Indonesian Gold (6 page)

****

Kremenchug
sat back permitting
the two geologists to communicate without any further input from him, pleased with Christopher
Fielding's response so far. Kremenchug was banking on Fielding's international reputation as a
geologist to raise capital for the venture. Kremenchug had paid the Canadian's fares and related
costs, bringing him over to Indonesia to meet with Baird and discuss how they might use the
recently acquired gold acreage to float a new mining entity on the Vancouver Exchange. Kremenchug
had been motivated by the growing Canadian interest in Indonesian prospects, wishing to cash in
when this escalated, as he believed it would, once production commenced at the larger Kalimantan
sites being operated by multi-nationals.

Kremenchug
looked over in
Stewart Campbell's direction. Although the envy he felt was not evident in his Slavic,
expressionless face, nevertheless, it was there. Unconsciously, his hand ran over the gray,
thinning scalp that once boasted a thick crop of black hair, his thoughts roaming as he heard
Baird's voice drone on. There had been no real confrontation with the American, Campbell –
Kremenchug's annoyance occasioned by the younger man's ‘watchdog' mentality, with respect to
foreign prospecting activities in Indonesia. That, and the fact Campbell had been negative when
assessing a number of gold concessions Kremenchug had offered to one of the American's clients.
The deal had fallen through, with Alexander Kremenchug taking Campbell's recommendations as a
personal attack on his integrity. Subsequently, whenever the two crossed paths their exchanges
were generally brief, but polite; Kremenchug's comments behind the other man's back, caustic, and
often vitriolic. He signaled a waitress by raising his now empty glass.

‘Gin and tonic,
Tuan
?' she asked, smiling warmly.
Kremenchug nodded, twirling his index finger in the air to indicate a round.

‘No, leave me out, Alex,' Fielding interrupted Baird's
monologue. ‘Still have a lot to do here.'

‘Just these two, then,' Kremenchug pointed at his
associate's empty tumbler, then settled back to listen to Baird's glowing report supporting the
concession's viability to produce tonnes of gold.

****

Kremenchug
was confident that
Baird's presentation would be convincing. The men were jointly responsible for delivering the
government-approved concession. Under a prior arrangement, reached before inviting Fielding to
Jakarta, they had agreed to equally split whatever vendors' shareholding might be negotiated in
the proposed Kalimantan gold exploration company. Fielding had jumped at the offer to visit,
Kremenchug's confidence that the company would be floated on the Canadian Exchange growing as
Fielding warmed to the concession's potential.

All three men would receive a substantial allocation of
fully paid vendors' shares in the Canadian company. Obviously, these shares would be placed in
escrow, as required by law. Kremenchug had already established dialogue with Scott Walters, a
Vancouver-based promoter cum financier. Walters had been receptive to providing whatever
mezzanine capital might be required to take the deal public, as Indonesia had recently become
‘flavor of the month' with Calgary and Vancouver stockbrokers. The list of Canadian mining
companies vying for Indonesian properties was extensive, the huge volume of shares traded
encouraging non-Canadian interests to establish new or subsidiary interests there.

Walters' offer to provide initial funding had been
conditional, requiring Fielding to place his name on the concession as senior geologist, his
stamp of approval sufficient to guarantee a successful capital raising. Although Christopher
Fielding's private life had all but left the man broken, his reputation as a geologist remained
intact. As a sweetener, both Kremenchug and Baird had suggested that Fielding take a position on
the new company's board. They, in turn, would not seek any directorships, content to wait until
their shares could be traded once the escrow period had expired – at which time they would sell
and move on.

Baird and Fielding continued to discuss the merits of the
concession throughout their lunch of chili crab, steamed prawns, rice and deep-fried grouper,
Kremenchug content to listen, sipping his way through a constant flow of gin tonics before the
geologists concluded their meeting. Fielding dipped the fingers of both hands in a lemonscented
bowl of water, dried his hands, picked up the documents then nodded in affirmation.

‘Well, I'm in,' he smiled weakly. The Cathay Pacific
flight from Vancouver to Jakarta via Hong Kong had taken more than twenty hours, the jetlag
beginning to show.

Kremenchug
was ecstatic, his
alcohol-charged response overenthusiastic, attracting the attention of other Mina
guests.

‘That's great news!' he gushed. ‘You won't regret coming
in with us, Chris.' He snapped his fingers summoning a waiter and, when the young man approached,
ordered in a voice for all to hear. ‘Get us a bottle of Moet Chandon!'

The champagne arrived, the inexperienced waiter's attempts
to uncork the bottle ending with Kremenchug grabbing the wine impatiently, dismissing the
embarrassed waiter and completing the task himself. With the champagne poured, he raised his
glass. ‘To the Kalimantan venture,' he offered the toast. Fielding and Baird raised their glasses
together, their celebratory gesture not lost on those around.

‘And to precious, precious gold,' Baird added, somewhat
relieved and surprised that Fielding had accepted his evaluations so readily.

Their spirits lifted, all three men relaxed, the tone of
their conversation tempered with newfound camaraderie as they exchanged stories, Kremenchug
throwing in an occasional joke as the accumulative effects of alcohol took hold. Kremenchug
peered over at Stewart Campbell's table, flashed an insincere smile, waved, then after some
hesitation rose and sauntered over to where the Americans were sitting.

‘Stewart!' he started, a glass in one hand, the other
extended. ‘Come and join us?'

Caught off guard, Campbell looked to Samuels for
assistance while Kremenchug pumped his hand. ‘We were about to leave,' Campbell offered, somewhat
lamely.

‘No, don't go yet.' Kremenchug had taken Campbell's
guest's hand, expecting to be introduced. ‘Come over and meet Chris Fielding. I'm Alex
Kremenchug,' and after a pause, ‘and you would be?'

His annoyance well disguised, Campbell smiled and
introduced Phil Samuels. Kremenchug was visibly impressed. ‘Ah!' he exclaimed. ‘Baron Mining, no
doubt? The heavies have finally arrived!' with which he turned, took hold of the man's arm and
led him across to where Baird and Fielding were again engrossed in conversation. Campbell
followed, gesturing for the
maitre d'
to bring their check. Chairs were hastily added to
the table, the geologists rising to their feet as Kremenchug introduced the Americans. ‘You
already know Eric?' Stewart nodded. ‘And this is Chris Fielding,' Kremenchug turned to Campbell's
client and completed the formalities. ‘Now, gentlemen, please join us for a glass of champagne?'
He then realized that the bottle had been drained and called for another, whilst indicating that
his guests should be seated.

‘Alex, another time if you don't mind,' Campbell stepped
in. ‘We have appointments to keep.'

‘Nonsense,' Kremenchug was insistent, ‘sit down for a few
minutes and help us celebrate.'

‘Celebrate?' Campbell responded. Although not keen to be
dragged into a session with these men, his curiosity got the better of him. ‘What's the
occasion?'

‘Sit down, and join us first,' Kremenchug persisted.
Campbell looked at the time and reluctantly accepted.

‘Just one,' he warned, nodding to Samuels. They waited
uncomfortably until the champagne was delivered to the table and uncorked.

‘To our senior geologist,' Kremenchug announced,
indicating Christopher Fielding, enjoying the look spreading across Campbell's face. ‘And to gold
mining in Kalimantan,' with which Kremenchug drained and refilled his glass in one
motion.

Although pressed for time, Campbell appeared gracious.
‘Congratulations seem in order,' he offered. Then, directing his question to Baird, asked, ‘What
areas are you holding?'

Eric Baird did not hesitate, now in effervescent mood.
‘There are a number of sites,' he revealed, with great animation, ‘one up in Palangkaraya and a
couple more further north in
Kalimantan Timur
.'

‘Alluvial?' Campbell asked. ‘Not all of it.' Baird was
enjoying this, his smug demeanor more than partially fuelled by the alcohol.
  
‘Done any drilling yet?' Campbell pressed, observing the other man's
eyes closely.

‘Enough to convince us that we have a winner,' Baird
bragged.

‘Are you able to disclose your findings?'

‘Guess that's up to our senior geologist here,' Baird
replied, passing the buck.

Fielding shot a warning look at his associates,
uncomfortable with revealing too much before corporate structure and funding procedures had been
finalized in Canada. Deciding enough had been said, he straightened his shoulders and started to
rise. ‘It's been a long trip. If you gentlemen don't mind, I'm going to catch up on some sleep.
When it's opportune, I'd be delighted to send you something more regarding the Palangkaraya
site.' With that, he left the group hastily, having undertaken to call his associates, once he
had rested.

Following Fielding's abrupt departure, Campbell and
Samuels seized the opportunity to withdraw, leaving their unfinished drinks and a miffed
Kremenchug for Baird to console.

‘Campbell's right up himself,' Baird sneered at the
American's departing back.

‘Yeah, he can be a real prick at times,' Kremenchug
said.

‘Did you see his face when I mentioned Fielding's
appointment?' Baird's cackle was more of a titter.

‘Wouldn't be wise to wind him up too much. We don't want
too much attention from the likes of him.'

‘He's full of it!' Baird said, a little too loudly,
attracting further looks of disapproval from a number of other guests in their
proximity.

‘You should be careful of what you say in front of
Campbell,' Kremenchug was critical.

‘Why, what can he do?' Baird lit a cigarette and blew a
cloud of smoke over the table.

‘He's well connected.'

‘If you feel that way, why'd you bring him
over?'

‘I wanted to establish contact with the guy who was with
him.'

‘Don't know why you're jittery about Campbell. He doesn't
have that many friends in the industry.'

‘He has enough,' Kremenchug warned.

‘Sure, okay.' Baird seemed miffed. ‘I'll play it
cool.'

‘I'm glad to hear you say that, Eric. We've got a great
opportunity here and I wouldn't want you to screw it up – for either of us.'

‘I won't,' Baird promised, leaning back and permitting the
waiter to give Kremenchug the bill.

****

‘You seem to be in high spirits.' Air Vice Marshal
(retired) Sub-roto waddled back into his office, expecting the Australian, Eric Baird, to
follow.

‘Looks like I'll be able to meet those outstanding
payments, Pak,' Baird replied, respectfully.

‘
What's happened?
' The Air Vice Marshal dropped his
one hundred and twenty kilos heavily into the specially designed, reinforced leather and teak
seat.

‘
I've signed with a Canadian group, Pak.You remember
Kremenchug?
' Air Vice Marshal Subroto snorted with apparent distaste. ‘
That
lintah-darah?
'

Baird disguised his annoyance with Subroto's response
referring to Kremenchug as ‘that bloodsucker'. ‘
Something beneficial will come of it
,'
Baird tried to placate.

‘
He is a parasite – Indonesia doesn't need people like
him.
'

‘
Kremenchug has given us a great opportunity, Pak.
'
Baird was apprehensive with the retired officer's mood. He opened a fresh packet of cigarettes,
flicked the bottom of the box, and offered the extended
rokok
to his sponsor. At first,
Subroto ignored the offer then poked a chubby hand outwards, taking one of the clove sticks and
holding it, ready for Baird to light.

‘Really, Eric, you should look for others to assist you
with our business.'

Baird felt the familiar tug to his stomach – the
uncertainty of operating in this country with quasi-legitimate status had a severe downside.
Foreign investment laws required substantial capital contribution, the benefits, enormous in
terms of tax holidays and other considerations; for those who were limited financially but could
bring the necessary expertise, there were but few options. Even marrying an Indonesian woman
could not guarantee legitimate status, for Islamic Code influenced the laws. Regulations
prohibited Indonesian women married to foreigners from holding directorships and acquiring
trading licenses; and, there was no guarantee that foreign men married to local women would have
the right of residency, let alone citizenship. As for acquiring the latter, he was aware that
only one Westerner had been awarded this privilege under the Suharto regime, not that he wished
to emulate the colorful Stephen Coleman, who had long since distanced himself from these
shores.