A Daughter's Promise by Ann Bennett

Author:Ann Bennett [Bennett, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Andaman Books
Published: 2019-07-13T22:00:00+00:00

17

Louise

Moulmein, Burma

August 1988

When Louise arrived back at Thuza’s house just before nine o’ clock that evening, there was a small truck parked up in the drive. Thuza came out of the house with another man. This man looked older than Thuza. He was short and wiry.

‘This is Mo Chit,’ said Thuza. ‘He will drive us down to Thanbyuzayat. He is taking a cargo of fruit down to the market there.’

He shone a torch at the back of the truck and for the first time Louise noticed that it was piled high with huge green prickly fruit.

‘You can hide in amongst the fruit. It will be uncomfortable and smelly, but it’s the best chance of getting you there without being seen.’

Louise went up to the truck, reached out a hand and touched the fruit. It was covered in sharp spines. A pungent smell was rising from it; a mixture of bad eggs, onions, and rotting vegetables. She couldn’t help pulling a face.

‘It smells really bad. What is it?’

Thuza and Mo Chit exchanged smiles.

‘Don’t you know? They’re durian fruits. They smell so strong that they’re banned in lots of public places. Some people love them though. They can be a real delicacy.’

She stared at him.

‘I’ve got to travel in there? Are you serious?’

Thuza’s smile vanished. He took a step closer to her.

‘Perfectly serious,’ he said quietly, his tone suddenly changing. ‘We’re taking big risks driving you down there. Think what that means for us. Surely you can put up with a few hours discomfort to avoid trouble? We chose durian fruit because the police won’t want to go near it at the road blocks.’

She saw the determination in his eyes and was reminded of the boys on the train and of how people here could take nothing for granted. She felt a stab of guilt. She had no right to put her own comfort before their safety.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘You’re right. It’s a good idea.’

His face relaxed.

‘Come on inside the house,’ he said. ‘You need to change into some different clothes. I’ve thought of a way of disguising you while you’re there.’

Inside the dimly lit front hall stood a young woman. Two small children clung to her saree. She was slender and delicate-looking, darker skinned than most Burmese people. There was an anxious look in her large brown eyes.

‘This is Neema. She lives here in the house. She doesn’t speak English, but she will lend you some clothes and show you how to dress like her.’

He said something to the young woman who smiled shyly and beckoned to Louise to follow her upstairs. Louise followed behind the two children who still held on to their mother’s legs. They kept staring back at her. Their eyes wide with curiosity.

Neema showed Louise into one of the upstairs rooms. It was small and cluttered with furniture and possessions. She said something to the children and they went to play on a mat in the corner. Then Neema produced some clothes from a chest and motioned to Louise to take off her shorts and T shirt.

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