Monsoon (51 page)

‘What are you really doing?'

‘Anna tells me that we're meeting Hung who's taking us out to meet the big boss on some boat to look at the plates so Rick can check that they're all okay. When he's done that we come back and Carlo gets his father to send the money electronically and we collect the packed stuff in the morning to take to the factory where Carlo has all his garden pots so it can all be shipped back to Australia.'

‘So it's all going in one container. Sounds straight forward,' said Jean-Claude. ‘What's your hotel room? I'll move in while you're out with the big boss.'

Sandy re-joined the others, who all stared at her. ‘That was a surprise.' She looked at the impassive faces around the table. ‘Look, I didn't know he was coming down. But I had to tell him I was going somewhere! I had no idea he'd want to surprise me.'

‘Better keep him under wraps,' said Carlo. ‘Until we've done the deal. If there's more merchandise available, let's keep it quiet.'

To Sandy's relief, Hung came striding across the room and greeted them enthusiastically. To anyone observing they looked like a bunch of tourists and their guide.

‘The boat is ready. It's just a small launch to take us across this end of the bay. Follow me.'

They walked to the end of the long jetty, where a launch was tied. Hung helped them into the open boat. In minutes they were bouncing across the deserted bay. Most of the tourist boats had headed out earlier in the day and were preparing to moor for the night and the day trippers had not yet made their way back.

As soon as they were well clear of the mainland shore, Hung cut behind a peak and suddenly they were in an expanse of water unseen by any boat or being.

Rounding one of the smaller forested karsts they came upon a large modern junk. Even from a distance it appeared luxurious and as they drew closer it looked brand new, made from polished teak, with rich red sails and large portholes indicating spacious staterooms below. Once they were beside the junk it loomed as high as a double-storeyed building.

Sandy and Anna clambered aboard, awed by the glowing brass fittings, the smell of polished wood and a sweet drift of incense. They were ushered into the main stateroom which had low lights burning and red velvet drapes pulled across the windows, screening out the end of the day. It was lavishly appointed with plush lounges, a long teak dining table with matching chairs and several deep armchairs. The carpet was thick, there was ornate carving in every detail of the woodwork and several framed silk paintings that looked to be very old Chinese scenes which were hung between the windows. A huge carved and painted silk screen stood in one corner. Dotted around the room and piled on the table were items covered by gold silk sheets.

An elderly waiter dressed in a white jacket and black pants passed around glasses of sweet wine and tiny savoury delicacies, and indicated that they should be seated. They settled themselves around the extraordinary room and Carlo glanced at Anna, slightly raising his glass towards her as if to say, ‘See, I've made it this time'.

Hung pointed at the covered items on the table and a large box on the floor. ‘There they are.' But he made no move to show them and, like the rest of them, waited, sipping the fine French wine.

There was a slight flurry as a door was opened by the elderly waiter who bowed as a figure emerged. She was dressed in a red silk ao-dai, jewels sparkling. Her hair was swept sleekly up onto her head and her bright red lips stretched in a somewhat smug smile.

‘Madame Nguyen!' exclaimed Anna.

Carlo gave his broadest smile. Rick stepped forward, took Madame Nguyen's hand and introduced himself and his companions.

Sandy also rose out of her seat. ‘How lovely to see you again.'

Madame Nguyen coolly acknowledged the greetings and took a seat at the table. A glass was set beside her by the obsequious waiter. ‘Thank you all for coming. So, we have business to conduct.' She waved towards the table. ‘Mr Dale, I believe you are something of the expert. I trust you will appreciate the treasure Hung has assembled for you and Mr Franchetti.' She gave a brief nod in Carlo's direction, then turned her head to a crew member by the door who leapt forward and swept off the light gold covering from the table.

Even Rick had to swallow hard at the display of exquisite ceramics: blue-and-white polychrome, green glazes and a dull grey primitive stoneware. They all got up and circled the table.

‘May I?' asked Rick, wanting to lift a piece to study it more closely.

Madame Nguyen waved a hand. ‘Certainly. This is a very nice collection, don't you agree?'

First Rick lifted a blue-and-white dragon jug, then a lotus bowl. He turned over several of the dishes with their simple but classic pattern. ‘These are not dishes used by farmers. These are made for the tables of nobles. Very high quality. Lovely.'

Carlo was anxious. ‘So, what do you think, Rick? Do you think these pieces have a market?'

‘I do indeed. Collectors are curious people. They can be quite eccentric in the specifics of what they collect. Some want something from the earliest period; others have no interest in plain peasant objects, no matter how old. But these pieces will be in great demand.'

‘What's in the box, Madame Nguyen?' asked Carlo.

‘Plates, platters, bowls. Pieces I believe you could turn over for a good price.' She indicated the plates. ‘You can quadruple your investment fairly swiftly. A good enough return?' She raised a thin pencilled eyebrow and Carlo was quick to concur.

Sandy and Anna sat on the sidelines, watching and listening. Sandy thought perhaps Carlo had pulled off the big one and thanked the heavens that Rick was present. Anna was watching Carlo with love and admiration. He'd really hit the jackpot this time.

Several pieces were carefully passed around. Sandy and Anna recognised a plate that was similar to the one they'd seen in Madame Nguyen's shop in The Royal Hotel in Hoi An. There was further discussion. Rick spent time admiring some pieces at great length, fingering the porcelain, turning them over, holding them under a light to see better, wondering who these pieces might have been made for.

Carlo began to get fidgety. ‘So, Rick. Everything is okay by you? I think we should be moving on. Hung?' He turned to Hung who had sat quietly in the background letting Madame Nguyen do all the talking.

‘When you are ready, Hung will take you back. These items will be carefully packaged and marked in several crates. Naturally, we will not seal the crates, so you can inspect their contents in the morning,' said Madame Nguyen in a business tone. ‘If everything is to your satisfaction, Mr Franchetti, you will arrange payment this evening by electronic transfer and tomorrow, when everything is confirmed, you will take the merchandise away with you. Hung will bring you back here and you may make a final inspection and take the crates away with you. Is this satisfactory?'

Carlo stood, anxious to make arrangements for the settlement. ‘Sounds cool to me. Rick?'

He nodded. ‘Tomorrow you can settle up with me. We'll leave your antiques at the gardenware factory and continue on to Hanoi. You seem to have your shipment under control.'

‘Yep. All's in order. Next time I see these dishes it will be back in good old Sydney. Thank you again, Madame Nguyen. Pleasure doing business with you.' Carlo pumped her hand enthusiastically and didn't appear to notice when she withdrew it with a pained expression.

Hung ushered them out. ‘It's dark; be careful getting back into the boat.'

‘Hey, don't drop any of the dishes back in the briny,' joked Carlo.

‘They will be treated like gold and packed very, very carefully. We know how to deliver such items around the world. Don't worry,' declared Madame Nguyen, who then disappeared below.

As they chugged to the mainland Sandy glanced back at the shadowy shape of the big junk, a dark smudge, its oily yellow lamps gleaming over the dark water. She couldn't wait to tell Jean-Claude what had transpired. She wished she could talk about it to Anna, who sat clutching Carlo's hand. Both of them looked somewhat starstruck. As if their wildest dreams were about to come true.

There was a brief meeting in the lobby of the hotel. Each of them was playing it cool and calm.

‘So what's the plan for tomorrow?' asked Rick.

Carlo stiffened his shoulders, assuming an air of authority. ‘I will contact my father at once to transfer the money. Depends on Hung when we go back.'

‘Early. Everything will be very carefully packed, ready to be collected from Madame Nguyen's junk.'

‘Is she staying in Halong Bay?' asked Anna.

‘No, she will not be staying after she's concluded her business with you. She has many other things to attend to,' said Hung. ‘She is returning to Hoi An.'

‘Apparently she has a very beautiful home in Hoi An,' said Sandy. ‘She was building a lot of places. She has diversified interests.' She gave Hung a questioning look.

‘A lot of things are stored in her home at Hoi An, but they are also dispersed throughout the country. And much further,' said Hung. ‘Madame Nguyen is a clever lady. Very smart. I am lucky to know her.'

‘How do you know her?' asked Sandy.

‘Ah, it is a long story. My Uncle Chinh knows her from many years ago. She became very rich after her husband died. Her husband was Uncle Chinh's relative. Madame Nguyen looks after the family. She did not have children.' Hung smiled. ‘She is very good to me.'

Anna smiled and nodded. Family was important in Vietnam and who would you trust more?

They agreed they'd all do their own thing for dinner. Rick had a friend to look up, Carlo and Anna would find somewhere to eat and Sandy would wait for Jean-Claude.

‘Please, Sands, say nothing to Jean-Claude. Carlo is so pissed off he turned up.'

‘Everything is working out just fine. What a trip. That Madame Nguyen is something else,' said Sandy to deflect Anna's comment about Jean-Claude.

Sandy stepped into her hotel room to find Jean-Claude relaxing in front of the cable television. He gave her a hug.

‘How was it?'

‘Amazing.' She told him every detail.

‘So tomorrow morning you go out in the launch, pick up the goods and hit the road. It all sounds too easy.'

‘Seems that way. But I still need to smooth things over with Anna. She's a bit hurt and suspicious I broke my promise not to tell you.'

‘Why don't you call her after supper and break the news we are engaged,' said Jean-Claude. He took her hand. ‘You know, Sandy, this whole scheme seems too good to be true. I know of Madame Nguyen and she is a shrewd and clever operator.'

‘Darling, Rick knows what he's doing so I'm sure it will be fine. For once Carlo might have pulled off a real coup.'

Sandy held the phone receiver away from her ear as Anna's squeals reverberated down the line after dinner.

‘No way! That's so fantastic! I told you. He adores you. It's meant to be. Oh, Sands, I'm so happy for you.'

Sandy was elated at Anna's reaction to the news of their engagement. Her friend's annoyance now seemed to be a thing of the past and one day Sandy would confess to her that she had been the one to do the proposing.

16

N
IGHT WAS STILL CLINGING
to the crevices, caves and craggy karsts, the strange limestone formations that rose from Halong Bay. As grey dawn light crept into their hotel room, Sandy reluctantly wiggled out of Jean-Claude's embrace.

‘Ah, Sandy. You are sure you have to be there with them this morning?'

‘Anna wants me there. And I admit I'm curious.' She slipped her diamond ring on her finger. ‘And besides, now I can show the world we're engaged. The reason you came down here.' Thinking about it, she added, ‘Maybe you should come along too.'

He yawned. ‘Perhaps that is a good idea. We'll both meet them at the wharf. I don't expect Carlo will be pleased to see me though.'

The sky was compressed with dark rolling clouds as the group assembled at the wharf and settled themselves in Hung's launch. Jean-Claude's arrival had caused some consternation for Carlo, but Anna told him that Jean-Claude had rushed to Halong Bay to propose to Sandy and the two could hardly be expected to be apart now.

‘Why couldn't he have waited till they were back in Hanoi?' Carlo muttered.

‘Jean-Claude thought this might be a romantic place to pop the question,' said Anna pointedly.

Carlo ignored her remark. ‘We're picking up the goods, taking them to the mainland once they're packed. The money has gone through. Rick has rented another car as the crates won't fit in just one.'

In spite of Carlo's pointed change of subject, Anna was thrilled with the way things had worked out and she couldn't see any problem in having Jean-Claude join them. Sandy was hanging on to him like crazy. She'd never seen her so openly besotted with a man. Anna smiled to herself. Sandy certainly had never made a commitment to any man before. Jean-Claude was obviously very special to her.