“Perhaps we could take her in for a couple of nights?”

“Phosy. We live in one small room in a dormitory.”

“I could sleep in my office.”

“It’s like Civilai always said. My husband’s the type of man who’ll bring his work home with him.”

“We have a big bed,” he said. “If it worries you to be away from me we could always nuzzle down together and . . .”

“I’ll have a blanket sent to your office,” she said.

The powerful headlights of the helicopter illuminated the football field as if the World Cup was about to begin there. It was late but they’d made one or two unscheduled stops before returning to the field. Siri’s bushy eyebrows were fluttering from the downdraft. Daeng leaned out and shouted something he couldn’t hear. He nodded anyway and smiled. His instincts had been telling him most of the day that something had gone wrong. He was delighted to see his wife and even a little pleased that the Englishman was behind her. To be honest, he’d been alarmed that Daeng would volunteer so readily to take a scenic flight with a philanderer. Love puts a strain on trust no matter how old you are. But there she was, smiling and waving, and apparently as pleased to see him as ever. She jumped down and took his hands in hers. He could feel her stress and knew she would have a hell of a tale to tell him that night.

Roper stepped down onto the football pitch with the two girls. Their empty eyes had come alive. They both smiled at Siri and they gave off the radiance of the reborn. They were holding hands.

“They sent them back?” said Siri.

“It’s a long story.”

“Then we need a drink. We still have the hooch from Woophi.”

“Have you been waiting for us all day?” Daeng asked.

“Most of it,” said Siri. “But I would have waited on and on, taking root, growing skyward without joy, producing no fruit, not so much as a blossom until you arrived.”

“It sounds like you’ve been reading Toshi’s diary.”

“To the end. But your story comes first. We can drink and talk through the night and watch the sunrise locked in each other’s arms.”

“Siri, the girls have been through a lot today. I really need to—”

“No,” said Siri. “I need you more than they do.”

“Don’t panic,” said Daeng. “We can tell our respective stories outside their room. They just need to know I’m there.”

“Then they wouldn’t miss you for half an hour or so.”

“Siri?”

“All right. But I want this sacrifice to go on record.”

“That’s fair.”