.

had he known that many of the looks he now received from the opposite sex were, in fact, an appraisal of the good looking man and curiosity as to whether his ‘one-nighter’ with madame was as sexually extravagant as she had insisted. He knew that if he could get through the following days without any clear indication that his career was to suffer then, by all accounts, he believed that the story had not and would not reach the Ambassador’s ears and perhaps then his future would not be jeopardized by the foolish error in judgment.

      Brigadier General Seda arrived home and elected to work in his study until his wife decided to sleep. She was heavily pregnant and the soldier found her condition sexually repugnant. As a Christian he had only one wife whilst his Moslem peers sported as many as four wives and numerous cewek on the side.

      He had married a Javanese hoping his Timorese heritage could somehow be overlooked by his superiors. Divorcing her would be out of the question unless he could find a woman whose family could influence his career to his advantage. Perhaps he should be satisfied with an occasional visit away.

      Bandung — now there was the ideal opportunity for a man who had needs! The city boasted a major divisional headquarters and was literally over-run with poor young ladies financing themselves through school. He considered the options and decided he may invite the young Australian to accompany him on such a visit. He reflected on their casual but pointed conversation; however he remembered that, at the time, the Attache’s attention had been somewhat distracted by the attractive American. He made a mental note to obtain further information on her, also. Seda was determined to move slowly with the embassy officer as he had detected the reluctance to meet privately when discussing the possible mutual advantages of cooperating together.

      Control was important to the General. Although his salary was officially equivalent to only a few dollars each month, his position in the community provided access to the business sector which could not operate without the assistance of senior military personnel, such as he. The more important consideration was, however, to gain control over General Sudomo’s slush funds, acquiring control of the clandestine operational accounts which, reportedly, ran into millions of dollars each month. He desperately needed access to these funds if he was to survive and grow. To build a clandestine power base required money, and he knew it was only a matter of being patient before he had the key.

      The tall Timorese undressed then showered. Without reflecting further on these matters he slipped quietly into bed, cautious not to awaken his wife.

      Indrawati, his wife, legs curled up so that her knees touched her enormous belly smiled contentedly. Her husband had returned home. How considerate he was not to awaken her and demand his rights! She imagined the other wives were envious. Her husband was handsome. She was an only wife. The first wife of a General!

      She was pregnant. She was happy, deliriously happy. Tomorrow she would insist he couple with her as she understood only too well the dangers of an unserviced husband. That would surely please him, she decided, as he had not had many opportunities these past few months.

      The room was not air-conditioned. The still, musty air, slowed their breathing. Had Seda’s wife had any insight into her husband’s covert activities which were so secret that even his superiors had no information regarding his machinations then, in all probability, Indrawati would have delivered her child there and then. Seda was building his network He was now a very dangerous man. Totally oblivious to each other’s thoughts, their minds drifted until they finally achieved a deep, comforting sleep.

      BAKIN — Jakarta

      Another year passed quickly. The city changed dramatically whilst in the villages the people had already put most of the horrifying past behind them. There had been tears and recriminations but nothing had really changed. The peasants still rose with the first rays of the sun and worked until exhausted from the day’s physical toil, returning to their village huts to sleep only to awaken the next day and do it all over again with monotonous regularity.

      Nathan Seda was pleased with his new appointment. General Sudomo had passed away, creating the opportunity for the ambitious and still relatively young soldier to tentatively occupy the sensitive post.

      He had followed the career of the American, Hoover, and emulated some of this powerful man’s control over others by developing an information base regarding their personal activities. Since the abortive coup attempt he had ensconced himself solidly within military as well as political circles.

      Many of the former military officers had retired or passed away. Some were dispatched overseas as Ambassadors. A number still remained under detention for their part in the abortive coup or their affiliations with Communist elements or sympathizers. Some just had the misfortune to be in the path of another more ambitious player resulting in their disappearance or secret incarceration until whatever they had or knew had been surrendered. His star was rapidly on the ascent.

      Military Attachés frequently wrote reports advising their respective Governments that Seda, although neither Javanese nor a Moslem, should be considered to be an integral part of the nation’s New Order and not to be underestimated. He was well received amongst the Corps Diplomatique . He often assisted facilitate access to senior government officials and generally presented himself as a loyal, intelligent, and dedicated officer with no apparent political aspirations. His youth was not considered a handicap.

      Even the Chief-of-Air-Staff and Minister for Air, Laksamana Madya Roesmin Nuryadin had been appointed by the President at the incredibly young age of thirty-eight! Informed sources suggested that Seda had not only slipped into Sudomo’s chair but had also succeeded in accessing the funds used by the intelligent services for their clandestine activities.

      The Indonesian counterpart to the Central Intelligence Agency occupied a prominent complex of buildings at the southern end of Jalan Jenderal Sudirman. This organization, BAKIN, Badan Koordinasi Intelijen , received more than adequate funding for the many nefarious activities considered essential to the nation’s security.

      Seda relished this position of power. He had finally accessed the enormous amount of capital previously hidden away by his predecessor. The funds at his disposal were even more substantial than he had envisaged! Now he could build and develop his plan. He was secure.

      There was virtually no financial reporting as the Ministry of Finance was under civilian control and, providing he spread sufficient funds around in the correct quarters, there would be no questions to answer as he now dispersed these funds. All of his predecessor’s aides and administrative support staff were either posted to other commands or pensioned off to ensure positions for his own people.

      He had both the Sudomo watchdogs ordered to Irian Jaya where they suffered, at his request, before the tribesman removed their heads. He had set about initiating a special operations team responsible for highly sensitive duties and it was at the head of this team that he appointed Captain Umar Suharjo.

      Even in the BAKIN building there were whispers regarding this silent unsmiling Javanese whose past career details remained vague. He was a man to be avoided and the more hardened amongst their number did so, willingly, as the soldier’s cold almost blank eyes could penetrate in the most chilling manner. Some said that he had been trained in a special camp; others declared that he had served in the anti-Communist sweep which accounted for several hundred thousand dead during the post abortive coup clean-up campaign. Whatever was said or whispered, there was, in fact, no accurate data relating to the Captain’s past.

      Only Seda had the key. The man would disappear for weeks at a time and no one dared inquire as to his whereabouts. Suharjo was Seda’s secret coordinator, bag-man, go-between and, on occasions, executioner. He had killed so called enemies of the State, blackmailed members of the government and even orchestrated the recent demise of one of the other BAKIN operatives who accidentally discovered information dangerous to both himself and Bapak Seda.

      He never questioned his instructions. He received his orders directly from the General. His life was simple, uncomplicated, and suited his talents. He had no family and no friends. Just the General. He never questioned his superior’s instructions. He did not care. He had become