Greying, yet schooled again

At the age of over sixty two, no one really want to be friends with you, after all this is well over the retiring age, anywhere in the world. Thus, I was doing things of my fancy, of any flavor or at any place, before kicking the bucket. At such an age, cooler and dryer weather is favorable, but not too cold, mind you. My better half would prefer me to be more religious, and join her, hand in hand, in meditation centers or chant religious scriptures. Should I be not up to it yet, schooling by monks and be taught righteousness would be preferred.  Me? I am still thinking about my wife’s suggestion. To be or not to be, that is the question.

In Yangon, the month of May was dry and hot, as such I retreated to Taunggyi, a town up north in the Shan States, Myanmar, where the weather was kinder, cooler and dry. The average temperature hovers in the twenties centigrade, as about 4700 feet above sea level, and with a population around 300,000 souls, is rather a nice place to be at.  Not too crowded.

There, my morning routine was a walk for one and half hours, after which I would visit a small stall of my choice for a bowl of Shan noodles with chicken and hurry back to our rented house and be humbled by my wife, on the things she would like to do for that day. Mind you, it was always something that I needed, and nothing of her wishes. As I always fail and be on the loosing side, protests or comments became unnecessary. She was never wrong on any count, which recalled my mother’s words, ‘ King can do no wrong ‘.

On that morning in question, while I was enjoying my bowl of Shan noodles, a man around fifty on the same table commented, " Dear Sir, good morning to you. I also enjoy Shan noodles, they are good and nothing like this in    Yangon." 

I agreed by nodding and said, " Yes."

He then continued in a matter of fact manner, " Should you like traveling around the region, please make it a point and see Ms. Simmons at the British Council in Yangon within two months, the pay is good for the job and travel is for free, and please do keep this conversation under wraps, whether you wish to undertake or otherwise."

That was rather strange, I had never seen him before nor bumped into him ever again. My stay at Taunggyi continued and did not return to Yangon till I got wind that the rains has arrived there.

This strange coincidence,  lingered in the back of my mind and decided to make a call on Ms Simmons, just for the fun of it. Yangon, in July was raining hard, monsoon was on time, at least the rice fields will not be thirsty and the next rice harvest should be bountiful. The British Council was annexed to their embassy and was a well known place of learning and reading in the city. I called upon the Council around 1500hours, on a Tuesday to avoid the library crowds. I asked for Ms. Simmons at the counter and was directed to the second floor. There, I asked again for Ms. Simmons.

The Burmese lady muttered, "That would be Maureen Simmons, Reference section, one moment please."

I expected a young, fat lass from the north. Instead I was shocked to find Ms. Maureen Simmons to be black, with a cockney accent, around forty who directed me to a small room, with a single table and a chair. 

She smiled and said, " This small room is meant for our more serious researcher."

And she continued, " Thank you for your calling on us, should you be interested in our position, the job calls for a courier or ‘post man’ delivering and collecting papers in South East Asia region, right up to the Far East. At times, it may include the Americas and Europe, but rather rarely."

I nudged her on by saying, " Please, do continue." 

She smiled and said, " The payments will always be in local currency, cash, and the work is not too dangerous, the period of employment will be up to the age of seventy two. Should you be in agreement, I will train you here for three months and another three months will be in Singapore.  All will be made known to you in due course if you are taking the job, otherwise we can call it a day." 

Very business like, however, I could not resist taking a shot at her by adding, " Not a very dignified method of recruiting, would you not agree? "

Ms. Simmons, still smilingly rocketed back, " Your right to say what you may, but this type of business is very hush, hush and I can even tell you a thing or two about yourself and your parents that you are not aware of."

That last statement put be back in my corner. After a more dignified conversation, I sealed the contract by saying, " I’ll take it."

Her smiling stopped and seriously commented, " We’ll start coming Monday, 0830hours to 1130hours, five days a week, you may rest weekends and needless to point out that this is all hush, hush, even to your family, or anyone else for that matter."

Come Monday morning 0830hours, my training began in earnest, more correctly a long series of lectures, which required no pen or paper. Abundantly clear from the onset was the work was to be done alone and not to expect any help or assistance from any quarters. Furthermore, I am to always to remain gray and unnoticed even by the family, and to always blend in with the crowd. Unnoticed and being stealth was the name of the game and observation was ninety percent of the work and to be alert on matters outstanding and different. Every now and then, I was fired with questions to make sure I have grasped the subject at hand. No examinations or homework’s, but rather taxing on my mind. I started all this and intend to finish it.

Finding a parking space near the Council was like playing the lottery. The winning ticket was always illusive.  At times, I just felt double parking like all the others, then I remembered to be ‘gray’, thus parked in Bo Aung Kyaw Street near the main post office building. This was within the law, however, meant seven minutes extra walk and not so comfortable in the pouring rain. This might be another test by her, whatever, I was now more aware of everything. Checking, double-checking, staying quiet seems the way of life and also lost my matter of fact opinion. Always checking, ever listening, dressing just enough in line with the day, I even changed by glasses and slippers, just to be akin with the masses. Each lecture teaches you something different, how to speak, how to strike a conversation, and how to win confidence over others. The lessons were more psychological and the things one ought to know just to be a postman was just mind boggling.  To think that this was just the first three months, I shudder to think about the next three months in Singapore.

I also wondered how long they might have had a tail on me without my knowledge. How many people had gone through the mill, I am sure there must be others like myself, but the training was me alone. Questions abound and I knew it was no use asking Ms. Maureen Sommers. By the month of September, my part one schooling was at an end. There was no graduation party, no certificates and not even simple handshake. 

She did say one thing though, " Never contact the embassy, our foreign office or ministry of defense, all will deny, ever knowing you. Besides, you are a Myanmar citizen, they might even sue you for defrauding their good name. I am sure the Myanmar Authorities may not see too kindly on you also."

Before it’s too late, I pointed out that I will not do anything against my government or it’s people, after all, I am of this land, good or bad. 

Ms. Maureen Sommers stared into my eyes and said slowly, " We know that already and you may have our assurance that no such thing will ever be thrusted upon you."

As I was about to leave, she added, " As I said, never approach our embassy or the council from henceforth. Just live your life and we know how and when to find and contact you." 

With these few words, I left the British Council for good.

There were four teashops I should browse through for my monthly cash allowance in an envelope. It should be at one of them, by the entrance. Just pick it up and walk away, no need for receipts and no question asked.

Months went by and my normal life prevailed until one day, a message was received for me to be in Singapore by 12^th April and to proceed to Tan Tock Sing rehabilitation ward. This, I duly obeyed and was greeted by Mr. Wilfred Lim there, and was ushered into a small consultation room. Mr. Lim was from Hong Kong, so he said, and my three months stint started, as usual. Three months from 0830hours to 1130hours, five days a week with weekends off. It was roughly the same thing as Ms. Maureen Sommers lectures, except more in detail. The new thing I picked up was always to have an ass tight alibi, if not, a good enough reason with details that would stand scrutiny.  Never to be an extravagant, and as much as possible travel by a mode most people utilizes, and also to eat at outlets most frequented by others. My eating in  swank restaurants were things of the past and to travel lightly with clothes and utensils which are common for that area. Furthermore, to be mindful of ladies or gents that might take a liking to you. Always to do a through research on a name change with dates and details that could confront you. The golden rule is to remember that the party questioning are not stupid and well trained, at that. Obey the country’s law and regulations and to stay on the right track of them. Arguments are bad and makes you stand out like a sore thumb, thus avoid at all times a confrontation. Never to have a fat bank account or a large cash roll, you cannot explain for, correctly. With that, I said my salutations to him. He did point out to me that it was most unlikely to be ever meeting again.

Funny, how they all are vague, must be the regulations they are to follow. Not once did I hear the word ‘ espionage ‘. The Brits were good with words and said all that they had done were for Crown and country. I really wonder about their sincerity.

July rains were a welcome. The happiest thing was there were no more trainings, however, it did leave me with a way to live by. I may be sleeping less but was more mindful of everything I did, trusted no one since, and more careful of what I said. This was good in a way. My wife said I was quieter and less confrontational to her. I just smiled and said to myself if she only knew what I had become. I am totally a different man now. If only she knew. With that we returned to Yangon, an old couple, slow and steady. Win the race?

I was now on sabbatical for further two months. This was guaranteed and I did enjoy myself for the first time since training, and need not be looking back over the shoulder.  The real reason I knew was they wanted me to be severed of all ties with the Crown, and a period of time was necessary to see this was accomplished or otherwise. Today, I do not even have a library card with the British Council to say the least. I cannot even remember the guy I met at Taunggyi noodle stall. Through friends, I was told that the nice Ms. Maureen Sommers, already returned back to the United Kingdom, after her tour at the Yangon British Council library. This statement was in no way to be contested.

My contact point in Yangon was a printing shop in the 23^rd Street. In case of emergency, I could call up and say what I wanted in code form and the reply always would be, " Wrong number." 

Should they wish to advise further, they would call back from a pay booth within half hour to a designated pay booth also. All thought of, to be untraceable. Smart ?

Now a days, the only thing English that I owned was a mini Oxford travelers’ dictionary, the size of five inches by three and one inch thick, which could be bought at any high street down town, even in Yangon. This was necessary, as it also served as a code translation when viewed together with a current calendar. I do take my hat off to Sherlock Holmes, a simple, yet effective method of code breaking that can be performed anywhere in the world, without the necessity of a cumbersome code book, that can blow your cover. If only the Germans had known, the Allied would have lost the Second World War. These days, I carry a small English Oxford dictionary, a smart phone with camera facilities and many, more plus a tablet that could serve as a communication center for me.  All rather normal, even the kids are at it. My wife was also learning to use an ipad, a pass on from my son, which I could use as a fall back, should situation be called for. The usage of all types of telecommunication equipments, were frowned upon. In short, don’t use it.

Surprisingly, with all that technology around, very rarely, even a simple telephone is used in our line of work, as it can be traced back without much difficulty, therefore, these tools were only used as a last resort.  Under the circumstances, messages by word of mouth or letters are still the best mode of communication, thus the ‘post-man’ still has a place today. In case of emergency, we were taught to fall back on the services of the humble mail. This was the mode of courier service diamond merchants the world over used, through out the wars up to this day, as it was the safest and cheapest. Put the small stone in a matchbox with some cotton wool, so it does not move, then place it in an envelope and address it to where ever you wish. Simple, effective and yet so economical. What gave me the goose pimples, is the fact, we could be the guest of the Crown and or a government for a very long time, if not yet dead. A chilling thought, by any means. Still, must take my hat off to the company, to use pensioners for such a line of work. Who would have thought to use the dad’s army to defend the Crown. This brilliant also swipe of the brush must be congratulated. The British were always careful with money and uses all tactics within their power to achieve their means, pensioners included. No wonder, The British Empire was the largest in the world and still is I suppose.

Why did I take the job?  

Simple, still wanted to feel useful, even if graying, for mankind.

The money also helped.