueda asked for the current balances of all the local accounts, and the values of the Philippines shares held.
"Mr Ueda," said Seville. "You must know that under the company's Articles and Memorandum, you have no authority to ask for this information."
Ueda was silent for a moment.
"I need this information to ensure the ransom money is available for the kidnappers."
"I don't care what you think you need Mr Ueda, the kidnappers are dealing through me. It seems you are only hindering my efforts. I only ever gave you information before because I knew Mr Yamada wanted it."
Ueda wanted to tell him that Yamada wanted it now, but knew he could not.
"What the kidnappers want is for me to deal with it," Seville went on. "They have been contacting me, not you."
"I am trying to be helpful Mr Seville and am acting in a manner I'm sure Yamada San would wish me to act had he been here."
"Perhaps, but the reporter Consuelo has become a helpful intermediary while I am trying to track down funds," Seville carried on.
Ueda wanted to suggest to Seville that he should be trying to track down new employment because when Yamada reappeared, Seville would either be unemployed or dead.
"And if you know anything about where these overseas investments are that Mr Yamada has made, it would be helpful."
Ueda knew that if Seville went on much longer, he would invite him to the plantation and personally remove his head.
"I think this discussion is going nowhere Mr Seville. I will phone you again tomorrow, and I will expect the information I requested to be available.
He had barely pushed the button to end the call when yet another Iriquois helicopter passed overhead. Ueda wondered what real purpose these overflights would achieve. There was nothing they could learn from them except a display of muscle-flexing by the armed forces.
It seemed the search by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the kidnappers of the Japanese was being upgraded. The Manila Government must have been feeling pressure from Tokyo. Even though Yamada was Filipino by birth, his family's influence inside Japan's political arena was strong.
Ueda also knew that the Catholic dominated AFP in this area would willingly assist. They would use any excuse to ferret out any Muslim dissenters, and use any reason to kill them.
That was not his problem. He was enjoying being away from Yamada. Just sitting and doing nothing.
----------
Maria Christina Hotel, Iligan - Day 6
"The reporter says the kidnapper phoned," said Pater. "Consuelo told him that the accountant had not yet seen the jacket, but he would know tomorrow if the suit belonged to the Japanese. After that our problems start to get complicated if we can't get any leads. Nilo, have you or your friends found anything out?"
"Muslims don't tell Catholics their secrets. Catholics don't trust the Muslims either," replied Nilo.
"How can you tell who is what?"
"We know. So do they."
"One nation, indivisible?" grinned Henry.
"One country, many self interests," replied Pater.
"Aren't you all Filipinos'?" asked Rangi.
"Some in Mindanao are Filipinos, some are Mindanaons. And even some who are just Muslims; though there are many Muslims ready to share power with Catholics in an independent Mindanao," replied Nilo. That is why many people here want independence from Manila. Manila robs the resources for Manila and encourages the fight between Catholic and Muslim here."
"Nilo," interrupted Pater quite forcefully, "This is no bloody holiday. I want you to take Henry with you and find out anything you can from the officer who went to the scene where the kidnapping took place. Also find out if the police know anything that we don't know. Say you are helping Ruben Consuelo, the reporter investigating the case. I'll set it up for Consuelo to say you are helping him. If the officer speaks English, let Henry do the talking, otherwise be guided by Henry. And get your friends out to ask around, Muslims and Catholics. Meeting back here at 6:30 p.m."
Nobody questioned Pater when he had that sort of power in his voice. Within minutes, only Pater, Rangi and Marivic were left in the room.
----------
Paradise Plantation - Day 6
Seville phoned Ueda late in the afternoon with the information he had requested about the balances in the accounts. Then to keep the 'cover' current, he telephoned the reporter and told him that the funds were almost ready but they had to wait for money to be remitted from some accounts in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Manila, to their company account in Cagayan de Oro City.
Ueda pondered on whether to phone the priest with the same story, but decided it could wait. He did not want to encourage interference.
The workmen switched off their machines about thirty minutes before sunset, mounted their motor bikes or climbed into their assorted means of personal transport, and departed.
It was barely dark by the time Ueda got back to the nipa hut. The moon had not yet had time to dominate the last rays of the set sun.
When he entered the hut, Yamada handed him a cup of lemon tea.
"How long before they will finish?" Yamada asked.
"A bit longer than we first thought, maybe two days, not more than three. There is more rough ground than we thought."
Yamada showed his disapproval by smacking his fist into his hand.
"With this damn Filipino way of life, they will make this job last as long as they can. I should have paid them for the job not by the hour."
Yamada told him about the visit from the Catholic priest, the problems he was having with Seville, and the concern being shown by Tokyo in asking the Vatican to help.
"That pious little man will suffer a fatal accident when I return. I don't care if he is a distant relation of my wife."
Ueda could not prevent himself grinning.
"As for the church, we don't want their help. They will interfere. No, hang on. Maybe it can help. Tell them you might ask them to be ready to exchange the money for the hostage, when we are ready of course."
Ueda nodded.
"More rice, this time with tinned beef, is ready for you. I want to start early tonight. Maybe this is the night eh?" Yamada patted Ueda on the back.
Ueda nodded again.
Yamada picked up his metal detector and left. Ueda was once again pleased to be alone.
----------
near Linamon - Day 6
T.A. had watched Omar work on his 'surprise' throughout the day, interspersed by long periods of gazing out the window. Now only restricted by the leg chain, he helped Omar where he could, or was asked to help. Though it felt strange helping to work on something which he didn't know exactly what it was.
Omar had been grooving the hard wooden sides of the ammunition boxes with the precision of a jeweller; the last three hours under the poor lighting of the gas lamp.
He stopped and looked up at T.A. "I suppose you'd like that bath now."
T.A. knew the uncontrolled grin on his own face was all the answer that Omar was looking for.
"O.K., but just in case you get tempted to try and run off, even in your weakened state, I'll have to put chains on those leg manacles. Just long enough for you to make small steps and get down the stairs."
T.A. watched without objection as Omar linked a chain between the manacles he had on each leg. Then he removed the long chain that had allowed him to almost reach the window.
"Come on then, follow me."
T.A. shuffled out between the curtains and into what was the lounge and dining area. It was almost bereft of furnishings. A home made table b
uilt from packing crates was set under a jalousie window. Behind the table was a platform seat and the near side had two stools and one at each end. A cane lounge rested against a flimsy looking bannister that had the staircase behind it. The lounge had three dirty and not very comfortable looking large cushions covering its base. T.A. recognised the cushion covers were rice sacks, now being put to a different use.
The kitchen bench though stood out like a beacon. It was freshly painted and looked super smooth. It certainly looked super clean. Through the tied back curtains he saw the small room at the back where there was a small gas stove. Probably a two burner as there were two pots still sitting on its top.
The lounge floor also looked clean. The timber polished from hours and hours of rubbing with coconut shell. Three thin mattresses with a solitary pillow on each lay near the wall.
As he passed through, T.A. looked for the girls and it was not until his eyes caught some movement that he realised there was a doorway on to a narrow balcony at the front of the house. Both girls were seated on the balcony, looking back at him.
He nodded in their direction and saw the flash of white teeth as the girls smiled back.
The journey down the staircase was a little more tricky than he expected, and there was pain in his knee joints at the sudden jarring effects. The noise the staircase made as he took each step made him hope the structure was strong enough.
From his experience of the rural Philippines, T.A. knew that the term 'bath', was used in a Philippine manner. Even in most areas of the city. People took their ‘bath’ outdoors, using a scoop with water from a large container or drum. Sometimes it was just emptying water over the body from pre-filled coca-cola bottles.
----------
Paradise Plantations - Day 6
Nilo drove the jeepney as quietly as he could up the road. He had hoped his care might mean that the occupants of the huts bordering the road might not be alerted to his presence. It was a hopeless cause. Every hut had at least one barking dog. Only one of the huts still had kerosene or gas lamp burning, all the others were dark, as it was expected they would be, by 11:00 p.m.
Two hundred metres beyond the 'Private Property of Paradise Plantations' sign the road widened slightly. Nilo stopped the jeepney. After taking several forward and reverse drives of the jeepney, he eventually had it facing toward the highway.
He had a good and plausible reason for being there if he was caught where he was. Pater had suggested it. Marivic was in the front seat next to him to play the part of his lover if they were approached. They were parked on this road because they thought they would be alone and not disturbed.
He turned around to tell his three passengers to get out, but they were already gone. He had not been aware of their silent departure. He peered up the moonlit road, but could not see them. He looked at his watch, then at Marivic, and shrugged.
Pater, Henry and Rangi generally ran in the shaded area of the road. Their black clothing effectively hid them when they were not shaded from the moon. But they still ran cautiously. Any unseen or unexpected hole could twist an ankle. That would mean one less person available to reconnoitre around the buildings.
The regular noises of the night disguised their footfalls to all but anyone they might pass on the road. But there should not be anyone else on the road.
Just before they got to the newly cleared area, which Pater could see just ahead on the right, they stopped. He allowed a few minutes for the three of them to catch their breath. Then moving slowly and staying in the shade, began to move.
Pater stopped. Henry and Rangi did likewise.
"Is that tree stump moving, or is it my imagination?" he said in a quiet voice.
All three of them looked toward the cleared ground. It seemed strange that apart from the one stump about one hundred metres from the road; the ground was completely cleared around it. Pater removed his Samsung 10 power binoculars from the pouch on his waist belt.
They all saw the stump move. Quickly double checking they were shaded, they then looked back at what they now knew was a human figure.
"What the hell's he doing?" asked Henry quietly.
Pater looked through the binoculars for a few seconds. "He seems to be using something like a rod to.., no, its a bloody mine-detector. Why the fuck would he be looking for mines out here? Who would lay any mines around here?"
"Who is it?" asked Rangi.
"Funny shaped head, got his back to us, no he's wearing headphones to pick up the ground signals."
The figure in the clearing turned and started back toward them in his sweeping pattern. The advancing figure's gaze and concentration all appeared to be downward on the ground to his immediate front.
The advancing figure was soon within 50 metres of their position. Pater let the binoculars drop to his waist.
"Jesus, for a second I thought it was T.A. It must be that missing Japanese bastard Yamada. God, in this light he looks like T.A."
"Where's his bodyguard?" said Henry.
"Freeze here until we see him," replied Pater.
They watched the figure of Yamada come to within 15 metres of where they stood, then the figure turned and walked away from them continuing to sweep the detector in front of him.
After he had moved about 50 metres away, Pater went on. "So, he's using a metal detector. Why here? Why in the middle of the night?"
"He's lookin' for something that he doesn't want anyone else to know about," offered Rangi. "And he doesn't care who the kidnappers are holding."
"Good point. Shit where is that Ueda."
"Sleeping?" suggested Henry. "He can't work all day and then run around the paddock like this Yamada all night."
The trio watched Yamada go to the furthest distance of his sweep. Then they nervously watched as he approached on the return leg to within 15 metres before turning and moving on his away sweep. Once he had gone about 50 metres, Pater began to move quickly up the road to get beyond the cleared area.
Inside eight minutes they spotted the flat gravel area with the large storage shed, the open fronted vehicle shed to the left, and the small nipa hut to the right. The nipa hut was in darkness.
Pater knew they had to be doubly careful here. Humans walking normally on gravel made a very distinct sound. They had to make each footfall silent, and that meant moving uncomfortably slowly.
He signalled for Henry to check the vehicle shed and Rangi to check the storage shed. They both moved silently away.
As Pater approached the nipa hut, he looked for some soft earth that might silence his steps. That was only present at the sides, and he presumed the back, of the hut. He would check those areas first.
He was frustrated at the few windows at the back and the sides. Because of the lack of them, little moonlight was being cast inside. He tried to allow his eyes to adjust to the darker interior. He was aware of the risk he was taking staring in. His upper torso would be fully outlined to anyone inside looking out.
Finally, his patience was rewarded. He made out the figure of Ueda lying on a mattress on the floor, presumably asleep, or at least unaware of what was going on outside.
He had seen enough. Still moving slowly over the gravel, he returned to the shadows of the road area. He was quite startled to find the others already there.
Nodding his head, they began to jog back down the road. Pausing only briefly to confirm Yamada was sweeping an away leg, they ran past and on to the waiting jeepney.
Marivic let out a little squeal of fright at the silent return of the three. They immediately lay on the floor and pulled a tarpaulin over themselves. Nilo started the jeepney and moved off.
**********