Saving Fish from Drowning - Heal Burma

SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING
the Golden Pagoda: a dozen or so journalists, all secretly congratu­
lating themselves for blending in with the real tourists. They were
wearing loud Hawaiian shirts and toting repulsively outdated video
equipment that no bona fide journalist would ever be caught with,
unless as camouflage. Of course, the inner workings had been retro­
fitted to record film-quality images.
As you might guess, the mandate of every network was an exclu­
sive interview with Harry Bailley. GNN told its journalists to tape
Harry secretly. The man was just too savvy about saying the right
thing, which was far less interesting than the off-camera truth. Wasn’t
it illegal to record someone without permission? Not to worry, in
Myanmar, the question wasn’t “Is it legal?” but “Is it lethal?” Every­
body, watch your step.
To help coax Harry into baring his soul, GNN sent Belinda
Merkin, its most strategically equipped reporter, a green-eyed, big-
haired brunette and former figure skater, who also had been a Ful­
bright scholar in China and was a graduate of Columbia’s School of
Journalism. Accompanying her was Zilpha Wexlar, a sound engi­
neer who had a superb digital recording device, and the critical ears
to match it. The device was attached to the inside of her well-worn
backpack, its microphone peering out of a frayed, bullet-sized hole.
This duo had been lurking for nearly two days, searching the bars
that Harry might frequent. Their original plan was to appear befud­
dled and ask him for recommendations on places to visit and things
to do. And where are you going next, they’d inquire, with Belinda
sprinkling enough flirtatious hints to get him to suggest that they tag
along. As their researchers had told them, given Harry’s reputation
and his eye for attractive young women, they’d probably have no
trouble getting the invitation.
“Pardon me, miss,” Harry now said to the long-haired reporter.
“You probably have no idea who I am. . . .” He paused, waiting for
her to recognize him.
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