Chapter 2 - Setting Out

There was no verbal agreement, but I decided I should help the Colonel. I paid for my breakfast and then

walked to his vehicle, ready for him to bring me to his Base Camp.

      On our way to his car, the Colonel briefed me in a tone that was warmly soothing. Three NS Men are missing during a military exercise.  Usually, one would expect a water bottle, knife, or toggle rope in such missing incidents, but the search party had found nothing.

The men had disappeared without a trace.

Earlier interviews with their friends and platoon mates had indicated they were behaving normally with no evidence of depression or mischievous intent.  As the Colonel recounted, my mind burst into hyper mode. What had taken them? What’s inside the forest?

Just when we were about to enter the lift to the car park, I heard my name being called. I turned around

and found a familiar figure running towards me, hands in the air in a frantic fashion.

It was Leng, my assistant.

“Dr. Jin, Dr. Jin! Where are you going? You have a meeting.”

I hesitated.

“Leng, I don’t remember anything about having a meeting today. I’m supposed to be writing my new

research papers.”

“You do. I just received a call from the Provost Office.” My assistant, who was nine months on the job, asserted. Her bookish mannerisms and her ovalish glasses made her seroousness endearing. Having just graduated from the faculty of Social Sciences, Leng has proven to be enthusiastic and organized in her duties. The sort of help a disorganized man, like me, needs.

She was not the athletic type and the dash towards me had made her short of breath.

“It’s a last-minute call. You can’t, sorry, can’t you do it now?”

“Hey, Leng, breathe.”

She noticed the Colonel and inspected him from head to toe.

“You are?”

“This is-” I looked at the Colonel for hints if I could reveal his identity. He extended his hand.

“I am Colonel Tan Choon Kim, Madam. Or you can just call me CK.”

Leng shook his hand and looked at me

“What laws did you break, Dr. Ant?”

I was hapless at her mischievous taunt and threw a dismissive wave.

“Postpone the meeting for me. I need to go with the Colonel for a meeting.”

I climbed onto my seat, but my assistant had a mind of her own.

“Is that what they call you? ‘Dr. Ant’?”

I shrugged. “Only people who are close to me.”

“May I?” the Colonel asked.

I nodded.

“I’m coming, too.” Lend said suddenly, jumping into the hind seat.

She knew my habits. The last time I disappeared, it was for a good three days.

“Whatever for?” I asked.

“You will need my help, Dr. Ant.” She declared with deep assurance.

“Are you fine with her joining us?”

The Colonel rolled his eyes between us and then said, “I will let you decide.”

“Can we tell her, Colonel?” I asked.

“You’re the one I need, but I’ll take all the help I can get. I’ll need her to sign a Non-Disclosure agreement later.”

I nodded in resignation.

“I definitely can help, Colonel.” Leng declared and sat herself comfortably in the hind seat.

As the Colonel drove, he explained in a measured tone.

“I had met resistance from my colleagues and the police. However, I insisted on giving it a try. Lives are at stake.”

“I will need your full trust if we are to proceed,” I said.

“Are you confident?”

“I need to be sure about the cause of the disappearance. If it is paranormal, I can help. Definitely.”

“He’s never failed,” Leng added.

“I am assured.” The Colonel muttered, but sensed he was taking a bet with me.

I was about to ask Leng to stay silent when the Colonel asked.

“Is there anything you need me to prepare?”

“I need to study the landscape before I can answer your question.” I said. I was silent for the rest of the trip, deep in meditation and trying to work out things I needed to do.

“Care to share your thoughts?”

Leng replied on my behalf. “He’s always like that, communicating with his inner self.”

My personal assistant, always anticipating my instructions and delivering beyond expectations, can sometimes be an irritant with her trying-to-be-smart quips.

CK chipped in as he threw a glance at the mirror.

“You sound like his mother.”

Leng giggled, “I’m happy to play that role.” I kept my silence, and CK sensed something.

“Did I say something wrong?”

I shook my head and wished Leng would shut up, but she was a second faster.

“Dr. Ant is an orphan.”