Ratray was escorted into Taksin’s office by a smartly dressed lady in traditional Thai dress.
Taksin and Pon where sat at Taksin’s large mystat teak desk and going over some final details on having the temple closed off to the public.
“Good afternoon, Khun Taksin and Prime Master,” said Ratray giving both men a respectful wai.
“Good afternoon, Ratray” said Taksin and he and Pon returned the wai.
Noi, Taksin’s personal assistant, wai’d and left the room.
Ratray Sesilin, the head geologist, mineralogist and gemologist in Thailand, who had and identified the minerals around Salaburi and surrounding mines.
“We have a problem,” announced Taksin as he gave the box to Ratray.
Pon joined in and told Ratray what had happened, or not happened as it was in this case, and told her that they thought the box might have been switched.
Ratray went into her bag and took out enlarged photos of the box. She picked up the box and examined it against the photos and then, using a jewellers’ loupe, studied the gemstones on the lid and sides.
“Chatham’s!” she exclaimed.
“What?” enquired Pon and Taksin?
“Chatham’s,” repeated Ratray and went on to explain. “The box, appeared perfect in every detail, except for two rubies and three sapphires, which are Chatham’s, in other words, grown in a lab. This box gentlemen, I am afraid is a fake!”
Chatham’s : In 1938 after many years of research a young scientist Carroll.F Chatham from San Francisco discovered the secret to growing Emeralds by duplicating conditions within the earth (the proper temperature, pressure and chemical properties)he was able to actually grow gems in his laboratory. Possessing the same physical and optical properties as mined gems.
This process has remained a closely guarded family secret and in the 60 years following, has developed and grown all types of gems, rubies, sapphires and diamonds flooding the market with cheaper and easily affordable gemstones, that were virtually indistinguishable from the real gems
A worried look came over the faces of Pon and Taksin. They surmised that the box must have been switched within the last 24 hours, so whoever did this had a maximum of 24 hours head start. Taksin thanked Ratray and apologised for his hastiness in dismissing her, but she understood and realised this was a serious situation and would require immediate attention. Taksin got on his intercom.
“Noi has the information from immigration arrived yet?” asked Taksin.
“Yes sir,”
“Ok, bring it in, and then escort Khun Ratray to the dining room and organise her some lunch.” Taksin ordered and turning to Ratray said
“I trust you’re hungry Ratray, we will join you if we have time, but if not Noi will take care of you.”
Noi entered and placed a pile of files on Taksin’s desk and escorted Ratray out of the room.
Pon and Taksin waded through the files immediately.
Taksin felt a new tension in the air and noticed Pon had become sullen and he knew what was going through the warriors mind ‘the Tinju had failed, again’ and Taksin also knew whoever did this, would certainly pay the ultimate sacrifice at the hands of Pon.
They had spent two hours going through the entry forms from the immigration. Taksin looked up and smiled,
“Pon, look at this”
Both men scrutinised the immigration document that had a photograph stapled to the right hand top corner.
Family name: Namsok First name: Tar
Date of entry 5th May 2008
Pon looked confused,
“What makes you suspect him?” he asked
“Look at his employment and his employer”
Pon looked again and did not fully understand, but the name of the employer was familiar.
“He has put down security force, and his employer as Colonel Tighe Nye. Colonel Tighe Nye is a well known ex Khmer rouge, turned government forces soldier and a leading politician in the CPP, Cambodian People’s Party, and it was Colonel Tighe who requested to borrow the relic a few weeks ago.” explained Taksin and tapped on the document “This must be the culprit”
Pon looked at the document again and noticed the date of departure from Thailand.
“That’s today” he said and Taksin immediately picked up the phone.
“Noi,” he said “Speak to immigration and check as to whether a Mr. Tar Namsok has left Thailand. Oh, and has Ratray left?”
“Immediately, Khun Taksin and yes, Ratray left, she thanked you for a delicious meal, but didn’t want to disturb you”.
Pon and Taksin decided the next course of action; this would be easy to pick this man up at any border crossing when he tried to leave, so they both breathed a sigh of relief.
"Don’t worry Pon, we will get it back,” comforted Taksin although knowing the Tinju was not concerned with the recovery, he would be more annoyed that it was allowed to be taken in the first place.
****
Switching the relic had been easier than Tar imagined. The timing and planning had been perfect, which he expected as Colonel Tighe Nye was a meticulous planner and great mentor.
He had entered Thailand two days earlier to observe the temple and its routine, posing as a tourist and was easily allowed access into the temple and palace grounds. He resembled a Thai, so nobody gave him a second glance. The box he carried in his pocket was an exact replica of the genuine one and, if things went according to plan, nobody would ever suspect the relic had ever been switched. Tar had been assured by the master jeweller who had copied the box that it was a perfect copy.
The jeweller however, thought he would cut corners and save money by using Chatham rubies and sapphires, which would be exactly the same as the original, same hardness same colour and a lot cheaper, so he could pocket the extra. However, Chatham’s do not have the same brilliance or refraction under the intense light, the Buddha’s sunlight.
Tar spent a few days working out the monk’s routine and had snuck in behind the massive Buddha statue on the second night and watched as the four guard monks herded the tourists out and bolted the door. The monks would then go over to the statue, light some incense sticks and remain for the next four hours chanting and meditating. Two monks would then leave the temple to go to eat, leaving two to meditate, and then swap over. At midnight the monks would roll out their mats and sleep in front of the statue, so the remnants were guarded 24 hours a day.
Tar had been advised to time the switch for when the Prime Master was away, in case he came to the temple, as he would figure out immediately that something was wrong.
Colonel Tighe informed Tar that the Prime Master would be visiting Cambodia on the 7th and 8th May with the Crown Prince for an audience with the Cambodian King. Tar decided to make the switch on the 8th, which only gave him that morning to make his getaway.
Tar went unnoticed as the monks went about their duties and found himself a purchase on the statue. Tar, because of his military training as a sniper, knew that he could stay camouflaged and motionless for days and his gold coloured undergarment and backpack blended in perfectly against the statue.
The next day as the monks unbolted the door to let the throngs of tourists in, he changed and mingled with the crowds as he planned his escape route and, he knew that even with his inside contact, he only had a limited window of opportunity, as the Prime Master would be back the following day.
That night as the monks slept, he climbed down from his hiding place, took a small cylinder out of his back pack and a small face filter. He turned the valve, and nitrous oxide bathed the sleeping monk’s faces. Tar left the cylinder in situ while he scaled to the top of the statue. Once at the head, he removed the housing, exchanged the fake holy relic, put the genuine on in his pack and replaced the case. He slid down to the base of the statue, turned off the sleeping gas cylinder, put it in his bag and returned to his hiding place.
The following day, unaware of what had transpired, the monks opened the temple doors and the masses came into the temple for the morning viewing, although the holy light show never occurred until the sun appeared overhead, people came and went throughout the day, to look at the palace and book a space for that afternoon’s spectacle.
The tourists wandered in and scrutinised by the four guard monks armed with their ‘Siamen’ swords. The tourists milled around the temple and pointed at the holy relic, the emerald, the statue, the architecture and the monks.
From all over the world, people flocked into the Royal Palace and most would spend the day touring around as it is an interesting place, especially amongst the annoying Japanese and their clicking cameras.
Siamen swords are the swords used by Tinju. Similar to the Katana swords of the Samurai. The Siamen swords have a serrated side and are made by folding two types of steel together then coated with clay and baked six times. They are very sharp and very strong and easy to re-sharpen. The handle is longer than the Katana, but heavier due to the weight of the Pitou contained within it, so balanced to throw.
The guards stood motionless at the side of the temple, eyes staring ahead and unaware that they’d had a blissful night sleep, courtesy of Tar, who now mingled among the tourists wearing a shirt and jeans. He casually walked out of the temple and palace grounds and got into a taxi
“Where too?” asked the driver.
“Aranyaprathet,” replied Tar.
“That will be 2500 baht” said the driver suspiciously.
“Make it there in less than 3 hours and I’ll give you 3000” said Tar holding out 3 x 1000 baht notes
“Are you going to the casino in Poi Pet?” asked the driver, assuming Tar was Thai
“Yes,” said Tar not wanting to get into a conversation with the driver.
They arrived at the border crossing at noon, Tar got out, thanked the driver and headed for immigration and exited Thailand and went into Cambodia. He rushed into the nearest food shack and ordered three plates of Luk-Lak, he had not eaten for two days.
Gambling in Thailand is illegal and many Thaïs enjoy a flutter, so they go over the borders into Cambodia, Burma or Laos. Many plush casinos have been built to accommodate this exodus. It’s a strange sight to see high rise plush casinos amid the poverty and begging of the many border crossing. Most casino’s are located at Poi Pet the Cambodian northernmost border.
The intercom squawked in Taksin’s office, it was Noi.
“Khun Taksin, immigration reported that Tar Namsok exited Thailand through the Aranyaprathet crossing this morning and was now in Cambodia.”
“Damn” groaned Taksin “This gives us an entirely different set of problems” he said.
Pon looked enraged and knew what he must do now.
“Excuse me Khun Taksin.” Said Pon as stood up to leave
“Wait Prime Master, we must plan our next course of action carefully, we have the monarchy to consider.”
Pon knew Taksin was right and went and sat back down
.Taksin pointed out that they now faced several problems. Tar was across the border and Pon could not cross into Cambodia, because of his position as Defender of the Monarch, therefore for him to be there, without the Crown Prince, would be too suspicious and could cause yet another rift in the fragile Thai, Cambodian relationship.
He also knew that if Colonel Tighe Nye had been responsible for sending Tar on this mission, he would also know that if found out, the Thais would send the Prime Master of the Tinju to recover the relic and would be expecting him
Pon thought that he could try to sneak over, the same as before, but Taksin told him that if he were to be caught, he would have entered illegally and end up in jail.
Pon tried to argue, that he had done it before, but Taksin pointed out that before, they hadn’t known who he was, and now the militia and police would be on the lookout for him as Tighe was a powerful man.
They pondered for a moment.
“We will have to send someone else,” announced Taksin
“No,” said Pon “I am the only one who will recover the relic, so to send someone else is out of the question.”
Taksin knew that Pon would insist, he also knew he would not be able to talk him out of it.
“Ok Prime Master” said a defeated Taksin, and then after a few minutes silence, a plan formulated in his mind
“I have an idea,” said Taksin, “but it will be risky,”
Taksin told Pon of his plan and concluded by saying.
“You still may get caught,” he said, “but we may be able to overcome that hurdle. . . . I will call my friends in Cambodia to make the arrangements.” Taksin, although worried felt positive about the plan.
Pon also had an idea pop into his head, which would make Taksin’s scheme more credible and he laid out his part of the plan.
“That sounds great, but it is dependent on some important factors Pon.” Said Taksin
“I know,” said Pon, with an impish smirk, “but I am sure Buddha will help with that.”
Pon picked up the phone and asked Noi to check something with immigration. She returned on the intercom a few moments later, affirming what Pon had just enquired about.
“Told you,” said Pon, to a now even more worried Taksin.
Pon again picked up the telephone and asked Noi to get him a telephone number,
“If you can get the paperwork that we discussed organised Khun Taksin, I will leave as soon as the documents are ready,” said Pon
“I will see to it immediately Prime Master” said Taksin as Pon announced
“Please excuse me I need to go to get my equipment prepared” announced Pon
Taksin knew that equipment meant his weapons and he knew that the defender of the Monarch was now back as he should be, Prime Master and Tinju warrior, who had another duty to conclude.
“I have that number for you Prime Master” said Noi over the intercom.
Pon dialled the number and after a few seconds, a voice answered.
“Sawasdee Hotel, how may I help you?”