Table Of ContentAnarchyandOldDogs
ColinCotterill
PUBLISHEDBYALFREDA.KNOPFCANADA
Copyright(c)2007ColinCotterill
PublishedbyarrangementwithSohoPressInc.
LibraryandArchivesCanadaCataloguinginPublication
Cotterill,ColinAnarchyandolddogs/ColinCotterill.
(ADr.SiriPaibounmystery)
ISBN978-0-676-97951-0
I.Title.II.Series:Cotterill,ColinDr.SiriPaibounmystery.
PR6053.07775A732007823'.92C2007-902088-7
Iwouldliketothankmydedicatedteamofreaderswho,I'mdelightedtosay,havenohesitation
ininsultingme.ThankstoDavid,Lizzie,Dtee,Kye,Cathy,Geoff,Tony,mylovelyJess,andthe
marvelousJohnCotterill,akaDad.
TableofContents
ANotetoaBlindDentist
TheFootpathFortune-Teller
ASticky-RicePoliceman
Ukq'hhJaranCapPdeo
You'reOnlyDeadOnce
InSearchofaProletariat
TheNightBruceLeeSavedLaos
The220-VoltBathtub
FreeLao
TheDevil'sVagina
SomethingSilly
TheFirstSneakyMalevolentSpiritAttack
MermaidRodeo
SiriGoestoHeaven
TheInsurgentVolleyballClub
ForgetthePlanet--SavetheGarden
BrotherFred
TheCardboardTelevision
HalfanEar
ToastingtheSpies
AllThatIsSolid
DtuiPutsonWeight
NeverHandMoneytoaTransvestiteonaStreetCorner
WillShe?Won'tShe?
ANotetoaBlindDentist
Thepostofficeboxwaseighteenacross,twelvedown,andithadaloopofwoolwound
aroundthedoorsoDr.Buagaewwouldn'tmissit.Hetracedthekeyholewithhislefthandand
insertedthekeywithhisright.Frominsidethewoodenchambercamethescentofbygone
correspondence:ofbrown-paperparcelsandglue,ofoldparchmentandsecrets.Hishandfell
uponathinenvelope.Heknewitwouldbethereandheknewwhatitcontainedbecauseonly
oneotherpersonwasawareofthepostofficeboxaddress.
Herelockedthedoor,foldedtheenvelope,and,havingputitintheinsidepocketofhis
jacket,turnedbackinthedirectionoftheexit.TheBureaudePostewascrowded.Italways
seemedtobeso.Hecouldheartheunrulyscrumofignorantvillagersfightingtheirwaytothe
counters.Therewerethesoundsofpencilstappingurgentmessagesonpostcardsandthe
crinkleofthethirty-kipwrappingservice.Onthefarsideoftheroom,peopleshoutedloudly
intothelong-distancetelephones,sharingtheirmostintimatestorieswithhalfofVientiane.
ItwasallpartofthehubbubofthecitythatDr.Buagaewdislikedsomuch.Ifithadn't
beenforthelettershewouldn'thavetraveledthereatall.Itwashishabittogetoffthebus
besidethemorningmarket,crossoverKhuViengAvenue,collecthismail,andreturnonthe
samebus.Hehadnootherbusiness.InthecapitalofthePeople'sDemocraticRepublicofLaos
inAugustof1977,trafficwasn'tafittingwordtodescribetheinfrequentpassingsofmotor
vehicles.Onlythosewithfamilialorprofessionalconnectionswiththesocialistgovernment
couldaffordtotantalizetheirtankswithpetroleum.Twocarspassingatthesametimewould
beconsideredatrafficjam.Evenmidmorning,dogsstretchedoutonthewarmasphaltand
motoristshadnoqualmsaboutgoingaroundthem.
ThatmightbethereasonDr.Buagaewhadneverconsideredtheroadtobeapotential
danger.Itcouldexplainwhyhedidn'tstopatthebrokenstonecurbortakeagreatdealof
noticeoftheenginesound.Oncehisbamboocanehadnegotiatedthecracksandpotholesof
thesidewalk,allthatremainedwastofindthewire-meshfenceonthefarsideandfollowitto
hisbusstop.Theonlookerslaterconcurred.They'dneverseenanyonehitbyatruckbefore,and
itwassuchanunlikelyeventamanwouldalmosthavetothrowhimselfbeneaththefront
wheelsforittohappen.Eventhen,thevehiclewouldprobablybetravelingslowlyenoughto
slamonthebrakesandavoidanyembarrassment.
Itwasthereforeagreedtheoldblindmanmusthavebeenindeepkarmicdebttohave
steppedinfrontoftherunawayloggingtruck.Whatweretheodds?AlargeChinesevehicle?A
stuckaccelerator?Ayoungdriverbailingoutinpanicsometwentyyardsearlier?Thetruckhad
careenedpastthepostofficeandcrushedDr.Buagaewbeforeslammingintothewooden
public-address-systempoleatthecornerofLanXangAvenue.Thelatterstooddefiantlyfor
severalsecondsbeforeswayingandcrashingdownontotheemptystreet.
Thistragedywasatalkingpointthatafternoonbutveryfewtearswereshedforthe
anonymousblindman.Thelocalsdidn'thaveroomintheirsoulsforsomeoneelse'smisfortune.
Vientianehadacertainmoodaboutitthesedays.Thegovernmentwasstartingtolooklikea
depressinglyunlovedrelativewho'dcometovisitfortheweekendandstayedfortwoyears.
Thesewereuncomfortabletimesinacountrynotunusedtodiscomfort.Thedroughthadwrung
everylasttearofmoisturefromthesadearth.Theseasonalmonsoonshadheldoff,andafew
briefmangoflowershowerswerequicklysuckedintothegroundandforgotten.TheWorldBank
wasdonatingrice,butwithfewtrucksandlittlepetrol,mostofithadn'tfounditswaybeyond
thecities.
Itwouldbeagoodtime,onewouldimagine,foranovicesocialistgovernmenttoease
upandgiveitsdowntroddenpopulationabreakfrompettyregulations.ThePathetLaohad
cometopowerin1975andeventheprimeministeradmittedtheyhadn'tachievedtoomuch
sincethen.Butthejungle-trainedadministrationadoptedapolicyofdisguisingitslackofability
bybafflingthepopulacewithredtape.Nofewerthansixsignatureswereneededforpermission
torideabicyclefromoneprefecturetoanother.Thedeathoflivestock,evenfromnatural
causes,hadtobeaccountedforinwriting.Andheavenhelpafamilyintentonaddingan
extensiontoitshovel.Asmallcopseoftrees'worthofpaperandanentireoctopusofinkwould
beusedupbytheensuingpaperwork.
SomefiftythousandformerRoyalistofficialswerenowinreeducationcamps,andthe
positionstheyonceoccupiedhadbeeneitherleftemptyorfilledwithPartycadresunqualified
forthework.Theyalldidtheirbest,butbestdoesn'talwaysamounttocompetent.
TheFootpathFortune-Teller
Dr.SiriPaiboun,thecountry'soneandonlycoroner,wasinthemorguerollingatesticle
betweenhisthumbandforefinger.Itwasapeculiarsensation.Heheldituptothelighttocatch
itsopaquenessandtookaphotographofit.Hethenplaceditbesideitscomradeonthetablein
frontofhimandtookonemoresnapofthecoupletogether.
"Youknow?They'remarvels,reallytheyare,"hesaid.
"Howso?"
NurseDtuiwasrummagingimpatientlythroughthedrawerforasuitablebagtoput
themin.Shewasaprettygirlinhertwentieswithasmilethatwonhearts.Hericewhite
uniformstretchedacrosshersolidblockofabody,givinghertheappearanceofalargestanding
refrigerator,albeitaveryhappyone.
"Theydon'tlooklikemuch,"Sirisaid,"buttheselittlefellowsarethepowerhouseof
everysexualeventthattakesplaceinaman'sbody.Theypumpouttestosteronetoadvertise
virilityandattractthefemale,theystimulateanerection,andtheyproducespermtofertilize
theovum.Andwithallthatresponsibility,thereisn'tevenaplacefortheminside.Theyhaveto
dangletherelikeafterthoughts.DamnedinconsiderateoftheMakerifyouaskme."
"Idoubtthese'llbemakinganymorecontributionstotheprocreationofthespecies,
whatwithhavingbeenfriedandall,"Dtuisaidandsmiledassheheldupanenvelopeofstapled
paperthathadoncecontainedbananafritters."This'lldo."
"Youseemtobeinsomewhatofahurry,NurseDtui."
"It'sWednesday.Don'twanttomissmyfortune-tellingappointment."
"Aren'tyousupposedtobetendingvegetablesfortherepublicorsomesuchafter-
hoursnursingduty?"
"Icandothataftermyreading.Itdoesn'ttakehalfanhour."
"I'mdisappointedinyou,reallyIam.Surelyyoudon'tbelieveallthatclairvoyant
bunkum?"
"That'sgood,comingfromyou."
"Meaningwhat?"
"LetmejustmakesureI'vegotthisright.Amanwhohoststhespiritofathousand-year-
oldHmongshaman--amanwho'sbeingpursuedbythemalevolentspiritsofthejungle--aman
whoisregularlyvisitedbytheghostsofmurdervictims..."
"Thissoundslikeonehellofaman."
"...amanwhohasnofewerthanthirty-threeteethcrammedtogetherinhismagical
mouth,whichpositivelyproveshisconnectionstothespiritworld,believesthatfortune-telling
isbunkum?"
"Absolutely.It'saloadofrot.Thefuture'sapimpleonyournose.Nomatterhowfast
yourun,you'llnevercatchupwithit.Norshouldyoutryto."
"ThatsoundssuspiciouslylikeoneofJudgeHaeng'sPartyslogans."
"Notatall.It'smine.Nobodycanprofesstoknowthefuture.Thosefortune-teller
charlatansmakealivingoutoftellinggulliblefolkswhattheywanttohear."
"Well,Icertainlydidn'twanttohearthatmystudytouroftheSovietUnionwouldbe
canceled."
"Hetoldyouthat?SeewhatImean?Rot!NothingcanpreventyourgoingtoMoscow.
It'sallsignedandsealed.That'swhyfortune-tellersaresodangerous,Dtui.Theyplantthese
weed-seedsinyourheadthattakerootandgnarlandprickle.Itallconfusesyousomuchthat
youactinwaysthatmakethepredictionscometrue.Youthinkthefortune-tellerhasseenthe
futurebutinfacthe'salteredyourflightpath.He'ssentyouoffinadirectionthatwillconverge
withhisprediction.Youactuallybelieveyourselfintohisfantasy."
"Poop!"
"Poop?Poop?That'scharming.Itwouldappeartheprincipleofrespectingone'selders
hasgonedownthetoiletwithalltheothernicetiesofthisplanet."
"Sorry.Butpoop'spoop,elderornot.AuntieBpoo'slegitimate.I'dbetmysocksonit."
"AuntieBpoo?Nowthere'sanametoconjurewith.Where'sheroffice?"
"Well..."
"Well?"
"ThefootpathinfrontoftheAeroflotticketagency.""Oh,Dtui.Yousurelydon'tmean
thetransvestite?""Yes."
"ThenIrestmycase.It'sasorrierstorythanIcouldhaveimagined.Youcanseefor
yourselfwhatasuccessfulbusinesshe'sbuiltup.Suchasplendidlocation.Ifthemancould
actuallyseethefuture,don'tyouthinkhe'dbewelloffbynow?Doyouthinkhe'dneedtodaub
himselfingarishmakeupandsitonastrawmat?Goodness,ifIwereclairvoyantI'dbein
Bangkokbynow,drinkingmorningcoffeeandcognacwithotherrespectableretirees."
"Sheisn'tallowedtousehergiftsforpersonalgain."
"Areyousayingshe...hedoesn'tcharge?"
"Notonekip."
Siriwasonlybrieflybumpedoffthetrack."Oh,Isee.Theyhaveacodeofethics.Inthat
case,thoseethicsshouldextendtonotgivingoutirresponsiblepredictionslikeyournotgoingto
theSovietBloc.IthinkthisAuntieBpoochapwouldbenefitfromagoodtalking-to."
"Goonthen."
"What?"
"Gochatwithher."
"Thisisthekindofthingyou'dnormallytrytotalkmeoutof."
"No,Ithinktheolddogmightlearnafewtricks."
"Iverymuchdoubtthat."
"ThenIdareyoutogoandseeher.Butbenice.Justrideoutthebizarrestuffandshe'll
winyouover.Iguaranteeit."
"Itappearsshespecializesinnegatives."
"Notalways.Shelikestocheeryouupeverynowandthen.ShesaidI'dbemarriedby
theendofthemonth."
Sirilaughed."Who'stheluckyman?"
"Ididn'tgetaname."
"Well,you'dbetterpullyourfingerout.It'salreadythefifteenth."
Dtuibaggedandlabeledthetesticlesforthesamplesstoreroom."Severedscrotum.Mr.
Tawon.Aug.1977."Theywouldn'tbejoiningthebodyonitstriptothepyre.Mr.Tawonhad
wanderedfromthesanctityofmarriageonregularoccasions.Aftertwodecadesofhisinfidelity,
hisloyalandpatientwifehadreachedtheendofhertetheranddecideditwastimetobring
himtotheendofhis.AcrosstheriverinThailand,afteranappropriateperiodofrehabilitation,
Mr.Tawonmighthavehopedtocontinuehisphilandering.Thaiwivesweremoreinclinedto
slicethecarrotthantheonions.Ifthecuckoldwasabletofindhiserrantmemberandlimpoff
toasurgeon,therewasathirtypercentchanceoftheorgan'sbeingsuccessfullyreattached.
ButMr.Tawon'swifehaddoneherhomework.Asherhusbandsleptoffarice-whisky
binge,thesmellofcheapperfumestillonhisskin,she'dtakenarazortohisscrotum.Tobesure
hewouldn'tbetemptedtoreoffendintheafterlife,she'ddeep-friedthedetachedovoidsin
sesameoil.Whiletryingtorescuethem,Mr.Tawonhadbledtodeath.AsDr.Siriremarked,this
wasataletobringtearstoeventhemostinsensitiveofmales.
"Alessontoallofus,"he'dcalledit.
Dr.SiriPaibounneverfailedtoabsorbwisdomfromthedeparted.Evenatseventy-three
yearsofage,evenafteralifeofstudyingandwarandpoliticsandlove,hestillconcededhehad
alottolearn.ManyLaohalfhisagebraggedofbeingexperts.Theycouldhavebenefitedfrom
justasmidgenofSiri'shumilitybecauseatrueexpertwasonewhoadmittedthereweren't
alwaysanswers.Oh,it'scertainmanyoftheotherfellowsweren'tasorneryastheoldman,but
he'dearnedtherighttobestubbornandargumentativejustbystayingaliveaslongashehad.
Hehardlyeverflewintoarageorinsultedanyonewhodidn'tabsolutelydeserveit.Andhewas
certainlypatient.He'dbeencomparedtotheVietnameseThousandYearPlant,whichwaitedits
entirelifefortheoffchancethatsomeforestdeermightbrushagainstitsoneandonlyspore
andcarryitofftomorefertileground.
AndliketheThousandYearPlant,thegooddoctorwaswellpreservedforamanhisage.
Hishairwasthickandwhitelikethefeathersofanewbornbantam.Hispeculiargreeneyesstill
sparkledasbrightasaraja'semeralds.Hisshortframewassolidwithmuscleandhismindwas
assharpasithadeverbeen.Onlyrecentlyhadthingsbeguntogowrong.Hislungstooklonger
tofillsincethenighthiscollapsinghousehadfilledthemwithdust.Andhehadtoadmitthat
overthepastfewmonthshe'dbeguntolosehissenses.Notthosesensesthatpreventaman
frombettingonacockfightorbeddinghisbestfriend'swife.No,thesensesslowlydraining
awayfromSiriwerethosethatgavecolorandflavorandscenttotheworld.Hecouldhave
blamedthedroughtforthegrayingoftheblossomsorthedullingoftheirfragrances.Butnature
couldn'tbefaultedfortheblandnessofthespicesthathadonceinvigoratedarecipeforhim.
ThemoreintimateDr.SiriPaibounbecamewiththesupernatural,theflatterbecamethe
naturalworldaroundhim.
AsthebrothersofthepostmortemeunuchonceknownasMr.Tawonwerecarryinghim
offtothetemple,theypassedthecrumpledbodyofatruck-accidentvictim.Itwasbeingborne
onanoldHallsMentholCoughDropadvertisingbillboard,usedasalitter,bytwoyoung
policemen.Thebillboardhadalsobeenavictimofthetruck.Theofficersworeunmatch-ing,ill-
fittinguniforms.Astheyentered,Sirilookedattheirboyishfacesandnotedhownarrowthegap
wasbecomingbetweenpubertyandauthority.
"Hey,Uncle,"oneofthemsaid,restinghisendoftheplacardonhisknee."Whered'ya
wantthis?"
Siriwalkeduptohimandstaredintohiscalflikeeyes."SeeingasI'manonlychild,"he
said,"andasIhaven'tbeensexuallyactiveforfifteenyears,it'sratherunlikelythatyouandIare
related.Inthatcase,Ithinkyou'dbesaferoffcallingme'sir,'don'tyou?"
"Youwhat?"
"Sorry,Doctor,"theotherpoliceboyinterrupted."He'snew.Justdownfromthe
country.Istheresomewherewecanputthisdown?It'sgettingabitheavy."
Siriledthemthroughtothecuttingroomandpulledopenthesinglefreezerdoor.
"Perhapsyoucouldputhiminhereforme,"Sirisaid."Whathappened?"
"HegothitbyarunawaytruckinfrontofthecentralBureaudePoste."
"Howunusual.Itakeithedidn'tseeitcoming."
"Hedidn'tseeanything,Comrade.He'sblind.Oratleastheusedtobe."
Siripulledbackoneofthecorpse'seyelidstorevealthecataractsthathadexpandedthe
man'spupilsandturnedthemcloudylikeopals.
"Quiteright.Anyideawhoheis?"
"Notaclue,"saidthefirstofficer,"...sir.Ithoughtthat'swhatyouweresupposedtotell
us."
"Well,boy,unlesshe'sgothisnametattooedonhisbackside,yourguessisasgoodas
mine.I'macoroner,notafortune-teller."
ASticky-RicePoliceman
AuntieBpoowasn'toneofthosetransvestiteswhofooledtheeyefromadistance.Even
onthedarkestofnightsshewouldn'tbemistakenforanythingotherthanamiddle-agedmanin
women'sclothing.Indaylight,viewedfromtheoppositecornerofSamsenthaiRoad,shewasa
luminousbeacon--anddefinitelyabuoy.Herbroadshouldersheldupthespaghettistrapsofa
shockingpinkhalter.Herwhitestomachhungovertheelasticwaistbandofherleopard-skin
leotardslikeafloeoficeoozingfromthefreezerofacheaprefrigerator.Therougeonher
cheeksandthepurplearoundhereyeswereredderandmorepurplethaneventhemost
flamboyantbirdofparadise.Butherhair,blackandcutmilitaryshort,setoffacreamhibiscus
blossomtuckedbehindherear.
Siristoodinfrontoftheclosed-downcoffeestandoppositeandpretendedtobe
maneuveringamisplacedpavingstonebackintoitsspotwithhisfoot.Butonlytheblackstupa
hunchedinitsislandofovergrowngrasstookanynoticeofhim.Eventhroughthefilmofdust
thathungoverthecity'smainstreetlikeahazyhangover,AuntieBpoowasanoverstatement.
Siriturnedandheadedbacktohismotorcycle.Whatwashethinking?Whatonearthhad
crawledintohishead?Heshouldhavegonestraighthomelikehe'dplanned.
Butno.Herehewascontemplatingsomethingquitefoolish.Perhapshe'djustwanted
toseeforhimselfwhatcouldpossessanotherwiserationalnursetofallforanobvious
confidencetrick.Andwhowasfeedingthisroadsideduchess?Shedidn'tacceptpaymentbut
sheobviouslywasn'tstarvingtodeath.ItwashisinnerdetectivethatturnedSiriaroundonce
moreandsenthimacrossVientiane'sbusieststreet.Onnormaldayshewouldhavejust
launchedhimselfintotheroad,but,giventheday'sevents,hedecidedtostopatthecurband
lookbothwaysbeforecrossing.
Aminutelaterhewassittingcross-leggedonabanana-leafmatbeneaththelong
eveningshadowoftheAeroflotsign.HewatchedAuntieBpooshufflecards,justshuffleand
shuffle,untilhewassurethenosesofthekingsandqueenshadbeenscouredcompletelyfrom
theirfaces.Shehadn'tlookedupathim,notevenwhenhearrived.Shehadn'tsomuchas
acknowledgedhispresence.Whenshespokeatlastshebeganwithapoem.AtleastSiri
assumedthat'swhatitwas.He'dheardbadpoetrybefore,butAuntieBpoo'shadadepthallher
own.
"Firstasheep(shebegan)
Cheapstart.Turnsintofour
Thenaboar
Alion,chimpanzees
Perfectclones
Ourownanomalies
Ahundredme
We,thee
Allthesame."
Siriwonderedwhethertocomment.Washesupposedtoaskwhatitallmeant?Applaud?But,
beforehecouldspeak,theclownishfaceofthetransvestitelookedupathimandsmiled--an
uglybetel-nutgash.
"Dr.Siri,"shesaid."I'vebeenexpectingyou."
Sirifeltoddlydisconcertedthatsheshouldknowwhohewas.They'dnevermet.
PerhapsDtui...?Hecoughedtojogthesurprisefromhisvoice.
"I'mactuallyheretotellyou--,"hebegan.
"Thatyouthinkmypredictionsareapileofpoppycock,"shesaid.
Siriwasimpressed.Thoseweretheexactwordshe'dchosentocompletehishijacked
sentence.Itwaseitheragrandtrickoranamazingcoincidence.
"Welldone.PerhapsyoucouldtellmewhatIhadfordinneryesterdayevening,"Siri
suggested.
"No.Icouldn't,"AuntieBpoogrowled,andreturnedhergazetothecards."Ifyouwant
acabaret,gotoBangkok."
"ButIthoughtthat'sexactlywhatyouwere--anelaborateparlortrick,"Sirimanaged,
althoughhewaslackinghisusualbravado.
Whenshelookedupathimagain,hereyeswerethedullsilvergrayofballbearings.
Theyseemedtoboreintohim."Beforethesecondequinox,Dr.SiriPaiboun,youwillhave
betrayedyourcountry."
"Iwillwhat?Don'tberidiculous."
"Youcametome.Ididn'tpursueyou."
"Ijustcameto--"
"Andhangontoyourluckycharm,Doctor.ThePhibobarelurking.They'rewaitingfor
theiropportunity."
"Who...whotoldyouaboutthem?"
Sirifeltacoldshudderrisefromthepavementandclimbhisspine.Thisfortune-teller
hadaccesstofactsshecouldn'tpossiblyhaveoverheard.Dangerousknowledge.Thespiritsof
theforesthadhoundedSiritoaledgeoverhangingthevalleyofdeath.They'dhunteddownthe
spiritofthethousand-year-oldshaman,YehMing,who'dchosenSiriashishost.Butinorderto
destroytheone,theyhadtoeliminatetheother.Siriwasinconstantfearofthem.Hereached
forhischestwherethecharmedwhiteamulet,hisonlyprotectionfromthePhibob,laywarm
againsthisskin.Itwasbeneathhisshirt,impossibletosee.
"Idon'tseewhat'shereandnow,"thetransvestitetoldhim."Iseewhat'stocome.But
oftenthefutureexplainsthepresent."
Suddenlyandinexplicably,shebegantogiggleshrilly.Adoginthegutterfledinpanic.It
seemedtoSiri,amidstasuddenatmosphereofforeboding,thatthemonstersittingbeforehim
mighthaveswallowedayounggirlwhole.
"Oh,my.It'slate,"thelittlegirlsaidinhertinyvoice."Justthinkoflittlemewalking
homethroughthedarkstreets.Ihavetoscamper."
ShequicklygatheredhercardsandherbagandshooedSirioffthematsoshecouldroll
itup.Alltheseactionsshecompletedlikeaballerinaonheroin.AuntieBpoohadturnedintoa
sillyfemininethingthatSiriwantedtoslapthesensesbackinto,butnaturallyhedidn't.Shestill
outweighedhimbysomeeightypounds.Instead,hestoodbackintheAeroflotdoorwayand
watchedherescape,steppingmincingly,hurriedly,pasttheblackstupa.Siriwasbreathlessand
dumbfounded.Therewerefewlivingbeingsthatcouldmakehimfeelinferior,butAuntieBpoo,
thetransvestitefortune-teller,hadjoinedtheirranks.
***
Onehandprotrudedstifflyfrombeneaththewhitesheet.Itlay,palmupward,onthe
sidetable,asifbeggingforthereturnofitslife.Mournersinallwhiteorallblackfiledpastthe
bodyindisorderlyfashion.Onebyonetheydippedatincupintoaclaywaterpotandtrickleda
littleontotheashgrayfingers.Theybeggedforgivenessfromthecorpsejustincasetherewere
anyforgottenmisdemeanorstheyhadcommitted.Fourmonkssattooneside,chantingbehind
theirceremonialfanslikeshytable-tennisplayers.Thesaisinstringcircledthemandlooped
downtothebody,akarmictelegraph,passingtheirmessagesthroughtothedeceased.Dtui
stoodathermother'sfeetandthankedthevisitorsforcoming.Theysmiled.Shesmiled.They
joked.Shelaughed.Therewasnothingtobegainedbyturningafuneralintosomething
depressing.
Thereweredrinksintheyardofthelittletemplelaidoutonalongtrestletableunder
theshadeofascrambledeggtree.Thereguestscouldsitandremembertheirnicefriend
Manoluk.They'dprobablygetrowdyandraucousafterafewglassesofricewhiskyandtell
bawdystoriesofheryouth.Iftheydidn'tknowany,they'dmakethemup.Certainly,they'dtalk
oftheelevenchildrenshe'dborne,andtheirthoughtswouldcometorestonDtui,theonlyone
she'dbeenabletokeepalive,theoneshe'dspoiledandtoiledtoprovideaneducationfor.
They'draisetheirglassestothebigsoftnurseandshout"Goodluck"andplayafewhandsof
cardsbeforestaggeringoffhome.TheywouldshednounluckytearstojinxManoluk'sjourney
toNirvana.Onlyintheirdreamswouldtheirtruesorrowshowitself.
At6a.m.,SirihadawakenedinasweatwiththeimageofAuntieBpoostillinhishead.
He'ddreamedofslowdancingwithherinaFrenchbordello.Hermakeuphadsmearedontohis
cheeks,givinghimtheappearanceofaComanchewarrior.MembersoftheLaoPeople'sParty
politburoweresittingaroundhimatlowtableswearingFrenchberets.Theycastcircumspect
glancesinthedirectionofthedancefloor.Sirilookedoverthehairyshoulderofhispartnerand
countedthemoff,onebyone.Thepresident,ofcourse;theprimeminister;theheadsof
educationandofagriculture.He'dlocatedsevenoftheeightmembersbuthadnotimetowork
outwhowasabsentbecauseabomb--albeitablack,ball-shapedcartoonbomb--cameflying
throughawindow.Itexplodedandblewthemalltokingdomcome.
Therewaspitch-blacknessandthepungentodoroffriedbodies,andthatwaswhenSiri
emergedfromhisdream.Herecalledhowbrightthecolorshadbeentherecomparedtothe
washed-outhuesthatsurroundedhiminhisroom.Howfruitythebordellowine,howsweetthe
Gitanes'smokethathungintheair.Allthatflavorhadgoneandhewasleftwithdrabnessand
themonotonoussobbingofayoungwoman.Ittookhimsomeminutestoidentifythesoundas
comingfromDtuiinthenextroom.
Hefoundherlyingbesidehermother'sbodyonthesinglemattress.Formanypainful
years,Manolukhadtoleratedthepainofcirrhosisassheprovidedforhergirl.OnceDtui
graduated,theroleshadbeenreversed,andthelargerpartofthedaughter'swageshadgone
towardexpensivemedicationthathadneveractuallyperformedthemiraclesclaimed.They'd
merelykepthermotheraliveandinpain--untilnow.AsSirilookedonfromthedoorwayhe
wonderedwhetherDtui'stearswereofgrieforrelief.Hermotherhadfinallystoppedsuffering.
Ifthemattresshadbeenwider,orDtuiandManoluknarrower,hewouldhavejoinedthem
there.HewouldhaveheldDtui'shandandabsorbedsomesmallpartofhersadness.
InthestuffyheatofAugust,therewaslittletimetolose.Duringtheday,the
housematesjoinedtogethertoprepareforthebathingritesandtheinitialceremony.Siri's
