Penin's Treasure

By Maxwell Burnham

With a CITES Treaty twenty-year moratorium, the Ivory market is choked. Shanagne, the only daughter to the Chinese premier, is about to turn twenty-one years. Her mother wants to pamper her with a special gift made of ivory. On the other hand, in Zimbabwe, there is an ivory warehouse with over thirty tonnes stashed, gathering dust. Security is watertight. Disguising as a tourist destined for the Mighty Victoria Falls, Penin, a showroom attendant, hooks up with Mandy, PA to the tourism minister. Together, they stealthily plan to haul out the whole lot to China and hope to outwit Africas most sophisticated state security. They dont care who gets hurt as long as their plan bears fruit. Selfishness, greediness, and corruption are tools used to achieve their ambitions. Innocent lives are sacrificed, but they dont give a damn. Can the engagement of a private investigator thwart the looting? Read on and find out the twist and turn of events.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Jan 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781482825855

Maxwell Burnham

Maxwell Burnham was born in Hartley, Zimbabwe. He attended his education in Harare, where he lives with his family. Look out for his upcoming books: Super Red and Super White. Follow him on Twitter: @burnhamaxwell. E-mail: [e-mail]. Web: www.maxwellburnham.com.

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Penin’s Treasure

Maxwell Burnham

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Copyright © 2016 by Maxwell Burnham.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is purely fictitious. Any relevance to people either dead or alive is coincidental. The story is the author’s imagination.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

www.partridgepublishing.com/africa

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Dedication

T HIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO my father Benjamin, an avid reader, and mom, Ann, a spring of love. I haven’t deviated from what you taught me.

Acknowledgement

A M INDEBTED TO MY FRIENDS, M.F. and S.M. for their unwavering support.

Chapter 1

T HE DESIRE TO SATISFY HER daughter’s twenty-first birthday prompted Mama Ching Li Feng, Chinese First Lady, to visit Chong Ho Sculptures and Curios, for a special gift.

The place was situated in the industrial area of Beijing, and its showroom was in the City Centre. Mama Ching Li Feng had once visited the place when her husband, President Shor Pee Feng, had bought her a present of a base bed made of elephant tusks. Both the headboard and base were made of super white African Elephant tusks.

When her daughter, Shangyne Ho Feng, was about to celebrate her twenty first birthday, Mama Ching Li Feng thought of one place to purchase a gift for her. She had frisked her drawers for catalogues. Her eyes were smitten by one catalogue from Chong Ho Sculptures and Curios.

Shangyne Ho Feng, was a tall girl, with a round face, slim body and dark hair. In her mother’s eyes, she was an apple, and whatever she did, she wanted to please her.

Driven in a silver Mercedes Benz by her chauffer, Lee Fay Li, Mama Ching Li Feng was gazing at an old but beautiful catalogue. She was still pondering on the type of gift to buy her daughter. At one time, her mind had settled for a bracelet but when she flipped more pages, her mind began to vacillate on other items.

I will decide on the type of present when I reach the showroom, she said inaudibly.

I didn’t hear you, Mom, her Chauffeur quickly replied. He was startled by her voice as they had travelled for a long distance in silence. Lee Fay Li slowed down the vehicle when they were about to approach the gate of the showroom.

Mama Ching Li Feng folded her catalogue. She put it on the seat and began opening her brownish red handbag. Retrieving a comb, she stole a glance and quickly combed her hair. Age is quickly catching up with me! I was talking to myself! I’m still to decide on what to buy for Shangyne’s twenty first birthday, she chuckled, putting back the comb in her handbag.

The car screeched to a halt. Lee Fay Li disembarked, walking briskly to the other side of the car to open a door for his superior. When Ching Li Feng was out of the car, he closed and locked it. He held out the handle to make sure that the doors were locked. Lee Fay Li trotted on the heels of Ching Li Feng, holding her handbag.

When they were about to reach the showroom, an attendant opened it wide. She quickly recognized Ching Li Feng. All attention was turned on her. Who would not cherish the privilege of escorting the first lady, thought Penin? She was a short, plum woman with agile paces and her brown eyes were sharp and active.

It’s an honour to be visited by you, Mama Feng, said Penin, giving a hand shake. She knew that a visit by the First Lady would not be a casual one. It was going to end up with a purchase, probably of a magnificent magnitude. Her commission for the month would be more than sufficient, she cogitated.

I always think about Ching Ho sculptures and Curios whenever I’ve an anniversary, pointed Mama Ching Li Feng, returning a smile. Her purple dimples sunk in her cheeks. Given a cue, Penin gestured her a seat. She herself sat on the edge of an adjacent Brown elephant leather couch. By the way, what anniversary is that? I remember last year when you came to buy that Super White bed, it was your twenty fifth marriage anniversary…

This time around, Mama Ching Li Feng said in a whisper, it’s my daughters twenty first birthday! She said, changing her posture. Tell me, what have you got in here that I can give to my only daughter? she twinkled her right eye.

Penin rose up and led the way into a more spacious office packed with elephant tusks’ carvings. On display were bracelets of all sizes in glass shelves. They were in rows of fives in all four walls of the room. Mama Ching Li Feng abruptly halted, extending a hand to pick up a bracelet. Holding it for a while, she gazed at it. This is magnificent! she exclaimed returning it on its place. She kept gazing at it. Behind her heart, it had captivated her. Picking it up again, she scrutinized it more closely, then she returned it back.

She locomoted to the other rows of carvings, when she was done with, she inquired further, Is that all you’ve in here?

Oh no, not, at all, retorted Penin. She led her entourage into another room. The room had an oak wooden floor. The windows were of aluminium, extending from the floor to the ceiling, letting in abundant sunlight. These picture frames are all made up of Super-White-African Elephant tusks.

Interjecting quickly, Mama Ching Li Feng asked, How about those bracelets? They seem to differ from that material?

Penin lowered a gigantic picture frame, placed it on the floor and squatted. We’ve two different types of Elephant tusks in the world. Those bracelets we saw are made of Indian Elephant type. That’s why they have that yellow colour, she coughed, clearing her throat. These picture frames are made of African Elephant type. That’s why there are white in colour; the so called super white or snow white elephant tusks, she concluded.

Mama Ching Li Feng felt agitated. She peered at the picture frame still lying on the floor. The bracelets seemed to be made of dull material, she thought to herself. Picking up the picture frame, she ran over it with a forefinger. She cogitated her husband’s portraits which were of dull colour and inferior material. Why don’t you make all your artifacts by that Snow White material? I think I will go for the Super White African Elephant tusks. What do you think, Ms Penin? She stood up, returning the Snow White Elephant tusk picture frame. Imagine all the President’s portraits in picture frames like those! Wouldn’t that be magnificent, Ms. Penin?

Penin Lin Cher knew the problems Chong Ho Sculptures and Curios as a company were facing. She also knew that The First Lady preferred African elephant tusk products to Indian Yellow tusk products. An order depended on it. She tried to ponder on the way to persuade the First Lady to make a purchase on the product on offer but realised it was a tall order.

She saw a chance of closing a sale slipping by like a slippery fish. She didn’t know the way to salvage it. She was also determined to come out victorious but had no better method to implement.

Penin Li Cher, however, was not perturbed by Mama Ching Li Feng’s insistence on the Snow White Ivory material. She led her into another office. The office belonged to Gardner Ho Chong, only son of Humphrey Chong Ho, owner of Chong Ho Sculptures and Curios. He was a tall, slim man, with brown eyes and an athletic body, He was incorporated into the business and headed both departments of Procurement and Marketing. His father headed the Finance department.

*     *     *

There is no problem at all Mama Ching Li Feng, Gardener Ho Chong reassured her. I promise you that we’ll be making that gift of your daughter, Shangyne by Super-White African tusk. Just give us a few weeks and your gift will be ready. He removed his spectacles, wiped them on his white shirt, and put them on again.

They bid each other farewell. When Mama Ching Li Feng had departed, Gardener Ho Chong and Penin Li Cher remained routed on their feet.

Penin, Gardener Ho Chong said, almost in a whisper, We’re in a catchy-22- situation.

How? pumped in Penin, folding her arms.

Come into my office I’ll extrapolate more. Gardner led Penin into his spacious office. He sat at the edge of the table and she sat on a chair facing him. You know, Penin, we’re having a problem in procuring our raw materials, he remarked, churning out a deep sigh, especially the Super White African tusks. Penin Li Cher just stared at him and she just knew that problem was beyond her scope.

With the stringent measures imposed by the Convention in International Trade and Endangered Species (CITES), on the total ban of trade on elephant tusks, things have become very difficult for the company, lamented Gardner, his eyes almost inundated in/with tears.

Isn’t there something to be done to overcome that problem? queried Penin, her voice almost choking with grief. She took out a roll of tissue paper, rolled it out and wiped her sodden eyes.

With unprecedented elephant poaching in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) had put a total ban on marketing of elephant tusks and related products. China, as a major producer of elephant tusks and products, had been hit hardest by the order

Oh! Yes, Ms. Penin! Gardner Ho Chong retorted, twisting his mouth, where there is a will, there is also a way.

How? Penin cried out.

Gardener stood up, pacing up and down before taking his seat. I’ve some Business Associates in Africa. Oh, yes! Oh, I had totally forgotten about them! he said, sucking in his right hand finger, giving out a gigantic grin.

What do you’ve in mind, Mr. Chong? she queried, staggered by his change of behavior. His face beamed, losing its melancholia expression.

Do you have a passport, Ms Penin? Gardener asked, almost shaking Penin Li Cher by the shoulders.

Off course, I do, Mr. Chong! she whispered, but still showing signs of being agitated. You haven’t said anything as yet.

Gardner Ho Chong calmed down and sat on his chair. Giving out a deep sigh, he wiped his eyes.

Let me order tea. We’ve to talk this over tea. Do you want tea or coffee? he asked her, picking up the phone.

She blinked, still hoodwinked by his actions Coffee will do.

When coffee arrived, they each poured in their small cups. The whiff of it beamed high, appetizing them. Each added sugar and powdered skimmed milk.

Gardner resumed, there is a small country in the heart of Africa, called Zimbabwe. Do you know it, Ms Penin? he asked, sipping his coffee in between his talk.

Penin Li Cher only shook off her head in denial.

Teasing her, he said, How can you say you’ve visited Africa when you haven’t visited Zimbabwe? He took hold of his cup and gulped his coffee before replenishing it to the brim. Here in China we’ve The Great Wall and in Zimbabwe there’ve one of the Seven Wonders of the World; The Majestic, gigantic Mighty Victoria Falls! he said, his countenance full of smile. He sighed deeply. Opening his drawer, he took out a colourful brochure and laid it on the table See this map? He held it closer to her. Though the country is the size of one of our provinces, it has many riches in terms of flora and fauna. Their map resembles a spore of an elephant. There are huge herds of elephants in that country. I don’t think there is any country in the whole world that has many populations of elephants like Zimbabwe. I heard that the country’s carrying capacity is about one hundred thousand elephants but it surpasses that to over five hundred thousand! Can you imagine that?

Peering through the brochure, Penin Li Cher enquired, Tell me more about that Victoria Falls. She changed her sitting posture, listening attentively "Why is it called one of the Seven Wonders of the World? Is it man made like