“You told him about this place?”
“I told him tall tales, like stories of King Solomon’s mines. He would come to the campus to make himself feel more important than he was, and I regaled him. Lucky I did. When Angkar came to the capital, I was spared when so many were not. And why? Because Brother Tan wanted to find the gold.”
“When did you find this place?”
“About three years ago.”
“After the Khmer Rouge fell?”
“Oh, yes. I had samples from many places, so whenever Tan would be moved to a new camp, he would start digging wherever I told him to. He told his superiors that it was for the defense of the empire, but I don’t think they knew or cared. But getting him his little bits of gold allowed me to keep looking. And I did, until I found this.”
Rangsay looked around the room with pride.
“But Tan’s not mining gold anymore, is he?” asked Lenny.
“Of course he is. He has grand plans to retire to France or somewhere. He’s quite non-specific about the location.”
“But this camp. It’s designed to mine uranium.”
Rangsay frowned and then nodded. “You are most observant, sir. But I can assure you, his operation was a gold mine. The uranium comes later.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he wants the money, sir. He doesn’t care about gold or uranium. I tested the soil and I found the gold, and amongst that gold I also found uranium.”
“You just happened upon uranium near where you found this temple?”
Rangsay smiled. “Of course not. I didn’t just happen upon uranium here. Uranium is everywhere. It’s vastly more common than gold, in fact, and the two are often found together. But as you have perceived, I found my temple, and here I wanted to stay. So I planted the seed. I knew China had been supporting the Khmer Rouge, just as you Americans have. And I also knew after the Vietnamese invaded, that this relationship would become more important. I knew the Chinese disliked the Vietnamese as much as your people. I know of the Cold War between you and the Russians. So I told Tan there was uranium here. I told him what it could do. That we could mine it and refine it and then send it to China, so that anyone watching China’s mines would not know they had more refined uranium than they were letting on. It took a long time for this information to reach the right ears, I suppose, but eventually it did.”
“So now you’re starting to mine uranium, and you’re killing people in the process.”
“Killing people?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t see it, Professor. You’re smarter than that. Your mine out there is making the people in the village sick. They’re dying.”
“Oh, I see. No, sir, the mine is not making those people sick.”
“You’re lying.”
“No, I am not. The children work the mine, and they are not sick.”
“Not yet.”
“No, not ever. It’s not the mine, sir. It’s this temple that’s killing the workers.”
Lenny frowned. It didn’t make any sense to him, but the professor looked earnest in his assessment.
“A gold temple is killing these people? How?”
“It’s not the gold. It’s the uranium.”
“You just said it wasn’t the uranium.”
“No, I said it wasn’t the mine. You see there is both gold and uranium in the ground here. Tan has been pulling gold from his pit for years. Now he pulls ore that will soon be processed to produce yellowcake, which will be sent to China to be enriched. But both of those metals are also in the ground in this cave. So as we excavate, we disturb earth that contains uranium.”
“And this uranium is killing the people you’re forcing to dig it up. That’s why you wanted Geiger counters from the CIA. To measure it, because you yourself wanted to come here safely.”
“Actually, your CIA friends proved less than useful. I didn’t require Geiger meters. I have no interest in measuring radiation per se, because uranium ore is about as radioactive as a bunch of bananas. But your people are so paranoid about Russian nuclear arms that they took my request as partaking in their paranoia. What I wanted was to test for radon gas specifically, not for radiation emissions in general.”
“What the hell is radon gas?”
“Radon is, at room temperature, a gas that is a product of uranium decay. It is produced in high concentrations when you mine uranium, or in our case, excavate it. In a pit mine, it is inconsequential because it becomes part of the air and remains at safe levels. But in a cave with no ventilation, it is more of a problem. Radon is a dense gas, so it settles and stays put, and our workers breath it in.”
“And get radiation poisoning?”
“No. What they get is lung cancer.”
Lenny’s next words caught in his throat. He didn’t know what to say. Rangsay didn’t appear troubled by the fact that his countrymen were contracting cancer because of his work. He seemed to look at them as if they were lab rats. Lenny was about to call the professor something rather impolite when he saw movement at the entrance to the chamber.
“What’s going on?” asked Lucas with a grin.
“Professor Rangsay has just been explaining how he’s giving the villagers lung cancer.”
“Lung cancer?”
“A byproduct of all the digging they’re doing down here.”
“That’s not good,” said Lucas, stepping across the threshold.
“No, it’s not,” said Lenny.
“No, I mean, we’re standing here, having a little chin wag in a poisonous, cancer-causing cave, is that about right?”
The professor shrugged. “Radon is naturally occurring. It’s in the atmosphere. It’s most unlikely that limited exposure will harm you.”
“Most unlikely,” said Lucas. “That’s reassuring.”
“But you’re down here,” said Lenny to Rangsay. “How is it not killing you?”
“Oh, it undoubtedly is. That was why I wanted the radon testing equipment. But it is of no concern. To find such a treasure, this is my life’s work. Death comes to us all anyway, eventually.”
“It comes to your slaves sooner,” said Lenny. “You’re killing your own people.”
“Do you really think that magnificent temples like this, or Angkor Wat, just happen? No, sir. They come at a cost. Men are that cost.” Rangsay moved toward the middle of the room and gesticulated as he monologued.
“So it is natural that there must be a similar cost in order to reclaim such a jewel.”
“A cost other people have to pay,” said Lenny.
Rangsay spread his arms and smiled. “Call it an offering to the gods.”
“You are one sick puppy,” said Lucas.
The smile left Rangsay’s face. He offered Lucas a snarl, and then he lifted his foot high off the floor and slammed it down hard like he was about to tango.
But it wasn’t a dance move. The wooden floor groaned and cracked and then split right up the middle. Right where Lenny stood. The wooden boards collapsed, and as Rangsay dashed for the exit, Lenny fell, the room above disappearing from sight.
Chapter Thirty
Lucas didn’t think about his options. He didn’t need to. He dove and slid across the floor, right to the edge of the hole where Lenny had disappeared. He looked down. Dust and dirt swirled and got in his eyes. He blinked hard to rinse them.
Then he saw Lenny, sitting on his backside amongst the fallen boards, about six feet below.
“What are you doing down there?” Lucas asked.
“Pondering the universe,” Lenny replied.
“How about we do that later over a beer? Right now the bad guy’s getting away.”
Lenny nodded and dust flew from his thick hair. Lucas reached down and Lenny jumped up and grabbed his hand, and then he swung up and grasped the edge of the broken floor above.
“Is it holding?” Lenny asked.
“Yeah. It’s only busted in the middle.” Lucas groaned as he pulled Lenny up, and for a momen
t the two men lay on the false wooden floor, Vishnu watching over them.
“Did you get the people out?” asked Lenny, catching his breath.
“Yep.”
“And the guards?”
“There weren’t any, other than the two plonkers outside.”
“I bet Tan knew the people he had slaving away in here were getting sick, and he didn’t want to send any of his men down.”
“Either way, the professor’s hoofing it,” said Lucas, “and there’s only one way out. Best we take it before he closes it down.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They ran. Out of the room and down the corridor and into the semi-circular foyer. Along the tunnel and out onto the grand golden forecourt. They looked across the cave for any sign of the professor. Then they dove as bullets ricocheted off the golden walls.
“He’s got a gun,” said Lucas.
“I noticed,” replied Lenny. “But we have the high ground.”
“Good point.” Lucas pulled his rifle strap over his shoulder and aimed it into the dimly lit cave.
“You want to give me a sighter?” he asked.
Lenny stood. “Hey, Professor,” he yelled, and then he dropped to the gold floor again.
Shots rang out and Lucas pinpointed the muzzle flash, took aim, and fired one shot. They heard Rangsay yelp, and then they ran.
Lenny was up first. He flicked his rifle around and started firing wildly into the cave, ensuring the professor kept his head down until they made it down the temple steps.
They rushed into the dim light beyond the temple, between the rocks and lanterns, toward the choke point that marked the only exit. They left their flashlights off, not wanting to give Rangsay a target to shoot at.
No gunfire came. Lenny clambered over the rocks onto the small open plateau before the choke point, and then he turned and aimed out toward the cave. Lucas jumped over the rocks and joined him.
“Professor,” Lenny yelled. “You alive?”
No answer.
“Professor, if you’re alive, we can get you medical attention. It’s over. We have all the villagers. We’re getting them to a hospital. We can take you, too.”
“You took my workers?” Rangsay bellowed from the dark cave. He sounded in considerable pain.
“They’re not yours, Professor. Not anymore. They’re very sick people. They need help.”
“You’re right, take them. They have outlived their usefulness, anyway. I will get more.”
“That isn’t going to happen, Professor,” said Lenny. “We’re not going to let you hurt any more people.”
“You can’t stop me. Tell your people. Tell your government. They won’t care. Nobody cares about the Khmer people. Nobody! Angkar has more workers, lots more.”
Lenny looked at Lucas. “He’s got a point. My government, your government, they’ve known what’s going on here for years. What’s going to change?”
“Nothing,” said Lucas. “Except for this clown. He’s not dragging any more people down this hole.”
“We can’t just wait outside for him. Tan’s out there somewhere, and we’ve got to get these people to safety.”
Lucas nodded. “Yeah. Go. Get out.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to see a man about a dog. Go on. I’ll be right behind you.”
Lenny shook his head but said nothing. He slipped his rifle off and headed for the choke point, down and up again and out into the tunnel, on toward the surface.
Lucas pulled the dynamite stick from his pocket and pushed a length of fuse wire into it. He wanted it to be plenty long—he wasn’t planning on spending the rest of his days in a dark hole in Southeast Asia.
“Professor!” he yelled. “I’m giving you one last chance. I can help you out, or you can stay here for the duration. It’s your call, but I’m not offering it a second time.”
“This is my jewel,” cried the professor. “You will rot in hell!”
Lucas shrugged. “Probably true,” he said to himself. “But you first.”
He pulled his rifle strap over his head and then lit the fuse and slipped down into the choke point. He dropped the explosive onto the ground inside the choke point and then clambered up, highly motivated now, and he sprinted toward the entrance.
He found Lenny guarding the cave entrance. The light was fading fast outside, but it took his eyes some effort to acclimate. The two original guards were still lying where they had fallen.
“Well?” asked Lenny.
“Give it a second,” said Lucas.
It was closer to thirty. They watched over the clearing ahead, and the trees beyond, and saw no sign of the general’s men.
“What are we waiting for, exactly?” asked Lenny.
A deep resounding boom erupted from within the cave.
“That,” said Lucas.
They ran. Keeping to the trees until the last, and then charging across the clearing and back into the jungle.
“Where are the villagers?” asked Lenny as they moved.
He didn’t get an answer. A soldier with a red and white checkered kerchief appeared in the jungle before him and Lenny stopped instantly, raising his rifle and aiming.
As he touched the trigger, Jarani stepped in front of the soldier.
“Jarani, move,” said Lenny.
“No,” she said. “You no shoot.”
“Tan’s man, behind you.”
Jarani didn’t move. “No Tan’s man. He friend.”
Lenny didn’t drop his aim. “He’s a soldier.”
“Yes, soldier, but friend. He help us many times. Bring food.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, sure. Always Cambodian versus Cambodian. But also Cambodian for Cambodian. He friend. He help us get away.”
Lenny slowly dropped his sights and looked at Jarani, who nodded.
“He friend.”
Lenny looked at the soldier. He was in the same worn-out uniform as Tan’s other men, but he held out his palms, showing he had no weapon.
“He is called Narong,” said Jarani.
“Narong,” repeated Lenny, and the soldier nodded softly and offered a gap-toothed smile. Lenny looked at Lucas.
“Okay,” said Lucas with a quick grin. “Why are you here?” he asked Jarani. “Where are the kids?”
“Kids?”
“The children.”
“Children go to village. I come help.”
“Of course you did,” said Lucas. “So what now?”
“These people very sick, move very slow.”
“Okay.”
“Tan is in camp,” she said. “Very mad.”
“I’ll bet.”
“Cannot find children.”
“Good.”
“Cannot find key to truck.”
“No,” said Lucas, taking the keys from his own pocket. “All right, we need to use a truck to move these folks, so we need to move Tan in order to get to the truck.”
“What we need is a diversion,” said Lenny.
“Yep,” said Lucas.
“You have an idea, don’t you?”
“Yep.”
“I’m not going to like it much, am I?”
“Nup.”
“What is it?”
“I call it, here comes another one, just like the other one.”
Chapter Thirty-One
They left Jarani, the soldier, and the sick villagers where they were. Lenny and Lucas moved quickly toward the pit mine. If their plan worked, the camp would clear out and the villagers could waltz right on in.
The storage shed was locked, but they didn’t want to get inside. Lucas figured that Tan must have come up from down the hill once he heard the shots at the cave, so he would likely be confident nothing was coming from that direction. He would only be half correct.
Lucas lit a long fuse on a stick of Tan’s dynamite, and dropped it beside the shed. Then, they ran along the lip of the mine, now hidden by the evening shadows,
and into the trees. The jungle was beginning to throb, the evening rush hour commencing. They moved swiftly to the west of the camp.
Across the campsite, Lucas could see the cage that had briefly been their prison, and beyond that the mess area. Tan’s men were lined up near the mess, but they weren’t getting ready to eat. General Tan was having a hissy fit. Lenny couldn’t understand a word of what he was screaming at the top of his lungs, but the message was more than I’ve lost my keys.
The explosion shook the entire camp, as the shed that had housed the sodium chlorate burst into a thousand pieces. The chemical itself wasn’t particularly flammable, but when heated it produced oxygen, which served to accelerate the flames. Tan and his men stood open-mouthed for a moment, and then, as the realization of an attack hit them, they aimed their rifles toward the blaze.
Lenny and Lucas moved. Lucas ran toward the cage, while Lenny sprinted around behind the tents. Lucas reached the cage, lit short fuses on three sticks of dynamite, dropped the first, and then ran. He tossed the second stick at the door of the armory shed, and threw the third into Professor Rangsay’s tent. The professor had all the reading material now he was ever going to need.
Lucas’s movement might have caught the attention of Tan’s men but it didn’t matter. The first stick exploded and blew up the tree beside the cage. The cage itself split into little javelins that tore across the camp, skewering several of Tan’s troops. The meat safe dropped from the sky and burst apart as it hit the deck, splattering Tan and his men with rotting scraps of goat.
The second and third explosions happened simultaneously. Rangsay’s tent lifted from the ground as pages and pages of history and science and human knowledge spewed into the night sky and then fell like pieces of a meteor. No one was looking at the sky raining fire, though. All attention was on the armory shed, which exploded not once, but again and again and again, as the ammunition that was housed within pierced every part of the camp.
It was a little more than Lucas had intended. He threw himself into the ground within the trees, as shrapnel tore at the branches overhead. Tan and his men dove into the dirt to avoid being maimed.
There was another shed between Lenny and the explosion of munitions, so he kept moving toward the motor pool area. At the first explosion, he jumped on the beat-up motorcycle and fired it up. The engine started first go, and although the handlebars were bent, he was able to hold the bike in a straight-ish line as he tore from camp.
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