RESCUE

She grabbed the phone and placed a call to Mr. Lum. When she hung up she said, "We leave tomorrow our visit is over." The next morning our chauffer called from the lobby to take us to the train station. When we exited the elevator the three Americans from last night and two more Americans plus four United States marines in dress uniforms with side arms and four local policemen where standing there.

One of the new Americans said to me, "United States consulate mum may I please see your passport and visa?" I replied, "I don't have one." The man asked, "Why not?" I said, "Because I was kidnapped and am now a slave." The marines all reached for their weapons as did the local policemen. The diplomat grabbed me and said, "Let's go."

They dragged me as we all made a run for the car and two jeeps parked outside. They threw me intro the back seat and we sped away directly to the U. S. Embassy.

They said, "Your now on American soil." "Here you are safe, now all we have to do is get you to an airplane and off the ground and into international waters."

I relayed the whole story to them. I told them about Gloria and the other girls. I remembered their first names and schools that was all I ever knew. When they heard Mr. Lum owned me they said, "That prick we've been after him for years. He never leaves the country and we can't touch him here."

They arranged for a phone call and I got to talk to my parents. Mom and Dad cried a lot with me. It was December 20th 2001; I had been kidnapped on August 10th this year. 4 months and 10 days. I had been through so much in that short time. I hoped they would be able to find Gloria and the other girls before they suffered too much.

The ambassador talked with some higher ups in the Chinese ruling party and arranged for a payment to Mr. Lum to recoup his investment. I would be allowed to return home on the next flight.

A marine corps major was to escort me. I was issued an embassy passport and properly documented.

I would be home for Christmas. I had no idea of the disaster of September 11th. One of the reasons I was released so easily is we were negotiating with China on the terrorist crisis and we were all lovey dovey this week.

Major John Sullivan from Beaumont, Texas and I boarded a flight for Tokyo at Beijing International airport. We would be in plane seats for 29 hours. Beijing to Tokyo. Tokyo to Fairbanks. Fairbanks to Los Angeles. Then Los Angeles to San Diego. After Major Sullivan returned me to my parents, he was assigned to Camp Pendleton. I told him of all of the torments I underwent. He cried with me. He had two daughters 15 and 17 and was worried about this happening to them. I slept with my head on his shoulder for most of the flight to Tokyo. I was exhausted from my ordeal yesterday. Major Sullivan caught some sleep between Tokyo and Fairbanks. I had no money at all. I wanted to get a gift for my parents at the duty free store in Fairbanks.

Major Sullivan offered to loan me the money. I told him I could not repay it. He said I would be getting a good settlement from the Chinese government so I could pay him back whenever I got that.

I wanted a shower and some clean clothes. I still had no underwear on. Major Sullivan bought me a dress at Fairbanks. I showered in the stewardesses' locker room after the attendants found out who I was. Everyone was so nice to me. I felt so good being clean and having a nice dress on. I had several phone calls on the plane via the ground to air phone. Mike Wallace wanted me on 60 minutes. Barbara Walters wanted me on 20/20.

President Bush wanted me at the White House. I was a celebrity. I just hoped I didn't have to show my jewelry on national television. When we arrived in San Diego, Mom and Dad were there to meet me along with half the press corps and TV crews from the local papers and TV stations. The Los Angeles and New York Times were both represented, as was the Washington Post. All the news and wire services were present.

I just wanted to go home and get into some real clothes. I had to go to the pressroom at the airport and answer a lot of questions from the reporters. They wanted to know about the other girls. I told them what I knew. The next morning I was taken down town to FBI headquarters. The FBI asked most of the questions asked by reporters, again.

It was Christmas Eve and this was the best Christmas present I could ever have. I asked Mom and Dad, "Go to Church with me to say a prayer of thanks and pray for Gloria and the others to be returned safely and soon."

I dressed for a visit to church in my own clothes and with my own panties and bra on. I felt so luxurious wearing undergarments again.

I spent a quiet Christmas day at home. I did make one visit to Gloria's parents. I cried with them a lot. I consoled them as best I could but I actually had no idea what had happened to Gloria or any other of the thirteen shipmates.

The day after Christmas a Wednesday I received several phone calls. A man from the Central Intelligence Agency wanted to visit me. A director from Hollywood wanted to come see me. A writer wanted to collaborate and do my story. I received calls from San Diego news shows and radio talk shows asking me to appear. David Letterman and Jay Leno both called. A talent agent called offering to represent me, telling me that all of these free interviews I was giving could and should demand a fee.

The most important call was from the White House. I was invited to come to Washington and have lunch with Laura Bush. The travel office of the White House was to make arrangements.

I called St. Margaret's and made an appointment to come back after New Year and see if I could reregister.

My new agent made appointments for me with Letterman and Leno and the writer all in LA and took me up there to meet with them.

He would negotiate a guest fee for both shows he had already negotiated with Barbara Walters and Sixty Minutes.

To Be Continued...