ALBERT MORTON REFUSED TO LOOK UP WHILE WALKING THROUGH THE COURTYARD; he was determined not to look at the moon through prison wire. The moon, so bright lit his way through the prison courtyard; his steps quickened as he cleared the last of the security points, finally leaving Fraser Lake. It seemed quite appropriate, standing in unobstructed freedom to look up taking in the majesty of the harvest moon; this evening layered in a continuum of oxidized plates of sweet citrus tangerines. Now with strength and conviction, as he had done each September, he began a new semester which he accepted as a gift. Accompanied by Gordon, a night guard who had befriended Albert during his stay, they walked towards the parking lot, both pulling trolley’s loaded with Albert’s library of journals.
“Gordon, I will miss you.”
“Albert, you drop me a line when you are settled, I don’t want to lose touch my friend.”
“Who is meeting you?”
“Harry said he would be here.”
Gordon had met Harry on a few of his visits with Albert; a man who he held in great regard. He had seen pictures and heard many loving stories of Alyssa and witnessed Harry comforting his friend when he received the news that she had passed away.
As they entered the parking lot a jeep pulled up to the curb and out came Harry.
No words were spoken, Albert and Harry simply embraced.
Gordon shook Harry’s hand.
“Good to see you again. I hope you have enough room for Albert’s library. “
“Oh I believe we do; Albert has spent many years compiling this dossier, I for one can’t wait to start in to it.”
The boxes were loaded in the back of the Jeep and Harry returned to the driver’s seat. Albert returned to the sidewalk and extended his hand to Gordon for one final hand shake, but Gordon pulled Albert close and would only accept a massive bear hug.
“Albert, you take care of yourself, I’ll miss you.”
Albert turning looking at Harry and Gordon and spoke…
“You both, at a point in my life when society had already locked the gates and thrown away the key, supported me and reminded me that I had done nothing wrong; I was immobile with fear and unable to raise my head to judgment; yet you two lent me your strengths, until I could again rise and walk with confidence , with understanding and conviction. I will forever be in your debt.”
“You are a good man Albert; I hope you get the answers you have been searching for.”
As they drove away Albert continued to look up at the moon, now understanding its freedom.
Harry had made all the arrangements for the hotel accommodations so they went from the parking lot directly to the elevator. He saw that Albert needed a bit of time to adjust, still not able to look all the passersby’s in the eyes; he kept his head lowered. For the rest of the evening Albert was quiet; taking long deep breaths, as though the air had been restricted as well. He walked back and forth across the room, enjoying the freedom of opening and closing the door to the balcony. It was not for a few hours that he accepted the freedom of crossing over the threshold onto the balcony, where he moved slowly into a reclining chair and smiled.
“Albert, first thing in the morning, let’s go over to an apparel store and pick up some cloths for you. I noticed that there are a couple of stores just up the road from here, we could walk over.”
“I would like that Harry; if you are tired please go to bed, you don’t have to babysit me. After being told all these years when I had to go to bed, I feel like a teenager right now with no curfew.”
As Harry looked over at Albert he saw a much older man, but still with such character and commitment towards his future; it was so good to see him smile.
____________________________
Travelling throughout west coast of Australia proved more congested and imposing than Bar Cove Island; it became common practice for the captain to travel at night and keep the ship docked during the day; there seemed to be a great deal of interest on the travel route for the American Yacht, with shore harbor operators asking for clarification as to the occupants on the boat. Chanarong and Kim agreed it was time to move on north to Thailand; Chanarong owned a home, unknown to all, on a secluded island along the northern coast of the Phang Bga Bay. His official residence remained in the City of Angles, Krung Thep, or for the tourists, Bangkok.
As the boat entered into the Bay, Chanarong took a deep breath enjoying every moment of this spectacular site; the imposing limestone cliffs rising vertically from the emerald waters appeared unified displaying unquestionable resolve, depicting strong imposing guards from the King’s dynasty. The sun rising in the horizon throwing red reflections off the shadows of the emerald and sun soaked tides; carried the dancing Garudas over the waters welcoming their arrival. Chanarong never in all his travels could duplicate the energy that welcomed him home, each time passing through the Bay. He had chosen this harbor for security and privacy, the Bay protected from surrounding monsoons allowed him to enjoy his home year round.
They left the Yacht and settled under the canopy of a sport boat that wasted no time taking them to Chanarong’s home, isolated and sheltered past Kalim Beach. Kim, Shai and Veronica went directly inside the house while Chanarong rested on the beach watching the speed boat pass; the young man driving the boat was hired to patrol the waters surrounding the Island. Chanargon, before leaving the coastal waters of Australia filed travel plans, for the curious, recording the ship to dock along the Sunshine Coast and from there carry on to Fiji on a private cruise ship. He knew returning to his home may offer some risk, but he needed to have Kim and Shai in an environment that he could control and they could trust and feel protected. They had talked briefly about the money and artifacts that they had taken from the State; which combined came to nowhere close to the bounty being sought.
The captain and crew had sent a message from the Yacht that they had arrived at Jakarta with their destination being Cape Town where they would remain until further notice from Chanarong. He had also heard from the guards in Krung Thep, stationed around his home, reporting an interesting blend of traffic on the street and the open gardens along the vista, all spending a noticeable amount of time monitoring the residence.
Chanarong’s office had now received the data confirming the transits and deposits that Kim had made as well as the contents in the security lock boxes. He knew the off shore deposits could not remain stagnate for too long with the number of people looking for the cash. He did not want to start layering the cash for safekeeping; but needed a window of time until they could declare its whereabouts’. He decided that a trip was necessary. Veronica, Kim and Shai would remain on the Island, under the supervision of an army of private security contracted by Chanarong. Veronica knew if their security was compromised that arrangements had been made for their travel to Italy.
As they sped along the water Chanarong saw the long tailed boat waiting in the Bay. He quickly boarded and settled in for the trip to Krung Thep. Travelling through the Bay on a long tailed boat drew no one suspicions; all visitors to the area travelled by a long tail. A car was arranged to take him to the Suvarnabhumi Airport where a private charter would fly him to Santa Maria, Brazil. Two air force bases were located in Santa Maria offering beneficial confidentiality in arrival and departure logs. To explain his presence, if required at a later date, lecturing to the international students at the Santa Maria University for four weeks.
The pilot completed all the flight logs at the Brazilian air force base charting a travel plan to Naples, Italy. The flight logs all in the name of HARA Congress only verified the flight would carry 5 passengers; it did not differentiate from passenger and crew. Chanarong’s charter landed on schedule fourteen hours since leaving Thailand. Looking past the military hangers he was comforted to see the HARA jet waiting on the tarmac.
As he settled in for the next twelve hour leg of his destination, he smiled at the conspiracy he had mapping out for anyone perusing him. At this time he was travelling in Fiji, or at home in Krung Thep, or on the Yacht now docked in Cape Town, South Africa.
The crew brought back word that everything was quiet on the Island, with a personal note from Veronica saying she was already missing him and to hurry back.
_______________________________
After a few days of rest, Harry and Albert travelled to South Carolina. Harry knew that Albert would feel comfortable in those surroundings; as well Robert was there on a sabbatical from the University program in Brazil.
Albert was pleasantly surprised entering the terminal and seeing Robert standing there. He could not mask his happiness; taking hold of Robert and just holding on.
“You do look well Albert.”
“Well, thanks to Harry I have some decent cloths that fit; looking back at my last junket, certainly gave benefit to a leaner me. I have eaten more in the last four days than I can remember. How are things at Duke?”
“Well, I must say I do enjoy working at the facility in Brazil. Our Department is extremely busy working on amendments to the Labour Justice Laws. Brazilian law supports a Labour Court of twenty-seven Justices, chosen between the ages of thirty-five and sixty-five years of age; appointed by the President. Albert, I believe you would enjoy researching some of their rulings towards Labour.”
“Well, I hope you will have the time to introduce me to a few of your cases.”
Once settled in at Harry’s home, Albert enjoyed his routine, but relished in rare acts of spontaneity choosing to break form and take a walk around the community.
His journals all stored in the garage were waiting…he knew that in the near future he would again open up the past.
At the end of the week Harry announced that he had business overseas with the International Monetary Economic Conference where he was scheduled to address the meeting. He was pleased that Albert and Robert declined his invitation to attend; they were quite comfortable at the house and were already in lengthy debates over labour laws.
His office had made all the arrangements and messaged him his travel itinerary. He was aware that his private plane was unavailable on short notice so a private charter was arranged for the direct flight to Naples, Italy.
______________________________
