“If it’s from Toshi himself, he’d be about your age now, Siri,” said Phosy. “He might be one of those fanatical Japanese soldiers that hang out in the jungle for thirty years after the war ends, refusing to surrender. When’s the last date in the diary?”

“August fourteenth, 1945,” said Daeng. “It was the day before the Japanese Emperor’s notice of surrender was broadcast.”

“And what did he write on that day?” Dtui asked, a little dizzy from her guide-dogging laps.

“Dtui, I’m disappointed in you, really,” said Siri. “I only folded over the corner to see the date. Do I look like the type of person who would skip to the last page of a story?”

“Well, yes, you look like exactly that type, especially if it solves the mystery of why he’s writing to you.”

“See what I mean?” said Daeng. “A thoroughly annoying man.”

“Then there’s no point in having a mystery in the first place, is there?” said Siri. “Let’s all just skip to the last day of our lives and see what happened. A book is like an orgasm.”

“Siri, I don’t—” Phosy began.

“You want to get as much mileage out of it as you can before it’s all over,” Siri continued.

“There goes another of our family secrets,” said Daeng.

“Just words to the wise to a young couple starting off on the trail to marital bliss,” said Siri.

“Do you mind if we change the subject?” Phosy asked. “I’m sending Captain Sihot off to Vang Vieng this afternoon.”

“Ah, you’ve grasped the concept of delegation at last,” said Daeng, pouring everyone another cup of tea.

“I’ve always known the concept but until now I’ve been the best man for the job.”

“See how modest your daddy is?” said Dtui to her daughter.

“Can’t see,” said Malee.

“Right, sorry. I forgot.”

“In fact, I should be there doing this myself,” Phosy continued. “If we get this wrong we’ll be answerable to the Vietnamese.”

“But if we get it right they’ll be beholden to us,” said Siri.

“And you’re quite sure?” Phosy asked.

“As sure as I can be until we get an eye witness,” said Siri.

“Transport out of the region would have been impossible without being noticed,” said Phosy, “so it had to have been a local girl.”

“Do you think she’ll be willing to talk?” asked Dtui.

“Sihot has to find her first,” said Phosy. “He’s from around there so I’m hoping the locals will talk to him. If he finds the girl and shows her what we believe happened, there’s no reason why she shouldn’t speak up. She’s not a suspect.”

“But she might be a local girl who agreed to go for a hike—if you know what I mean,” said Daeng.

“Sihot’s got a way with people,” said Phosy. “I’m trusting he can leave there with the girl’s reputation intact.”

“Assuming it was intact before he gets there,” said Siri.

Chapter Three

Creative Writing

2/30/1941

A word about my posting. They have sent us to Thakhek in Laos. It’s a small, pretty but unremarkable town on the Mekong, a hand-grenade toss across the river from Thailand. But it is strategically situated exactly halfway down the country. The Thais have signed memoranda of cooperation with half the planet as a sort of insurance they’ll still have allies no matter how badly things turn out. But with the bulk of the French forces busy in Europe, this would be a good time for the fickle Thais to nuzzle up to us and claim back some real estate stolen by Laos and their French minders. Japan agreed on the condition that we could trample all over Thailand at will. To show us how much they love their northern neighbor, Thailand has declared war on England.