Slash and Burn Read Online Free PDF Page B

conversation with the interpreter, Peach. The Lao, unused to interruptions during official gatherings, looked at her in astonishment. Peach, well aware of the infringement, apologized several times before passing on the Congresswoman’s message.
    “Congresswoman Scribner would like to point out that both sets of delegates already have copies of the various communications between the two sides,” she said, nervously. “She humbly suggests that, without further ado, we get to the point at hand.
    The Americans wish to know whether the recommendation has been accepted. She….”
    At this point, Peach blushed and everyone on the Lao side could tell they were due for another hiccup of protocol.
    “Go on. Say it,” Siri urged her. “It can’t get any worse.”
    All heads turned to Siri who smiled and shrugged. Peach continued.
    “The congresswoman would like to remind the minister that the US consulate currently has a request for aid in the form of cash for the procurement of rice to stave off the effects of last year’s harvest failure. It was signed by both the prime minister and the president. The congresswoman would … would not like to think that such an important decision might be stalled by the lack of agreement over a small MIA request.”
    The Lao present broke into a flurry of smiles but only Siri’s was genuine. Apart from reading his address, the minister had found little to do at this meeting but his moment had come.
    “Little sister,” he said to Peach in a low, husky voice, “please tell the fat woman that she isn’t in Washington now. This is Laos. We’ll do things the way we do things. If she doesn’t like it, she can go home.”
    And with that he gestured for the clerk to read on. The congresswoman came to the boil like a pressure cooker and continued to bubble throughout the remainder of the morning. It was almost lunchtime before the government’s response was read. The US delegates were bloated as dumplings, their leader visibly stewed. It was the vice-minister of defence who finally read the cabinet’s decision.
    “The Central Committee and the Politburo of the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos have considered the request of the United States of America to conduct one single mission in the north of the country to search for a supposed downed airman. The Lao Subcommittee for Post Conflict Affairs is pleased to announce that your request has been accepted. A joint Lao/American task force will be dispatched to Xiang Khouang province in the northeast of Laos where an investigation will be conducted into the disappearance of civilian helicopter pilot Boyd H. Bowry. As per your description, Comrade Bowry apparently went missing in August 1968, whilst on a”—he cleared his throat as if the cough were written in the script—“‘humanitarian aid mission’ in the area around Long Cheng. After careful scrutiny, the subcommittee has approved eight of the fifteen names provided by your consulate, thus:
    “Major Harold G. Potter—US Military, retired—as team leader;
    “Dr. Donald Yamaguchi—forensic pathologist attached to the University of Hawaii;
    “Sgt. John Johnson—United States Marine Corps attached to the United States consulate in Vientiane;
    “Mr. Mack Gordon—second secretary of the United States Embassy in Bangkok;
    “Mr. Randal Rhyme—journalist with Time magazine;
    “Miss Peach Short—interpreter.
    “These six may later be joined by Senator Ulysses Vogal the Third—United States Senator, Republican, South Carolina, and Miss Ethel Chin, secretary to the senator.
    “The People’s Democratic Republic of Laos will be sending the following ten officials to work on an equal, counterpart basis with the United States team. Its members are….”
    Siri listened to the reading of the list with little surprise. It was the type of cronyism he’d come to expect from his government. He recognized most of the names and their familial and professional connections to people in