Indonesian Gold (46 page)

****

Jakarta

P.T. Subroto & Associates

Baird took the call in Subroto's office, the General
present at the time.

‘For Chrissakes, Eric, you're going to have to do
something about the communications,' Kremenchug complained.

‘I know,' was all Baird said.

‘Can you talk?' Kremenchug was aware of Subroto's feelings
towards him.

‘Within parameters,' he warned.

‘What's the real reason behind Sharon's move?' Kremenchug
was still mystified by her actions, still seriously considering a visit.

‘She felt it a wise decision.'

‘And you agree?' Kremenchug was pleased that Baird had
remained on the project, if for no other reason than to keep an eye on his Filipino
partner.

‘Under the circumstances, I don't think she had much
choice.'

‘Eric,' Kremenchug was becoming rattled by the evasive
answers and considered setting up another call when Baird could speak more freely, ‘we will need
something over here to satisfy the market.'

‘It's too early to give them anything on the new
location.'

‘You know I didn't mean that,' Kremenchug's voice rose,
‘let's talk again later.'

‘I'm off in two hours,' Baird advised, ‘The main problem
has been fixed, and I need to get back to the site.'

‘What was behind the walkout?' Kremenchug
asked.

‘Domestic politics, that's all,' Baird explained, ‘ethnic
rivalry.'

‘Why not employ locals from the area?' Kremenchug sensed
there was more to it than what Baird had revealed.

‘Already tried that,' Baird had nothing to hide, ‘their
not overly pleased that we're drilling on their land.'

‘Will they cause more trouble?'

‘It's unlikely,' Baird smiled at Subroto stern face, ‘Pak
Subroto has become involved. We'll have a labor force there by the end of the month.'

‘Where from?' Kremenchug's curiosity was
aroused.

‘
Pak
Subroto has made arrangements for a
trans-migrant group from Madura to be directed to Longdamai.'

On the other side of the globe Kremenchug listened, not at
all surprised that an entire community could be encouraged to proceed to a relatively unknown
destination, with the stroke of a pen.

‘What's it going to cost?'

‘We can talk about that at another time,' Baird wanted to
grin, the opportunity sure to be to his advantage, as well as Subroto's.

‘Okay, Eric,' Kremenchug managed, ‘let's set up something
when you're back in camp.'

The exchange ended, Baird then turning to
Subroto.

‘I'd best be going,'
he
said, anxious to leave Jakarta, but not overjoyed with having to return to the site.

‘You should spend more time with your wife,'
Subroto criticized.

‘
I agree, Pak
,' Baird dropped his tone respectfully
after a slight pause,
‘I hate to disappoint Pipi like this but, if I don't get back quickly,
anything could happen.'

‘When she has children, she won't be so
lonely,'
Subroto was unaware of his partner's failure to
consummate. He was also ignorant of the fact that Mardidi had accompanied Baird on the extended
drilling project.

Eric Baird disguised the shudder that ran down his spine.
‘I know,'
he replied, lamely. He gathered his gear and hurried to the airport before Pipi
could pressure her uncle to have him remain behind.

****

Chapter Seventeen

Jakarta

Angela had returned to the capital from her brief visit
home, depressed and uncommunicative, the mood lifting only when she learned that her name had
been added to the list of Indonesian Mines & Energy delegates, to attend the ASEAN sponsored
conference in Kuala Lumpur. With the Ministry's support,
Immigrasi's
formidable mountains
of red tape were circumvented, and Angela's passport was issued within days.

‘I still can't believe that I was selected to be part
of the team!'
she called Campbell, her voice filled with pride,
the green travel document open in her hand. Angela had tied her long hair into a bun at the back,
the unsmiling photo now staring back with an officious look.
‘The conference will focus on the
social, economic and environmental impacts of regional mining. I have been asked to provide a
paper on the ‘social' aspects.Will you come?'

‘It's great news, Angela.'
Campbell
congratulated her.

‘We could travel over to Malaysia,
together,'
Angela urged.
‘You might even find the discussions
interesting.'

‘Sure – and we could also make it sort of a trial
honeymoon?'
the suggestion heavy with innuendo.

‘All the delegates will be staying at the
Equatorial,'
she continued, ignoring Campbell's remark.
‘You
could come and give me moral support.'

‘Moral support?'
he
laughed,
‘me?'

‘
You do still believe in these issues, don't
you?
'

‘You've convinced me, I'll go!'
he offered, playfully.

Angela became serious.
‘I'm not taking this
responsibility lightly.'

Stewart then regretted the tease, sensing the change in
her tone.
‘You've every right to be excited – and proud. Of course I'll accompany
you.'

This was greeted with an audible sigh. ‘
Thank you for
that, Stewart,'
the compliment lifting her spirits,
‘I'm really pleased that you'll be
there.'
And then,
‘Though I don't think my father would approve of his daughter being
asked on a trial honeymoon.'

‘
In English, we call it a ‘test run'
.'

‘Run is exactly what you'd be doing if Jonathan Dau got
wind of your plan.'

Stewart Campbell laughed comfortably, delighted with the
repartee.
‘Then, why not make it official?'
the words spilling from his mouth without
realizing the impact these would have.

‘
Are you asking me to marry you,
Stewart?
'

‘Would you say yes, if I did?'
Campbell
rejoined, attempting to keep the exchange
light.

‘I'd say, marriage is something I should consider, but
not right now.'
It was Angela's turn to tease, leaving Campbell
unsure whether this implied promise.

‘Okay, I'm a patient man,'
he responded.
‘And you're a practical woman.Who knows what the future
holds?'

‘
What do you mean by,‘a practical
woman'?
'

‘I meant,‘intelligent','
he replied, his spirits climbing.

‘You mean I'm not both?'

‘That, and much more,'
he said, in surrender.

Angela's next words were preceded by a soft, peal of
laughter.
‘I might ask you to remember those words, one day.'

****

Their conversation ended leaving Campbell contemplating
their imminent visit to the Malaysian capital, and the possibility that whilst in that
environment, Angela might be more receptive to advancing their relationship to a more sensual
level. He smiled to himself, recalling his casual offer of marriage. Since they had reconnected,
following the
Betawi Ball,
Campbell had ceased dating others altogether, drawn
increasingly closer to the beautiful Dayak. Having already forsaken all others he would, indeed,
consider taking her as his wife. But, he knew in his heart that Angela was not ready to proceed
to that level of commitment. For Campbell, he needed more than the companionship that she
offered, his previously, active sex life now a thing of the past – and no suggestion by Angela
that this was about to change. Whenever they were alone and a moment of opportunity had appeared,
she had consistently resisted his advances, leaving him confused. Restless, and desperate for
something more physical, Campbell decided to review their relationship after the Malaysian visit.
If the situation had not changed by the time they returned to Jakarta, he would abandon any
further attempts to pursue her further. He checked his diary, noting the dates Angela had
proposed they travel, reminded as he checked the appointments listed there by his secretary, that
he still had an outstanding report to complete for Phil Samuels. Campbell's thoughts turned to
more mundane matters, reexamining the information he'd gathered with respect to the Longdamai
mining operations.

Having delved even further into P. T. Kalimantan Gold
activities and discovered that the recent move to
Longdamai Sial
had been at the expense
of further developing a mine at the original site, his curiosity grew, questioning why Sharon had
not proceeded at the proven site. Expanding the drilling operation to other prospects made sense
but, throwing all her resources into a new drilling program and forgoing an obvious cash flow
opportunity, did not. He believed that Sharon Ducay would now most likely be regretting the
company's decision to drill the new site, without first having secured a reliable workforce and,
as Operations Manager she was responsible for resolving the problem at hand. Through reliable
contacts in the Mines Department, Campbell obtained a clearer picture of the labor difficulties
Sharon Ducay currently faced, resolvable in his opinion, with money and time. He had experienced
similar problems in isolated mining operations before, Indonesia's burgeoning mining industry's
growing appetite for Kalimantan prospects certain, he was confident, to test even the most
resilient of foreign operators committed to working in this difficult environment.

****

P.T. Kalimantan Gold – Longdamai Sial Site

Perspiration spilled down Sharon Ducay's back as she rose
slowly to her feet. With an economy of movement she removed the wide brimmed Akubra, ran a hand
through her now shortened hair then replaced the hat squarely on her head. She inspected her
clothing to ensure that trouser ends remained tucked securely inside the tops of her knee-length
field boots, slapped the sides of her legs with a length of rattan she now carried everywhere to
ward off snakes, then strolled across the camp towards the recently constructed jetty. There, she
stood, arms crossed and feet apart staring across the fast flowing Mahakam waters in
introspective mood, occasionally cocking an ear as she waited patiently for the helicopter to
arrive.

Three months had passed since Sharon had ordered the
relocation of BGC's drilling operations, a move only she could entirely comprehend, and one which
was imminently to bear fruit. Exposed to Calvin Alderson and Carl Patrick's constant bellyaching,
Mardidi's cooking, the sleepless nights and constant fear of everything that slithered and
crawled, by the end of the first month Sharon had been tempted to abandon the site and return to
civilization until the labor problems had been resolved.

She filled the long, empty days by improving her
Indonesian under Mardidi's limited guidance – the latter's English benefiting also from the
exchange. But, even boredom could not drive Sharon to venture into the nearby, dense forest,
deterred by what might lie hidden there. Apart from bathing at the river's edge, she never
strayed more than a few hundred meters from the center of camp, across the treeless area between
the Mahakam's shore and the towering forest trees, which was once dominated by shoulder-high
grass. A twenty-meter clearing had been prepared in the area surrounding their tents, Alderson
and Patrick refusing to cut further into the thick growth when confronted face to face by a king
cobra. Alderson had wanted to torch the grass – but was prevented from doing so by Sharon, for
fear that they would lose control, and set fire to the forest.

Mosquitoes, ticks and even leeches somehow managed their
way into the tents, the expatriate drillers becoming belligerent when, well into the third week,
they ran out of liquor. Then, to her great relief, Baird had arrived by helicopter, confirming
that the longboat flotilla carrying her laborers and other supplies would arrive within the day.
He brought fresh provisions, including a case of bourbon for the drillers, and a kerosene-driven
ice chest filled with steaks and frozen sausages, which when cooked, restored some semblance of
camaraderie within the camp. The next morning, when the collective whine of the flotilla's twenty
outboard engines reached their ears, they gathered to oversee the migrant workers' arrival. Once
the longboats had been unloaded, the
Modang
riverboat drivers wasted no time in placing as
much distance between their vessels and Longdamai Sial as they could before nightfall.