A minute after the car left the curb in front of the tea house, the two men on the floor stopped rolling around. The cook stepped back, gave everyone a dirty look and went back to the kitchen.

The Filipino man and Indian man went back to their tea. Popov had left shortly after Ivan went outside. The wrestlers faced each other and bowed. Each took a step back and apologized to the other. They left.

"What was that?" Lance asked. "They just stopped in mid brawl?"

It was Brock who looked at the table where Ivan was supposed to be. His eyes systematically worked their way around the room.

"We've got trouble. We've been had," Brock said, recognizing they'd been set up.

Lance looked toward Ivan's table. His eyes swept the room. His mind was working overtime.

"What the fuck just happened?" Lance asked. "He took off to get away from the fight. He's out front. It's lunch time. He'll be back."

"I'm notifying Tyson. This is all wrong. We've been had, buddy and the sooner we start looking for Ivan, the better off we'll end up."

Lance wasn't convinced. He didn't raise an objection, but he knew how bad this looked, and he didn't like looking bad.

"We lost our man. Those two guys were a show they put on for our benefit, while they took him out of here."

"No," Lance said. "He'll be back. Where's he going to go?"

Lance and Brock walked outside. They stood on the sidewalk, looking toward the restaurants and then up and down the street.

"Where's the fat boy?" Lance asked. "The fat boy's gone too."

"He goes where Ivan goes. We've got to tell headquarters something? They're going to want a blow by blow description of what went down here."

"Let's don't jump to conclusions. He'll turn up. Who would take him?" Lance asked. "He scurried out of there when the fight started."

"Fight! It was a dance, Lance. Get a grip. We've been had."

"Who?" Lance asked. "Who knows we're here?" Lance asked.

"Who are we waiting for? He's a general. His men just came in here and took Ivan right out from under our noses," Brock calculated. "This was staged for our benefit. We've been compromised by the guy we came here to kill."

Lance hated to admit it, but Brock made sense.

"That general came for Ivan? He knows we're waiting for him? How could he know that? Does he intend to take care of Ivan and come for us once he does? Someone had to tip that guy off. What else does he know?"

Lance watched the street while Brock went to alert Tyson.

*****

Major Han returned to the dining room after Ivan and Roland were served fried eggs, bacon, and pancakes. A carafe of coffee sat between Ivan and Roland, but it was nearly empty by the time Major Han tried to pour a cup.

"I'll have this refilled. Nothing like hot coffee. The general thought you'd like an all-American breakfast. He uses Sumatran coffee beans. It has a pleasant taste," Major Han said.

"It's coffee. I was dying for a cup of coffee," Ivan said as a full carafe was set on the table.

"The general hasn't been well. His doctor is doing some routine things at the moment. You'll go in when you're finished here."

"Jon Ho told me he hadn't been well," Ivan said. "I hope it's nothing too serious."

"A little of this and that. Comes with age. Jon Ho is with his tutor. He wanted to be here when you got here, but this was the best time of day for us to go get you. The general insists Jon Ho is in class or with his tutor until after one each day."

"Jon Ho speaks better English than some American's," Ivan said. "Yours isn't too shabby either, if you don't mind me saying so."

"Some of us have no aptitude for English. It's not an easy language to learn. The men who can learn English, do learn English. General Kenji spends a lot of time seeing to the education of his troops. We are able to communicate in English when the chips are down. It confuses adversaries long enough to gain an advantage. Seconds can make a difference in battle," Major Han said.

"I had no idea he was a general. I saw pictures of him looking very general like in a uniform. It was Ken Ho. They made an effort to change my option of him, but I know better than to believe the things my handlers want me to believe. I know Ken Ho and I remembered him as a kind and gentle soul. His occupation doesn't concern me."

"The general says that you are wise beyond your years. He knew you were an agent from your government."

"Why did he ...?"

"As you said, he saw you as a kind and intelligent man. What you did for a living never entered into it. You weren't after him back then."

"No, hardly a man of interest to the CIA. He was a very intelligent peasant as far as I knew. It's what I told my handlers. They listened to some of our conversations and weren't interested in him."

Ivan reached for the carafe.

"Ken Ho will be OK in the long run?" Ivan asked.

"He intends to run to be Prime Minister," Major Han said. "I probably should let him tell you these things. He is worried for Cambodia. He's worried about foreign influences. He says George Washington worried about this in his farewell address."

"Ken Ho knows about George Washington's farewell address?"

"He's a student of American history. He especially is fascinated by the American role in World War II. Did you know that when the war started in Europe, the American army was armed with wooden machine guns and cardboard tanks."

"No. You've got to be kidding," Ivan said.

"I don't know what the general knows, but the American army was like the twentieth army in the world as far as equipment was concerned. By the wars end, America was out producing and out fighting every other country in the world. It wasn't supposed to continue exploiting your military power. When you give generals and politicians the equipment to rule the world, they tend to want to rule the world."

"I suppose that's true. I just want to run my business at the cove. Ruling the world is way out of my wheelhouse," Ivan said.

"Knowing the Americans want him dead is of no comfort to him. He doesn't like secret games being played out of view of the people. Governments should not be in the business of deceiving the people."

"The government isn't the people?" Ivan asked.

"Hardly," Major Han said. "Governments are frequently captured by ambitious and greedy men. It's how you get the Khmer Rouge."

The man in the white shirt who guided them to the porch came into the dining room.

"He's almost through, Major. The general can't wait any longer to see Ivan. He wants him brought to his room right away."

"I'm ready. I've been looking forward to sitting face to face with Ken Ho since I got here. I wasn't sure we'd be able to meet."

The house was neat but lived in. Ken Ho's room wasn't far from the dining room as they went toward the back of the house. The two doors were swung up before Ivan, and an older man was sitting on the edge of Ken Ho's bed while reading a blood pressure cuff that had been installed on the general's arm.

"It's lower today," the doctor said, standing. "You need to get up. You need to walk. Do not run, Ken Ho. Don't do any of the other things you do with your men. Walk. That's all, and now you'll do as you damn well please. See you in the morning, my friend."

The doctor nodded as he passed Ivan. He looked Vietnamese to Ivan. He was a good sized man, and he looked like a doctor should.

Ken Ho's eyes were on Ivan. Ivan met his eyes with his own. Ken Ho smiled his happiest smile and extended both of his hands.

"Ivan, my friend. So good to see you. Don't let all his nonsense put you off. I'm fine. A little gout, a little diabetes, a little high blood pressure. The consequence of a life not so well lived," Ken Ho said.

"Bring up the chair. Coffee? Of course coffee."

Ken Ho clapped his hands and said, "We need strong hot coffee."

"Is that the best thing for high blood pressure?" Ivan asked.

Ken Ho waved his hand.

"A man must live. To stop living to stay alive is a poor bargain to make."

Ivan felt like he'd never been away from his friend. He was the same sober clear thinking man who took life as it came to him. You didn't force your life to agree with your actions, you tailored your actions to fit the life you intended to live.

Jon Ho came through the door.

"Ivan, you came," Jon Ho said.

"Didn't have much choice. They came for me," Ivan said.

"You weren't pleased?" Jon Ho asked. "Sorry, father, I wanted to say hello."

"Fine, Jon Ho. Bring the chair over for Ivan to sit in and leave us alone. I'm sure Ivan will make time for you, although I don't want you pestering him with questions about America. Don't be a nuisance."

Jon Ho set the chair down for Ivan and he backed out of the room, closing the door behind him.

"I couldn't imagine you wanting to stay with those men a minute longer than necessary," Ken Ho said. "Tell me you want to be here."

"I want to be here, Ken Ho. I was afraid we wouldn't get to talk. I'm delighted to see you and this is certainly more pleasant than the tea house. I can't say how long they'll leave me here, but I can see my handlers aren't going to come after me in this fortress."

"Who is it that thinks so much of you that they send military men to get you home?" Ken Ho wanted to know.

"You know about that?" Ivan asked.

"Little I don't know about. Major Han met with Major Carl. Very efficient man, I'm told. Quite cooperative once he learned I wanted to meet with you before they take you home."

"You got my message?"

"I did. I wasn't ready to see visitors at the time. I sent Jon Ho because I knew you'd talk to him. Jon Ho is quite an intelligent lad. He's not likely to get into trouble. He's learned from his father how to recognize trouble."

"I almost didn't recognize him. Speaks English as well as I do."

"An excellent student. Fascinated by America. Perhaps you'll have some time to sit and talk to him. We're making arrangements to deport your CIA operators. It will take a few days. I'm not yet strong enough to do what needs to be done. When I am, you'll be leaving shortly afterward. We'll have a few days," Ken Ho said.

"How did you know to send Jon Ho to the tea house?"

"I have men who keep an eye out for anything I need to know about. Little goes on in my city that I don't know about. I was told you were back a couple of weeks before I sent Jon Ho to talk to you. The news he brought back was sobering. You took a risk betraying your handlers, Ivan. It confirms what I already knew about you. You're an honorable man who does not betray his friends."

"And you're a general. You didn't tell me that," Ivan said.

"It was not a general who met with you all those times. I am a simple man who has been given much responsibility, but being a general is my job. I am Ken Ho the rest of the time. I don't take being a general as seriously as some would like me to. It's of no matter."

They talked, laughed, and didn't notice the time passing. It was two friends reconnecting after many years. Ivan told him about Clay, Dylan, and how he'd built the cove into a paying proposition.

He told him about the murder and his imprisonment, and how he made a deal with the devil to escape murder charges, and that's how he ended up back in Cambodia, but it was a mission he never intended to carry out in the fashion his handlers expected.

"I knew you were under the control of your government before. It didn't trouble me. You were intelligent and an intuitive young man. Our chats gave me insights of my own into your American condition. I suspect, don't know, they are wanting to eliminate me as a possible contender to lead my country. I do intend to run for office and I will not look kindly on any attempts to influence my government. Exporting the men who brought you here will inform your government of this fact. I'm arranging a surprise for them. You won't need to worry about them bothering you while you're here."

"Your government doesn't want you?" Ivan asked. "I was told your government wanted you."

"They know where I am. This was my father's compound when it was the French influencing our leaders. I did what I did for the Khmer Rouge to protect my people as best I could. I never wanted to kill them. I'm still not sure what the killing was all about. Somehow the bad men seem to get power. They're dastardly people," Ken Ho said. "If you told me it could happen here, I'd have laughed at you. It's over now and boring you with it is pointless. You are missed by your family? Of course you are."

"There are people who will worry about me if I am gone for too long. My business partner from the cove has come to rescue me."

"I'll send a man each day to brief your sea captain and the military contractors who are here for you. I'll extend my hospitality to them. You are safe here, Ivan."

"My handlers aren't going to like me disappearing," Ivan said.

"We'll keep your handlers busy. When I go to speak to our assembly next week, I want you to go with me. I'm afraid that will be where we say goodbye this time around. Once I began my campaign for Prime Minister, that will be my only concern. Until then, you are my guest. You are safe and we can talk often. You don't know how I've looked forward to resuming our talks."

Ivan was sure Ken Ho knew what he was doing and he wouldn't try to figure out how he intended to do what he said he intended to do. For the first time since he got on the plane in Tampa, Ivan felt safe.

It was after several hours the doctor came to take Ken Ho's vital signs and listen to his heart. He moved aside. Ken Ho said to stay.

"Well, you are slowly getting to where I want you to be," the doctor explained. "If I tell you to walk a couple of times a day, will you promise me you won't do any running?"

Ken Ho laughed.

"I promise."

"Walk as much as you're comfortable with. When you tire, rest. Other than that, you are coming along fine. You'll be ready soon. Don't neglect your sleep and eat moderately."

As the days passed, Ken Ho got stronger. He was out of bed when Ivan went in to have coffee with him in the morning. The doctor came to take Ken Ho's vital signs. The numbers were better each day, and the doctor spent less time attending to the general.

"Shall we walk," Ken Ho said after getting dressed in an outfit similar to the one he used to wear to the tea house.

They left the bedroom through the glass doors that lead to the back of the compound and the yard behind the house.

Each time they encountered someone, they would bow and say hello. There were people tending to gardens. The fragrance of fruit trees made the air sweet to breathe. It was a pleasant place to walk.

Several large dogs came running toward them. Ken Ho laughed as they pushed to get attention. They wanted Ken Ho's attention, until they chased each other out of sight.

"It's a beautiful place, Ken Ho. I'm glad I came to visit."

"Speaking of visiting. Jon Ho wants to go to America. He's quite young and I humor him. I don't know anyone in America, and Jon Ho could be in danger away from the places where I can protect him, but maybe I'll give into him in the future. Maybe you can talk to him about the places you'd recommend he visit. The idea of it might satisfy him for a while. America is a long way. I'm not so sure it's wise to let him get so far away."

"I can recommend one place," Ivan said. "The cove is a beautiful spot. It's out of the way, but Clay, my partner flies to DC all the time. I'm sure he'd love to fly Jon Ho for a tour of Washington DC, New York City, and other highlights most people enjoy. I'd treat him like my own," Ivan said. "If you'd trust him with me."

"You're a mind reader. It's what I had in mind. I can send one of my people with him, but they'd know no more than Jon Ho knows. Someone like you would know what he might like to see."

"One day he might want to go to school in America. He has tutors here, but they see to it he is challenged and allowed to spend time doing what he likes to do best. College in America would be beyond any dream he has. He hasn't got beyond going to America. I admire your country, with all its flaws. It is a place that inspires creativity and invention. I'd like Jon Ho exposed to that."

"I have a son who is about to turn fifteen next week. He's so smart it is scary. He doesn't take too many people because he is so introspective, but if Jon Ho came, and I asked Dylan to make sure Jon Ho did the things he wants to do, he'd go out of his way to see to it."

"You must have been away from you son for some time, while he was growing up," Ken Ho said.

"I didn't know I had a son while I was here. We've hardly been separated for five years. We are close, but he has always warned me not to leave him again. Unfortunately, as hard as I tried to comply with his wishes, I've been wrenched out of his life again. It may take some work to convince him I'm not leaving him again. He's smart, but there are lines you don't dare cross with Dylan."

"You can understand his fear of losing you. If he is as smart as you say, he'll forgive you and give you another chance. If he is having trouble with that, you call me. I'll talk to him. I'll explain that there is one thing good men can't do. Stop evil men from doing evil things."

They strolled comfortably through the largest gardens. Ivan felt liberated. He felt free. He felt at home with Ken Ho, but he was becoming restless. He still knew nothing about his situation. For the time being, he was out of his handler's reach.

As they walked, they came upon Roland and a half dozen Cambodian soldiers. They were all stripped to the waist and lounging on the nicely trimmed lawn.

Roland jumped up as quick as he saw Ivan.

"Ivan, this is a cool place. I am making friends. They like to do things I like to do. Things I was trained to do," Roland bragged.

"You're solid as a rock, Roland. I've never seen your chest before. You're a stud," Ivan observed.

"Just how I grew up. Comes in handy," Roland calculated.

"What is it you are doing that is so appealing?" Ivan asked.

Roland turned his back on Ivan and walked back toward the soldiers. As he came close to their circle, they all leaped up and came at Roland all at once.

"He's not only intelligent, he respects our customs," Ken Ho said. "It took him a day to catch on, and he's been the star of the show ever since. My men all love him. They've never seen a man as big as Roland is, but he's agile and quick. He has been well trained."

Roland threw a hip, a forearm, twisted, turned raising one huge thigh and then the other. Soldiers collided, bounced off, came at him again, and Roland turned to meet each challenge with a gentle counter action that put off his being taken down by a larger force.

"He's amazing," Ivan said. "He was trained by the Company. He was my guard. He was lonely. We became friends. When they made me the offer to get me free of the murder charges, I made one request. I wanted Roland to come with me."

"If there's a better bodyguard, I don't know of him. I may try to hire him away from you," Ken Ho joked.

"He's as loyal as he is big. I'll need to make a place for him in my life back home. He won't be willingly removed from my life. I may not know much about what's happening to me, but I do know that."

"You should keep him close. I'm sure he'd take a bullet for you."

"I don't want anyone taking a bullet for me. I don't want to be near bullets or violence. I don't want to be here. I want to go home," Ivan said in an unusually emotional plea.

"Soon, my friend. Soon. I'll move in a few days. Once I move, we'll say goodbye for now, and you'll be on your way home, but I'm looking forward to you bringing your family back to meet me."

"That won't be in my hands, Ken Ho. I bring up the rear. Clay and Dylan run the show," Ivan said.

After five minutes of hand to hand combat, and with Roland still standing, there were bows exchanged, and the sweating men lounged on the lawn once more. They went from frantic activity to a relaxed posture. A bucket of water was passed about. Each man drank.

When they got up, it was a more polite affair. No one went right at Roland. They seemed to have given up on that idea, before two of the soldiers dropped down behind Roland's knees, and the other four hit him like football players hit a tackling dummy.

Roland hit the ground laughing, and the six soldiers rolled delightedly in the grass. It's what the soldiers needed to do to hold on to some of their honor.

"Impressive," Ken Ho said. "My God, he's a find, Ivan."

Ivan was laughing as the soldiers surrounded Roland as they talked. Roland even knew a few words of Cambodian. He saw the fun in finally being defeated by any means necessary.

After a lot of hand to hand combat, the soldiers put their heads together, and they figured out a way to get the best of Roland. The big fun loving American respected them for that.

It was fun and Roland was having the most fun of all.

The soldiers and Roland exchanged bows. When the bucket of water came out, Roland was allowed to drink first.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. He made what could have been very hard time easier," Ivan explained.

Roland turned, twisted, blocked, and fended off each soldier as they once again came at him, looking for a way to take him down and keep him down, but Roland was not cooperating.

"I didn't know how well Roland knew how to defend himself. I wanted him with me because of his size. The intimidation factor. It's enough to discourage most men with violence on their mind."

"I find, I'm often surprised by the gifts other men possess. It's best not to be to underestimate other men. For some men it isn't what they say that's impressive. It's what they can do," Ken Ho said.

Ivan knew that was true. He had underestimated Roland's ability to protect him. He was a man you wanted to keep close."

"I'm not sure how you came to be with the men who are with you, Ivan, but if they know Roland is capable, they might wait for a chance to eliminate him in order to get to you," Ken Ho said. "And I'm thirsty. Let's go in out of the heat. I'm still not a hundred percent."

Ivan glanced back to see one man bounce off of a straight arm Roland gave him and another bounced off his thigh as Roland continued to move, to dance, to deflect his adversaries.

Impressive indeed, Ivan thought.

"You seem to be getting stronger each day," Ivan said.

"I'm a busy man and I don't have time to lay in bed. There is much for me to do."

"I am worried about, Popov. He'll be awaiting some word from me. He knows I'm in friendly hands, but Popov isn't a man who is going to sit still and just let things happen. He may make a move on his own, Ken Ho. I shouldn't want him pounding on your gate."