It was after one when I got back. Work had piled up in my absence, and Vivien was beginning to fret at my lack of attention. But I kept going over that meeting in my mind. It was clear that I would have to see Eric again, no matter what Bach had said, to make at least one more attempt at convincing him. First I needed to hear from Quang. I knew I should ring Hao, but I thought I’d better wait until I knew a bit more. She’d only think I was using it as an excuse to keep on seeing her.
At five Quang rang me. He said he had something, ‘on that matter we discussed’, and asked if I could come round that evening.
‘Quang,’ I said, ‘can I bring someone with me this time? It’s the mother of the young man I mentioned. I’d like you to talk to her directly.’
He sounded hesitant, and I went on.
‘She’s totally reliable. She’s the one who first approached me. I’m sure you’ll enjoy meeting her. Jack and Sen got on well with her.’
‘Alright. But please don’t tell her anything about me until I’ve had a chance to see her.’
We made a date for seven.
Unfortunately Hao proved much harder to convince. She was home when I rang, and she listened to me, but she clearly didn’t want to change her mind.
‘I can’t come, Paul. And besides, Eric has told me about last night. You shouldn’t have done that! It’s not helping him at all.’
‘But Hao, you don’t know what’s involved–’
‘Please, Paul! I know you’re trying to help, but it’s not necessary. I trust Eric.’
‘Alright! But this man’s going out of his way to find out about Eric’s friends, and I think you should know about it. Whatever Eric says. Can I see you tomorrow, or Friday?’
‘Paul – please – I told you – it won’t change anything–’
‘At least tell me when your flight is. So I can come to see you off.’
‘There’s no need–’
‘I’ll find out from the airport anyway. There can’t be that many flights to London. I want to see you again, Hao, even if I have to go all the way to Leeds to do it.’
We sounded like old lovers having a quarrel.
‘Alright–’ She gave me the details. Did I imagine it? There seemed to be the ghost of a smile in her voice. ‘I’ll see if I’m free–’
I felt crestfallen as I made my lame excuses to Quang.
‘Did you give her my name?’ he asked again anxiously.
‘No, Quang, don’t worry. All she knows is you’re a friend of Jack’s.’
Reassured, he told me what he’d learnt: there was indeed a group, calling itself the Mad Buffaloes, and Khanh seemed to be their leader, with a younger man called Binh. It was small, probably no more than a dozen, secretive, and fiercely anti-communist. Quang’s informant hadn’t been able to find out a great deal, but they held regular meetings, in Cabramatta and Fairfield, where they discussed politics – a kind of indoctrination session.
‘I’m told my name is occasionally mentioned,’ he said wrily.
He also confirmed that they had a kind of training camp on a farm north-west of Sydney, where they did military-style training, with firearms. He didn’t know who owned it. Binh seemed to be in charge, though Vo Khanh sometimes attended.
‘It does sound as if my young man is getting involved in some pretty strong stuff,’ I said.
‘You should get him away from them as soon as possible.’
Quang sucked his teeth a bit when I told him what I’d done. He was too polite to tell me to my face, but I could see he thought I’d made a mistake by going to see Bach. I had to assure him I hadn’t mentioned him, or revealed that I knew much about the group.
‘You know, there’s something I don’t entirely trust about Mr Bach. Have you been able to find out much about him, Quang?’
Not a lot yet, but what he’d learnt was interesting. Bach was certainly a successful businessman, with a hand in several businesses besides his Bach Ho Import-Export Company, and he also owned some real estate – including the building where the Dai Nam restaurant was located. He’d also been back to Vietnam on business, though as Quang remarked that wasn’t unusual these days. Nghiem had told me the same thing.
According to Quang’s source, Bach had helped Vo Khanh finance his business. It could be that Vo Khanh in fact was just a front man.
‘That wasn’t the impression he tried to give me today,’ I said.
‘No. But here’s something else.’
According to his source, Vo Khanh wasn’t the only person involved in the Mad Buffaloes. It seemed there was someone else, someone senior to him. Someone they called Bác, ‘uncle’, like Bác Ho, the way they used to call Ho Chi Minh.
‘Whether it’s Bach or not I don’t know, but it would make sense, don’t you think? Vo Khanh’s very brave no doubt, but I don’t think he’s got the brains or the patience to organise something like the Mad Buffaloes by himself. So there could well be someone else behind him. And running an organisation like that takes money. That farm, weapons … It would be amusing, wouldn’t it, Mr Paul?
From Bác Ho to Bach Ho.’
He chuckled at his own pun, all excited at the idea of uncovering a plot. Vietnamese are born conspiracy theorists.
‘Why would he want to be involved with the Mad Buffaloes, if he’s trading with Vietnam?’ I asked.
‘Who knows? He may have strong convictions of his own, that he doesn’t want to show in public. That could explain why he keeps his distance. He wouldn’t want to hurt his image with the communists, if he’s doing business with them. I’ll try and find out more about him. What he did in Vietnam before coming out.’
He reflected for a moment in silence.
‘Meanwhile what worries me is what they may do during Loc’s visit. You remember the man I mentioned to you?’
‘Yes, the one you worked for in Saigon. But that’s to be expected, isn’t it?’
‘Certainly. Whenever there’s an official visit from Hanoi you get a demonstration. But this one looks like it could be rather big, and it could turn violent. Can you get some details from that young friend of yours, Paul? I really think I ought to warn Loc.’
‘Can’t his embassy do that?
‘Yes, but he’s more likely to listen to me, if I can get a message to him.’
‘Well, I’ll try,’ I said, not very hopefully. ‘When’s Loc due out?’
‘I’m not sure. It looks like early May.’
He smiled. ‘My source also told me the Mad Buffaloes recently recruited a young Eurasian who works in Vo Khanh’s restaurant. That wouldn’t be your young man, would it?’
‘You’re too sharp, Quang.’ It was time to come clean. ‘You’re right. But if I tell you about him, it has to be in the strictest confidence. I don’t want him hurt in any way.’
He nodded, and listened in grave silence as I gave him Eric’s background.
‘Unfortunately,’ I went on, ‘he won’t listen to me. I can’t get it into his head that I want to help him, and that he’s heading for trouble. And his aunt goes back to Britain this weekend, and after that I may lose all contact with him. But I’ll try and see him again tomorrow. I’ll let you know how I get on.’