The wind of change blew through Cambodia like a fierce tornado. Governments were being overthrown, and the monarchy was on the verge of collapse. The country was in disarray and nobody felt safe. This uncertainty would give way to the easy rise of the Khmer Rouge.
Both Norm and Boran became well aware of the rising tension within the country, but Rumbles analysis of the Mori-Ori connection was only 90%. He had isolated and compared genomes and chromosomes, but without the final piece of the puzzle, a specimen of DNA from the original Mori-Ori tribe, which at present could not be found, he could not be 100% certain
Rumble, tired of the bureaucracy in New Zealand and the constant disturbances to his work by interfering officials, decided to re-locate his lab equipment, and himself, to Cambodia, to be with his friends and family, Boran, Roth, and his new wife, Theary. He transported his equipment by boat up the Tonle Sap River, then to the smaller Siem Reap River and then by lorry to the cavern near Ta Prohm, with the help of teams of builders and other scientists.
Over the next three years, generators, building materials and some modern day conveniences’ had been brought in and they had built a small, but functional community in the ghosts of the twelfth century homestead, which included a laboratory. As time went on, due to the state and disarray of the country, they’d spent more time in the cavern. Norman spent most of the day within his laboratory. Days turned into weeks, then months, then years and more and more people came into the cavern to escape from the Communist Party of Kampuchea, the Khmer Rouge.
News came in the afternoon of 17 April 1975 that the Khmer Rouge had marched victoriously into Phnom Penh. The extermination had started the total annihilation of the Cambodian culture and people had begun.
YEAR ZERO
This news brought a mass influx into the cavern of people and machines from Siem Reap. Teachers, doctors, tradesmen, came along with their families seeking sanctuary, in fear of their lives. Bulldozers and heavy excavating equipment and building materials started to pour in, as people tried to get their livelihood and assets hidden away.
There were now 220 Cambodian men, women and children inhabiting the underground citadel, along with one brilliant New Zealand scientist. They all worked together to secure the cavern and cut large sentry ports into the rock above the level of the ledge, these were entered by railings, so the guards could enter the sentry holes and have a vantage point that overlooked the entry ledge, similar to the archers slit in old English castle defences.
This early warning system for the citadel could be easily defended,
They built basic wood and brick dwellings, school rooms, and a communal kitchen. A small hospital was added onto the laboratory, and the ancient Ta Prohm elevator had been updated, and was now electrically powered.
They also blocked a section at the entrance to the cave, leaving only a small entrance for cattle and provisions and installed several cranes. Bulldozers and ball breakers had been used to flatten out the small and large stalagmites and stalactites. Air was supplied by pumps fitted on the surface and the machinery hidden behind the large waterfalls to hide the noise.
The lighting system had been improved and the cave was alight with large 100 watt bulbs. The sewerage waste went through a series of pipes leading into the running stream outside the cave and a large opening was dug out of the rock for any septic waste and storage tanks.
Small dune buggy type vehicles flitted around with supplies and workers. They posted lookouts and scouts both inside the cave and outside at the temple, armed with AK47 rifles and thunder flash grenades, to warn of any Khmer Rouge patrols.
The inhabitants of the cavern lived relatively normal and safe lives, unlike the rest of Cambodia and its people, who were, unbeknownst to the citadel occupants, being exterminated in their droves.
The scientist spent their days working on their specific projects and Norman made great progress with his research, assisted as always by Boran.