The Tiger’s Den

Anger flickers in the face of the man targeted by Bear’s taunt. But he is pulled away by the other robbers. Vikram notices that the ring-leader glances briefly across the bar at Taylor. Specifically, just for a moment, at the pocket where Taylor has stowed the folded map. Clearly the gang’s real target.


The four thugs withdraw, dragging the unconscious fighter aboard a rickshaw. They disappear into the street bustle.

Mynt looks approvingly at the untouched wad of cash in his hands. A small fortune. When Eketerina calls for sake, he takes the bar’s last bottle, left by a Japanese high-ranking officer. The Jap Major’s signature, ‘Sato’, is still scribbled proprietarily on the label. Mynt frowns for a moment —it is not proper to give his bottle to another customer. But Sato will never come back.

"On the house, " he declares.

Taylor nods at the crew of four.

"Good. We don’t have the authority here to put the squeeze on prisoners. And we don’t want the cops poking their nose into this business."

He looks disapprovingly at the approaching bottle of rice wine. Then places a card on the table.

"Stay together. Come to this address at 1900 hours. We are going to meet our fixer to pick up our transport. This guy’s got everything. US jeeps. British trucks. Even a Universal Carrier, if Miss Volkova here knows how to drive a tracked vehicle."

"Dress nicely, please, if that’s possible. This guy likes to do business in style."

The adventurers arrive at a remote suburb of Rangoon, where mansions and smart villas perch on a verdant hillside. They are conducted into a large dining room, panelled with gleaming, polished teak.

U Gem is a handsome, middle-aged Burmese dressed in a collarless, silk shirt. He welcomes the guests and settles them to a banquet. Many of the dishes are Burmese —coconut curries, tea-leaf salads and toasted fish. But there is Anglo influence in some of the courses. A steak and kidney pie is set out alongside trays of pork and fish. Scottish shortbread is served next to native tapioca jelly.

U Gem is troubled by Vikram’s battered face, which he considers inauspicious. But he is reassured somewhat by the smartness of his dress. He compliments Vikram and Taylor on their civilian suits. But U Gem seems less pleased by the presentation of some other guests.

"The war is over," he says, making light of things. "Try to blend in. We are all civilians now. I will make sure that you all have proper clothes when you leave here."


"I am a businessman, operating within a liberal interpretation of customs laws. This was useful to the Allies, when we were under Japanese occupation. I enjoy a small measure of immunity in return for my help in those times. Mr Taylor here was my contact, so I am pleased to help him, as friend, even in this time of peace. And I will back this mission, as far as I can."

After the dinner, U Gem shows the visitors to a platform that overlooks the large grounds of his compound. He points out warehouses, garages and numerous parked vehicles. The apparatus of a diverse smuggling operation.

" I will offer a couple of my jeeps. It will be a tight fit with your gear, but there will be enough space if you ditch unnecessary items. The jeeps have been properly registered as civilian vehicles . I’ve painted out military insignia and made them a nice civilian grey. My mechanic will throw on a decent set of spare parts."

"It will take three to four days to reach Mandalay in the north. You can stay at hotels overnight. I’ll make sure you have tea, coffee, biscuits and so on in case you get hungry during the day. You’ll need two drivers, obviously."

"A good choice," says U Gem. " The tea trade is reviving. And buyers now use jeeps for cross country travel. I will arrange for some suitable clothes. I will request your measurements and in the morning, everything will be ready."

"Yes, yes, this is excellent."

U Gem’s enthusiasm for the venture increases as the conversation continues…

"Thank you," replies U Gem, in response to Vikram’s compliments.

"I do not pretend to be a great patriot. But I am a person of my word. In the end, even in the underworld, honesty is usually the best policy."

Vikram recalls a rumour that U Gem was originally pro-Japanese, gaining favour by procuring luxury supplies for their officers. Like many Burmese , he switched sides during the occupation and began to help British efforts to re-conquer the territory. His days are likely numbered. When Burma achieves independence from Britain, he will be taken in by the new authorities and imprisoned or shot. No doubt he plans to flee.

Pleased by the party’s confidence, U Gem increases his support for the mission. He offers superior equipment and supplies. And a much needed boost—more plentiful money.

The next morning, the party depart in their two jeeps. Both vehicles are packed with supplies. Overnight, clothes and papers have been produced that support their identity as tea buyers. The Indian soldiers manning the city road-blocks wave them through easily. They clearly look the part.

The jeeps cruise north on the road to Mandalay.