draft constitution?”
“I was waiting for the movie version. But I take it you’ve had a hand in writing it.”
“More like an entire arm, Siri. I’m particularly proud of the passage that reads, “Our pluri-ethnic people will have to intensify their patriotism, become closely knit, eradicate all prejudice and discrimination inherited from the former society, be mutually supportive, and help the disabled so that all efforts may be devoted to the construction of our beloved country.””
“Hmm, you’re right. That wasn’t at all racist.”
“Did it occur to you we have ethnic schools in every province?”
“Where you teach…?”
“Standards, Siri. We teach standards and discipline and Lao language and history.”
“In schools two weeks’ walk from a village, in classrooms where few people speak a familiar language.”
“Of course not every child is able to attend. We have to select the brighter children.”
“Like Hitler.”
Judge Haeng’s acne flared like neon from the frustration of teaching new tricks to an old dog. Siri was calmly peeling a mandarin. A silver pheasant flapped in front of the slow-moving vehicle. The driver and Siri smiled at the omen. Haeng didn’t notice.
“We need to educate them, Siri. Do you know?”
“Know what, Judge?”
“Know what their religion is?”
“Judaism?”
“Shamanism, Siri. They believe in spirits. They have witch doctors dealing with medical matters.”
There came a distant rumble as if the earth had a stomach complaint. The dry lotus garland that hung from the rear-view mirror began to swing wildly. Haeng seemed oblivious to it.
“They hold seances and exorcisms – ”
“Judge Haeng?”
“ – and devil worship. What kind of children…?”
The world seemed to fall on them at that moment. The entire cliff came crashing down in front of the Land Rover Rocks and earth smashed the windscreen and dented the hood. Siri turned his head in time to see the jeep far back on the road disappear as another wall of rocks and uprooted trees landed between them. He believed it was only a matter of time before a boulder – a big lump of rock with his name engraved on one side – came crashing onto the roof, leaving him and his boss a dimension short, flat and lifeless as roti. He even looked up defiantly at the cars overhead light. But the end didn’t come. Only a peculiar silence he felt obliged to break.
“Well,” he said, “that’s livened up an otherwise dull day.” He promised himself he’d never shout at a Party conference again. He wondered how much more hopeless the situation could become, but he didn’t have long to wait for an answer. The first bullet hit a tyre and their vehicle sank toward the north-east. The bodyguard began to fumble at his holster. The second bullet grazed the roof. “Oh, my God,” Haeng screamed. “It’s an ambush.” Siri finished peeling his orange and handed a slice to the panicking judge. He knew from experience that all the squealing in the world wouldn’t help them now. Bullets whistled in their direction from the steep grassy incline above them. The driver ducked into the space beneath his steering wheel and hugged the foot pedals. The bodyguard finally had his shaking pistol in his hand. His first shot narrowly missed Haeng and smashed the rear window.
Haeng screamed, “We’re surrounded.” He fell across the guard and grabbed for the far door handle. “Siri, for heaven’s sake. Do something.”
Siri ate the orange slice and wondered. In the brief few seconds since the ambush had begun, he’d already come to a conclusion. If the attackers really wanted them dead, the passengers would have been knocking on the gates of Nirvana after the first volley. Over twenty shots had been fired and only the first had made contact. If this wasn’t an attack by some blind bandit gang, the ambushers had a plan for them.
“I suggest you relax,” Siri shouted above the gunfire.
“Idiot!”
“I was waiting for the movie version. But I take it you’ve had a hand in writing it.”
“More like an entire arm, Siri. I’m particularly proud of the passage that reads, “Our pluri-ethnic people will have to intensify their patriotism, become closely knit, eradicate all prejudice and discrimination inherited from the former society, be mutually supportive, and help the disabled so that all efforts may be devoted to the construction of our beloved country.””
“Hmm, you’re right. That wasn’t at all racist.”
“Did it occur to you we have ethnic schools in every province?”
“Where you teach…?”
“Standards, Siri. We teach standards and discipline and Lao language and history.”
“In schools two weeks’ walk from a village, in classrooms where few people speak a familiar language.”
“Of course not every child is able to attend. We have to select the brighter children.”
“Like Hitler.”
Judge Haeng’s acne flared like neon from the frustration of teaching new tricks to an old dog. Siri was calmly peeling a mandarin. A silver pheasant flapped in front of the slow-moving vehicle. The driver and Siri smiled at the omen. Haeng didn’t notice.
“We need to educate them, Siri. Do you know?”
“Know what, Judge?”
“Know what their religion is?”
“Judaism?”
“Shamanism, Siri. They believe in spirits. They have witch doctors dealing with medical matters.”
There came a distant rumble as if the earth had a stomach complaint. The dry lotus garland that hung from the rear-view mirror began to swing wildly. Haeng seemed oblivious to it.
“They hold seances and exorcisms – ”
“Judge Haeng?”
“ – and devil worship. What kind of children…?”
The world seemed to fall on them at that moment. The entire cliff came crashing down in front of the Land Rover Rocks and earth smashed the windscreen and dented the hood. Siri turned his head in time to see the jeep far back on the road disappear as another wall of rocks and uprooted trees landed between them. He believed it was only a matter of time before a boulder – a big lump of rock with his name engraved on one side – came crashing onto the roof, leaving him and his boss a dimension short, flat and lifeless as roti. He even looked up defiantly at the cars overhead light. But the end didn’t come. Only a peculiar silence he felt obliged to break.
“Well,” he said, “that’s livened up an otherwise dull day.” He promised himself he’d never shout at a Party conference again. He wondered how much more hopeless the situation could become, but he didn’t have long to wait for an answer. The first bullet hit a tyre and their vehicle sank toward the north-east. The bodyguard began to fumble at his holster. The second bullet grazed the roof. “Oh, my God,” Haeng screamed. “It’s an ambush.” Siri finished peeling his orange and handed a slice to the panicking judge. He knew from experience that all the squealing in the world wouldn’t help them now. Bullets whistled in their direction from the steep grassy incline above them. The driver ducked into the space beneath his steering wheel and hugged the foot pedals. The bodyguard finally had his shaking pistol in his hand. His first shot narrowly missed Haeng and smashed the rear window.
Haeng screamed, “We’re surrounded.” He fell across the guard and grabbed for the far door handle. “Siri, for heaven’s sake. Do something.”
Siri ate the orange slice and wondered. In the brief few seconds since the ambush had begun, he’d already come to a conclusion. If the attackers really wanted them dead, the passengers would have been knocking on the gates of Nirvana after the first volley. Over twenty shots had been fired and only the first had made contact. If this wasn’t an attack by some blind bandit gang, the ambushers had a plan for them.
“I suggest you relax,” Siri shouted above the gunfire.
“Idiot!”
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