Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Victoria

The blue of the ocean and the green of the frond were omnipresent and brightened the view of the visitors, justifying the fame of paradise that the place possessed. From the highest points they could see the bay with its islets dotted in the sea and the sailboats anchored around them or entering and leaving the bay. The colonial mansions alternated with the bustling streets of houses that climbed to the nearby hills, also covered with buildings. Advertising posters invaded the public space with their polychrome and bewildering variety. In general the climate was relaxing and festive and passers-by, generally belonging to the Creole ethnicity -a melting pot of the infinite races that had passed over the centuries through that crossing of routes of the Indian Ocean- looked friendly. On the main street a classic clock tower bore reminiscences of the English colonial past.

Alisha and Romain walked the streets of Victoria, the capital of the Republic of Seychelles located on the island called Mahé. The two of them walked arm in arm since all the passengers and crew of the Etoile were aware of their sentimental relations, which could not be concealed within the yacht.

Romain made some inquiries among locals and finally entered a kind of hotel where they could spend a few hours together and allow the manifestation of their hormones that had remained at rest since that passionate afternoon in the bunk of the man's cabin.

Alisha, who knew the city, took the man to an office building where they had planned to meet Vijai. The girl had been on the spot numerous times on her usual trips with her father and Brody, so the security personnel knew her and allowed them to enter, and once inside they sat in the luxurious lobby where many well-dressed people were waiting. The employees of the firm were recognizable because they were all dressed in white shirts and navy blue pants or skirts and had an identifying badge. The rest were obviously businessmen of all races, including some Europeans or Americans, Chinese and Indians with turbans. In spite of the ethnic variety, they all wore suits of famous brands that showed their social status.

Romain was already aware of the reason for all this frenetic pace of visitors due to the status of tax haven Seychelles enjoyed. Black money linked to the most varied illegal activities including government corruption of African, Asian, Latin American, former Soviet republics and of course European nations flow to the permissive country. Other sources of dirty money include drug trafficking, smuggling of arms, trafficking in persons and some feared the list includes terrorism. Seychelles's most usual role is one link of one huge offshore system where money go through complicated twists and turns between phantom companies nominally run by figureheads, lawyers and accountants listed in directories of multiple companies that form successive layers of a species of financial onion where the true possession of the funds is lost in a legal tangle.

Romain had guessed that Alisha's father was a sort of fund manager of Indian businessmen and officials who trusted him for his reputation of well-connected aristocrat.

Finally Vijai descended from an elevator accompanied by another imposing Indian with a long beard and a luxurious turban. Seeing the young couple sitting in the foyer he came up to them and addressing only his daughter said.

"Wait, I have yet to attend to another client, I may be delayed for about half an hour."

Then he approached another Indian dressed in an Armani suit and carrying a Samsonite briefcase. From a distance Alisha watched as the man rose with respect and bowed ceremoniously to his father after which they both went up to the elevator.

"So that's the way your father earns his living," Romain said mockingly. “Recycling dirty money from his countrymen.”

"And by the way we live you can see that he does it very well," Replied ironically the woman. She stayed silent for a moment, and in a tone of sarcasm then asked, "And tell me, what does your father do for a living?"

With a sad gesture the man answered.

“ The old man drives an old tractor opening furrows in the ground. He has been doing it for fifty years in the same place.”

Alisha put her hand on the young man's and said.

"Excuse me if I have brought you memories you wanted to forget."

“Oh no! The truth is that deep down I'm proud of the old bastard. I do not think he can say the same thing of me." The tone had become melancholic.

Alisha ignored the last sentence and said simply.

"I have never personally met anyone who worked the land ... or in a factory."

“ However, in India there are large peasant masses working on plantations.”

"But I always saw them from afar, from the window of a car or a train. Have you worked the land with your father?”

"Until I was sixteen, and then I ran away from home. I still have calluses in the hands of those times.”

"Make sure you get rid of them before you caress my body next time."

Romain's eyes flashed at the enticing and brazen remark. He looked at the girl, and by her gesture he realized that she meant it.

As Romain had no documents Brody had advised them not to walk the streets of Victoria overnight so they were spending the nights in a hotel. When Vijai came down to the hall and dismissed his last client they all took a taxi that carried them first to a luxurious hotel where Alisha and Romain were staying and then took Vijai to the pier where the yacht was moored.

After an early dinner in one of the hotel's restaurants Alisha and the young man went back to their room. The air inside the bedroom was cool despite the stifling weather of the tropical night.

"The hotel has a beautiful pool." Said Romain. "I'm going to freshen up. You do not want to come?

“No, thanks. I am tired. Do not take too long because otherwise you will find me asleep ... it would be a pity to waste this immense bed and this air conditioning.”

"I promise to come back early and carry out everything you have in mind."

Romain undressed, donned a swimsuit bought in the city and put on a white hotel gown that was hung from a hook at the bathroom door. He slipped on sandals and left the room for the elevator.

The man decided to swim a longer over the pool and then get out to dry. The night was spectacular but extremely warm. Romain climbed on an inflatable mattress floating in the pool and began to gaze at the star-filled sky whose brightness was not obscured by the new moon. The dark blue landscape was only limited by the large shade of the hotel building on one side and by the dark outlines of the palm trees that contoured the pool on the other. A soft breeze carried the mat from side to side on the surface of the water, while the young man marveled at the fact that the night was not plagued by mosquitoes or other insects. His eyes narrowed with the fatigue of the day and he resolved to cut the idyllic scene and return to the room to complete the perfect night making love with Alisha. Suddenly looking at one side of the pool he was startled to see a voluminous shadow that was approaching in the dark. Immediately two other profiles appeared a few paces behind the first. In spite of the lack of light Romain divined the Asian origin of those that were approaching by the general shape of the bodies. Finally the three men stood in the indirect light of a distant lantern.

"Good evening, Mr. Mercier. I'm glad you're enjoying your time.” The interlocutor spoke in English with a pronounced Chinese accent.

Romain suffered another tremor as he recognized the man's voice.

"Good evening Mr. Zhang.”

"You seem surprised to see me. Does it make you nervous?”

"Not at all." The Canadian was able to disguise his uneasiness. "Although I did not expect to find you in this place and this moment.”

"I hope I am not ruining this beautiful tropical night in the pool ... and especially the evening with the beautiful Indian girl who accompanies you." At the last phrase a shiver ran through Romain's body.

"Tell me Mr. Zhang. To what do I owe the honor of your visit? "The young man was aware of the Eastern conversation protocols.

"You know perfectly well the deal you have with ... my modest company.”

Romain got off the mat, clambered up the pool ladder, and grabbed a towel from one of the loungers with which he quickly dried himself. Then he took two steps in the direction of his interlocutor. The other two Chinese men still standing in the shadows approached foreseeing a menacing move toward Zhang, but the latter stopped them with a wave of his hand.

Once his usual cold-blooded self recovered, Romain spoke in a calm voice.

"I intend to honor all my commitments to you and ... your company. Maybe you are aware of the setback I've had.”

“Yes, I am. We know of the fall of the seaplane and we considered you disappeared for a time, so I welcome seeing you alive and safe again.” Zhang never abandoned his formalism and good manners, although a veiled threat was always latent. The man was indeed a master in the oriental art of frightening with soft words. "I wondered why you had not yet contacted us.”

"I'm an outcast right now. I have no documents nor anything that proves my identity. In fact you are the only person in the Seychelles who knows who I am. I'm going to Mumbai to get in touch with my consulate and get a new passport.”

"I wonder if you will travel aboard the Etoile."

Each time Zhang proved to be aware of his activities a new chill ran down the Canadian's spine.

“Yes.”

“ Tell me. Does Mr. Brody know your identity and your real profession?”

"Just what I told him."

"And is he interested in ... your activities in Africa?"

“Not at all. He has his own means of life, which, believe me, have no relation to yours.”

"For once I agree. We have already checked.” Zhang did not miss an opportunity to let his interlocutor know that he was closely monitoring which reinforced his intimidating effect.

“Mr. Mercier. What happened to all the results of the geological survey?" For the first time the Chinese showed his game and spoke of the true object of his presence.

"All the material sank along with the seaplane.” Romain's voice was firm, for he had already prepared himself for that question.

"So everything has been lost and you have nothing at all?"

“It is not like this. I trust that I can recompose the situation, but it will take me a while.”

"I hope you will, Mr. Mercier, and also that the time is not very long. We are in need of that information.”

Without further ado Zhang turned around and retired accompanied by his two thugs. Mercier finished drying himself, trying to reassure himself by doing some physical task. Indeed, his pulse was still slightly trembling. He had to recognize that Zhang was a master in the technique of intimidation. The young man knew that the Chinese tropical timber marketing company and its bosses was just a screen behind the African and West Asian Affairs Division of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Trade and in turn behind it an area of the Chinese People's Army.

Mercier pondered that in his world nothing was what it seemed. Philosophically he had to recognize that neither did he. He shook his head to ward off certain thoughts and put the robe on his now dry body and then set out to return to the fresh room.

Alisha closed the voile curtain she had half-opened and walked away from the window from which she had watched with fear the scene in the pool. Three Chinese in suit and tie with menacing looks surrounding the man she had fallen in love with were a spectacle that had taken away her tranquility. In due time she would face Romain and persuade him to explain not only that scene but who he really was. But again, that would be in due time. She was not ready to waste a night of love among the silky sheets. Alisha was absorbed in her thoughts when she heard the door open. She sat on the edge of the bed making sure her beautiful legs were exposed.

Jack Brody was waiting for them in the yacht parlor in front of a glass of whiskey. Young Gaurika and Vijai accompanied him in silence.

"We'll sail to Bombay tomorrow ... you know, I mean Mumbai." He added to Romain. "There you can arrange your passport business and the documents you need. There is a consulate in the United States in Victoria but I am not sure that it will take care of Canadian nationals. In Mumbai the Consulate of Canada is located at Nariman Point.”

That night Romain heard soft knocks on the door of his cabin. In fact he had been waiting and still longing to hear them so that despite being naked he hurriedly opened without making a sound.

Alisha was in negligee and she hugged him to the neck as soon as she had entered.

"You're becoming a sex addict." The man said with mock anger. “I'm afraid you're a nymphomaniac.”

"And would that not meet your expectations?"

“I don´t know. I still have to try it. I do not think I could give a sustainable satisfaction to that requirement.”

Both youngsters separated their exhausted and sweaty bodies. Alisha exclaimed.

"I will miss this hotel room. Are not we going to be comfortable again?”

"I hope in Mumbai we´ll get some amenities that a yacht cannot afford. To start off not having to sneak in my room at night.”

Alisha made a feline gesture and as not giving it any importance she asked.

"Tell me, who were the gorillas who scolded you in the hotel pool?"

Before the young man's astonished face she added.

"I saw them by accident. I was watching you swimming from the room window.”

Romain considered his answer for a moment, then resignedly said.

"They are very dangerous men who are part of my past and unfortunately I see that also of my present." He paused and added. "Alisha, you do not want to be attached to me. I do not want you to run any danger for me.”

The woman turned her face away from him in the bunk and when he thought she had fallen asleep she unexpectedly said.

“Tell me. What does coltan mean?”