“The baku is a sort of talisman,” said Kyoko. “It’s a guardian spirit and country people adopt it to protect themselves from the devils. Baku reside in the gates or the pillars of temples. They soak up bad dreams and ward off yokai.”

“So the cat was one of the good guys?” said Siri.

“Perhaps he was protecting Hiro the whole time,” said Kyoko. “We wondered whether baku might have been responsible for painting the idyllic scenes in Hiro’s mind to subdue the yokai and keep him safe.”

“What do baku look like when they aren’t being cats?” Daeng asked.

“It’s said the baku was a last-minute throw-together,” said Kyoko. “The gods only had spare parts left over when all the other creatures were created. Baku was composed of whatever they could find. It looked a bit like a small bear with uneven dog legs and the head of an elephant.”

“Well, I’ll be,” said Siri.

“That’s your insightful face,” said Daeng.

“You know? I think I have an idea,” he said. “We need to get back across the river immediately.”

“You’re not going to share this idea with us?” said Daeng.

“Not yet. Don’t want to get anyone excited. It’s just a theory right now.”

Siri stood but Daeng helped herself to another cup of tea.

“He does this,” she said to Kyoko. “He keeps things to himself, gets himself shot to death crossing back to Laos, leaving none of us any the wiser. He takes his secret to the grave.”

“Now Daeng,” said Siri. “Be honest. How many times has that happened? Come on, drink your grass juice and let’s go.”

He kissed Kyoko on the cheek and she blushed rose.

“We’ll get back to you as soon as we have news,” said Daeng and she followed her husband out the door.

Twenty minutes after Siri and Daeng had left the JICA office, the phone rang. Kyoko was the only one in the office so she answered it.

“Hello, I’m phoning from the US embassy in Phnom Penh,” came a voice. The caller spoke Thai with a slight American accent that Kyoko picked up on. “I was given this number in regard to inquiries from Dr. Siri Paiboun.”

“You just missed him,” said Kyoko. “Can I take a message?”

“If you wouldn’t mind. My name is Cindy.”

“Ah, yes. I’ve heard about you,” said Kyoko. “Your help in this matter has been invaluable. Thank you for calling.”

There was a very long pause.

“No, I think you must be thinking of somebody else,” said Cindy.

“Why?”

“Well, actually I’m embarrassed not to have been in touch sooner,” said Cindy. “Dr. Siri asked me if I could find information about a major in the Japanese Imperial Army.”

“That’s correct.”

“I was in touch with Washington and they do have a microfiche copy of the war archive.”

“Yes?”