I started to put them in my backpack. There’d be enough space for everything now.

“I’d better give you back your jacket.”

“No, best you hang onto it. No telling how that jacket might help you get someplace you need to go. Besides, it goes nice with your eyes. But I could use my lucky hat back.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot I was even wearing it.” I took the hat off and handed it to him, and he put it back on his head.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” I said. “For everything. I just don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything now. Save the thank-you for when I drop you and your family off in Bangkok.”

“You’d be willing to fly us back?”

“I have plenty of space on the return trips. Besides, you didn’t think I’d just bring you down here and abandon you, did you?”

I threw my arms around him and gave him a big hug.

“You just find your way back here and wait for me. If I’m not here I’ll be dropping back in three, maybe four hours. Now you go and find your family.”

I gave him one more hug and then climbed out. I took a few steps and looked back. Steve was already pitching in, helping to unload the chopper so he could head back out again.

“Steve!” I yelled, and he looked over. “Get some sleep, okay?”

He smiled, nodded, and gave me the thumbs-up.

I made my way through the men and machines that were buzzing all around. I kept my head down and walked through the field. A building off to one side looked like a school, and then I got it—this airport was a schoolyard. At both ends were crudely made soccer posts, and there was a baseball diamond in the far corner.

I got on to the road and started to walk. I was grateful to have got away without any awkward questions. I hurried around the corner, anxious to get out of sight.

The road was rough, and there was thick vegetation on both sides. I’d been to Thailand so many times over the years, but it struck me that this was the very first time I’d ever walked anywhere by myself. In fact, aside from being in the washroom, this might have been the first time I’d ever been by myself here. I was always with one of my parents, or my brother, or other guests or hotel staff or people in the stores. Here, it was just me and the trees and bush. There was nothing else…except for the cellphone tower at the top of the hill!

I pulled out my phone and flipped it open. It was getting a signal. Why hadn’t my parents tried to reach me? Why hadn’t Tad called? Maybe they just couldn’t get through. Then it dawned on me that I could try to call, too.

There was no point in trying to reach my parents at the resort. Even if the phones were working I doubted they’d still be there. But by now they must have been able to reach a phone and they should have been able to call Tad. I started to dial home.