Elephant Song - Smith Wilbur - Страница 105

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Taffari was no longer smiling.  I have given orders to the army.

All political detainees and dissidents are to be rounded up and sent to the labour camps in the forest.  These will be members of the Uhah tribe?

Cheng asked.  Of course, Taffari snapped.  You didn't think for a moment that I would send you Hita, did you?  Cheng smiled at the absurdity of that notion.  My fieldmanager tells me that the Uhali are good workers, hardy and intelligent and compliant.  We will need most of them in the forest to begin with.  it seems that we are experiencing problems there caused by the terrain and the climate.  The roads are bad and machinery is bogging down, We will be forced to use More men.

Yes, I warned the BOSS people of that, Taffari agreed.  They were reluctant to use what they considered to be.  . . He hesitated.  That man Purvis referred to our convict labour as slave labour.  He looked mildly amused by such pedantic definitions.  These Westerners, Clieng sympathized, The English are bad enough, but the Americans are even-worse.  They do not understand Africa or the orient.  Their minds stop at Suez.  .

he broke off.  I assure you, Mr.  President, that an easterner is now in control of the syndicate's operation.  You will find that I do not suffer from these Western scruples.  It is a relief to be able to work with somebody who understands the necessities of life, Taffari agreed.

Which brings me to the hotel and casino project at Fish Eagle Bay.  I understand from my field-manager that nothing has been done there, apart from the original survey of the area.

He tells me that there is still a fishing village on the hotel site.

Not any longer, Taffari smiled.  The area was cleared two days ago, soon after Purvis left for London.  The village was a hotbed of counter-revolutionary activity.  My soldiers rounded up all the dissidents.  Two hundred able-bodied prisoners are already on their way to the concession area in the forest to join Your labour force.  The hotel site is ready for construction to begin.  Your Excellency, I can see that you and I are going to work well together.  May I show you the modifications that I have made to the schedule of works drawn up by Purvis?  He opened his briefcase and unfolded a large computer spreadsheet that covered the entire table between them.

Taffari, leaned forward and listened with interest as Cheng pointed out the way in which he had restructured almost the entire syndicate operation.

At the end of the lecture Taffari's admiration was unconcealed.  You have accomplished all this in the short time since you arrived in Ubomo? he asked, but Cheng shook his head.  Not all of it, Your Excellency. Some of the replanning was done before I left Taipei.  I had the benefits of my father's advice and the assistance of his headquarters staff at Lucky Dragon.

Only part of the planning was necessitated after my arrival in Kahali, on the advice of my field-manager, and his report on the conditions and problems we have encountered in the forest.  Remarkable!

Taffari shook his head.  Sir Peter Harrison's opinion of you seems to be well founded.  Planning is one thing, Cheng pointed out modestly.

Execution is another thing entirely.  I am sure that you will bring the same energy and drive to that part of the operation.  Taffari looked at his wristwatch.  I am expecting a guest for lunch.  . I am sorry, Your Excellency.  I have overstayed my welcome.

Cheng made as if to rise.  Not at all, Mr.  Ning.  I absolutely insist that you join us for lunch.  It may amuse you to meet my other guest, a member of the film team which Sir Peter Harrison has hired.

Ah, yes.

Cheng looked dubious.  Sir Peter explained to my father and myself why he had invited a film company to Ubomo.  I am not certain that I agree with him, however.  The English have a saying about sleeping dogs.  In my view, it may be better not to draw world attention to our operations. I would like to cancel the project and send the film team out of Ubomo. I am afraid it is too late for that.  Taffari shook his head.

We have already- received a great deal of adverse publicity.

There is a woman, a protegee of the previous presidents Omeru.  . .

For another ten minutes they discussed Sir Peter's plan to defuse Kelly Kinnear's propaganda campaign by a countercampaign of their own. In any event, Taffari pointed out, we can always suppress anything we don't like about this film production.  Sir Peter Harrison has an approval clause written into the contract.  We can even suppress the final product completely, and destroy all copies of the film, if we feel that is advisable.  of course, you are taking precautions to make certain that these people do not get to see any of our sensitive areas?

The convict labour camps, the main logging operations, and the refill mining?  Trust me, Mr.  Ning.  They will see the pilot scheme only.  I have a reliable military officeraccompanying them at all times.  He broke off at the sound of an approaching vehicle.  Aht That would be the person we are discussing, the cameraman and Captain Kajo.

Cameraman?

Cheng asked, as ihey watched Bonny Mahon and Captain Kajo cross the lawn towards them.  Inaccurate, I agree, Taffari chuckled.  But is there such a term as camerawoman, I wonder?  He stood up and went to meet his guest.

Captain Kajo came to attention and saluted.  Taffari ignored him.

Kajo's job was done.  He had delivered Bonny.  He turned on his heel and returned to wait in the army Landrover.  He knew it might be a long wait.

Cheng studied the woman as Taffari led her down the verandah.  She was too big and bosomy.  She had no delicacy of bone structure nor refinement of feature.  Both her nose and mouth were too large for his taste.  Her freckled skin and coppery hair repelled him.  Her voice and laughter, as she joked with Taffari, were loud and vulgar.  Her confident attitude and powerful limbs made Cheng feel threatened as though she were challenging his masculinity.  He did not like a woman to be as strong and assertive as a man.  He compared her unfavourably with the dainty ivory-skinned women of his own race, with their straight black hair and submissive self-effacing manner.

However, he rose politely and smiled and shook her hand, and saw that Taffari was quite smitten by the woman.

He knew that Taffari had a dozen Hita wives who were amongst the most beautiful of the tribe, but he supposed that the president was attracted by the novelty of this gross creature.

Perhaps he felt that it would add to his status to have a white woman as a plaything.  However, Cheng guessed shrewdly that he would tire of her soon enough and discard her as casually as he had taken her up.

Mr.  Ning is the chief executive officer of the Ubomo Development Corporation, Taffari told Bonny.  Technically he is your boss.  Bonny chuckled.  Well, I can report that we are doing a hell of a job, boss.

I am delighted to hear that, Miss Mahon!  Cheng was unsmiling.  It is an important task that you are undertaking.

What have you accomplished so far?  We've been working here in Kahali and on the lake.  We've already filmed the site of the new hotel and casino.

Both Cheng and Taffari listened seriously to her report.  Where are you moving to after this?  Cheng wanted to know.  After we finish here we are driving up-country to the forest area.  A place called Sengi-Sengi. Have I got that right, Your Excellency?  She looked at Taffari.

Quite right, my dear Miss Mahon, Taffari assured her.  Sengi-Sengi is the corporation's pilot scheme for utilising the forest assets.

Cheng nodded.  I will be visiting the project myself at the very first opportunity.  Why don't you come up to Sengi-Sengi while we are filming?

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