Shaking his head in amusement, Kirk stood up and followed her back to his room. She opened his closet and pulled out a small bag and he couldn’t help admiring her cute ass as she headed for his bed. She turned, a little sly smile on her face.
“Bad idea. Let’s go to your desk.”
“You’re such an imp.”
“I know.”
She opened the bag, taking out folders, small devices, and a laptop. His gaze rested on the small pieces of firearms.
“These have been tested. GPS units, walkie-talkies, receivers, compasses…and other stuff.”
“Those small weapons won’t be enough.” They weren’t going to fight the SEALs and their mercenaries, of course, but still, if they were caught in a battle, they weren’t going to last very long with what she had in that bag. It did tell him she was comfortable with weapons, though.
“Bigger fire power on the way.”
“How about a guide into the jungle, if needed?”
“I’ve hired a Malaysian man. He knows his way around.”
“Do you personally know him?”
“Yes,” she affirmed, “and I trust him.”
“Can I meet with him?”
“Later, after you’ve talked to your locals.” A small dimple appeared in her left cheek. “Gasi doesn’t talk much but likes to eat, so if you’re going to loosen his tongue, you’d better be buying a meal.”
“Gasi,” Kirk repeated.
“Short for Gergasi, which means giant.” Surya casually assembled one of the small firearms into a more impressive one with what looked like plastic pieces. She tossed it at him and he caught it mid-air, testing its impressive lightness. She handed him one of the various parts on the table and at his soft whistle, she added, “Plastic guns. Hard to detect. 3-D printers are amazing and dangerous things.”
“There’s a lot more security because of the VIPs,” he noted.
“Yeah. We have to be careful. These—” She pulled out more stuff. “—are our carrying cases.”
Kirk examined them. “I hope the tampon box isn’t for me,” he deadpanned. “It’d seem odd when they pat me down and find it.”
Surya showed him how the small gun fit into a fake bottom. “I suppose you can have the macho Batman drinking bottle,” she said. “Now, a quick change of clothes and we’re ready for our first tour.”
“Should I arrange for a driver or have you taken care of that?”
“I’m driving.”
He thought of the crazy traffic he’d experienced on the way from the airport. Those drivers were out and out nuts. “Nuh-uh. No way. I’m not putting my life in your hands out there.”
She sniffed. “Don’t be such a baby. Get changed and bring your baby bottle.”
He snorted at her mockery. “Just don’t drive like you have PMS,” he retorted.
She laughed as she left his room. “Everybody here drives like they have PMS.”
Kirk was afraid of that.
* * * *
Forty-five minutes later
Death by gun-toting hostiles sounded less frightening by the minute. These roads were a death trap, driven by people who seemed to think they were navigating bumper cars. He could feel the tension stretching across his shoulders and down his lower back as Surya swerved left to avoid a scooter, then right to keep from hitting an oncoming lorry. Nobody honked. Everyone was waving to each other.
