Chapter 291: Nov 13 – Tokyo, Japan (2)
With time on our hands last night, Vit and I sat down to write down what all we might purchase on this leg of the Mission and how to get it home. We haven’t really bought as much as we thought we would, at least not as far as household items go. Wine we have in plenty, the cellar is full, but we need to think about more practical things from here on out.
“Luxuries are not a bad thing, and there are still some I think of, but we also need some of the fabrics on your list.”
“And things from your list as well Vit. Please don’t make this all my wants. Let’s add needs as well, even if it is just some of the foods that you’ve mentioned in the past that were difficult to impossible for me to find back home.”
“Ah, you think of my wants too much.”
“Not too much my Cossack. You sacrifice at least as much as you say I do. Let’s stop arguing about it and just accept it.”
We’ve created an encrypted spreadsheet with the help of one of Dylan’s handy-dandy programs on my personal tablet that Vit also has access to. We’ve organized it by ports as much as possible and we’ll further organize it based on whatever schedules we have. In some ports I will be responsible for purchases and Vit hopes that in some ports he has time to help.
In Tokyo our list was … well it looked a little silly but I’ve managed to take care of most of it. Vit has a weakness for KitKats. They aren’t quite a cookie. They aren’t quite a candy. The easiest description of them is that they are a chocolate covered wafer type edible with flavored goo between their layers. They are a very popular item in Japan
[1], to the point you can find flavors here you can find no other place in the world. Rum raisin and Japanese strawberry, Green tea, apple cider vinegar, sweet potato, wasabi, cherry blossom, choco banana, lemon, sweet corn, grape, soy bean, soy sauce, orange, pineapple, blueberry, and on and on. Vit insisted that we buy a case of the 204 flavors for the Petric children, if not for this Christmas then next.
There was something called Tokyo Honey Sugar. I bought it at a grocer but I’m not sure I have any desire to try it. It looks like a wafer or waffle but it is honey flavored. Closest thing I might compare it to is a Stroopwaffle and those things are so sweet they’ll give you diabetes just from looking at them.
Vit (and Henry) took care of some of what Vit wanted. Japan brews, distills and curates some of the finest liquors in the world. Suntory’s Yamazaki Single Malt was once crowned the best whisky in the world. I left all of that to them. The saki as well.
The next was not my fault. Really. November 11th (11/11) is something called Pocky Day in Japan and we just missed it but evidence of it was everywhere. Pocky Day is similar to Valentine's Day where people give each other Pocky for the sake of romance. And just like in the States, it isn’t just about romance … children exchange Pocky, friends do it, family does it, and so on and so forth. I came back to the cabin tonight to find several packages of Poky on our bed.
“What on earth are these sticks? I’ve been seeing them all day today.”
That’s when Vit explained what they were and also that they were from my admirers.
“My what?” I asked taking two steps back.
He finally laughed. “The diplomats miss you looking after them. They want you to come back … and help deal with their SOs.”
I snorted. “I dealt with some of them today. There were complaints aplenty. And no, not at me just at all of the new procedures they are expected to follow that all run cross purpose. Apparently they are to be seen as little as possible and heard not at all. The Security Chief is rather … militant. And his staff is being given authority their rank does not convey and privileges not given to even the military personnel. I’m not even sure what he makes of my department. There aren’t even procedures in place for me to make reports. I’ve asked for clarification from the Home Office but I haven’t heard anything back yet. And, stepping close to Vit I whispered, I’m not even sure the request for clarification went out.”
Vit nodded before showing me one of Dylan’s “toys.” There were six listening devices in this cabin. I have disabled them but there are more likely right outside in the corridor. Watch what you say and who you say it to. We do not know who placed the devices even if we are suspicious.”
“What did Security have to say?”
“You can say nothing about what you won’t hear. I had to go with Baird because it was going to be 2 weeks before I would be allowed an appointment with one of the minions.”
The minions is what has quickly become the nickname for the Security Chief’s civilian staff. Not the cute little yellow ones from the old children’s movies, but minions as in the original definition; a follower or underling of a powerful person, especially a servile or unimportant one. They are really irritating to deal with. And they refuse to speak any language but Chinese. The only group they are more insolent to than the Russians are the Taiwanese whom they refuse to acknowledge at all. They make getting any kind of work accomplished beyond difficult.
“And what did Mr. Baird say?”
“He only growled and then motioned for me to sweep his suite. Veta, their were devices in every piece of electronics, every light fixture, every communication device. I do not know what is going to happen but you must take care. And remain stoic. Give them nothing to use.”
That was stress upon the stress of how my day had already gone. The excursion was a Tokyo City Tour with non-Asian members of the personnel and staff. I heard nothing but heated commentary through the day. The Chinese are trying to get more of their people on board by forcing other, non-Chinese off and out of the picture. Vit and I really aren’t certain where we stand until during evening Mess Hall when Mr. Baird and some of the other authorities in charge announced that there will be no more staffing or crew changes, nor will they add any additional diplomats to the onboard roster as cabins were all assigned weeks ago. Any additions will only be available to land-side delegates and only on a one-for-one measure … meaning they can only replace their own existing staff and those staff will not be participating in any activities restricted to shipboard … including using the Mess Hall, going on excursions, meeting space … and in fact will not be allowed on board at all.
The excursion was supposed to be 8 hours but wound up being many more hours longer than that. They just kept changing drivers and vans because the ship wasn’t “ready” whatever that meant. I certainly wasn’t being told. I became concerned because I was not allowed to do my job – the job as I did it on the previous legs of the mission. I later found out that Vit was also being prevented from doing his job. A lot of Chinese all over the ship and Vit says he already plans to go back over everything with the “fine tooth comb” given to him by Dylan whether the new security chief likes it or not. He’ll start in selected locations, like he did our cabin and Mr. Baird’s suite, but it will have to be in out of the way spots and under the radar so he can’t be stopped and the device taken away.
Another complicating factor is the Chinese are stepping all over the Japanese trying to take over. The Japanese are doing everything to prevent the Chinese from getting away with it. The non-Asian members of the crew feel caught in the middle without a translator. I’ve done what I can to help them today but our Chinese security personnel made it extremely difficult until I discovered none of them speak German while it is a common language otherwise. Sneaky, underhanded, totally without reason. I hate this 007 crap.
Not that there was much time to communicate. The sites came quickly and I felt like a rat in a maze. Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa (oldest temple), Hanayashiki (oldest amusement park), Meiji Jingu Shrine, the Imperial Palace and gardens. Hama Rikyo Gardens. And on and on. One the bus, drive in the worst traffic I have ever see, off the bus, take a couple of pictures before being shoved back on the bus or risk getting left behind. The only commentary came from me as I tried to quickly translate what little info I had from each site. The security team sneered and generally got in my way as much as possible. Apparently I was to have been replaced but the legal team at the Home Office denied the personnel change because of my contract. Thank you Mr. Baird and I will say prayers for you more regularly from here on out.
I was exhausted by the time we were allowed to come back to the ship. Vit only knew my location because of my phone app that apparently they were unable to deactivate or obscure. And that’s when I found out about everything else.
And let me add the food in the Mess Hall is … less than appetizing. Supposedly ship’s supplies are being held up someplace. Yeah. I’ll believe that. Not.
Rice. Rice and little to flavor it with. That’s what they are feeding everyone, even the diplomatic staff. Some of the diplomats are being treated better but most are not. I was told that the Chinese are eating in an area off limits to anyone else. Supposedly for security reasons but the smells coming out of there proved that their meals were better than the Mess Hall. Vit says they are driving a mutiny to occur. Dear Lord I hope not but if anyone would know it would be Vit. He’s experienced one such incidence in his life and look where it has left him. I am very worried where this is all leading.
[1] 204 Kit Kat Flavors from Japan - THIS IS JAPAN