Saving Fish from Drowning - Heal Burma

SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING
In Harry Bailley, Garrett saw an unanticipated but lucrative oppor­
tunity. He would persuade his fellow countryman—and Harry was
British by birth—to give an “excloo.” He would go to Channel Four
and present this tantalizing tidbit, a taste of things to come. And if they
turned their noses up, he would then sell the piece to the first network
that offered him top whack. Global News Network was a possibility,
not his first choice, however, because it teetered on the sleazy side of
journalism, but when it came to scoops and scandals, the people there
knew how to stack the banknotes and fan them in your face. Ah, the
smell of success. This bit with Harry Bailley could be worth a quick
thousand quid or two. And if the tourists died—well, let’s not go there.
“I don’t know if that’s a prudent idea,” Harry said when Garrett
first approached him. He was confused and tired, having slept only
in snatches the entire week. “I don’t want to make things worse for
my friends. The military government here, well, they seem rather
strict on how one does things. The fellow who runs this place thinks
it safer to remain mum.”
Garrett realized that Harry had no idea what had already been
broadcast on international news. Floating Island Resort was an in­
formation wasteland—no satellite TV, no BBC, CNN, or GNN,
nothing but two Myanmar government-run channels forecasting
good weather. He had to play this close to his vest, so Harry would
not get too confused as to what to do and whom to turn to. “Listen,
my friend,” Garrett said, “you’re right to think of your friends as top
of the list. But that bloke Herr Heinrich is just watching his own
back. He doesn’t want to scare away the customers. Can you trust
what he says? Bloody no. He’s a blag artist, first-rate. What you
know in your heart and your gut is what’s right. It trumps all else.”
“But the military—”
“Bah! You aren’t cowed by them, are you? You’re an American!
You can do what you bloody want. Freedom of speech! It’s your
right, and pardon my being blunt, it’s your responsibility.”
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