“Sir Gregory, would you have any objections if I was to speak with the BUPKIS leaders on your belief? I may have some small degree of influence with them and I am sure that the grave number of pressing concerns that they feel need urgent attention will make them agreeable to the suggestion of the Christian areas seceding. After all, they have the intention of establishing an Islamic state and a large Christian minority would be an embarrassment to them.”
And if it isn't, she would make sure it soon would be, thought Sir Gregory. “Madam Ambassador, we would be most grateful for any efforts you may feel able to provide in this matter. Our nations may be recent friends but I feel that we have so much in common that we should stand more closely together. Our links are of friendship and mutual respect and we both benefit economically from them.”
“Speaking of economics Madam Ambassador.” Sir Martyn picked up the opening smoothly. “I wonder if I might take this opportunity of mentioning another small matter. As you doubtless have heard. India will soon be leaving the Commonwealth and this will have a serious impact on the international strength of the sovereign. The effects on our international trade could be most worrying if this was to escalate. We already have such close economic links,
“I was wondering if Thailand had given any thought to joining the sovereign pool? I know the baht is currently linked to the U.S. dollar but so much of your trade is with India and Australia that it would ease the formalities greatly. And, of course, the sight of a non-Commonwealth country joining the sovereign pool would build great international confidence in our new currency.”
“It is strange you should mention that Sir Martyn. My Government has had exactly the same thoughts concerning the value of the baht and our international trading arrangements. There would be great advantages for us all in linking the value of the baht to that of the sovereign.”
None of which of course had any relation to international confidence she thought. The great weakness of the sovereign pool as compared to the old Pound Sterling was that the latter had used the Lloyds communications system as its nerve center. That had meant the currency was responsive and could accommodate changes on an international basis swiftly and effectively. None of the existing sovereign pool countries had anything like that capability.
But, Thailand was now host to the great Chinese trading corporations. They had their own communications system, one that was, in its way, as effective and flexible as the old Lloyds net. It was a different sort of net, one that ran by extended family relationships and the sort of unqualified trust that could only go with ties of blood in a culture that took family relationships very seriously indeed. A different communication systems from Lloyds indeed, but one that was there and one that worked. On a regional basis at least.
With Thailand in the Sovereign Pool, that communications system would work for the pool as a whole. And that meant her country would control the communications for the whole pool. Once again, Suriyothai was amazed by westerner's lack of foresight.
“That is very gratifying news Madam Ambassador, very gratifying indeed. I am sure that this will be of the greatest benefit to us all”
“That is our most sincere wish Sir Martyn, indeed we had hoped to make the announcement already but this wretched border incident has delayed everything. As soon as it is concluded, the financial markets will be informed of the new arrangements.”
“Madam Ambassador, I wonder if I may sound you out on an idea that has come to us.” Sir Gregory's voice was thoughtful and tentative. “Before your dramatic arrival, Sir Martyn and I were exchanging opinions on the state of affairs in this part of the world. We found ourselves to be in agreement that the effective collapse of the British Commonwealth has left this region in a most dangerous; indeed I am forced to say a completely unacceptable, state of instability. There is a pressing, nay desperate, need for a new form of regional organization to take over the role of stabilizing relations.
“Madam Ambassador, Sir Martyn, I think that since the three of us have shown we have so many interests in common and we are so well attuned to each other's interest and priorities, we might well form the core of such a new regional stability-enhancing organization.”
“What do you have in mind, Sir Gregory?”
“Nothing complex, such things are best kept simple. I had in mind a mutual defense pact between our three countries, one in which any attack by an outsider on one of the members would be considered an attack on all three. Should one member of the pact be attacked, the other two would automatically come to its aid.”
“Greg, the problem is that even if we had such an alliance, the three of us together don't have the ability to counter Japan.”
“No Martyn, we don’t. But if the three of us stand together, any attack on one of us means a large-scale war breaking out. And that is one thing the Americans have made very clear they will not permit. We don't intend to attack anybody so that doesn't worry us. But it does mean that anybody who attacks one of us will be attacking all three and that is an event big enough to bring the wrath of the Americans down on their heads.”
The three nodded their heads slowly, each measuring the probabilities inherent in the new arrangement. After a few minutes, Sir Gregory continued. “Madam Ambassador, there is one problem. We can't make this fly until the border incident presently in progress has been resolved. You must restore the border by your own efforts. Once that is done, we can prevent any follow-on attack. Can your country do that?”
Suriyothai thought for a second, no more than that. “Yes. We are moving the forces into position. We can do that.”
“Then we have an agreement. Only one decision left. What do we call this new organization. The Changi Pact?”
Sir Martyn snorted. “Greg, that sounds like a treatment for an unmentionable type of disease.”
“Or its symptom. And the term pact is in disrepute these days.” Suriyothai thought for a second. “How about the South East Asian Treaty Organization?”
Sir Martyn shook his head. “Too clumsy Madam. But you are right about Pact. Look, there are three of us. Why not call the new agreement The Triple Alliance?”
There was another measured nodding of heads in agreement. After some discussions thrashed out the remaining details, the ambassador took her leave. Simple prudence dictated she had to be back in Thailand before dawn. After she left, Sir Martyn stretched out his feet. “You know, Greg. I've got a feeling we just bullied that poor defenseless woman into accepting everything she ever wanted.”
Chapter Four Consequences
Tong Klao Village, Recovered Provinces, Thailand
The rifle bolt wouldn't fit back in. The private was struggling with it but it just wouldn't slide into place. Lieutenant Sirisoon took the bolt from his hands and looked around. Fortunately what she needed was close by. A hard, flat surface. She hooked the cocking piece over it, took a breath then pushed down hard and twisted. The firing pin spring compressed and the cocking piece slid into place. She flipped the safety into the upright position and relaxed. The rest was easy. The bolt slid smoothly back into place.
“Soldier, you must make sure the rifle is cocked and the safety in the upright position before you remove the bolt. Otherwise you can't get it back in.” She looked more closely at the soldier. He was the one who'd had trouble with his ammunition pouches that afternoon. “Let me see your pouches.” The cardboard ammunition box was stuck to the leather. She levered it free. As she'd suspected, the leather was dry and hard, the surfaces rough as heavy-grade sandpaper. “Sergeant, a word if you please.”