Spirit of this Place Chapter#4

The spirits had fled, no need to linger over bits of bones and leaking liquid.

Pond saw them hover then vanish as if they were mist. The scene by the railroad crossing was gruesome. Lim gripped his free hand as they crossed the pedestrian bridge over Posri Road. Now, the evening train, its sleeper compartments lit but ghostly, slumbered south bound as the crowd dispersed. Life was fragile.

They stopped at the 7-11 for bottled drinks. Neither spoke.

The bang had alerted them that all was not right. Apparently, a tuk-tuk alarmed by the loud noise had swerved and crashed into a crowd while avoiding a dog. It had happened in an instant. No one quite knew what had caused the bang.

They approached the gazebo where they heard someone weeping. Sato-san weakly motioned for them to join the smokers. One held a bottle he was passing around. He mentioned that one of their neighbors had been whisked away, sirens blaring.

So sad. So stupid. So predictable.

Anger and disbelief filled the space between them.

Pond and Lim just nodded. Life was what it was and traffic accidents were common. Pond believed that life was recycled. Lim believed that the spirit returned to its source. They both agreed that traffic accidents were horrifying.

Sato-san remembered someone telling him that Thailand would heal him or break him. Was the spirit of this place benign or threatening?

He grimaced then smiled at Lim and Pond as they stood as close as possible, hands clasped, clinging to each other. There dwelt hope.

~260 words