She was woken early to a loud banging on the door. Mr Somchai opened it and two men with guns marched in and started shouting. Terrified, she pulled the covers around her and tried to hide under the bed. They spoken a foreign language and Mr Somchai spoke to them. Eventually they left.

‘Get up get up!’ he barked.

Jessie was trembling like a leaf and could hardly stand. He grabbed her and threw her face down on the bed. She cried with terror but he slapped her across the face and gagged her with some cloth. She continued to give muffled cries.

He got some thick tape out of his bag and began attaching bags of powder to her.  He wound the tape round and round her legs and upper thigh, and then he wrapped some bags around her stomach. The tape was so tight it hurt.

Before removing the gag he spoke her aggressively. ‘Give me any trouble and you are dead. Do you understand me?’

She nodded.

‘Now get dressed!’ He threw her clothes at her. She tried to stand but her legs were in agony. She put on the trousers and a shirt.

*****

 In the evening Mr Somchai threw his coat at her.
‘Put this on.’

It was ninety degrees, she was in agony, and the last thing she needed was a great coat.

‘Wear it!!!’ He growled into her face.

She was terrified and could barely walk. She looked pregnant.

When they got to Don Muang, he checked her in and gave her a business card.

‘This is who you are to meet at the other end.’

She took the card, the fake passport and the tickets from him. The plane was leaving in a few minutes. She had one last hope. Quickly she hurried to the toilet. The tape was so thick she tugged and tugged but couldn’t get her bonds off. After so much crying, ripping and falling over she gave up. The toilet attendant was hovering outside with a mop. Even if she could dump the drugs she would get caught. She had no choice now.

The hailer announced the leaving of her flight. There was no way back. She held her breath and began walking down the tunnel, handing in her tickets she dared not look up. Silence. She was through, she was through.

Then a voice called out, ‘Maria Evans.’

Her heart almost exploded. She could feel her insides turn to water.

She carried on walking.

‘Step this way please.’

She took notice but hurriedly hobbled onwards.

‘Miss’

She was escorted into a little room where a female security guard frisked her.

She looked stern,” take off your coat please.”

‘I can’t,’ she protested.

Without moving the security officer said it again.

Agonisingly she unwrapped herself.

The woman pressed her stomach.

‘I’m pregnant,’ Jessie declared.

Her heart was banging, the woman must have been able to tell what was going on.

‘Take off your dress.’

Jessie could feel her body functions evacuate.

The woman unzipped the back and peeled it off. Then she spoke into her Walkie Talky.

Two guards came and Jessie was handcuffed.

You know that we have the death penalty for what you are doing?’

Jessie wept as she was escorted into a van.