Here's the latest. I think I'm a little ahead of where we are in the series. But some events are not in the same time-line. Have a great week everyone!
Chapter 15
Dr. Wasan is taking care of Tian in the local infirmary. He notices that Tian is hoarse because his throat is inflamed due to all the shouting he had done the previous day. Dr. Nam asks Tian for his medication that’s he’s been taking in the village so he can see if they might be resistant to the medication he would be giving him for his fever. Tian is worried that this will reveal his condition and that he would be forced to leave the village. Wasan seeing Tian’s medication is shocked and realizes that Tian has had a heart transplant. He say he has to tell Phupha about this because he is in charge of Tian, but Tian begs him not to. Dr. Nam asks Tian why he came to the village. He asks if it was to try to live in the countryside or because of his attraction to Phupha. Tian shakes his head. Dr. Nam then asks if it is because of Torfun. Tian doesn’t deny it, and seems to go into a fetal position on the bed in response.
For 3 days Tian rests to recover from his fever. Occasionally Phupha places a hand on him to comfort him which Tian looks forward to. Tian in boredom reads Phupha’s military books, and waits for him outside the house to ask him a question. Phupha comes home late because he is still dealing with the illegal logging issue after the school burnt down. Phupha takes a shower first and Tian notices the scars all over his body and reflects on how Phupha had to face real hardship in his life whereas he had it pretty easy. Ironically his father is in the military, but has shielded him from the brutal realities of the job. Tian asks Phupha why he chose to become a soldier. Phupha reveals that it is because of his father who took great pride in his job. His father had told him that he was a defender of a peaceful nation. Even though his father only made 6000 bahts a month ($192 US dollars), his self-esteem in his profession made it worthwhile. Phupha went in to the profession because of his father and his most cherished memory was being awarded the rank of second lieutenant when he graduated. Tian asks Phupha if he is afraid of dying because of his job. Phupha says everyone is afraid of death but he has no one to worry about it now because both his parents were dead. His superiors, knowing that, never asked him if wanted to be transferred from the border. Phupha also says if Tian is worried about him he promises to be more careful with himself and then kisses Tian on his forehead. Tian’s heart races but he gets a hold of himself and starts cursing Phupha.
Dr. Nam visits in the morning and tells Tian that the children miss him. From watching Tian and Phupha interacting he accuses Phupha of casting a love spell on Tian. Phupha threatens to beat him up. Tian goes to the school later that day and is greeted by his excited students. Khama soon comes up and says the villagers were worried about him. Tian is distraught at the charred remains of the school but Khama reassures him that they will rebuild it, but Tian worries that Sakda’s men might destroy it again. Khama says they will rebuild the school ten times if they had to, or until Sakda’s men got tired of burning it down. Phupha arrives and reflects he did the right thing by sending Tian to the village. He tells Khama that Sakda has disappeared from town and they were currently still trying to find his base in the forest. Tian is told that the charity is rounding up funds to rebuild the school. He thinks when they rebuild it they should use refractory bricks and fiber-glass composites so it would be nearly impossible to burn down. Soon Khama introduces his son Longtae who is on a long break from his university. Longtae is about 18-19 years old, 2-3 years younger than Tian. Longtae has rounded up a bunch of bananas as a present for Tian. Khama’s wife has prepared some food and Khama offers it to him and tells him she can cook for him everyday. Tian declines this generous offer but eats voraciously, even though he prefers Western food to Thai. Speaking with Longtae, Tian finds that he wants to come back as an official to his village to help them like his father had done before him. Tian feels slightly ashamed because he had never had any noble purpose when he was studying engineering.
Some villagers come running up to Khama’s house in the afternoon. Apparently some has been possessed by a spirit from the forest. Tian asks Longtae to take him to the house of the infected villager. Mima, the village shaman, is there and has all his shamanistic tools in front of him for an exorcism ceremony (some white wine, some boiled chicken, sweet and savory food, and a clay figure of some animal). Tian asks Longtae if he believes in ghosts. Longtae replies that he respects the traditions of the Akha people and believes what they believe, meaning he does believe in ghosts. Mima has put some wine, saliva chewing with fallen leaves, and water on the man’s face as part of the ritual. The man seems to recover a little bit and seems more aware of his surroundings than before. The shaman lights incense at the front of the man’s house to protect it against evil spirits. Tian aks Longtae later if villagers encountered ghosts in the forest that often. Longtae says that they don’t and Tian wonders why there were so many ghosts coming out recently.
End of Chapter 15
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