Geistergrab einer buddhistischen Pagode

Kapitel 51

Heidi shared the same fears. She also thought about things that might be related to drugs: syringes, bottles of pills, and syringes, like those used by drug addicts. What else did she have with her? She wondered how she could escape prison and avoid the impending death penalty.

Vera, however, was thinking that some people in this tour group were selfish and perhaps indifferent to the safety of others. For example, Mo Fei, who had always wanted to see the drug market. She stared intently at Mo Fei, who was leisurely reading a book. She immediately imagined a scene: everyone handcuffed in a courtroom, listening to the incomprehensible Lanna language being pronounced, while Mo Fei remained engrossed in his book.

Perhaps he was just pretending; he had been keeping a close eye on what was happening outside. Out of sight, out of mind. He'd heard that these soldiers were easily bribed. Maybe they weren't searching for contraband, but rather hiding their own heroin somewhere. Their secret associates would find it and deliver the payment in another car that had already been "searched."

Esme draped her mother's scarf over the dog. Jumarin squeezed her daughter's hand, and also Berhali's. Berhali remained calm; he thought everything would be alright. Esme would still sleep with the healthy dog, and he would still be with Marin. He reached into his pocket with his other hand, pulled out a mint, and popped it into his mouth.

Walter returned to the car and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have been approved."

The bus sped south when several of my friends suddenly felt stomach aches. They attributed it to the tension they felt while waiting for inspection at the checkpoint. Little did they know, Shigella bacteria were multiplying in their intestines—a consequence of the meal they had eaten on the way to Shizhong Temple.

At this moment, the tourists have ventured deep into the heart of the Kingdom of Lanna.

The fields along the roadside were like cotton blankets, irregularly arranged. Beyond the fields were houses, separated by natural shrubs.

In these colorful fields stand stacks of haystacks resembling Buddhist stupas. Beautiful Lanna women bathe in the river, leaning against huge buckets and splashing water on each other—a ritual performed twice a day. Children ride on the backs of water buffalo, skillfully maintaining their balance.

As dusk fell, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys. A thin mist enveloped every house. The hillside was covered with red chili peppers, the kind that could bring tears to your eyes and quickly turn blood red.

The sun disappeared at the edge of the fields, a crescent moon rose in the sky, along with a few wisps of starlight and golden smoke from cooking fires.

The god came riding a white horse

The interior lights were on, casting a pale green hue that looked strange on my friends' faces.

As the final leg of the journey approached Mandala City, the bus's exhaust system malfunctioned, leaving many passengers exhausted and feeling numb from headaches and nausea.

Even the usually noisiest people—Wendy, Murphy, Benny, and Vera—were quiet and drowsy. Mr. Joe, the eccentric driver, however, was shouting that a god was riding a white horse toward him.

Walter told him to pull over and get some fresh air. All the men stumbled out of the car, searching for a place to relieve themselves in the darkness. The women preferred to go to the hotel, which Walter assured them was only a half-hour drive away. It was actually 45 minutes, but he wanted to make it feel less stifling for everyone.

This time, Berhali didn't need to use the restroom, but he did get out of the car to clear his head. He and Jumarin suddenly felt a little awkward; he just wanted to fawn over her and please her, but she backed away.

She gave him a cold look, a look that could shatter a man's courage. His ex-wife used to look at him like that, and he knew what it meant: "Even if you're the last man in the world, no way!"

Zhu Malin was getting along very well with him last night, so why has she suddenly turned on him?

Actually, the look Marlene gave him was one of depression and sadness. Like the others on the train, she was suffering from stomach aches due to dysentery. How could she tell him the reason? To have to temporarily set aside her desires because of the stomach pain, especially in front of her daughter. Even if Esme wasn't there, she couldn't say something so unromantic. Good heavens, what a hassle.

Rupert, Murphy, and Benny searched for a place to relieve themselves in the dim light of their flashlights. Of course, I looked away at that moment.

But I must point out that, unfortunately, the places Americans consider ideal toilets in the wild are actually places favored by some spirits—especially those who died from gastrointestinal diseases. Like this small grove of jacaranda trees, which remains leafy in winter, only lacking its pale purple flowers.

If Rupert hadn't shouted those words, "Dad! Dad! Did you bring toilet paper?", nothing might have happened.

Mo Fei cursed under his breath, pulled a paperback book from his pocket, and reluctantly tore off the few pages he had already read.

Two policemen who were drinking were alerted. They had left their posts to sneak over for a smoke and a liqueur. The two drunken men yelled in Lanna, "What the hell's going on out there?"