gather information. But why would they be interested?
“No need to get excited, my friend,” Whitehall said hurriedly. “I’m trying to offer you an arrangement from which we can both profit.”
“Okay, Whitehall, you want my help? Your arrangement with Jimmy goes south and now I get a shot, is that it? Tell me a little about his deal and what you intend to offer me, then we’ll see.”
“I’ll have to take a few steps back before I can proceed. Is that alright with you?”
“Fine. As long as it’s the truth.” Lyköan knew Whitehall could remain entirely opaque if he chose. “After I hear what you have to say I’ll let you know if I think it’s worth proceeding.”
“Ever read any Graham Greene?” Whitehall asked. “ The Quiet American ?”
“That was about colonial Vietnam. This is Thailand. What’s the tie-in? Thailand was never colonized ― it’s always been an independent nation.” In fact, Thailand was the only country in Indochina that had never been subjugated by Europeans, explaining why they resented the West considerably less than their neighbors.
“Very good,” Whitehall said energetically. Was he being intentionally condescending? “But their long history of independence doesn’t mean that the Western powers are any less interested in what goes on here than in the former colonial states, especially concerning a few specific current events.”
Understanding flickered in Lyköan’s eyes. “Okay, we’re working for Innovac; one of those events must be the TAI virus ― but others?”
Whitehall waited. Finally, it clicked. The other subject they had only skirted on the river.
“Muslim insurgency?” Lyköan offered. “What’s the connection?”
“At this point we’re not certain there is a connection. But anything that unsettles a staid, authoritarian state like Thailand threatens the already precarious worldwide balance of trade. By definition, it then becomes very interesting to those powers that are best served by the free flow of commerce.”
“Which aren’t necessarily governments, are they?” Lyköan was doing his best to follow Whitehall's logic. Maybe he hadn’t seen the entire forest yet, but it certainly looked a helluva less myopically like a single tree. Who else, besides Innovac, would also be interested in the information Whitehall was gathering?
“Multinational corporations have interests that often coincide with the governmental interests,” Whitehall agreed. “But not always.”
“Okay, I’ll call your hand. But tell me, how do I benefit from this little discussion? You are about to offer me something, aren’t you? Some opportunity I’d be foolish to refuse?” Lyköan could almost taste the baited hook.
“I’m suggesting we become partners, exchanging any information we stumble across regarding our friend, Jimmy; Thai government or military designs regarding Primrose; and especially direct contact between any of them and Innovac.”
Lyköan wanted more. “You sure weren’t too forthcoming before this. What’s changed? Right now I’m the one at the disadvantage. How would I know if you were holding out on me? Maybe you wouldn’t mind sharing some of the information you’ve already come by first? To show your good faith. You can start with how you’ve been keeping tabs on everyone, especially me.”
“I’m afraid I can’t. Contractual arrangements, you see? I can tell you that it’s been through a private agency ― local here in Bangkok ― but that’s all.”
“Then who’s footing the bill? If you’re also watching Innovac, somebody else must be paying for at least that part of it.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t divulge that either.”
While it didn’t sound like Innovac corporate, it still might be someone inside the huge drug company who was working both sides, the same as Whitehall seemed to be doing. “Well, if you’re going to refuse to answer the first few simple questions I ask, how is this ever going to work?
“No need to get excited, my friend,” Whitehall said hurriedly. “I’m trying to offer you an arrangement from which we can both profit.”
“Okay, Whitehall, you want my help? Your arrangement with Jimmy goes south and now I get a shot, is that it? Tell me a little about his deal and what you intend to offer me, then we’ll see.”
“I’ll have to take a few steps back before I can proceed. Is that alright with you?”
“Fine. As long as it’s the truth.” Lyköan knew Whitehall could remain entirely opaque if he chose. “After I hear what you have to say I’ll let you know if I think it’s worth proceeding.”
“Ever read any Graham Greene?” Whitehall asked. “ The Quiet American ?”
“That was about colonial Vietnam. This is Thailand. What’s the tie-in? Thailand was never colonized ― it’s always been an independent nation.” In fact, Thailand was the only country in Indochina that had never been subjugated by Europeans, explaining why they resented the West considerably less than their neighbors.
“Very good,” Whitehall said energetically. Was he being intentionally condescending? “But their long history of independence doesn’t mean that the Western powers are any less interested in what goes on here than in the former colonial states, especially concerning a few specific current events.”
Understanding flickered in Lyköan’s eyes. “Okay, we’re working for Innovac; one of those events must be the TAI virus ― but others?”
Whitehall waited. Finally, it clicked. The other subject they had only skirted on the river.
“Muslim insurgency?” Lyköan offered. “What’s the connection?”
“At this point we’re not certain there is a connection. But anything that unsettles a staid, authoritarian state like Thailand threatens the already precarious worldwide balance of trade. By definition, it then becomes very interesting to those powers that are best served by the free flow of commerce.”
“Which aren’t necessarily governments, are they?” Lyköan was doing his best to follow Whitehall's logic. Maybe he hadn’t seen the entire forest yet, but it certainly looked a helluva less myopically like a single tree. Who else, besides Innovac, would also be interested in the information Whitehall was gathering?
“Multinational corporations have interests that often coincide with the governmental interests,” Whitehall agreed. “But not always.”
“Okay, I’ll call your hand. But tell me, how do I benefit from this little discussion? You are about to offer me something, aren’t you? Some opportunity I’d be foolish to refuse?” Lyköan could almost taste the baited hook.
“I’m suggesting we become partners, exchanging any information we stumble across regarding our friend, Jimmy; Thai government or military designs regarding Primrose; and especially direct contact between any of them and Innovac.”
Lyköan wanted more. “You sure weren’t too forthcoming before this. What’s changed? Right now I’m the one at the disadvantage. How would I know if you were holding out on me? Maybe you wouldn’t mind sharing some of the information you’ve already come by first? To show your good faith. You can start with how you’ve been keeping tabs on everyone, especially me.”
“I’m afraid I can’t. Contractual arrangements, you see? I can tell you that it’s been through a private agency ― local here in Bangkok ― but that’s all.”
“Then who’s footing the bill? If you’re also watching Innovac, somebody else must be paying for at least that part of it.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t divulge that either.”
While it didn’t sound like Innovac corporate, it still might be someone inside the huge drug company who was working both sides, the same as Whitehall seemed to be doing. “Well, if you’re going to refuse to answer the first few simple questions I ask, how is this ever going to work?
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