The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 30

Golden Triangle, Northern Myanmar

The military style cargo truck stopped after entering the clearing in front of the massive two-story gate. A guard tower looming above commanded the fenced compound about five hundred yards ahead. The heavy metal wire, twelve foot high barrier topped with razor wire was like those used for a prisoner of war camp. Guards with automatic weapons stood in front of the metal-reinforced gate waiting for orders. Yeo reached out of the passenger side of the truck cab motioning to the guard in the tower.

"They seem extra cautious today," Yeo said to the driver.

After a few moments the guard in the tower motioned back that the truck could move forward. Approaching the gate armed guards inside came into view. The fence encircling the compound was actually two fences separated by about ten yards. Between the two fences vicious dogs prowled looking like they hadn't eaten in a week. The main guard tower rose about thirty feet to one side of the gate and another smaller tower seemed to float above the main building in the center of the compound.

Yeo spoke to the guards, and the gate opened. Once inside, they drove to a loading dock at the back of the large metal building. Yeo entered the door on the right side of the loading dock. Inside he resigned himself to being trapped behind another door. A thick glass window on one side of the chamber separated a guard from Yeo.

He pushed a black button on the wall next to the window and spoke in the Myanmar language, "Kim, we have returned from our delivery. I have an injured man. Our load of Pseude needs unloading."

He heard the lock unlatch opening the inner door. The building contained a large factory with many vats and industrial equipment. Whirring motors, chugging machines and pumps made talking difficult. Yeo walked up the stairs to the second level where offices overlooked the factory floor. Looking out over the production area one could see the expanse of equipment and steam rising from one tank. Yeo focused on the clattering of a pill making machine where a river of violet tablets tumbled into a barrel. That's money.

Entering the sound proofed office Yeo said, "Hey, boss, returned from our delivery."

"You have any problems?" the boss said.

"Yes, we were attacked. One man was killed and I have another badly injured."

The boss nodded as if he expected this. He picked up the telephone and said, "We need a medic at the loading dock."

"We almost didn't make it. They're well trained and persistent." The boss's face conveyed a message of acknowledgment but no panic or alarm.

"We need to make our payment to the government so they won't harass you on the next shipment. There's a load ready to go. I have new guards from a militia so they should be very good."

"I don't know if we are ready to go again now." We need to pay off the government crooks so they'll leave us alone.

The boss spoke again, "The workers are unloading your shipment of the ingredients for our next manufacturing run and they'll load the Magic onto the truck. We'll wait a few days until we can pay for safe passage."

Good. Going out again right away would be extremely dangerous. Yeo went downstairs across the factory floor to an area where there were beds and a cafeteria serving hot food. He saw his guards there. Nodding silently they all knew they had survived one of the most dangerous trips in the world and they would do it again soon. He reached for his pay, peeling off a few bills for each of the guards and the driver. It wasn't much but more than they could make farming.

Several had become addicts of the drugs they delivered. Yeo didn't use any more. He learned the drug eventually made heavy users into zombies incapable of supporting their families. It was very difficult for him to stop. After several agonizing attempts he weaned himself from the destructive drug's grip.

A loud alarm siren blared throughout the compound.

A voice on the loudspeaker ordered everyone to get their weapons and go to their security stations. Gunfire resonated from the direction of the perimeter fence. The guard towers were under attack.

The well-funded Super Lab operation had its own army to defend the compound. Yeo took his position at the corner of the building where he crouched behind a concrete wall. He saw gunshots from outside the compound strike the guard tower. High-powered automatic weapons returned fire hitting the attacker's vehicles. Loud explosions and black smoke outside the fence indicated that RPG's had found their mark. A comforting silence lasted for several minutes before the all clear siren sounded.