Timur.’
‘Alluvial?’ Campbell asked. ‘Not all of it.’ Baird was enjoying this, his smug demeanor more than partially fuelled by the alcohol. ‘Done any drilling yet?’ Campbell pressed, observing the other man’s eyes closely.
‘Enough to convince us that we have a winner,’ Baird bragged.
‘Are you able to disclose your findings?’
‘Guess that’s up to our senior geologist here,’ Baird replied, passing the buck.
Fielding shot a warning look at his associates, uncomfortable with revealing too much before corporate structure and funding procedures had been finalized in Canada. Deciding enough had been said, he straightened his shoulders and started to rise. ‘It’s been a long trip. If you gentlemen don’t mind, I’m going to catch up on some sleep. When it’s opportune, I’d be delighted to send you something more regarding the Palangkaraya site.’ With that, he left the group hastily, having undertaken to call his associates, once he had rested.
Following Fielding’s abrupt departure, Campbell and Samuels seized the opportunity to withdraw, leaving their unfinished drinks and a miffed Kremenchug for Baird to console.
‘Campbell’s right up himself,’ Baird sneered at the American’s departing back.
‘Yeah, he can be a real prick at times,’ Kremenchug said.
‘Did you see his face when I mentioned Fielding’s appointment?’ Baird’s cackle was more of a titter.
‘Wouldn’t be wise to wind him up too much. We don’t want too much attention from the likes of him.’
‘He’s full of it!’ Baird said, a little too loudly, attracting further looks of disapproval from a number of other guests in their proximity.
‘You should be careful of what you say in front of Campbell,’ Kremenchug was critical.
‘Why, what can he do?’ Baird lit a cigarette and blew a cloud of smoke over the table.
‘He’s well connected.’
‘If you feel that way, why’d you bring him over?’
‘I wanted to establish contact with the guy who was with him.’
‘Don’t know why you’re jittery about Campbell. He doesn’t have that many friends in the industry.’
‘He has enough,’ Kremenchug warned.
‘Sure, okay.’ Baird seemed miffed. ‘I’ll play it cool.’
‘I’m glad to hear you say that, Eric. We’ve got a great opportunity here and I wouldn’t want you to screw it up – for either of us.’
‘I won’t,’ Baird promised, leaning back and permitting the waiter to give Kremenchug the bill.
****
P.T. Subroto & Associates
‘You seem to be in high spirits.’ Air Vice Marshal (retired) Sub-roto waddled back into his office, expecting the Australian, Eric Baird, to follow.
‘Looks like I’ll be able to meet those outstanding payments, Pak,’ Baird replied, respectfully.
‘What’s happened?’ The Air Vice Marshal dropped his one hundred and twenty kilos heavily into the specially designed, reinforced leather and teak seat.
‘I’ve signed with a Canadian group, Pak.You remember Kremenchug?’ Air Vice Marshal Subroto snorted with apparent distaste. ‘That lintah-darah?’
Baird disguised his annoyance with Subroto’s response referring to Kremenchug as ‘that bloodsucker’. ‘Something beneficial will come of it,’ Baird tried to placate.
‘He is a parasite – Indonesia doesn’t need people like him.’
‘Kremenchug has given us a great opportunity, Pak.’ Baird was apprehensive with the retired officer’s mood. He opened a fresh packet of cigarettes, flicked the bottom of the box, and offered the extended rokok to his sponsor. At first, Subroto ignored the offer then poked a chubby hand outwards, taking one of the clove sticks and holding it, ready for Baird to light.
‘Really, Eric, you should look for others to assist you with our business.’
Baird felt the familiar tug to his stomach – the uncertainty of operating in this country with quasi-legitimate status had a severe downside. Foreign investment laws required substantial capital contribution, the benefits, enormous in terms of tax holidays and other considerations; for those who were limited financially but could bring the necessary expertise, there were but few options. Even marrying an Indonesian woman could not guarantee legitimate status, for Islamic Code influenced the laws. Regulations prohibited Indonesian women married to foreigners from holding directorships and acquiring trading licenses; and, there was no guarantee that foreign men married to local women would have the right of residency, let alone citizenship. As for acquiring the latter, he was aware that only one Westerner had been awarded this privilege under the Suharto regime, not that he wished to emulate the colorful Stephen Coleman, who had long since distanced himself from these shores.
Years before, Baird had taken the path so many of his fellow expatriates had chosen, establishing an Indonesian nominee company to provide legitimacy to their presence. Now, as others had discovered, there was a price to pay.
‘You are right, Pak,’ Baird deferred to the white-haired Air Vice Marshal, ‘as soon as this contract is finished, I will not accept any more work from him.’
‘It would be better for all of us,’ Subroto advised. ‘The government is only interested in those who are serious about investing in Indonesia – and your friend does not fall into that description. He makes money from us without producing results for our people.’ He looked over expensive bifocals that had slipped down his near bridgeless-nose. ‘And, I know for a fact that Immigrasi has been keeping a close eye on his activities here.’
The mere suggestion that Immigration was monitoring Kremenchug twisted the knot in Baird’s stomach even more, the inevitable panic attack sending his hands searching for an inhaler.
‘Why are the authorities so interested in Alex?’
The General deflected the question. ‘Because of your association, they could have you under surveillance, as well,’ Subroto suggested, ‘and that makes me unhappy, Eric. I shouldn’t have to remind you that whatever you do, whom you associate with, all reflects on me. When I first joined AURI…’
Baird remained standing, as Subroto launched into one of his all-too-familiar harangues that would, predictably, revisit most of the Air Force General’s career, reminding himself that this was a small price to pay for the revered, Javanese officer’s sponsorship.
****
Baird had come to understand that Subroto’s early career had been tied, indirectly, to that of the country’s president. In 1962, when Indonesia waged war over
