During the Vietnam War, which had finished almost half a century earlier, the North Vietnamese used the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos to avoid the Americans in their quest to take back South Vietnam.

‘When it was discovered as a covert route,’ Geoffreys told Cavalier, ‘the Americans bombed it for years, just as the French did before them. But the communists persisted.’

Oblivious of the unfolding monochrome of natural grace, the gang, minus the loner, Dubois, went on imbibing bottle after bottle. Their consumption at the boat’s bar led to rowdy antics. Yet Cavalier noticed that every now and again they moved closer to each other and spoke softly. Those were the conversations he wanted the recorder to pick up.

The main boat, 092, was followed by a second, identical boat, 0092. A heavy tarpaulin covered white sacks. There were no tourists onboard. One traveller asked Geoffreys what the ‘produce’ was.

‘They produce wealthy Farang,’ he replied with a grin. ‘Not sure but I think it’s coconuts and maybe some bananas. But, I kid you not, they don’t trust me enough to let me know!’

The six-hour first leg ended at Pak Beng. The wind had dropped and the rain had abated but the earlier torrents that had preceded the boat had caused the jetty to be almost consumed at the high-water mark, twenty metres above normal. The stone steps were submerged. The tourists had to slip and slide up the muddy area above the staircase, backpacks swaying.

‘Pak Beng is a shithole,’ Geoffreys told the assembled group at the hotel. ‘You’ll never come back. We’re staying at the only habitable hotel. It’s run by Indians who have a good restaurant across the road.’

The curries and condiments wafted and enticed the guests before they entered the dining room. Pin insisted on sitting at a table away from the others. She detested small talk unless it was with other medicos. She also wished to distance herself from the raucous drinking party, who parked themselves at one end of a long table. At 9 p.m. she announced she was tired and wished to go to bed. Cavalier said he wanted to walk down to the village before retiring.

‘What for?’ Pin asked. ‘You heard what Geoffreys said.’

‘I need the air.’

‘More likely you want to avoid me.’

Cavalier wanted to say, ‘That too,’ but held his tongue.

He stepped out, wearing a light jacket to protect against the inclement weather. It also concealed his handgun.

14 DETECTIVE UNDERCOVER

14

DETECTIVE UNDERCOVER

It was raining again when Cavalier wandered the two hundred metres down to the water’s edge where a whiff of dead fish lingered. A security guard was on each boat. Cavalier signalled for the gangway plank to be placed on the shore and the guard obliged.