Colin Cotterill - Anarchy and the Old Dogs

He introduced her to his staff and sat her on the guest chair in front of his desk.

“Are you in town long?” he asked.

“It’s the funniest thing,” she said. “I thought it would just be a flying visit, see some old friends, do the sights. And there I was at Chantabouli Temple and I spotted this sad little run-down noodle shop with a sign nailed to the front saying it was for sale. I found the owner and she almost begged me to take over the place. All but giving it away, she was.”

“Oh, I say,” Siri blushed. He noticed Dtui grinning over the guest’s shoulder. “Does that mean…?”

“Well, if I can get through all the red tape and paperwork, I may be living here permanently.”

Siri was outwardly flustered but inwardly turning cartwheels. “Excellent. I mean, at last they’ll have some decent noodles in this city. What exactly was the impulse that brought you down here in the first place?”

“Just some historical matter I never did manage to resolve.”

“Is it something I can help with?”

She stood and stretched her old legs. “Oh, I think your input could be integral, Siri. But look at me chatting on. I have to rush. Don’t want to keep you from your… whatever it is you do here. Be good. Nice meeting you all. Bye.”

Siri walked her to the front door and came back with red cheeks and an indelible smile.

“Is that a wicked grin I see on your face, Dr. Siri?” Dtui asked.

“He’s got a g… g… girlfriend,” Mr. Geung posited philosophically.

In the face of this onslaught, Siri elected to remain silent. He pretended he was engrossed in Haeng’s report and ignored all of Dtui’s attempts to draw him away from it. At first, he believed it was her curiosity that caused her to stay after the siren had sounded calling the nursing staff to tend their radishes. It didn’t occur to him that she might have a bombshell or two to drop herself. As he was putting the final sentence into his report, her significant shadow loomed over him. She was directly between him and the low evening sun.

“Nurse Dtui, you’re causing an eclipse.”

“I’ve cut back on banana fritters.”

“Nevertheless…”

She stepped away from the window but continued to look at him.

“I have no intention of discussing Madame Daeng with you at this juncture,” he said.

“It’s not that,” she replied.

She looked uneasy, most un-Dtui-like.

“Sit,” he said. She lowered herself onto the chair in front of his desk. He placed his pen on top of the report and folded his arms. “Speak!”

“I…”

It was the first time he could recall her hesitating.

“You…?”

“I’ve contacted the overseas study committee and told them I… I won’t be going to Moscow in January.”

Siri’s eyes protruded from his face like golf balls. “I beg your pardon?”

“I’ve asked if I can defer for two years.” He was too stunned to react. Getting a placement on the study program was harder than finding a cold beer in a socialist state. “They said yes.”

“Dtui, have you gone mad? You’ve been cramming for this since you got your nursing certificate. It’s been your dream to study overseas.”

“I know.”

“What in Trotsky’s name happened?”

She leaned forward with her elbows on her lap and knotted her fingers.

“First, there was Ma. I’d always thought if I could go to another country, I’d work part-time and send money back for her treatment. Then she…”

“That was never the only reason, and you know it. You have a sponge for a brain, young Dtui. You thirst for knowledge. You always have. That was always your chief motivation. You have a unique opportunity here. You’ve worked… we’ve all worked too hard to get you there to just give it up. If there’s no other reason…”

“There is.” She sighed. “Can I tell you without your blowing up?”

“I think I’m ready for anything.”

“I’m pregnant.”

He realized he’d lied when he’d said he was ready for anything. If he hadn’t been sitting he would have fallen to the floor.

“What?”

“You heard.”

“How?”

“I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how.”

Siri was too overwhelmed to bother with good grammar. “I mean-you-how? Who?”

“Now just calm down. I’m not going to give you any details until you start breathing again.”

“I’m not breathless. I’m speechless.”

“Well, thank goodness for that. Perhaps I’ll be able to get a word or two in. Don’t forget, this is a big thing for me, too. A girl doesn’t get pregnant every day. I’m a little bit speechless myself. I’m having a lot of firsts here. First baby, first…”

“Oh my word.” Siri slid open his drawer and fumbled deep inside. “Who was it? Who did this to you?”

“I hope you aren’t looking for a gun in there.”

“If I had one, I’d probably use it on you. But for the present I’m searching for a name card.” He removed the entire drawer and put it on top of the desk. “I know it’s in here somewhere. Come on, I’m waiting for an answer.”

When he looked up he saw her staring down at the tiles. There was a hint of guilt on her face that gave away her secret.

“He didn’t?”

“He did.”

“In Ubon?”

“Twice.”

“Then I do need a gun.”

“No, Doc. Really, you don’t. I didn’t exactly play hard to get.”

“How can you tell so soon?”

“These are the seventies, Doc. There have been great advances in medical science since you went to school.”

“Dtui, this isn’t a game. And he’s married, for goodness’ sake.”

“His wife deserted him. He filed papers for divorce in her absence. It came through last month.”

“Well, isn’t that convenient? Here.” He peeled an old throat lozenge from the name card he sought and held it up triumphantly. “Lucky I kept this. It’s a lady doctor I met through the Women’s Union. She’s perfectly respectable.” He handed her the card.

She read it and her eyebrows rose.

“Dr. Siri, I’m not telling you all this because I want to get rid of the baby. I’m going to keep it.”

“And raise it by yourself?”

“Not exactly.”

“You don’t honestly believe Phosy’s going to do the right thing by you? He’s a randy middle-aged man who merely took advantage of an opportunity.”

“I’m sure he’ll be delighted to hear you think so highly of him. In fact, I’m a little bit offended myself. What makes you think it was he who took advantage?”

“Dtui, what’s come over you?”

“I think they call it love.”

“Oh, child. What does he say about all this?”

“He seems OK with it.”

“Seems OK?”

“He isn’t a big talker when it comes to feelings and personal odds and ends. But I told him I was going to keep the baby and he said he’d raise it with me.”

“Not the most impassioned proposal I’ve ever heard.”

“He’s a policeman.”

“Right. And you realize, I suppose, that policemen get shot.”

“Only in the movies. Phosy’s a sticky-rice policeman.”

Siri tilted onto the back legs of his chair and leaned against the file cabinet.

“Until I met you, Nurse Dtui, I could outstubborn anyone in the country. Once you make up your mind I know a battery of field artillery can’t shake you. So I’m not going to waste my time.”

“Thanks.”

“I know it’s a terrible decision and it will lead to disaster, but if it’s a boy…”

“Your name’s already penciled in.”

“And I expect to see Phosy here in my office.”

“He’s waiting outside.”

Siri didn’t expect Phosy to turn up with his hat in his hand, but a little more remorse might have been in order. He walked into the office, shook his head, and laughed.