The Merger

Fifteen

Khaotung knew it was nighttime. He wasn't sure how he knew, but he was sure that it was. He'd eaten a little earlier. Not that dry stale bread and water was much of a meal but when you don't really have a choice and you need to fill your belly to keep your strength up, it becomes a king's meal.

He knew he'd been held here for longer than a day but he wasn't sure whether a few days had passed or if it had been longer. The time passing was marked by being conscious enough to get beaten again or having lost consciousness during said beating. Snakeskin guy always came at sunset. Khaotung knew this because it got colder at day's end and he felt the cold intensely. The beating would start soon after he felt the change in temperature.

The questions they asked of him were the same, his answers were the same and Khaotung thought at this point they were simply seeing how long he would be able to endure whatever punishment they seemed to think he deserved.

If it wasn't for the promise he made to First he would have given up long ago. Worry for his mom plagued his thoughts. Where was she? Was she safe? Was she held hostage here too? Should he try searching for her here? Could he even get out to try and search for her? Khaotung wished he had told First more about his search for her. First would have continued to search in his absence.

In the moments when his captors left him alone in this tiny windowless square room, Khaotung crawled into a corner pulled his knees up to his chest and hugged himself tightly. He pretended that First was holding him and that they were having sweet conversations where First kept telling him to hold on. First asking Khaotung to wait for him was the thought the kept Khao from giving up.

First was indeed at that moment standing at his bedroom window staring out at the moon. "Where are you Khao. I hope you can see the moon, cause you and I are looking at the same sky . On this moon, on these stars, I whisper my wishes for you. Stay strong, hold on. I'm coming for you."

Khaotung's mom was looking at the same stars and whispering to the moon also. "Hold on son. Since the day you first looked into my eyes I have promised to always be by your side. No mortal is going to keep me from doing that. Your Mae is coming son."

Khao's mom had a private meeting with Dao after the foursome had met to discuss their plans. There was something she wanted to tell Dao but she didn't want First to hear or know of it. She had written a letter containing her last wishes for her son and her future son in law should she not survive whatever was about to happen. She also had a similar letter from Maize in the event that Maize did not get to see her precious baby again. A last wish for him to not to grow up alone and in an orphanage.

Dao was heartbroken at the thought of him being the one to have to deliver these letters. He silently vowed to make sure both these brave ladies returned to their children because he didn't think he had the courage to deliver such sad news. He would just have to make sure it didn't come to that.

Morning dawned bright and beautiful. Birds chirped . Flowers blossomed and ships sailed away to unknown destinations. None of these things could calm the storm raging in First's heart. Here on the dock, where the foursome had met at sunrise, a small tugboat was just coming into view. Tugboats were the only vehicles allowed close to the island on which Khaotung was held.

That was the information they had received last night. The last piece of the puzzle that had fallen into place. The foursome, in disguise and under cover, stowed away on a tugboat after Dao having arrested the actual captain for some small offence. Dao now pretending to be that captain.

The plan was simple. The police SWAT team on standby, ready to roll in once Dao gave the signal. Mr Snakeskin's days were numbered, in fact they were at an end. He was about to be locked away for a very long time. With Khao's mom and Maize's testimony, the guilty verdict wasn't that far off. All that was needed to completely close this case was Khaotung's testimony, but for that to happen, they needed to rescue him first.

Thus it began. An operation which was carefully planned and hoped to be skillfully carried out. The nerves of every team member stretched to it's very limits. The tension palpable. The foursome, each occupied with their own thoughts, glanced at each other briefly. They island was coming into view.

Khaotung.......