Chapter 10
Houei Phong was plunged in a deep reverie revolving around the lovely Thuey when a loud, insistent ringing on the front door bell startled him. He was lying naked on his bed, playing nonchalantly with his semi erect cock and indulging in pleasant masturbatory fantasies when the unwelcome interruption came. Slipping into a dressing gown, he hurried to the door, wondering who it could be at this hour. Whoever it was, they couldn't know that Mr. Knight was away on honeymoon, so he expected to quickly send away the importune visitor.
He opened the door and then stood back as Michael, Brian, and Pei Liao pushed their way through the door, closing it quickly behind them.
"Houei, bring me a drink in the library," Brian said. "We've come to collect some papers for Mr. Knight. Now be a good boy and do as you're told."
As the young Vietnamese servant retired to the kitchen to collect ice and a bottle of scotch, he saw the other two men make their way to the library where his employer kept all personal papers in a large desk. Houei was disturbed. Alex Knight had instructed him never to allow anyone in the library, or indeed into the house, unless he had given instructions beforehand. He had received no instructions about allowing these three men into the house. And certainly, he hadn't been told to allow them into the library.
He walked into the living room, carrying the scotch, ice and glasses on a tray, a frown on his face. He wondered if Brian Slattery could reassure him. He knew that his employer and this man, who had given him so many nice presents, were very good friends. In fact, if it hadn't been for Brian's presence, he wouldn't have stood aside and allowed the other two inside the house. He was unaware that if he had attempted to stop Pei Liao, he would have been badly hurt.
"Don't look so worried, Houei," Brian said, seeing the frown on the young man's face and guessing its cause. "Everything is all right. I have spoken to Mr. Knight on the phone. He told me to tell you not to worry."
Houei placed the drinks on a side table. "I hope you're right, sir," he replied. "I'm not supposed to allow anyone inside the house without Knight's permission."
Brian grabbed the liquor bottle and poured himself a liberal drink. Greedily, he brought the glass to his lips, not bothering with the ice. It was like nectar to his deprived body. It gave him strength, and his mind stopped whirling around in circles and became calm and cool. He leaned back on the sofa, and lit a cigarette.
Houei was still standing in front of him, looking anxious. He was wearing a yellow dressing gown, and to Brian he looked very handsome. His eyes rested on the black straight hair, and the slim but muscular legs, and he felt excitement stir in his loins. Houei, he realized, was naked underneath the dressing gown.
And then the thought occurred to him that this was probably the last time how would ever see Houei. It made him very sad. He took another gulp of alcohol finding the thought absurdly unbearable. It all made him terribly unhappy. He had reached the stage where alcoholism renders people sentimental and tearful. And then he heard his own voice speak to the Oriental servant. He hadn't intended to say the things he was saying. It seemed to happen without him having the power to stop it.
"Houei, we are in trouble," he said. "As soon as we've cleared up the library, we've getting out of your country. Alex will meet us somewhere in Europe. It's going to be a long, and dangerous journey, but I'd like you to come as well. Once we've arrived at our destination, you will be well looked after, and among friends. I will see to that."
The young man's black eyes widened in surprise. At first, he thought Brian must be completely drunk, but he saw that his eyes were steady and very serious. With a great effort, he forced his brain to accept what he had just been told. His employer was in trouble, as were these people one of them of his own race, yet more of a stranger to him than Brian They were all going to escape. But escape where? And why were they in trouble?
He felt very unhappy. If all this was true, and looking at Brian's serious face, he felt it must be, this was the end of his happy existence at the service of Mr. Knight. He knew it had been too good to be true and last.
The young servant had lived a turbulent life in his war-torn country. Born the son of poor peasants of the Mekong Delta, he had seen his home and family disappear, victims of the merciless war he had known all his life, it seemed. And then, it had been misery ... until he had been hired in the big capital in the glittering Saigon as a waiter in an elegant restaurant. He was badly paid, but he had enjoyed the change and the new people he served every day rich people. Houei had grown to like wealth ... from far, .that is, but he enjoyed having rapports with its glitter and charm.
While still in his teens, Houei had experienced all kinds of sexual relations, including some affairs with members of his own sex ... And thus, he had met Brian who had later recommended him to his close friend, Mr. Alexander Knight....
It was in Alex Knight's house that Houei Phong had found, for the first time in his life, a security that so far he had been lacking. He hadn't lost his respect for Alex Knight when he had invited to join in the special "games" that were sometimes played late at night in the house. On the contrary, his respect for the man had increased. Alex Knight represented to Houei everything that he would have liked to be. Wealthy, still young and handsome, an important governmental job, a large comfortable house, many friends, trips ... And now, suddenly, it was all crumbling ... all his private dreams. His world had come to an end once more. And surely, it was because of the war....
"Does Mr. Knight want me to join him?" he asked, his voice suddenly decisive.
Brian was tempted to lie, but he didn't. "No, Houei. When I spoke to Alex, we didn't have time to discuss things fully. But I know he would like you to come with us."
Houei paced the room a few seconds, watched by Brian. He realized that something very serious had gone wrong. He would be a fool to get himself involved. He had never involved. He had never gotten involved in anything serious so far. He never took sides ... But, what would he do when these people were gone? Perhaps, they would never return. He would be again jobless. Not that getting another job would be difficult. But it wouldn't be the same. It could never be the same. He stopped pacing the room and faced Brian, a look of fixed determined on his Oriental face.
"I don't know what's going on," he said. "But I'll come with you. I'll probably regret it, but I never was a person not to take a risk. You must know that, sir!"
Brian got up off the settee and walked over to Houei. "You won't regret it, Houei," he said, hoping at the same time that he was right. He was standing there, with his arm around the boy's shoulders, when Michael and Pei Liao came into the room. They were carrying bundles of papers and files.
"I think we've got everything that matters," Pei Liao said. "Now let's get out of here."
"Houei is coming with us," Brian announced. He had expected Michael or particularly Pei Liao to protest, but they didn't. All Pei Liao said was something about hoping the boy could look after himself.
"I'll go and get dressed," Houei now said. "Do I pack any luggage?"
"Just the bare essentials," Brian replied. "We can pick up anything we need anywhere else in the world!"
When he was gone. Michael asked if it was wise to take the Oriental with them. Brian, who had thought they had accepted the situation, felt irritated. "Why not?" he snapped.
"He's very fond of Alex, and he might be very useful. Getting out of here isn't exactly going to be easy. We may need all the help we can get."
Pei Liao now began to show more interest in Houei. "Is he aware of the situation?" he asked. Brian looked at the enigmatic man, feeling somehow afraid of him.
"He is aware that something is seriously wrong," he replied. "And he has decided to throw his lot in with us. That's enough, I think."
Shelby hesitated for a moment, then made up his mind. "Yes, I think it is better that he does come with us," he said. "He has been in this house for some time, and has no doubt seen and heard quite a lot. They'll only wring him dry of information if they get hold of him. I don't see why we should give them the pleasure of interrogating Alex's manservant, any more than we should give them the pleasure of interrogating Alex himself."
Houei walked into the room carrying a small attache case, and Pei Liao asked him coldly.
"Can you use a gun?"
To Brian's surprise, the young man nodded. "Yes." he said. "Mr. Knight teach' me how to shoot in the garden. I was quite good at the end."
Pei Liao fished into his pocket and handed Houei a small black, sub-nosed revolver. "We are making for Cambodia," he said. "You will travel with Mr. Slattery and Mr. Shelby. Can you drive?" Houei nodded again. "You can drive the car which will be arriving shortly." He turned to Brian and Michael.
"If Houei drives, you two can keep a sharp lookout. It's not going to be easy. The frontier is heavily guarded. Actually, Houei will be an asset Nobody can tell him from a North Vietnamese. Hell be wearing a military outfit, and I'm sure he'll be able to improvise according to the circumstances arising." He walked over to the telephone. He spoke in his native language, rapidly, his voice sharp and urgent.
When he had finished, he came back to where Michael, Brian and Houei were having a last drink.
"Our friends will be arriving soon," Pei Liao said. They will have a selection of passports which you will use in Phnom Penh, as well as passes...."
Ten minutes later, there was a short, sharp ring on the front door bell. Pei Liao turned out all the lights and peered through the window. Then he turned them on again and answered the door. Two Vietnamese came into the room. There were no introductions. This wasn't going to be a party. Quickly, they got to work taking photographs of Michael, Brian and Houei. They didn't bear a great deal of resemblance to what they really looked like, but it didn't matter. They had to get out of Saigon, and in a hurry.
Houei Phong turned out all the lights and they left the room. The young Asiatic servant was the last to leave. He stood on the threshold of the spacious, comfortable home a second, as if reluctant to abandon it. Then he shrugged, turned on his heels and followed the others into the dark street.
Two cars stood outside. There were very few pedestrians at that hour in the morning, and no one took any notice as the six men got into the two cars, three in each vehicle. Houei settled behind the wheel of a military jeep arid checked on the controls. Brian sat by his side with a map in his hand and a small flashlight. As Houei engaged the gears and the jeep rolled forward, he saw through the back window the other car a Citroen which contained Pei Liao and his friends, latch onto his tail. The two cars purred through the Saigon streets, and then they were out on the open road, speeding through the dark eventful Vietnamese night.