InterZone Raider

By Pearce Schaudies

Paul Schoenig, at age 43, six foot one and bald, is having a premature midlife

crisis. Having spent the last twenty years out of college moving around the states to various hi-tech companies, he was bored, and his marriage had come apart from all the moving. So when his latest company sends him to exotic Singapore to train the new staff in Quality and Reliability Audits, he is ready for the seeds of change to sprout. As the seeds mature, he ends up quitting his job and starting a business in Bangkok, Thailand. To provide extra funds for the struggling business he takes on various tourist jobs for a shadowy embassy type who uses him as a deniable asset (one not officially connected to the government, and is on his own if he gets into trouble!).

InterZone is defined in the People’s Third Galactic Dictionary as 'that narrow gap between STATE control and CHAOS where freedom and creativity flourish.'

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pearce Schaudies
• Release date: Mar 25, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476265315

Pearce Schaudies

Sandy, Minister of Future, born and raised in south Texas, BsEE 1969 Univ of Texas Austin. Served on USS Strong DD758, 1965-67. Married 1963, two kids, friendly divorce 1980. Moved to Silicon Valley, lived in SanJose 11yrs. 1992 retired to Bangkok, married a Thai girl in 1996. Having fun.

Book preview

InterZone Raider

Published by Pearce Schaudies at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Pearce Schaudies

Smashwords Edition

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

DISCLAIMER - This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and other elements of the story are either the product of the author's imagination or else used only fictitiously. Any resemblence to real characters, living or dead, or to real incidents is entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

1. Prolog

2. Chapter 1: Mission Accomplished, Sorta

3. Chapter 2: How It All Began

4. Chapter 3: SEEDS of CHANGE - Growing

5. Chapter 4: BANGKOK - Low Profile

6. Chapter 5: The ENEMY - Night Moves

7. Chapter 6: On To PHONGSALI – ReCon

8. Chapter 7: Detour

9. Chapter 8: Engagement, The Enemy

10. Chapter 9: Resolution and Hope

11. About the author

12. Appendix: Harappan Chronicles, Scroll One

PROLOG

JMP_TOC

Paul Schoenig, at age 43, six foot one and bald, is having a premature midlife crisis. Having spent the last twenty years out of college moving around the states to various hi-tech companies, he was bored, and his marriage had come apart from all the moving. So when his latest company sends him to exotic Singapore to train the new staff in Quality and Reliability Audits, he is ready for the seeds of change to sprout. As the seeds mature, he ends up quitting his job and starting a business in Bangkok, Thailand. To provide extra funds for the struggling business he takes on various tourist jobs for a shadowy embassy type who uses him as a deniable asset (one not officially connected to the government, and is on his own if he gets into trouble!).

InterZone is defined in the People’s Third Galactic Dictionary as 'that narrow gap between STATE and CHAOS where freedom and creativity flourish.'

Chapter 1: Mission Accomplished, Sorta

JMP_TOC

Having just hiked across the Lao border illegally into Thailand, Paul decided to take a break and brew some tea on his little primus stove. He'd stumbled out of the crude trail in the bushes onto the rough road made of crushed rock an hour earlier, just below the ridge into this valley. The sun was sinking rapidly here in the mountains west of Nan, and he felt a little chill. As he put in the tea leaves, he heard a truck grinding through low gears in the valley below. He'd just passed the crest himself, and soon an old, dusty and battered truck rattled into view. With a wheeze the truck stopped and the driver climbed out. Paul greeted him in passable Thai and offered to share the tea. The driver accepted and asked, Where you go? I must go to Bangkok. Paul answered, Can you help me? No problem, the driver responded, you talk, I stay awake, not eat medicine. They topped off the radiator and were on their way. Paul didn't want to know what was under the canvas cover in back, and the driver didn't volunteer. Where possible they went around major population centers, and slept under a tree from daybreak to noon the next day. The driver planned to be at the port of Bangkok that night, which suited Paul just fine. So far, his luck had held and he hadn't needed any public transportation. As they passed the Erawan shrine in downtown Bangkok, Paul got out and gave the driver 50 baht for a beer.

He decided against going to a hotel, even though his alternate passport was well made; it was too risky. He wasn't even sure the authorities or that other group were still interested in him. Sleep, shower, food, and a cold Singha beer were all he wanted just now. And no hassles from anybody. He hadn't done anything illegal, exactly, but publicity could cause embarassment and possibly loss of face to three Influential Persons, as Thai newsmen referred to them. Looking around, he figured he wasn't far from the Klong Toehy slum where he'd lived with Pawn a few years ago. It was late, but maybe she'd let him crash there a few nights; they'd parted on reasonably friendly terms. Walking down the railroad tracks from Sukhumvit, he remembered some of the good times he'd shared with Pawn; she was an energetic go-go dancer and fun in the sack as well. It was late, past midnight, and only a few lights were on in the ramshackle collection of slum apartments. They looked a little scary at night, mostly because the city didn't make a regular garbage pick-up. When he'd stayed here before his room had been neat, waterproof, and he never saw any critters. One dog stirred, sniffed, and deciding he wasn't a threat, went back to sleep. Pawn's room was just where he remembered and the light was on, door unlocked, but the room was empty. He was tired but thought he'd play a joke; he hid his clothes and crawled under the rumpled covers til his back touched the wall. As he waited for her to return from the shower, he drifted off to sleep. It must have been three hours later when his sleep cycle peaked that he was aware of two warm cantaloupes sliding over his now erect cock. Rather than speak out and spoil the mood, he adjusted his body position slightly, as if in restless sleep. Bingo! Even in sleepy slow motion the sensation was incredible. Not at all like their previous acrobatic encounters. Fireworks at last. As she pulled away and rolled over, he was aware of long waist-length silky hair, not Pawn's style at all. Uh-Oh! we're in trouble! Before he was exhausted and now relaxed, he fell asleep without a plan.

He awoke to being tickled on his foot which stuck out of the covers. He laughed and pulled the covers off his head to discover two very short girls, both with waist-length hair, and giggling at his predicament. Who you? asked the left-handed one. What you do? asked the shorter one. Paul answered, Coffee!, but when he started to stand up, the blanket fell away, causing more peals of laughter. Blushing, Paul grabbed the blanket and asked, Where Pawn? The girl he thought of as Lefty said in bar English, She move two years already - we member you cause you keep us awake banging wall when you play. The one he nicknamed Shorty chimed in, You can stay here two, three days, but you pay. Coffee, eggs, and rice ready soon said Lefty, You go shower. Here towel. While in the shower, Paul decided he'd better explain his circumstances to the girls; just maybe they wouldn't want to share the possible trouble he was in. So when he returned to the room he said, Listen girls, I may be in a little trouble with the government - I didn't kill anyone, but I know something that could hurt face them, and they maybe looking for me. If you could bring me a Bangkok Post and a Thai Rath newspaper after breakfast, I could see if there's any trouble. No problem said Lefty, You stay in. Yeah said Shorty, We make you forget problem sure! Thanks girls, it's nice to have friends when you have a problem," Paul said gratefully.

Later when Lefty went out to get the papers, he found out what Shorty meant. Last night Lefty come back shower first; I wait. Now me play with you, Shorty said as she pushed him back on the bed. After still another shower, Lefty returned with the papers and Paul asked her, "Can you