Free Assignment Bangkok by Unknown Author Page A

now? You look rather—ah—desolate.”
    Benjie sat in one corner, her legs crossed. She had fixed her hair, pulling it back into her usual severe style. Her greenish eyes told Durell nothing.
    Durell looked at the girl. “I thought they let you go.”
    “I refused to leave until I heard about you. Was Savag very bad?”
    Major Luk said, “You must make allowances for my superior. He is a dedicated man. Perhaps he goes to extremes in his dedication, but he has been badly treated in the past, especially by you Westerners.”
    “He told me that Miss Ku, in Mr. James’ employ, also works for you.”
    Major Luk nodded. “She is helpful, now and then. Are you surprised? It is all in the business, is it not?” He sprinkled more lime juice on his papaya. “Come, Mr. Durell, we are not uncivilized. I believe our ancestors had a highly developed culture when yours were still swinging from the trees, so to speak. We are very proud of our Thai heritage.
    To us, you are barbarians, relatively speaking. Americans are General Savag’s particular dislike, I am afraid. You do not comprehend our ways and customs, nor do you try to.”
    “Let’s not have any lectures,” Durell said flatly. “Just let me out of here.”
    “You must forgive me. You know I have orders to put you on a plane tomorrow.”
    “I’m going up-country. Into your security area.”
    Major Luk smiled. “You are honest, at any rate. I have heard about you, Mr. Durell, and read your dossier. It is formidable. I truly believe you may accomplish what you have set out to do.” The Thai soldier’s eyes moved, smiling, from Durell to Benjie. “But you must leave Bangkok in the morning. If you do not, General Savag will be most annoyed. I would not recommend that you cause him any distress.”
    “The bastard,” Benjie said. “His reputation stinks.” “There are rotten apples, as you would say, in every barrel. Am I correct?” He turned to Benjie. “You are free to go. I understand you wish to travel to Chiengmai?”
    “Yes. On business.”
    Major Luk said gently, “Ah, Chiengmai. Once a beautiful city, the capital of a Laos kingdom, you know, for which the Burmese and Thai people fought. Your teak rafts start there, going down-river to Bangkok?”
    “You know it,” Benjie said.
    Major Luk looked at Durell. “It was once an important junction, in ancient days, for caravans to Yunnan and the Shan states. Now, of course, it is our strategic base for the battle against insurgents . . . and others. The moi —the tribesmen—are most unsettled. General Savag is determined to halt their activities. He is very proud of our traditions. ‘Muang Thai’ means the Land of the Free, you know. Over two thousand years ago we migrated from the Yangtse, pushed south by the Chinese, and we established the kingdom of Nanchao, on the Yunnan plateau, about 700 A.D. Eventually, Nanchao was destroyed by Kublai
    Khan, the Mongol emperor of China, in 1253, and we trekked south again to fight against the Khmers and established the Kingdom of Sukhothai, which means the ‘Dawn of Happiness.’ The first king of the Thais is our national hero-figure, Phra Ruang. His third son was Rama Kamheng, a warrior, statesman, scholar, lover, devout Buddhist, and patron of the arts. He invented the Thai script, too. You know something of Sukhothai pottery, and the delicate bronze Buddhas from the area?”
    “I’m wondering why you give us a lecture,” Durell said. “I was briefed on Thai history.”
    “Of course. My apologies. Miss Slocum, you may go.” “What about Sam?” she asked defiantly.
    Durell said, “It seems to me you still have a few Mongols from Kublai Khan’s day with you, Major.”
    Luk smiled. “You refer to General Savag?” Then a telephone on Luk’s desk rang. He seemed to have been waiting for the call. He spoke briefly, then stood up. “Excuse me. It is urgent.”
    He went out. Durell and the girl waited for a moment. Then Durell said, “Let’s