Although a work of fiction, this religious thriller has been packed with so many true events that it will stay with you long after you've finished reading it. Even the backdrop of the Vietnam War and what happened to Nickolas and his fellow soldier...
Johnny (as he preferred being called) stood outside his taxi (as he preferred to call it), motioning for Maria to take the front seat, leaving Blake and Sutton the back.
"Oh no," Sutton interrupted, "Maria, you sit in back with Blake. I need to sit up front so I can tell our good friend here where to take us." A slight disappointment washed over Johnny's face but Maria just laughed at Sutton, well aware of his real intentions.
A second later their guide was back on track, beginning his new assignment by pointing out that many of the ruins were being restored while others were still overgrown—just as André Malraux had found them in 1923. Although Malraux was expelled from Cambodia for looting Angkor Wat's ancient sculptures, he would return years later as the French,Minister of Culture.
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French Looting/photo: Christopher Cotton
As their taxi began leaving Siem Reap, from his window Blake could see two girls playing in the river. "Look over there."
Maria asked Johnny to stop for a second so that she could take their picture. Happy with her results, they continued on their way.
Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, Siem Reap, Preah Khan, Preah Neak Pean, Pre Rup—by the end of their first week Jimmy had taken his new clients to view many of the major temples surrounding Angkor Wat—but after days of blank stares from the occasional monks they had stopped, Johnny drove them back to the Banyan Tree Restaurant for dinner—everyone a bit disappointed and definitely tired.
About two hours later, Sutton suggested that Blake and Maria take in the local sights while he planned to check out the bar and find something to read. And sure enough, it didn't take long for Maria to pull out her camera again, this time taking a picture of a group of Khmer children who were playing near two large elephants.
Turning to Blake with a big smile, Maria began to tell him an amusing story she had once heard. "In high school I actually memorized a poem by John Saxe that I recited to my eleventh grade English class. It's about an elephant. Want to hear it?"
"Sure I do, but wait. Do you think you can really remember it—squeezing her hand? That was a long time ago!"
Laughing—"Of course I can remember it." With a big smile on her face and clearing her throat to mimic a serious poet, Maria then began to speak:
* It was six men of Indostan; to learning much inclined; who went to see the Elephant; though all of them were blind; that each by observation might satisfy his mind
* The First approached the Elephant; and happening to fall; against his broad and sturdy side; at once began to bawl: "God bless me! but the Elephant; is very like a wall!
* The Second, feeling of the tusk; cried, "Ho! what have we here; so very round and smooth and sharp? To me 'tis mighty clear; this wonder of an Elephant is very like a spear!
* The Third approached the animal and happening to take; the squirming trunk within his hands; thus boldly up and spake: I see," quoth he, "the Elephant is very like a snake!"
* The Fourth reached out an eager hand; and felt about the knee; "What most this wondrous beast is like; is might plain," quoth he; "'Tis clear enough the Elephant; is very like a tree!"
*The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear; said: "E'en the blindest man; can tell what this resembles most; deny the fact who can; this marvel of an Elephant; is very like a fan!"
*The Sixth no sooner had begun; about the beast to grope; than, seizing on the swinging tail; that fell within his scope; "I see," quoth he, "the Elephant; is very like a rope!"
*And so these men of Indostan; disputed loud and long; each in his own opinion; exceeding stiff and strong; though each was partly in the right; and all were in the wrong!
*So oft in theologic wars; the disputants, I ween; rail on in utter ignorance; of what each other mean, and prate about an Elephant; not one of them has seen!
