Part 29 (1/2)
When the constabulary colonel had gone, the three washed up and went downstairs Tony was restless and Rick knew that he wanted to get to work on the artifacts they had flon to Manila The Ifugao treasure, uard at the university museum
”Go on out to theto itch just watching you”
”Sareed ”Go on, Tony We'll wait here for word from Chahda”
”I really would like to,” Tony said ”Perhaps I will, if you'll let me know the moment Chahda comes”
The boys promised to do so and Tony departed They found coe and ordered fresh li with the truck to Meat Wonder if Chahda will be back by then?”
”I wish he'd let us knohere he is,” Scotty grumbled ”For all we know, Lazada may have captured him and tossed him into Manila Bay”
A waiter approached ”Ask him where our liry”
”Again? We finished dinner less than an hour ago”
”It didn't see when the sun is high in the sky I don't care what time it is, it should be dark e eat Now it's dusk and I'ry”
The waiter bowed ”Phone call for you, Mr Brant--or Mr Scott”
”Thank you Wonder who this can be?”
”Chahda?” Scotty asked
”That would be too much to hope for Besides, he sends notes whenever he can Doesn't like to phone”
But it was Chahda He gave the Meet him at Paranaque, a town to the south, just below the airport Hurry Chahda hung up He had obviously been excited
Rick and Scotty ran for their rooed clothes, then Rick tried to phone Tony at the retted that Colonel Rojas did not answer the phone in his quarters They would send a e that he and Scotty wereChahda, then the boys hurried to the desk and left a sie for Tony
A taxi took them to Paranaque Like most small towns in the Philippines it consisted of a cathedral, a store, and a few houses
They found Chahda in front of the cathedral He was dressed Filipino style in slacks and sport shi+rt, and his hair had been recut to a orot one
They dismissed the taxi Chahda had the jeep While he drove theh a backwoods road, he told them his story He had pulled off the one-lane road to let Lazada and Nast pass just before he reached Baguio
Following them had been no probleuio, and by asking a few questions of the house servants--after first loosening their tongues with a few pesos--he had found that Lazada was proceeding on to Manila by car the following ive Nast the skull to take care of,”
Chahda admitted, ”but I not think so Lazada not the kind of o to barbershop, get haircut, pick up clothes where I left the Meat
Then I drive to Manila and stop at Malolos”
That was a town to the north of Manila on the road to Baguio Chahda had pulled the sa Lazada overtake him
”He comes by, and Nast is with hiht to his house I wait around nearly all day