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Date Posted: 01:41:00 12/10/06 Sun
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: WNPP-p-203-54-44-54.prem.tmns.net.au / 203.54.44.54
Subject: Chapter 88
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons ... continued ..." on 06:45:06 11/18/06 Sat

Chapter 88


Turning away from Michael’s insightful gaze Nikita looked out of the window as the jet made its descent into the “City of Angels”, Thailand’s capital city Bangkok. As she peered into the night sky she could see the lights of the airport terminal and the many city buildings surrounding it aglow with illumination. Leaning her head back against the seat she waited for the initial touchdown jolt of the wheels onto the tarmac, however, the Lear jet made a perfect landing but bypassed the arrivals area and taxied towards a private hangar section of the airport to deplane its two important passengers.

The locale of the airport to where the Lear jet taxied was in a private secluded area away from the main terminal which was for the exclusive use of the Rising Dragons triad. Its restricted use to other jets set it apart from the main airport as this made for an easy passage into the country. Contraband, illegal immigrants or powerful figures connected with the triad often entered the country by these means, for the more powerful the triad, the more remuneration available to those corrupt officials who turned a blind eye if the price was right. Working for the Rising Dragons had its benefits for those officials on their payroll. They were rewarded well for their loyalty but they also knew the circumstances if they were to turn against the triad.

Hence, Madame Cheung had left explicit instructions that the pilot would carry out to the letter ... or face the consequences. The hangar’s seclusion away from prying eyes and the arrival officialdom that usually accompanied incoming flights, enabled Sun Yee Lok, Madame Cheung and other triad members to enter and leave Bangkok anonymously. The rigor of normal arrival procedures was always waived whenever her private jet arrived, thus no custom officials would meet Michael and Nikita and Immigration documentation for their visit had been prearranged.

The Lear jet taxied calmly into the private hangar and disappeared from sight. Rotating inside the hangar the jet positioned itself nose out in preparation for a later departure back to Hong Kong if needs be. As the jet completed its 180 degree turnabout it rolled toward the front of the hangar and the pilot bought the jet to a final stop, powering down the engines. After some moments the fuselage door popped opened, and the hostess appeared in the doorway as the Lear jet’s electronic stairs smoothly dropped down before resting on the ground.

Inside the plane, Michael and Nikita gathered up their belongings and made their way to the exit.

“I hope you enjoyed your flight?” The hostess declared as they prepared to leave the Lear jet.

“Yes thank you.”

“Were you able to get all your work done Monsieur LeDeaux during the flight?”

“Yes ... I did”

‘“You have no need to go through Customs. Everything has been arranged.”

“I see.”

“The jet will be here for your departure back to Hong Kong or wherever else you need to go, whenever it is required Monsieur LeDeaux.”

“Thank you.”

“Mademoiselle ... I trust you had an enjoyable flight too.”

“Very.”

“Madame Cheung has also provided transportation to her Thai residence. It is waiting for you just inside the hangar to your right.” She nodded toward an enormous Jaguar stretch limousine, burgundy in colour with smoked glass windows, in the far corner of the hangar. “Chen will be your driver.”

“Thank you.”

As Michael and Nikita made their way towards the waiting stretch limousine outside of the hangar, they experienced Bangkok’s steamy humidity and heat. It was uncomfortably hot and although only a short distance away, Nikita broke out into a slight sweat. The Chinese driver stood at attention beside the automobile. Nodding politely he opened the rear door for them and they entered the welcoming, cool vehicle. Chen, the chauffeur, then walked the length of the car, climbed in behind the wheel and started the engine. The Jaguar accelerated out of the hangar heading towards the bright lights of Bangkok and Michael and Nikita’s rendezvous location to meet Madame Cheung and discuss business.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Comfortable in the air conditioned limousine the interior provided relief from the humid, hot weather conditions that they had experienced when they had stepped down from the Lear jet earlier. As the limousine raced toward Bangkok, they settled onto the long seat facing the divided window separating the chauffeur from the occupants of the automobile. A cabinet to their left held a variety of drinks and nibbles for their journey to their destination, but neither consumed any beverage.

Nikita wasn’t quite sure what to expect on the journey into the capital of exotic Thailand. It certainly wasn’t the endless high rise buildings, busy expressway flyovers and billboards of western companies advertising in English. Undoubtedly Bangkok had embraced westernization and modernization and the skyline was in some ways the same but different too from that of Hong Kong that she had observed when Jimmy Lau had driven her to police headquarters all those months ago.

Bangkok was the centre of a busy metropolis. Like Hong Kong the traffic was horrendous. Even at this hour of the evening, there seemed to be a permanent rot dtit and this traffic jam stretched for what seemed like many kilometres as cars five abreast on the road crawled along. Nonetheless, Chen manoeuvred the jaguar through the traffic with ease and the limousine edged along the road even though the traffic moved slowly. It was little wonder that the combined effect of the traffic, heat, humidity, noise, dirt, pollution and the unappealing look of the city made some want to leave Bangkok almost as soon as they'd arrived to travel to the outlying seaside areas of Koh Samui and Pattaya.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


However, as they travelled along things began to change. Through the smoked windows of the limousine, Nikita could make out the distinctive Thai architecture of the many temples and residences dotted along the route. Bangkok was certainly a visually unique capital city with diverse styles of architecture which exuded artistic grace. Wooden houses raised on stilts were arresting, with particularly striking and beautiful roofs. With swooping multi-tiered rooflines, they were elegantly shaped and tapering with various curiously attractive adornments, finials and decorations on the elongated roof beams. They were obviously ideally suited to shading the house from intense sun and the monsoon rain and they were unique and lovely.

South East Asia was such a dichotomy Nikita thought. Juxtaposed with the traditional architecture was the ugly concrete housing that was as far removed from the traditional as could be. Large dedicated spirit houses built for good luck were alongside almost every major building they passed. How strange that two major cities of this region could be so different. What excitement would Thailand hold for them? Only time would tell.

Nikita looked across at Michael but he offered no conversation, he merely replied with his patent blank stare.

Unbeknownst to her he had, as usual, observed her ponderings in the car also, knowing that Nikita’s mind had been transgressing to other things rather than to their prime objective. She had observed the scenery along the way and had probably taken note of the uniqueness of the architecture of the buildings as his keen eye had too. However, the similarity of this journey had not been lost on him. Hundreds of times they had travelled silently in the mission van to locations to implement their assignment. Although they were in slightly more salubrious transportation to apprehend a terrorist target, nevertheless, they had a prime objective in mind. This time Madame Cheung would be left with no options but to accompany them back to Section One.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


They had travelled several kilometres past the outskirts of the city when Chen slowed the car and turned off the main motorway and drove down a dirt road that led to an imposing house set back from the road on a few acres of land. The gated area surrounding the house had guards stationed at the entrance and Chen slowed the jaguar before he was waved through. Michael and Nikita soon arrived at a traditional Thai residence located at the end of the winding road. Situated in sprawling grounds surrounded by a lake, lush tropical vegetation and flowering bougainvillea, the house had the traditional Thai architecture that Nikita had admired on the journey.

Chen proceeded towards the house; he circled the driveway then bought the jaguar to a stop near to where a well dressed woman was standing on the threshold to the entrance of the house. Madame Cheung herself was waiting there to greet their arrival. Chen got out of the limousine, opened the door then stood to one side as his passengers exited the vehicle. As they approached the house he turned to retrieve their luggage from the trunk of the car.

“Nikita ... Monsieur LeDeaux ... Welcome. Thank you for coming.” Madame Cheng gushed as her guests neared closer.

“No ... Thank you Madame.” Michael replied placing a chaste kiss to her outstretched hand.

She eyed him boldly before asking. “Did you have a pleasant flight?”

“Yes.”

“Good ... come inside I have organised refreshments and your accommodation. I’m sure you will be very comfortable here.”

“Thank you.”

“Tomorrow we will discuss business Monsieur LeDeaux and I will give you a tour of my business holdings here in Bangkok.”

“Perfect.”

“Perhaps you would care to join me later for drinks on the terrace?’

“You are most generous ... When?”

“Shall we say in an hour?”

“By all means.”

“Could I have a word with Nikita before then Monsieur LeDeaux?”

“Of course. I will just orientate myself with your lovely residence until we meet again shall I?”

“Certainly, enjoy your stroll Monsieur.”

“Oh ... I will,” Michael replied before taking his leave.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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