The Timor Man (46 page)

 

Stephen was alone as he steered the manual through the slow traffic. Foreigners generally preferred to be driven and, in most cases it made sense, considering the irregular traffic flow and irresponsible drivers on the city's roads.

He handled the car well although, had it been possible, he would have been very pleased had his old driver Achmad been there for him. He buried the thought as quickly as it had emerged, amongst the other distressing memories.

Stephen had agreed to meet with Seda in his mountain villa, located just over the Puncak Pass. Several hours had passed when they walked quietly together through the garden of the small estate, situated four thousand feet above the muddy capital. The air was noticeably cooler than Jakarta and a chill had already entered the afternoon air. Clouds had formed earlier in the afternoon, blocking all view as the misty and moist forms enclosed the heavily timbered property.

The men returned indoors. They sat inside the high-ceilinged structure directly in front of two oversized sliding doors which led back out onto a patio overlooking the well manicured lawn. A small fire had been burning for some time, Coleman had noticed, its choked chimney now throwing out more smoke than heat as the tea bush cuttings were dropped onto the smouldering embers.

Seda waited for the servant to leave the room.

“
Stephen
,” the General commenced, “
the Government needs to move quickly due to the Timor crisis
. ”

Coleman was not surprised that the obvious urgency was in some way related to the distant colony that had featured regularly in the newspapers.

“
What is required, Pak?
” he asked.

“
The problem is more political than logistical
,” Seda elaborated, “
as there is considerable support for the military to go straight into the former Portuguese colony to prevent further bloodshed there.
”

Coleman was amazed at the revelation.

“
The Americans would scream, Pak,
” he responded, quite surprised at the man's candour, “
and they would be quick to react. Possibly even introduce an embargo as they have on Vietnam which would block further sales to HANKAM.
”

Stephen had referred to the United States trade embargo on the export to Vietnam of all American product. They had sought and received considerable support from other Western nations, including Australia. The crippling economic and social effects had already become evident as the now-united country struggled to drag itself out of the quagmire created as a result of hundreds of years of civil war.

“
Maybe,
” he paused, “
maybe. But I don't think so. Vietnam is a Communist country and Indonesia is today threatened by a Marxist group. I doubt that the Americans would pressure us into permitting Timor-Timur to fall to a Leftist regime.
”

Stephen considered the logic of Seda's statement. The man had developed an uncanny sense of intuition. His inside knowledge of the country's likely response to potential border threats enabled the head of the powerful intelligence apparatus to remain at least one step ahead of his peers.

“
The new OV-10 Broncos approved by the Government will be amongst those weapons delayed, Pak,
” Stephen warned, referring to the state-ofthe-art aircraft sitting in the clean, uncompromising air of Tucson, Arizona, awaiting shipment to the West's newest ally.

Two squadrons had been sold to the Indonesian Air Force. It was an urgent yet ongoing effort by the United States Government to compensate for the recent disastrous collapse of the South Vietnamese Government in April of the same year. Russian manufactured IL-28s had subsequently been positioned in Vung Tau, overlooking the oil and gas fields Lyndon Johnson had so desperately wanted for his country and friends in Houston.

SAM missiles had been redeployed from the North to areas around Tan Son Nhat and Bien Hoa. MIG-23s now controlled the skies around the former so-called Democratic State of South Vietnam. The aircraft were within striking range of one of the world's largest gas deposits, the island of Natuna, which for some strange reason of history, fell within the territorial integrity of the Indonesian people. The Pentagon had identified the potential threat as Saigon had surprisingly fallen back in the earlier part of the year.

The oil barons from Houston applied unprecedented pressure to have the island protected at all costs. Natuna had to be theirs! The United States Military Advisory Committee suggested that their government provide strike aircraft compatible to the Russian MIG-23s already deployed in the mouth of the Saigon River. The Armed Forces Select Committee assisted with the push to have the deal done quickly, as the Vietnamese suddenly had the support of the Russians, filling the void created by the American embargo.

The Soviets wasted no time embracing their new satellite. It enabled them to spread their sphere of influence into a new dimension, directly within striking distance of the American Fleet in Subic Bay in the Philippines. They already controlled Cam Ranh Bay and looked hungrily at the one remaining naval base in the region.

The Indonesians were also to receive Skyhawks once their pilots had completed their high performance training. The sale had already been sanctioned by the US Government. The Senate and Arms Manufacturer Lobby Groups were pleased that the potential expansionist move by the Soviets could be used to justify the sale of the two squadrons of American-manufactured aircraft to their new ally. They promised even more aid would follow.

The sale was approved by both the Congress and the Senate and, within weeks, Indonesia was able to transfer the elite of its young pilots to their advanced training course in The States.

“
How will the Australians react?
” he suddenly asked.

Coleman was taken by surprise.

“
I have no idea.
”

Stephen decided that the invitation to discuss the Macau consignments may have been a ploy to obtain information. He guessed that Seda always suspected that he had access to more information about Australia's ‘interest' in the country than he'd revealed, but this was no longer true. And he would never reveal the nature of his past activities before his resignation.

Coleman dragged the General's attention back to the potential problem of the two squadrons of Broncos. Their
kongsi
stood to make millions from the ongoing supply of spare-parts, not to mention the commissions that would be due once delivery had been effected.

“
What do you think the Americans will do with our aircraft contract?
” he asked Seda. “
Don't you agree that they may elect not to deliver if the Timor problem escalates?
”

The General thought for a moment regarding this point. ‘
Yes
,' he pondered silently, ‘
I should do everything I can to prevent the new squadrons from being delivered, as they would be perfect for the AURI pilots should ABRI decide to ignore world opinion and march across the border anyway.
'

He looked back at his guest.

“
That's a calculated risk that HANKAM will consider
,” he suggested to Coleman.

He shook his head slowly, trying to absorb the information and, at the same time, understand where Seda was headed with the conversation.

“
You were saying that the problem was more political?
”

Again the older man paused before responding quietly, as if he intended no one else to hear what he was about to say.

“
Yes. HANKAM has decided to take delivery of the Cuban shipments.
”

“
Why?
” Stephen was now very attentive at this curious piece of information, obviously offered by the General after considerable deliberation.

Being privy to state secrets made him slightly uncomfortable. There was obviously more. He waited for Seda to continue.

“
They may have to send a small group of two or three hundred across the border just to settle the area down as it is really getting out of control
.”

“
Why then the Cuban gear?
” he asked, confused by what he had just learned.

“
If Indonesia sends soldiers across the border they will be hand selected from surrounding islands and Timor itself, armed with the non-standard Indonesian issue weaponry and dressed in non-combat uniforms
.“

“
Clever
,” the engrossed Coleman said, surprised at the ingenuity of the plan.

“
And, as there will certainly be some casualties, none will be identified as ours
,” the General explained, “
thereby avoiding any possibility of an international furore.
”

The Australian nodded his head in agreement. The Indonesians could not afford to displease the Foreign Monetary Bodies.

“
When do we ship from Macau?
”

Seda waited for a few moments before replying, as if preparing for the other's expected reaction.

“
Stephen, this is very sensitive situation and on this occasion I don't want you involved.
”

Surprised, the younger man thought for a while, examining the pros and cons of such a variation from standard procedure.

“
I'm not sure that I'd be happy with that, Pak Seda,
” he said.

Not altogether satisfied that the General would place the operation in the hands of somebody competent, Coleman shook his head in disagreement. He was confused as the introduction of third parties could compromise their operations. Their
kongsi
. And their security.

“
You won't be out of it altogether, Stephen
.”

He listened as Seda continued.

“
I would feel more at ease with your involvement, say, from the sidelines although I feel that you should be on hand for the formalities which relate to receipt of the consignments, even if it is for only a day or so.
”

“
When do you require my presence in Macau?
”

Seda didn't hesitate.

“
Can you leave tomorrow?
” he asked.

“
Yes, of course,
” answered the surprised Coleman.

The apparently relaxed General leaned back into his heavy leather chair.

“
Good. It's done then. Let me know when you return and we will makan bersama
,” the General instructed. The suggestion of dining together when Stephen returned caught him off-guard. Considerable time had passed since his last invitation to the Seda residence.

Their meeting concluded, they parted company and returned to the city as they'd come. In separate cars. The following morning Coleman caught the Cathay Pacific Tristar into Hong Kong. He needed a short break, and made arrangements to continue on the ferry for Macau the following afternoon.

 

The Rolls-Royce glided noiselessly along the overcrowded streets from Kai Tak airport. Coleman had always enjoyed Hong Kong. He thrived off its pace, its mass of humanity, its opportunities. The Peninsula Hotel sent one of their prestige saloons to meet him.

Having checked in and showered, Coleman phoned several numbers before visiting the bar. The operator would know of his whereabouts, if required — a practice he'd maintained for years. His head office in Jakarta was manned twenty-four hours each day by a very competent number of switchboard operators. They would not know how to reach him, even if necessary.

When Stephen travelled on business he rarely made contact with his office. Should the necessity arrive he would phone his home office and talk directly to his efficient secretary. He paid his staff well but he also acknowledged that they were probably one of the most efficient teams in all of the Capital. Just like the Peninsula Hotel.

Coleman never ceased to wonder at the ability of the hotel staff to remember the names and faces of the multitude of guests who passed through this magnificent edifice so prominently positioned by its founders overlooking Hong Kong harbour.

There was something about standing alone in an expensive hotel, propping up the Lobby Bar by oneself. Everybody ignored you, with the exception of the staff and that is how Stephen preferred it to be. Guests would come and go, some to meet others, some to sit and listen to the pianist playing, for the millionth time, the theme from
Love is a Many Splendoured Thing
as they imagined themselves enjoying their own romantic interlude. Such dreams so easily achieved in the setting and ambiance of the colonial structure, with its mixture of oriental and European intrigue.