‘You bet. Bradman signed his name, the greatest in Australian sport, over to the museum thirty years ago to raise funds for such purposes.’

‘Your report to Big Brother was optimistic about Haut’s oil reserves. You believe he has something?’

‘I had the full assay reports assessed. Most experts agree there is a more than ninety-five per cent chance he has a considerable find.’

‘This has really pricked the CIA’s interest. The US Navy is most attentive to Haut’s discoveries. They know he has had trouble with Conquer.’

‘He says he is reluctant to sell to any of the five sisters, after the way he has been treated.’

‘Right. So he has to sell his crude somewhere.’

‘The US Navy would be a good outlet for him.’

‘Well, they are both aware of each other now. Your report will be digested, filed and perhaps acted on even before Haut is in production.’

Wombat sipped his beer.

‘I have an assignment you may be interested in,’ he said, glancing around the lounge area of the bar. It was 4 p.m. Two other drinkers, looking like interstate tourists with their luggage next to them, were sitting in a far corner, out of earshot.

‘An ASIS operative disappeared while checking some big illegal drug smuggling out of the Golden Triangle.’

‘Who?’

‘I was coming to that.’ Wombat paused before adding, ‘Geoff Deere.’

‘Geoff !’

‘You worked with him on the Guam story.’

‘Is he …’

‘He was monitoring a group of drug smugglers. Then something happened.’

‘Geoff was a good bloke; a fine operative too. I’m very sorry to hear this. What do we think occurred?’

‘Big Brother thinks Deere was caught and liquidated. Now fish-bait in the Mekong.’

‘What did you have in mind?’

‘We’d only want an intelligence report. Big Brother believes the smugglers may have the cover of a tour operation up the Mekong into Laos. Perfect for shipping through borders. No one checks luggage. Visas and passports aren’t needed at a few points. They run a few converted fishing boats for tourists, mainly for Americans, Brits, Australians and New Zealanders. The local Thais and Laotians are easy to pay off if needs be. The tourists have no idea of the illegal operation. They are shown a few schools being built for the local mountain and river people. They stay in the villages overnight.’

‘Why me, though? You have official operatives in the area.’

Wombat paused and then said, ‘Given your base in Chiang Mai, I thought it might be an opportunity for you, especially as the investigation into the murder on the Bangkok Express is over. I have it on the highest authority that you can come and go from Thailand when you want.’

‘Good news, but I’m surprised that Makanathan has given up.’