Chapter 17 Middleman
Daqili, a border city in Myanmar, presents the unique spectacle of one city straddling two countries.
Just a few kilometers east along the Mekong River bank brings one to Laos.
From a high vantage point in Daqili, one can overlook the Mekong River and see the borders of three countries, a true strategic point on the frontier and a vital trade city with Thailand for Myanmar.
Since the major Mekong River incident, the drug trade in the Golden Triangle has shrunk somewhat, but the slack has been taken up by even more thriving online gambling and telecommunications fraud industries.
Common folk wouldn't imagine that, in a time such as 2014, in a place where even eating was a problem, there was relatively decent electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compared to similarly undeveloped regions.
Neither Myanmar nor the Thai Government would invest money in these; it was all built by the local de facto powers in a bid to make money.
Mountain Eagle, with a rudimentary splint on his right leg, lay in a room of an inn, looking exceedingly bedraggled.
Sharing the room with him was Killing Bee...
This androgynous marvel was seated in a chair with legs crossed on the bed edge, peeling an apple and saying, "I advise you to eat something; the next few days probably won't be easy for you."
Mountain Eagle waved his hand in response, "No need, eating more won't help me..."
As he said this, Mountain Eagle glanced at Killing Bee's indifferent expression, thought for a moment, and asked, "Are you familiar with Daqili?"