KEV ARRIVED BACK AT the office, and he explained he was to go to Kaeng Krachan again, this time taking Mad Mike. Nick was initially interested in going but decided he had better stay and get on with some work. Skylab also did not understand what Dam had against Pi Meow. She had been living in Bangkok and missed much family news. She had thought it might be fun going to the dam, but she did not want to be the only girl, not that Kev had invited her. Dam, on hearing Kev's news rolled his eyes but decided against further comment.

Kev went to Mike's place, a new townhouse, an easy walk from his bar. Most of the two-bedroom homes on that street were taken, and a few were left empty. 'These places would be a good fit for Charlie,' thought Kev.

'Forget it. You have more important things to think about,' he said to himself.

He arrived at 16/32 Mike's address. Kev thought he may have forgotten the address. However, he grinned when he saw the Baner Cymru, the Welsh dragon flag hanging from the upstairs balcony.

Kev knocked on the front door. Within seconds, the door swung open. A cheerful Mike stood in the doorway, wearing only his boxer shorts. He looked like a flagpole with the flag at half-mast.

'Come in, Kev; I thought we were going tomorrow?'

'Yes, we are. But, first, I wanted to ensure I knew which house is yours.'

'Excuse the mess. I have not got around to tidying up for a few days. This is Pat, my new girlfriend. Sorry, but I have not got her trained yet.'

Mike was pointing at a shape on the tiled floor. She was asleep. Or she was pretending to be. Laying naked but with a sheet cover. It gave her the appearance of a performer nearing the end of the dance of the seven veils. There was not much in the house to make a mess with. Clothes, cigarette packets, and other rubbish were scattered around. It all could be cleared in minutes.

'Excuse me asking, but why donʼt you go upstairs, to, um, sleep?'

'Oh, that's easy; I don't want to make a mess up there too. It's enough to worry about down here.'

'Right.' A bemused Kev muttered.

The kitchen was untouched, nothing in it: no food, no cutlery, no plates, not even a coffee cup.

'Mike, donʼt you eat here?'

'I don't eat much anywhere,' said Mike.

'I would,' said a sleepy Pat, 'But the lazy git never goes shopping!'

'Wow, you speak good English,' complimented Kev.

'I should do; I was born in London,' said Pat. She explained that her Thai parents worked at the Thai Embassy in Queens Gate, London. She went to Roedean School on the South coast, hence the accent. That was until she got expelled.

Now she was back in Thailand. Her parents thought she was in Bangkok, looking after their home in the city, but she needed a break at the seaside. Meeting Mike was the break she needed!

'Are you going to be sober tonight? I will come round bright and early tomorrow. If I bang on the door, will you hear me?'

'Kev, you can trust me. Can Pat come too?'

Kev was not sure, but it would be hard to say no. She said she would get up and be ready to go in plenty of time. So, all set. Kev left them to their mess, still unsure of Mad Mike's reliability.

At first light, there was a tap on Kevʼs bedroom door, and it was Skylab; she had brought him coffee and a bacon sandwich. Skylab had office keys and had let herself in. She prepared breakfast and went upstairs.

This was the first time they had been alone together and the first time in a bedroom. And the first time she had seen Kev in bed. Half-asleep, Kev thought he was dreaming when Skylab leant over and kissed him on his lips. She turned and quickly left the way she had come in. Kev was about to say, 'as Mike's girlfriend was going, maybe Skylab would like to join them now.' But, he was too slow and unsure if it would be a good idea. What a bright start to the day.

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He walked around Mad Mike's place with no lights or signs of life. Kevʼs hammering got louder. He was disturbing the neighbours. Street dogs started barking. Lights were flicking on in the adjoining houses. Then the front door opened.

Mike stood in the gloomy light. Seeing a 6ft 3in Welshman in boxers decorated with red dragons was terrible enough. When Kev saw the lump and vicious cut underneath his eye, Kev gulped. His mind went back to an England vs Wales rugby match he had witnessed. The back of Mike's head looked like a kitten dipped in brown glue. His hair was matted with blood.

'What happened?' asked Kev.

'She did,' said a groggy Welshman, pointing to a form rolled in a sheet on the floor. Not the two rugby-playing pugilists of Kev's imagination, but a tall, lanky man against a 5ft 2in girl.

'It all started fine, laughing, joking, we were having a great time at the bar. As the evening went on, she changed, becoming morose. Then she went into a rage. God knows why. Then she attacked me. At first, she was kicking my legs as we sat at the bar. Finally, I decided we had better come home. All the way home, she was ranting and raging. When we walked through the door, she clumped me with that piece of wood on the back of my head.' He pointed to a lump of 4 x 2 the builders must have left behind, 'as I turned, she caught me under the eye.'

'Do you feel okay?'

'Yeah, yeah, I'll just treat myself to a quick wash, then we can go.'

'What about Pat? Are you going to leave her here?'

Pat was arranging the sheet, making sure it covered her body. She now looked like an extra from a movie set in olden-time Rome.

Pat stated she was coming. She sounded all sweetness and light. What a strange girl. Changeable like the Mumbles weather.

The first Pi Meowʼs convoy of two cars came to Kevʼs office a few minutes late. The second car would join them soon.

Mike had cleaned himself up pretty well, and it seemed he had had practice getting himself out of scrapes. However, his appearance did cause a few comments. Pat answered them in a ladylike manner, explaining he had tripped over a street dog. She had dressed conservatively, in jeans and a loose-fitting top. The whole ensemble was topped with a floppy hat. Very mature. Ladylike without being sexy, she wanted no unwarranted comments to ruin their day.

They were told that this time, they would not be staying overnight. Pi Meow had to meet a vital contact tomorrow morning. It crossed Kev's mind whether he would get a chance to take a snap of this man or other mysterious connections.

Mike was told they would show him the places to take visitors and explain what they would see. That was good for all concerned. Particularly for Kev, as he was not sure about Pat or how long it would be before another explosion.

As they got going, Kev made a big show of his picture-taking. Saying he had bought his new camera for his rental business. Mike would be using any shots taken today for his tourism venture. Mike wanted to print a leaflet to give out in the bar. All those present were happy to have their pictures taken.

Kev was careful his new 'babyʼ did not get wet when they arrived at the landing spot. It all looked very different this time. There was a clear blue sky, and the glistening vegetation last time was all dusty this time. They all trudged up the hill to the wooden house. This time they were not laden down with whisky and ice.

It was approaching lunchtime. Spicy snacks appeared from somewhere, and they all sat down and tucked in. As they were finishing, the man who had brought the turtle soup last time arrived. Now this man did not want his picture taken. As soon as the camera came out, he moved fast to cover himself. He hid behind Pi Meow, other people, or a handy piece of furniture. Stranger and stranger, thought Kev. Nevertheless, it made him more determined to get the shot.

Pat had noticed what was happening; she took the camera and pretended to clean it. She was a sharp girl; she did not understand why the man hated to have his picture taken. Or why Kev wanted a picture of the man, which made her keen to get the snap. A natural photojournalist in the making, perhaps?

Again Pi Meow took the turtle man by the arm and led him to a spot where neither could be seen. Once again, more money changed hands.

They returned to their boat and then on to Pi Meowʼs own place. Mad Mike had been in a daze all morning. No sightings of rare animals, just a pleasant boat ride. But when they arrived at the teak house, Mad Mike livened, staring at the beautiful structure. He could not sit down. Mike wandered around with Kevʼs camera. He was taking picture after picture of the house and surrounding land. 'Not a bad thing,' thought Kev.

Once more, people changed clothes and changed places in the vehicle. And this time, some new people with caps pulled down, hiding their faces joined them for the trip home.

They cleared the checkpoint without trouble, returning to Hua Hin before dark. Kev put his films into the developers and then went to catch up on the news in the office. Skylab was not happy that another girl went on the trip. However, she cheered when Kev invited her to their bar with Dam and Nick. The two girls got on famously and carried on like they had known each other for years. Odd because they were pretty much opposites.

Charlie had been in to see Kev about a place to live. Otherwise, it was a quiet day for everyone in the office.