The Trials of Being Loved

Part 52 - Cresting the Wave, Orca

Sayen sighed and stretched under the shade of the watering station. He knew he wasn't going to last at this job. He had lied to get it, saying he was an experienced picker and while he wasn't doing badly, he was at least half a basket behind the nearest worker on the farm. Since you only got water when you returned with a full basket, he was falling behind on his quota. 

Shaking hands dropped the ladle. Regretfully, he turned to the overseer and sighed. "I am too old, Master. I need a simpler job than as a fieldhand." He had only managed 4 baskets of beans. Only 4 baskets. They offered him ten kyat per basket. Was that fair? He sighed. That would be 40 kyat. He snorted softly. Would that get him a bed for tonight? A meal? He had no idea even of the exchange rate... 

"I see that, Bim." The overseer, neither soft nor gentle, felt compassion for this skinny Thai. He knew a foreigner when he saw one, heard the faint accent. He had a tingly feeling that was triggered when someone was in deep trouble. He tingled when he looked at this man. "We have an opening in the packing house." Usually, it was given as a reward, to one who had been here on the farm for years, or only highly educated. "Do you know how to use a scale?"

Saven nodded carefully. This, he actually did know. Back home in the high country, if you didn't, they'd cheat you. "I can read, and write numbers." Best not to go too far, and let him know I know several languages. He bit the inside of his mouth, trembling still from the exhaustion and hunger. What he really needed was a bed, and a good meal. Mostly, to stop feeling like a hunted dog for a few days... 

He blinked, slowly realizing he had blanked out. The overseer made him feel safe! Safe! He shivered, more frightened than before. I have to run again. He was thinking to himself... I have too...

The overseer put his hand on his arm. "If you run again, Bim, it never stops. I know from experience. Are you in trouble with the law?" His voice was soft, safe. He wondered if the man knew he could be beautiful, if he wasn't skinny and afraid.

Sayen rapidly shook his head, rattling his brains. No, it definitely wasn't the police he was afraid of. "M...M...mafia." He squeaked, hands twisting together. 

More confidently, the overseer nodded now, glad his instincts were correct. "Come then. I'll take half your pay from today, feed you, and show you the scales." Then, he thought, I'll take you home and keep you safe so you come back. He was unaware of the new light in his eyes. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Ms. Tam interviewed the bribed border guard, 36 hours after Sayen Sangethian crossed. The guard looked at the picture of him casually, then shook his head. "Look, lady, I am telling you, he didn't cross here."

Ms. Tam nodded, "Very well." Inside her briefcase, she took out another still, this one from the CCTV from the border camera. It was Sayen, now thinner with the beard, and in this picture, you could see the bribe highlighted. "What about now?"

The guard looked down, not remembering the man, but he did remember the fat money envelop. "Oh that. Well, I did wonder what he could have done to pay that much in bribes." He hiccupped once, not minding the fact that he hadn't been back at work since that day. Time off for drunk and disorderly took talent. 

Rolling her eyes, sending a prayer, Ms. Tam held back a curse. "Listen up, I'm early. Right behind me is the Mafia and the government agents. I think both will be less kind. Where did he say he was going?"

At the mention of the mafia, the guard blinked. He blinked hard. "I.. I.. didn't care to know. I'm paid to forget, so I do." The gods have damned him. He had ran to this god forsaken outpost and still the mafia were coming. "How long?" He demanded.