Mr. Right

Meeting of Gildo and Mary

Mary O’Toole went on duty the following day after she had spoken to Gildo for the first time, and was still reeling from the effects of the encounter.  She made her usual rounds, which included checking up on Gildo.  When she entered his room he sat up suddenly and started talking with a hint of excitement in his voice.

“Hello, Mary.  I’ve been waiting to tell you that after you left by bedside yesterday, the doctor came to see me.  When he left I fell off to sleep right away and had a most wonderful dream about you.  I dreamt you came back and kissed me on the cheek, whispering and assuring me not to worry any more, because you’ll be by my side from now on.  It made me happy.  And, you know, it even lowered my temperature and I feel fine.  I want to be your friend.  Will you do me the honor of going out with me?”

“This is so sudden.  I’m flattered, but I don’t think I can make it.”

“Why not?  I haven’t even mentioned the occasion.  I like to take you out for dinner on your day off.”

“I’ll let you know later.”

“Fine.  I’ll see you next Monday.  I’ll get in touch with you to set up the time.”

“Not so fast...I didn’t agree to go out with you.”

“I promise you that I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”

“Well, okay.  Just for dinner then you’ll take me home.”

“I’ll do just that.”

Dr. Mortimer Chase released Gildo from further hospital confinement, within two days after their conversation.  He realized, from his professional observations, that Gildo would have relapses of malaria, and he was powerless to prevent such recurrences.  In some cases malaria disease would be stopped, never to return, but in other cases malaria would return again and again, baffling many scientists. 

Gildo returned to his outfit for assignment of duties.  He was assigned to the Parts Department of the Motor Pool located on Rue Bourgeat and Avenue du Roi Albert.  He was allotted a room at the Broadway Mansions to serve as his living quarters, and was fortunate to obtain a room there because those quarters were intended for married officers and their families.  Directly following World War II, families of the US Armed Forces personnel were allowed to come to Shanghai to join their husbands or wives.  Gildo could very well have stayed with his parents on Avenue Petain, but like Mary, Gildo preferred not to impose on his parents.  He had no problem with transportation whatsoever.  As an officer in the Motor Pool, he had all sorts of vehicles at his disposal.  In his case, during office hours, he had a jeep provided with a chauffeur.  After office hours, he had a jeep without a chauffeur.

***

Senator Bronson suddenly stood up and asked, “What have you found out about Macau on your visit to Hong Kong?”

Gildo paused momentarily and said in a slowly deliberate tone of voice with a hint of emotion:  “While I was in Hong Kong, I was able to go to Macau and gather some information with regard to the situation in this former Portuguese colony.  In 1966, Macau was subjected to a disturbance created by China’s Red Guards.  Portuguese troops killed a few members of the Red Guards, which caused a furor.  It not only quelled the disturbance but also spurred the governor to recommend the return of Macau to the Chinese, which Lisbon approved by making the offer to China.  The Chinese government declined the offer because it was not ready.  China depended very much on foreign trade, technology and foreign exchange that Macau and Hong Kong had provided, which the Chinese were not yet willing to relinquish, irrespective of the proportion.

“Still, in 1974 a coup d’etat in Portugal brought a socialist form of government into power which started to divest Portugal’s overseas possessions -- colonies such as Timor, Angola, Mozambique.  The Portuguese repeated their offer to return Macau to China.  Once again, the Chinese asked the Portuguese to hold on to it for a while longer.  Some self-proclaimed experts ventured to explain to me that the fate of Macau will depend on the return of Hong Kong to the Chinese.

“The Portuguese, at pr