Gemsicuted

Written by Julian Robov

Seven

Rubyhall summoned the directors of his company to the conference room. He had something important to deliver. They knew it wasn’t going to be good news. He had a way of starting and finishing a meeting. He would gently ask them to opine and if he found their suggestion stupid, he punished them in front of others in his own vocabulary. So, Mark Amber, director of mines, reminded Rubyhall of the need to renegotiate the gold deal with the JRO group in Indonesia. Instead, Rubyhall threw the ball into Lam’s court. Lam knew Rubyhall’s tactic and was well prepared.
“Jay can handle that. What do you say, Jay?”
“Well, there is a rumor that the Canadian counterpart and their research team did claim the ‘mother of all’ gold find on earth,” Lam continued. “And they want us to be part of that success story. We did, in fact, commit to further considerations only when the scientific facts and the commercial reality are put forward in writing with the factual report, no money is involved, only a mutual understanding. Then we will make our financial commitment.”
“Okay, good move,” Rubyhall said, complimenting him with a few taps on the desk. Rubyhall had a special relationship with the Suharto family, and the consultants working on their behalf kept informing him of the commercial viability of the discovered mineral deposits. The gold discovery in BUSANG (Indonesia) was brought to Rubyhall’s attention, but somehow his refined instincts never yielded to continue the exploration before it came to be known as the largest fraud on earth. Lam helped Rubyhall identify the fraud, avoiding another financial catastrophe. He was rewarded for this foresight appropriately.
“One more question, Mr Rubyhall!” Philip Coral said, bringing others attention.
“What’s that Philip? Is it important?” Rubyhall asked. Philip Coral, the marketing director, relayed his concern regarding the YADANA project in Burma.
“Yes, indeed. We had a deal with the Burmese government, the gas pipeline project. My informant reminds me that the environmental groups based in Bangkok and Kanchanaburi are going to disrupt our project. How do you think we’re going to handle the situation? It’s pretty serious, and remember the money involved,” Philip said grimly.

Rubyhall had an interest in the YADANA gas pipeline project with other investors, and the Thai governments Burma policy didn’t look like they were working in his favor. He couldn’t understand why all of a sudden the politicians and bureaucrats had become born-again environmentalists. They were talking about trees, forests, birds, animals, worms and all sort of nonsense, when they have been killing, destroying, eating, and profiting from them without the world’s knowledge for centuries. He knew the members of parliament and the committee heads employed to study the project and the ones involved with Burma policy. Though controversial, he had a way of extending favors to the politicians, which was always acknowledged.
“I can answer that worry. Having mentioned Burma, I’m closely watching the situation. I’ll do everything in my power to make the environmental groups proposal vaporize, “ Rubyhall interrupted. “It is of terrible concern. To continue further, what I had wanted to bring to your attention is, I’ve come to know just a few days ago of a ruby, again from Burma, top of the top, in Bangkok, for sale. Now what I want to know is why didn’t it come to my office? We have a tradition of entertaining brokers and miners to bring in their best only their best for that first look, which is why we have a name. How did it happen? I want to know the reason. Why did it not reach our office first? Jay!”
Lam paused. He knew Rubyhall expected a convincing answer.
“I did hear about this rumor the other day. I’m quite doubtful of its existence.
Someone is trying to play poker with us. My informants have gone to penetrate the source, and I’ll be able to inform the board in a day or two. Till then, it should be considered as a speculation,” Lam said, hoping he had convinced Rubyhall.
“What do others think about Jay’s statement?” Rubyhall glanced at everyone in the room. They nodded.
“Having said that,” Lam continued. “There is a group to be watched closely, Miko and Tito. The presence of ruby is their tactic to look like they can handle gems of this superior quality. Knowing their traditional market and the quality they deal in, it would take several accumulated rebirths to match the wealth of Rubyhall’s today, and the money they would have to raise to buy such qualities. Only Rubyhall’s could afford to do that. We have a major investment facility deep inside Burma, and there is no way they would allow such top quality rubies to slip by to wannabe’s like Miko and Tito. We have a friendship pact with the Burmese miners and dealers, and they haven’t disappointed us so far. I believe they will always love to do business with Rubyhall’s for the forseeable future taking into consideration the mutual benefits and concerns.”
“So you think it is just speculation, Jay?” Rubyhall asked.
“I think so, for the time being, “ Lam replied promptly.
Others kept mum. Only Lam knew the ropes of this wild trade. Everyone’s attention centered on Lam. Even though he was sweating, the statement he made in the conference room somehow felt convincing. Rubyhall liked that remark.
Rubyhall took the podium and said, “I’ll have to remind you all, that we are the exclusive custodians of top quality rubies to major collectors around the world,” he continued. “We shouldn’t at any cost lose this exclusive privilege. The Rubyhall’s will weep for the first time when that happens.”
“It will not happen, Mr Rubyhall.” Lam promised. Everyone nodded.
“I’m awaiting your report as you promised, it will be here in a day or two. Let’s get back to work.”
The special meeting was adjourned. After the meeting, Lam couldn’t concentrate on his work. He saw from his office window the almighty traffic jam on Surawong Road, accumulating in rows by the second.

Surawong Road had no breathing space. It was virtually dead. Motorcycles and tuk tuk’s sped like crazy bees frightening the people walking on the footpath. School children waited patiently with their parents for the green light to cross the road.
Street beggars too had a field day. He saw one beggar counting his days earning behind a filthy back street. There was a sigh of relief after he hid the money in a cloth bag, wiping the flies from his sweating face. Another day, more begging. Lam thought for a second. Today he was sitting in a high rise building and looking down at people acting their role on a world stage for survival. Tomorrow, if his calculations went wrong, he would end up like that beggar in the back street doing a similar act in a different way. He had witnessed people make and lose money and gem dealers disappearing altogether with other people’s money and gems, never again to be seen in the market resulting in broken homes and suicides. He had consoled several souls in the trade when confronted with a difficult situation but he knew no one understood his real problems, when he had one. Now a 37carat Burmese ruby had come from nowhere to haunt his life. Avoiding the wrath of Rubyhall was an altogether different story. Rubyhall would never hesitate to obtain this exclusive piece by any means. Rubies were in his blood and losing them looked no different than losing his life.

Tom Chavalith walked into Lam’s office with a how do you do? A close friend and gem dealer, Lam had known Tom for more than five years. He had brought in a few sample rough rubies from Vietnam, for Lam’s opinion. The stones all looked of alluvial quality with a lot of blemishes. The heavily oxidized skin made it difficult to judge their true color. The roughs, which resembled the size of a small hen’s egg got his curious attention. Altogether, there were five pieces. Transparent to translucent, the rough rubies had some crystal inclusions visible under a fiber optic light. The color never matched the Mogok rubies from Burma, overall, a medium quality.

Rubyhall would never touch rubies of such qualities. He would leave it for others to gamble. In the end, he knew they lost money dearly. But he always wanted that first look to discard if deserved. And, Lam was the first filter. If he approved the rubies, then the rubies took up their residence in Rubyhall’s office for the final say. He was the master negotiator. Lam motioned Tom to a seat by his side. They were good friends. But when doing business, they kept friendship separate.
“The rubies need some enhancement. It will be good after burning (heat treatment),” Lam echoed his sentiments exactly.

Tom understood Lam’s statement. That meant another run to the gem doctors of Chantaburi to treat them. Chantaburi was considered the heat-treatment capital of the world when it came to rubies. Lam was the expert. He could judge by the color whether the ruby needed enhancement or otherwise. Some yielded positive results while others didn’t. But heat-treating rubies for color or clarity enhancement was always a gamble. With a little bit of luck and experience, dealers made a good profit if everything had gone well.
“I want to tell you something,” Tom continued. “There is a big one out in the market looking for a buyer.”
“Really?” Lam pretended that he didn’t know anything about it.
“Buddy, 37carat, Burmese. I haven’t seen the piece yet. I got the information from Chu, “ Tom said. “She is quite close to Tito and Miko. I think this one is real. Otherwise, Chu wouldn’t carry such stories to sell her chick stones.”
Lam started to worry. Tom’s information had never gone wrong due to the connections he had in the gem market.
“Someone must be playing the old games,” Lam said frantically.
“Game or nor, the ruby is out, and it is Burmese. I think Rubyhall must be aware of it, don’t you think? Did he tell you anything about it?” Tom gasped.
“Yeah! Sort of. There was a meeting the other day and he brought up this topic. So if you think it is out, then the story is reliable. In fact, I sent Achy and Sammy to double- check the news. If it all turns out to be true, then I have to say so. Rubyhall won’t be happy,” Lam said, sniffing the air.
His attention returned to Surawong Road again. The police came from nowhere to stop three Africans, who were walking to the Peninsula hotel with their black briefcases.
Lam was watching. Tom seemed more interested in studying the ruby parcel he had just brought in under a fiber optic light than the event outside the office.
“Hey! Tom, look at this. Come, “ Lam interrupted.
The shell-shocked Africans stood there not knowing the reason for their apprehension in the middle of a sidewalk.
“They are for their money or something,” Tom commented.
“Passport!” Lam whispered to Tom.
The Africans showed the two policemen their passport. Still unconvinced, they asked the Africans to open their briefcase. They opened them obediently knowing the consequences. GEMSTONES!
One policeman took a few crystals not knowing their identity. The policemen asked them something in a language they couldn’t understand. The Africans looked at each other in utter confusion and fear. The two policemen took the Africans briefcase and sped away.
“What would you do if it happened to you, like those poor Africans?” Lam asked gravely.
“Nothing. You can’t do anything. The police rule the streets whether you are right or wrong. One thing is sure. The Africans will never see those stones again. They are gone forever,” Tom said, puzzled.
The Africans were still standing on the sidewalk crying and yelling at the people. No one seemed to care about their plight. People just ignored them.
“So you think I should go to Chantaburi?” Tom asked Lam. It was back to business.
“Yeah! I think so,” Lam continued. “I don’t know what’s happening to me. I’m not in a good mood today.”
The phone interrupted him as he rose. Tom and Lam looked at each other, and then Tom rushed out to the lavatory.

It was Ris Rubyhall. After the brief conversation, Lam began to worry as to how he was going to convince Rubyhall regarding that elusive ruby of 37carat. Rubyhall had a unique passion to collect untreated rubies of superb color. He never collected treated rubies. The good relationship he had with the specialized laboratories in Switzerland made his business thorough and professional so far. There was no room for mistakes. Lam had instructions only to buy untreated rubies of any sizes above 10 carat. The rest he knew. But quietly Lam entertained friends who came for an opinion and they never returned disappointed. Tom wasn’t an exception.

Meanwhile, the incandescent lights in the ‘DEEP RED’ room of Ris Rubyhall Towers glowed too bright as Tony William, a gemstone dealer, was dragged to a teakwood chair. He was still conscious despite being kidnapped and severely beaten to settle an outstanding score by Rubyhall’s henchman, a North Korean nicknamed ‘Igneous’ Kim.
Kim plastered Tony’s mouth first, and then tied both his legs to the chair. After a second thought, he untied one hand and taped Tony’s other hand close to his chest. He placed the right hand on a wooden block for convenience. Without waiting, he swung the cleaver, and cleaved Tony’s thumb with one swing. He clipped the thumb from Tony’s right hand, and put it straight on the table for him to see. There was a sudden numbness in Tony’s arm, then he screamed. He never expected this swing to come that fast. It was the beginning. He struggled with his right arm to keep it steady, but the oozing blood from the wound wouldn’t stop. This time he felt Kim meant business.

Tony had no other choice, but to see the end of this sadistic ritual. He remembered the dark days Kim just mentioned. His wife, Robin, and Billy, the only son flashed in front of him in a split-second. He tried hard to stay put, but the severe pain wouldn’t allow him to settle himself. Another swing with the cleaver clipped Tony’s forefinger. This time, it was more precise. Kim lifted the cleaved finger from the wooden block and laid it close to Tony’s severed thumb. Tony cried loudly, as the pain became unbearable. Kim stared at Tony, with no compassion, as the situation became tenser. Like a collapsing mud wall, Tony started to crumble physically and mentally, as his energy and endurance drained beyond the limit. His eyes became blurred sliding him into an unconscious state. Barely able to catch his breath, the passionate desire to live longer looked dim and remote, as the numbness spread across his entire body. He had no strength left to talk, as he closed his eyes and slumped in his chair. He wished it were all over. As Tony tried to open his eyes, another swing from Kim cleaved his three fingers. This time, the cry emerged from his heart, voiceless. With his mouth open, he cried as hard as he could, but only saliva scattered around, clustering into liquid droplets, creating a landscape of countless shiny beads. The severed fingers were laid orderly on the table. There was a victory smile on Kim’s face, as he saw Tony’s fingers struggling in vain for life. Blood was flowing from the wooden block, like magma from an angry volcano snaking towards the floor.

Kim walked to the refrigerator, pulled a tray of ice cubes, and swallowed a few pieces, before immersing the severed palm of Tony into it. He felt nothing. His breathing became heavier and desperate as the desire for staying alive emerged into incomprehensible mumbling. Kim glanced at his wristwatch, as he wiped the bloodstains from the cleaver for the next phase. Tears rolled down from Tony’s face, as he looked at his executioner. Without showing any signs of emotion, Kim spread the left arm on the wooden table.
“Please don’t do this to me. No….no……no,” Tony pleaded in a low tone.
His voice became so low, only he could hear the meaning of his plea. But, Kim had to do what he had intended right from the beginning. Tony was paying the price for having sold Ris Rubyhall a parcel of synthetic rubies as natural ones from Burma. Kim sharpened the edges of the cleaver carefully, and this time, instead of clipping fingers one by one, he decided to do the job in two installments. With the first swing, the thumb got cleaved. Like a butcher, he carefully clipped the thumb and laid it on the table. It was quick this time. He held the rest of the fingers symmetrically for a final swing.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Tony cried with all his strength, as the remaining four fingers, cleaved and separated.
His severed palm was immersed into the ice tray for the last crude baptism. With a sigh of relief, Kim walked to the table, and put the severed fingers in a plastic bag with a green tag, time and date. He took another sticker, and pasted on a special mailing address.
“What’s the definition of a synthetic ruby, Tony? Can you hear me?” Kim whispered sarcastically.
Tony had no strength left to answer Kim’s question, as he became convinced that his end was nearing by the second. He remembered his good old days in a flash anticipating the next move. He tried in vain to remember who his friends had been in times of trouble. But the pain and shock of this torturous ritual prevented him from seeking a quiet consolance. He started to realize, how unlucky a person can be, if death had to be encountered in a cruel and painful way, like the one he was now going through. He wished it all ended in one gunshot. But in his case it was taking more time than usual. He felt like cursing his parents and the womb, which brought him to the world. But, it was too late.
“Are you there, Tony?” Kim whispered again.
Tony never responded. Instead, he was breathing quietly, showing only the slightest signs of life. His eyes began to bulge out of their socket, stubbornly showing signs of endurance. He now realized the time had come, and it would be all over in a matter of seconds. Even the attempt to remember his loved ones became too difficult, as he started to feel the declining energy level followed by that cruel numbness.
Kim positioned Tony’s face in profile one more time. There was no room for pity. He squeezed Tony’s head to the wooden block for the next phase. Tony had no interest in knowing what his executioner was up to. His only wish was to see it all end in time. Like a sacrificial lamb, he yielded to the demand, as his head lay face down on the wooden block. Kim checked the cleaver carefully, and with a forceful and precise swing, the sharp edges dug deep cleaving both, the wooden block and the head. Tony’s head was slit from his neck precisely the way Kim intended.

Without fail, he wiped the bloodstains with a piece of cloth, before wrapping it with a plastic sheet. He placed it in a special cardboard box with a note to the recipient. Later on, the severed fingers were also placed carefully in the box with another note. He didn’t wait any longer. He chopped the remaining limbs, and packed them separately in special plastic sheets. The rest was dumped into a larger wooden crate. His revenge over, Kim went to the kitchen sink to wash his hands and the cleaver thoroughly to get rid of the stubborn bloodstains. He then placed the clean cleaver in the wooden crate for its final destination. Having slaughtered Tony like a frog, Kim felt nothing. He walked back again to the kitchen, to grab some sandwiches he had left in the refrigerator, before he decided to leave. There was a conqueror’s smile on his face, before he stepped into a deep surface-diffused blue van with his special luggage to be delivered to the destined recipient.

Chichi taking a break from office worries was busy with their only son, Timo, playing hide and seek at their SV City Tower 3 condominium situated on Rama 3 Road.
The telephone rang.
“Chichi! It’s me,” Miko said hurriedly.
“Where is Tito? What happened? Anything serious?” Chichi asked, while holding Timo.
“Nothing, but good news. Sanders is interested in the deal,” Miko said, cheering her up.
“Really? So what’s next?” Chichi asked, wanting to know more.
“He had gone to collect the stone from the source to show it to Sanders. He wants to see the piece immediately,” Miko replied.
“Is that so? You’ve got to be careful,” Chichi continued. “You know what, Miko? I’m so happy. At last we have done it, the big one. How many years have we had to wait to see a big hot screaming red one in our hand?” She sighed. Timo gave her a warm hug.
“Ten years, precisely! Do you believe in God?” Miko asked, jokingly.
“Sure, I do, when I see the money first. We all can take a good vacation somewhere far way from Bangkok. The city is now boring to me. Same people, same problems, and same everything. We all need a change, don’t we?” Chichi commented.
“Tito wanted me to call you first before he left,” Miko answered.
“Very nice of him,” Chichi said affectionately.
“Were you still awake when I called you?” Miko asked.
“Almost,” Chichi continued. “ Now hopefully I can sleep with some peace of mind. But I’ve got to see the money first before I can sleep my way, you know, snoring. We must go somewhere very different from Asia. It should be an interesting place better than rushing in a Ferrari in Bangkok. Perhaps, LESOTHO (South Africa)!”
“Are you sure?” Miko asked.
“That’s what Tito promised,” Chichi replied.
“In that case, he may be right,” Miko opined.
“Okay, Miko. Bye!”