Illya and Dr. Dane were looking at the local newspaper, the headline was singing the praises of the country's president. "They seem to like him well enough," Dr. Dane said.
"They might, or they might just be a THURSH run newspaper. From what gather from our headquarters President Chang was born and educated in the United States, he went to Yale and was an activist every year he was there. After he graduated he practiced law for a year and then left the country, there is no record of him until he turned up here in Singapore two years ago and became president seemingly without question, which feels like THURSH to me," Illya said.
"Yes, those channel D women are quite knowledgeable," Dr. Dane commented.
"They do their jobs well most of the time. I do think we'll find Napoleon at the president's mansion, we must go there at once," Illya proclaimed, he stood.
"How can we just 'go' to the president's mansion? I chance it to say they would be rather choosy about who they let in, especially if they are THURSH," Dr. Dane said. He had become used to this name in the short amount of time he had heard it.
"We'll have to go in without them knowing it, though I would rather have the plans of the house to know what to expect, we'll just have to go in blind but prepared," Illya said.
"That doesn't sound like a very good plan, shotty I would say. But if that's all we have then that's what we do, let's go," Dr. Dane said.
"I would prefer to go at night but I am afraid Napoleon will need us before then," Illya said. He opened his suit case and pulled out some green fatigue pants and a green shirt he had brought along just in case they would have to stalk through the jungle.
"You seem very concerned about Mr. Solo, you two must be close," Dr. Dane said.
"I am his partner. He was captured and it is my job to rescue him, he would do the same for me," Illya said, he began changing right there.
"Well yes, I understand your job, but aren't you friends with him?" Dr. Dane wondered.
"Do you have anything tan or green to wear?" Illya asked, giving the doctor's suit a look when he finished dressing.
"Well, I packed a riding outfit, would that suit?" Dr. Dane asked.
"Yes, it will have to do. Go get into it," Illya ordered.
The doctor left and returned not long after in his full riding outfit, right down to the riding crop. "Is this satisfactory?" he asked.
"Yes. We'll go out under the pretense of riding, let's go," Illya said. He had loaded himself down with everything he had brought in case of danger, knifes, gun, explosives and a few other tricks.
"Are we actually going out on horses? If so then I know of a stable we can get some, it is the one I was going to use," Dr. Dane said
"Yes, that would be good. We have to make sure they don't send a guide, I know where we're going," Illya said.
Dr. Dane nodded and lead the way out of the room and hotel, they got two rickshaws outside and the doctor instructed them where to go, once there he got them two fine mounts and Illya was surprised at how good his Mandarin was. They mounted up and headed into the jungle, things remained quiet between them until Illya spoke up. "Where did you learn to speak Mandarin so well, Dr. Dane?" he asked.
"Oh, I got the basic feel for it in university, but I didn't really become fluent in it until I came to Asia. First with the army and then on my own, I've been practicing medicine in the small countries and regions around here for years, I love these people, I love caring for them, pay or no pay," Dr. Dane explained.
"You are a true doctor indeed," Illya commented.
"My wife was from here in Singapore, rest her soul, she died in childbirth along with my son, being here puts her in my mind. Her family stills lives here, I visit them and help them if they need it, they are my friends," Dr. Dane said.
"I am sorry about your wife," Illya quietly said.
"It was many years ago, but love is a hard thing to lose. You know, you never did answer my question earlier," Dr. Dane said.
They rode deeper and deeper into the thick, humid jungle, a narrow path the only trail that they had, and periodically they would leave it, the horses trotted right along used to such conditions. "What question?" Illya asked. He was ever looking around, the hum of bugs in the jungle made it hard to hear if there was anybody near by or following but he tried.
"You and Mr. Solo, are you friends?" Dr. Dane asked.
"Well I am not quite sure, I suppose so. I have only really known him two months, I had heard of him before, he and his former partner Donny Spitz were famous in U.N.C.L,E," Illya said.
"What happened to his former partner?" Dr. Dane asked.
"He was killed. Napoleon has talked to me about many things, anything you could think of really, but he hasn't talked about Spitz. Not to anyone I'm told, but I know it hurts him still, the wound is not yet healed," Illya said.
"I understand. Grief is hard to bear," Dr. Dane said, sadly.
"So do I. I watched my parents get gunned down by the KGB, grief and I are well acquainted," Illya said, but there was no bitterness in his vocie, there was no emotion at all.
"Oh Lord! I'm sorry!" Dr. Dane said, shocked.
"Like you said, it was many years ago," Illya said.
After a few minutes of silence Dr. Dane spoke again. "The way you talked about Mr. Solo is seems that a lot of talking is done but nothing is said. Perhaps if you told him about your parents and he would tell your about his old partner and you would both be the better for it," he suggested.
Illya was quiet for a time. "Perhaps," he finally said.
They rode on a little ways before Illya raised his hand for them to stop, he dismounted and knelt down on the ground. "What is it?" Dr. Dane asked.
"A trip wire. You see, from this tree to that one. I think we should hide the horses and go on by foot," Illya said.
"Whatever you think best, Mr. Kuryakin. You're the spy," Dr. Dane said.
They hid their horses in a thick stand of plants and trees and walked carefully back to where the trip wire was, avoiding it they went on and were soon dodging guards. When the mansion came into sight they knew they were half way there, Dr. Dane had come to walk beside Illya and stepped on a rock, causing the earth to fall away from beneath their feet.