Chapter 18
AS they descended from the pass they saw, close to the foot of the mountains, the monastery of Drepchung. Lobsang pointed out the sprawling cluster of temples and cloisters which forms the largest monastery of Tibet. "Look, Mai Hoe, my home, the monastery of DrepChung, "he said with obvious pride in his voice. From their post of vantage they could also see the roofs and spires of the monastery of Sera, lying directly to the north of the town of Lhasa. Along the southern eastern side of the city flowed the Kyi Chu, and they could distinguish its channel by the trees growing along the banks. On the northern and eastern side, the old boundary is the Lingkhor, the ancient ring road, converted by the Chinese into an asphalted highway. But the town has grown well past its original confines. Chinese immigrants have settled on the western and northern periphery in large numbers and their corrugated iron and brick shacks now constitute a separate township. The PLA garrison in Lhasa has its camp on the western approach to the town, and the road coming down from the Karo La pases alongside the perimeter of the camp, before entering the city of Lhasa.
Lobsang knew the location of the camp, he had also guessed that the convoy would in all probability go into the camp. But obviously, they could not follow the rest of the convoy. If they wanted to get to the city, they would have to break away from the convoy and carry on straight up the road, and hope for the best. Fortunately, the army check post on the highway is about a hundred yards before the road branches off to the left for the army camp. They were waved through the check-post by friendly guards, who naturally took them to be a part of the convoy. The other truck turned off the road towards the camp gates, but Lobssang continued to drive eastwards on the highway towards the town of Lhasa. He kept one eye on the rear-view mirror to see how the guards at the check post would react when they realized that one of the trucks was not going into the camp. They could either assume that the truck was going into the town on a legitimate errand and do nothing. Or they could check with the rest of the convoy and decide to investigate. In any case, it would take them some time to react. Immediate pursuit could therefore be ruled out. But sooner or later, the Chinese would be alerted, the absence of the missing soldiers would be noticed, and then the hunt would be. on again. They had only a short time with them to change back into their clothes and lose themselves into the city of Lhasa.
In any other city in the world, this would have been a comparatively simple undertaking. They could step inside a restaurant, go into the toilets, change into their original clothes and disappear. But the city of Lhasa has only a few restaurants. These few cater mostly to foreign tourists. This is true, as well, of the few hotels that the city boasts. They could not very well go into the Holiday Inn and hope to escape notice among the clutter of American tourists and CITS staff. Even the cheaper hotels, full of backpackers, would be under some kind of surveillance, as the authorities would be on their guard. The only way out was to find a friendly local who would let them have the run of his house.
"Lets-drive down to the local bus station.-There we could get rid of these uniforms. No one will notice us in the rush of people.
"No way Mai Hoe, the bus station has a large number of policemen, Chinese policemen, and they will immediately get suspicious on seeing an army truck. Soldiers do not use the bus station. They have their own transport. Us your head Mai Hoe. The bus station is out of the question"
"But then, how are we going to change?"
"I know a friend who would let us use his place. We will go there.
Lobsang drove through the Barkhor, Lhasa's main market square and turned south. He saw in the rear view mirror two army trucks appear at the far end of the street, about three hundred yards away. They could be just bored soldiers out for a spin, but chances were they were a part of the search party looking out for them. Lobsang decided they would have to leave the truck at the next turning and make their get-away on foot. He turned the truck into a small side street barely wide enough for the vehicle to enter. The truck would act as a road block and hold off their pursuers and give them time to lose themselves into the maze of small streets and huddle of traditional houses that clustered all around them.
"Quick Mai Hoe, jump out, we must run for it now."
"But where do you think we are going?"
"No questions, just leave things to me."
"OK boss!"
"He caught her by the hand and dashed down a back street. Heads poked out of half opened windows, children playing in the street scattered in sudden alarm at the sight of two soldiers bearing down on them. They ran on through a warren of alleyways and twisting lanes. Finally Lobsang came to a stop before a two storied house at the end of a blind alley. He knocked on the door, two short sharp knocks followed by two spaced out knocks and said something in Tibetan. It was possibly a password. The door was opened cautiously. They walked in quickly and the door was shut behind them. Of their pursuers there was no sign.
When her eyes had adjusted to the darkness Mary Joe saw that they were in a long room that was full of bales of straw laying about. A staircase led up to the first floor and there was a door leading to a side room. They were ushered into the side room. Here a little light filtered into the room through one of the windows and Mary Joe was able, for the first time, to see the owner of the house. He was a tall man, thick-set and impressive. He had a drooping moustache and a long scar zig zagged down one side of his cheeks.
"Mai Hoe, this is Norbu.
They shook hands. "This is going, to be your home Mai Hoe, till you find more suitable lodgings. Now let us change into our own gear. Then we shall discuss the shape of things to come,." said Lobsang'.
After changing they met again, and were taken upstairs by Norbu to a room on the first floor that was obviously the sitting room of the house. This room, in strange contrast to the ground floor, was furnished richly. There were settees and rush chairs, covered in green and gold damask with tantra motifs. Gorgeous tankhas, were hung on the walls. Within an alcove in one wall, was a beautiful brass statue of the Buddha. Butter lamps burned before it. In the centre of the room, on the round top of a table was placed an ornately glided and fantastically carved Tibetan dagger of the kind that is used in tantric rituals called phurbu.
'Don't be surprised at all this opulence Mai Hoe. Norbu belongs to a noble family. His people have always been warriors. He now fights for his country. Only now he must do everything in secrecy. Underground, as you say it. From now on it is Norbu who will look after you."
Norbu sat impassive in one corner. He was a man of few words. He poured out tea from a samovar into small cups and handed them around. In the distance they could hear some commotion, which soon died down.
''That must be the Chinese looking for their renegade soldiers. But they won't find anyone here." Said Lobsang.
"You are not leaving me in the lurch Lobsang." Asked Mary Joe.
"No, but I shall now be living in Drepchung. Norbu will put you in touch with me, should the need arise. I hope, for your sake that the need does not arise."
"You are not afraid, my dear friend."
"No I am not afraid, but if you have to contact me, it could only mean one thing, trouble, and I don't want that to happen. Do you."
"Trouble or no trouble, you are in this with me. You can't get back to your rosaries and prayer wheels till we have seen this thing through. Then you can make me a nun if you like."
"You will never be a nun, Dolma. But don't worry, I will be there when you need me."
So Lobsang departed but not before he was roundly kissed on both the cheeks by Mary Joe and given a warm and impulsive farewell hug. It was all that Lobsang could do not to return the kiss. What a wonderful girl was this Mai Hoe, how warm hearted and courageous. These were Lobsang' s thoughts as he took his leave of them.
Then Norbu took her out to see the sights of Lhasa and get familiar with the layout of the streets. From now on she would have to find her own way through the town, and the sooner she learnt the topography the better. Their wanderings took them finally to the temple of Jokhang in the Barkhor. The temple was thronged with pilgrims and purple robed, monks. In the large forecourt many pilgrims were-prostrating themselves on the cobblestones, measuring their lengths on their ground, fingers stretched out towards the shrine. Man had come from thousands of miles following this painful method of progression. Within the shrine, Mary Joe saw the golden statue of the Buddha Maitreya, the future Buddha who will come into the world at some unforeseeable time in the future to ensure the salvation of mankind. In the innermost shrine was the statue of Jowo Shakyamuni, the most revered image of all. This mysterious statue, dating from the time when Buddhism was first introduced into Tibet was the focal point of the devotional fervour of the crowd. Thousands of butter lamps burned within the dark shrine. Outside, in the courtyard, a monk blew on a long brass trumpet heralding the beginning of a special prayer. Far away, the rays of the setting sun were gilding the golden spires on the roof of the Potala. Religion was alive and well here, in spite of the Chinese pickets that had been put up not far from the temple and all around the Barkhor.
Chapter 19
IN the PLA camp beyond the western outskirts of the town of Lhase the garrison commander Colonel Chu-Teh was venting his anger on his subordinates.
"You oafs, you stupid peasants, how did you ever let them through. Don't you have eyes in your head. How did you allow those.... those imperialist stooges to enter the land of China."
He forgot that he was himself of peasant stock and the use of such invective showed a class bias that was entirely unacceptable in a staunch communist like him. The sergeant and driver of the truck who had been knocked out by Mary Joe and Lobsang, were singled out for special condemnation. "And you sergeant, you should be ashamed of yourself for falling for a trick like that. How could you ever forget that you are a part of the great PLA, an army that has never tasted defeat and never will. It is unforgivable that a soldier of this invincible army should be knocked about and tied hand and foot like stupid sheep. Its a bloody disgrace. Major, put these men in detention, where they can remain pending their court martial.''
Next it was the turn of the search party to come under the lash. ''And Major, did your men find the fugitives. No, I thought they wouldn't. No good expecting any results from the bunch of nincompoops who work for you. What do you suggest we do now. Sit on our haunches and wait for the spies to make their move. How do you think general Hu will like this. Well say something Major, you haven't suddenly developed lockjaw; have you"
A young captain spoke up, "If I may make a submission Colonel."
"Yeah."
"We should activate our informers in the Tibetan underground. Sooner or later someone is bound to mention this affair, if it is of any importance at all."
"Very smart, very smart indeed. What do you think I have been doing all this while. Why man, all the stool pigeons in Lhasa have already been put on the job, but no one seems to have heard a word about this matter or about the arrival of any American girl."
"Sir, we could flash her description on Television, put up posters saying she is wanted by the state, things like that.
"Yeah, we could, except that we have no photograph or anything else to go by. And from what l have heard, she looks like any average Chinese girl. There could be thousands of girls answering to her description. No Major, these half- baked measures won't do. We will have to think hard and come up with something better."
"I have an idea Colonel," said the major at last, "we could talk to W ao Wang."
Wao Wang was the governor of the Drapchi prison in Lhasa. Everyone knew about his net-work of informers and spies that operated within the prison. Wao Wang was a byword for cruelty. He had managed, by using systematic torture on political prisoners, to break the will of many of these freedom fighters. He then used them to infiltrate the Tibetan underground. It would be simple thing for Wao to release some of these men to procure the necessary information.
"Now that, at last is an idea. Wao Wang by all means. Let us go to him right away. Would you let him know that we are coming captain.
Wao Wang was a giant of a man. He was over six feet tall and broad in proportion, but what impressed most observers on first sight was his face. This face was broad and hairless. Wao Wang was bald as an egg and his little piggy eyes were sunk in folds of fat. In consequence his face looked like the broad and shining orb of the full moon. The only oddity were the tufts of hair that stuck out of his large cauliflower ears. He could have been a Sumo wrestler run to seed or a boxer who had taken too many blows on his face. He was picking his teeth when the visitor arrived. One fat and pudgy hand lay flat on the green-baize top of the table before him, while the other, holding a toothpick daintily, explored the nooks and crannies of his vast mouth. He rose to greet the Colonel, shaking hands with one hand, while with the other he . continued to pick his teeth.
"This is an unexpected pleasure Colonel. You could have called me to the garrison camp. Its ages since I was there anyway." The words were deferential but the act of picking his teeth while receiving his visitors showed that Wao meant nothing of what he said.
"We need your help comrade Wao."
"Certainly Colonel, always glad to be of use."
"Colonel Chu outlined the details of the problem. He did not tell Wao Wang about the possible motives for the infiltration. He had his own theories on this score but there was no point in sharing them with Wao, who was a man with powerful connections, and had a knack of using information to his own advantage. If any man profited from this case, Colonel Chu wanted to make sure that man was himself.
"And now I have told you all that I know about these infiltrators. Comrade Wao I know you have a network of informers in your prison. Many of them are old resistance fighters. Supposing you turn one of these men loose. Let him go out and renew his contacts with the underground. It is possible, in fact more than possible, that he may be able to find out things which we have no way of knowing.''
Wao Wang went on picking his teeth, seemingly oblivious of what he had heard, but Colonel Chu knew that his sharp mind was at work, weighing the options. Finally, after scratching his chin and looking completely befuddled, Wao summoned a guard. "Go bring Tsering to me.''
Tsering was an old lama, one of the first lamas to go to prison for resistance work. His long stint in prison meant that he now was the ruin of a once fine man. His tall and broad frame was now emaciated. His prison clothes hung about him like rags on a scarecrow. The face was that of an ascetic, but now wasted away. His long white locks were matted with grime and the ancient eyes were filmed with a patina of despair. He was obviously a man whose spirit had been broken by too many years in prison, too much torture and pain.
"Comrades, meet Tsering, one of the oldest resistance fighters in Tibet and now one of my best men. It was Tsering who first shot dead a Chinese soldier in the Barkhor in 1959 and it was that shot which started the rebellion of 59. Tsering knows everyone and everyone knows him."
"How many years have you spent in prison T sering."
Tsering did not reply. But Wao put the question to him again. "What does it matter now. It has been so long that I have forgotten. Most of my old comrades are dead and assuredly I shall also die within these walls."
"Tsering! how would you like to walk free again.?" asked Wao
"Walk free, I don't believe you."
"Yes walk free. To watch the sun rise again over the mountains, to pray at the Jokhang and to eat and sleep where one likes. Think of it man, to breathe the sweet air of freedom."
Tsering thought of it. A look of rapture seemed to pass across his face. His rheumy eyes showed a spark of life for an instant. "What do I have to do to earn my freedom."
"Only find out the whereabouts of a foreigner. Don't worry, we are not asking you to betray your countrymen. We are only after an American girl who has entered the country under the guise of a Tibetan. All you have to do is find out where this girl is. Think it over man. I don't want an immediate reply. Tell me your answer by the evening. Say yes and walk out as a free man.
T sering was led away by the guards. "Will he say yes, Comrade Wao?"
"Oh yes, he has been here these last forty years. He should have been released many years ago. But I was keeping him in for just such a contingency. He has been helping me in small ways. Spying on fell ow prisoners. I find him useful, so he has remained here, unaware of the fact that his prison term has run out years ago."
"I don't blame the man. I don't think any prisoner can, for long, resist your ministrations Comrade Wao."
"Well Comrade Colonel, the fact is there is no man, no matter how brave or strong, who can stand up for long against systematic torture. You don't have to be violent or crude. Even not allowing a man to sleep for a few days can play havoc with his resistance. For those who are put on the rack, the lucky thing is to die, and to die quickly. Anyone who survives a few years becomes a collaborator. There is no other option."
"And can we rely on this T sering."
"If anyone can find out the truth about this mysterious American girl of yours, it is T sering. Besides, what other options do you have."
''None." And on that note they parted.
