technicality makes this difficult. You, as you know, are in a position to overcome the technicality. That is the length and breadth of the problem."
Greg pushed his drink away. "Mr. Tan, are you on the level?"
"Sir?"
"I want to get this straight. These are arms from Red China originally intended for Red terrorists in Malaya. Is that correct?"
"Perfectly correct. As I said, they fell into my hands by accident."
"What sort of accident?"
"The man who seized them off Hainan left them with me as a pledge for a loan. Later, I am afraid, he went bankrupt."
"And now you want to sell them to the anti-Red people in Indonesia. Is that correct?"
"Entirely correct, Mr. Nilsen."
Greg considered for a moment and then nodded. "Okay, it's a deal."
Mr. Tan stroked his chin thoughtfully before he said: "Very well. I will bring the papers to you to sign in the morning." He hesitated and then went on. "I will be frank with you, Mr. Nilsen. I am not entirely happy with this arrangement."
Greg stared at him. "You mean you've changed your mind?"
"Indeed no. On the contrary, I am quite satisfied with the arrangement as far as it goes. My regret is that it does not go further."
"How do you mean?"
"My brother in Singapore is capable of handling the shipping and delivery arrangements, but when it comes to dealing with the buyers, I am not sure that he is the best man. An American can always drive a harder bargain in that business. How long will you be in Singapore, Mr. Nilsen?"
"Two days."
"Not very long. I had hoped you might consider conducting the negotiations personally. For an additional consideration, of course."
Greg shook his head. "I don't think I'm qualified to do that, Mr. Tan. And, as you say, I won't be there long enough."
"I quite understand. Ah, here are the ladies."
The ship was sailing at midday. At ten-thirty, Mr. Tan arrived with the papers for signature.
The first was a consignor's note requesting the Anglo-Malay Transport Company of Kuala Pangkalan to ship the goods listed from the Tak Wah Godown and Storage Corporation, Manila, to the Chen Wharehouse Company, Singapore, to be held in bond there pending further instructions. The second was an export licence giving Greg's name and address in the United States and a list of the goods to be exported. This required his counter-signature and passport number to become effective.
When Greg had signed, Mr. Tan gave him copies of the documents. "As soon as you arrive in Singapore, Mr. Nilsen," he said, "my brother, Tan Yam Heng, will contact you. I have written his name down here. He will have copies of the bill of lading and go with you to make the proper customs declaration. He will then ask you to sign a paper transferring the ownership of the goods in bond to a company or person to be designated later.
When you have signed that paper, he will hand you a cheque for one thousand and fifty dollars U.S."
"Not going to have any trouble with the customs people, am I?"
"No. The goods are being held in bond. It is merely a formality." Mr. Tan stood up. "It has been a pleasure to meet and do business with you, Mr. Nilsen."
Dorothy was ashore with Arlene, doing some last-minute shopping and arranging for flowers to be sent with their note of thanks to Mrs. Tan. She did not get back until half an hour before the ship sailed. By that time, Mr. Tan had left.
"What a pity," she said when Greg told her. "I think he's nice. I hope you decided to let him have his castings after all."
Greg hesitated and then side-stepped the question. "As a matter of fact he wanted to see me about something else, something he wants me to do for him in Singapore."
"Are you going to do it?"
"I think so."
Dorothy nodded approvingly. "After all, they did put themselves out for us, didn't they?"
II
That afternoon, a cable went from Manila to Kuala Pang-kalan.
" Documents signed airmailed you today. Tack Chee ."
That evening, Girija was in the estate office when the telephone rang. As
Greg pushed his drink away. "Mr. Tan, are you on the level?"
"Sir?"
"I want to get this straight. These are arms from Red China originally intended for Red terrorists in Malaya. Is that correct?"
"Perfectly correct. As I said, they fell into my hands by accident."
"What sort of accident?"
"The man who seized them off Hainan left them with me as a pledge for a loan. Later, I am afraid, he went bankrupt."
"And now you want to sell them to the anti-Red people in Indonesia. Is that correct?"
"Entirely correct, Mr. Nilsen."
Greg considered for a moment and then nodded. "Okay, it's a deal."
Mr. Tan stroked his chin thoughtfully before he said: "Very well. I will bring the papers to you to sign in the morning." He hesitated and then went on. "I will be frank with you, Mr. Nilsen. I am not entirely happy with this arrangement."
Greg stared at him. "You mean you've changed your mind?"
"Indeed no. On the contrary, I am quite satisfied with the arrangement as far as it goes. My regret is that it does not go further."
"How do you mean?"
"My brother in Singapore is capable of handling the shipping and delivery arrangements, but when it comes to dealing with the buyers, I am not sure that he is the best man. An American can always drive a harder bargain in that business. How long will you be in Singapore, Mr. Nilsen?"
"Two days."
"Not very long. I had hoped you might consider conducting the negotiations personally. For an additional consideration, of course."
Greg shook his head. "I don't think I'm qualified to do that, Mr. Tan. And, as you say, I won't be there long enough."
"I quite understand. Ah, here are the ladies."
The ship was sailing at midday. At ten-thirty, Mr. Tan arrived with the papers for signature.
The first was a consignor's note requesting the Anglo-Malay Transport Company of Kuala Pangkalan to ship the goods listed from the Tak Wah Godown and Storage Corporation, Manila, to the Chen Wharehouse Company, Singapore, to be held in bond there pending further instructions. The second was an export licence giving Greg's name and address in the United States and a list of the goods to be exported. This required his counter-signature and passport number to become effective.
When Greg had signed, Mr. Tan gave him copies of the documents. "As soon as you arrive in Singapore, Mr. Nilsen," he said, "my brother, Tan Yam Heng, will contact you. I have written his name down here. He will have copies of the bill of lading and go with you to make the proper customs declaration. He will then ask you to sign a paper transferring the ownership of the goods in bond to a company or person to be designated later.
When you have signed that paper, he will hand you a cheque for one thousand and fifty dollars U.S."
"Not going to have any trouble with the customs people, am I?"
"No. The goods are being held in bond. It is merely a formality." Mr. Tan stood up. "It has been a pleasure to meet and do business with you, Mr. Nilsen."
Dorothy was ashore with Arlene, doing some last-minute shopping and arranging for flowers to be sent with their note of thanks to Mrs. Tan. She did not get back until half an hour before the ship sailed. By that time, Mr. Tan had left.
"What a pity," she said when Greg told her. "I think he's nice. I hope you decided to let him have his castings after all."
Greg hesitated and then side-stepped the question. "As a matter of fact he wanted to see me about something else, something he wants me to do for him in Singapore."
"Are you going to do it?"
"I think so."
Dorothy nodded approvingly. "After all, they did put themselves out for us, didn't they?"
II
That afternoon, a cable went from Manila to Kuala Pang-kalan.
" Documents signed airmailed you today. Tack Chee ."
That evening, Girija was in the estate office when the telephone rang. As
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