Follow the heart to Myanmar

Chapter 9 war crime

Late at night, the sound of cars and the footsteps of the crowd woke James up. He hurriedly picked up his backpack and woke the young woman up. Still drowsy, he grabbed her hand and made her get up and used his feet to sweep the leaf fragments where they lay to hide the traces. before leading the woman to run and hide under a large tree that is quite far from the area. The bright-eyed woman saw the light from the car shining on the area where they had just slept. There were dozens of soldiers who drove the villagers, both men and women. walking down the path they had just left The woman saw another soldier pulling and rubbing a young woman out of the group as she resisted, while the other soldiers in the group laughed merrily at the sight. As the soldier began to harass her Both dragged and led her out of the procession. The girl suddenly bit the soldier's hand and ran away. He shouted angrily. He pointed his gun up and hurled bullets at her from behind until she lay still on the ground. The girl screamed, pretending to get up and run, but James managed to cover her mouth with her hand. He felt the tears falling on his hands. She was still struggling in his iron sleeves. He hugged her tightly from behind in comfort. until the soldiers passed So he led the girl to walk in the other direction. Soon came an old city. He led the girl to hide inside. She immediately shook her hand from the young man when she saw that they were safe. She looked at him, her eyes aching and panicking. James looked at her.

“Why don't you help her?” the girl asked him loudly.

“We are not in a position to help anyone right now. We're still fleeing,” he replied in a deep voice, “I know, but you've got a gun. Maybe if we show up They won't do that. That was clearly a murder. It was the most inhumane thing I've ever encountered. since making the news."

“This is war. Humanity doesn't apply here. if we show You and I may die as ghosts. And you might be raped like that Burmese woman too. I'm not in a position to help anyone right now but you. I can't act hostile to the Burma Army. It affects my army.”

“You're a coward, Captain. You dare not do anything.”

“I'm not,” he retorted. “I have to follow orders. We're not going to complicate us by having a problem with the government-owned armed forces right now. Even if it seems like an inhumane thing that can't help the people in need in your eyes, I don't care.” He opened his black shirt sleeve and looked at his watch.

“There are still many hours until morning. We should lie down and rest first. I don't think the soldiers would take this path through that village.” He cut off, ignoring her gaze, which only stared at him angrily and disappointedly. He separated and sat away from her and lost interest in the girl. Ploy Sapphire also felt pain from the war. This is her second newscast. After completing a Master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from France, she returned to start working as a reporter for a news agency in Thailand. She and Chok have been paired up since they were in Hong Kong together last time. It could be called her first time in a real war. The girl just realized how terrifying it was. She also regrets the violence that happened before her, without her reaching out to help. James could also hear the woman's sobbing sound. He saw her crying face on the temple wall. Her sorrow caused his strong heart to melt. The young man got up and walked closer. before asking her in a low voice

“Are you okay?” The girl turned to look at him with tears streaming down her cheeks. The young man held the woman's body in his arms to comfort him. The girl hugged him tightly, crying until his chest was drenched in tears.

“This must be your first war news, right?”

“No, but it's the first time I've seen inhuman slaughter in front of me without my help. I hate it.”

“You are not suitable for this job. You should go back and resign You'd better find a comfortable desk job. I don't understand why your father would allow you to do such a dangerous job," he advised.

“Don't insult me ​​just because you see me cry now. I will continue to do my duty. I didn't graduate to give up on the first calamity.” He looked up at her and sighed.

“Okay, we can sleep now. You should stop crying. because it bothers me.” He pretended to make the girl angry. He believed that if she was angry Will make her stop and make up for what happened quickly. The young man retreated to his seat. Leaning against a wall, kneeling down, her sharp gaze was fixed on her beautiful face. Ploy sapphire still looked at him without looking down.

"You don't have a girlfriend to worry about. Are you in Thailand?" Suddenly he asked a personal question.

“No, I just finished my master's degree. Came back from France, I went to study there, but I was young.”

“What about the French girlfriend? Isn't there any?"

"do not have"

“What about you, Captain, don't you have a family waiting for you? It must have been so warm when you came home.” He just looked stressed.

“I used to, but now it's just my mom waiting for me to go home. Let's go to sleep. Tomorrow we have to leave early in the morning.” He leaned his head against the wall and lay down with his eyes closed. The girl put her backpack on her head in the same position. She hugged herself tightly as she recalled the incident that had let the young man become too close. Even though he is well acquainted with western traditions But it made my heart tremble uncontrollably. She was sure that he had no intention of offending. Just wanting comfort

until the sound of a rooster crowing from a village not far away The young man woke her up and led her to continue walking. until he met another village which is about ten kilometers distances Ploypailin felt pain all over her legs. James was also amazed by her patience. Perhaps her frequent visits to the gym helped at this time. They saw an old man watering the vegetable garden.

"We're saved," cried the woman happily. hurriedly led the young man to the Burmese man He looked up to see them, ready to act shocked.

“Can you speak Thai? or English French is fine." The girl looked at the small old man. The man let go of Siem, took water from the canal and spoke in Burmese. He raised his hand and pointed his finger at a wooden house not far away.

“He told us to follow him.” The woman turned to the young man. He nodded. They followed the elderly man all the way to the house. He could hear him calling out to the people inside. A few minutes later, four or five of his family came out. There are both elderly people young people and young children They looked straight at them in astonishment.

“Does any of you speak Thai? We need help.” The woman asked hopeful.

”I can say, my name is Ramen, where are you guys from? Where are you going?" The young man questioned immediately. “We entered Loykorma. At first we were detained by Burmese soldiers who captured the checkpoint. fit with the Karen soldiers invading the night So we took the opportunity to escape. We came with two friends but we missed each other, we needed a phone call to contact them for them to pick us up here. And where is this?” said the woman, and the young man named this village in Loikaw Province.

“We need a phone call or the Internet. Do you guys have enough?” asked the young man in English.

“I have a phone to borrow. The internet signal was not working because the cable was bombed by the Burma Army. come in first What country are you guys from? Are you a journalist or a tourist?” He continued to wash as he led the young woman and young man into the house.

“We are tourists,” replied the woman. We have just crossed the border through Myawaddy and are stuck at the checkpoint here.” The young man nodded in acknowledgement.

“It's safe here, you don't have to worry. Most of the villagers fled to the forest, but we didn't go.”

“Are you Karen people?”

“No, we are Shan people who have moved and settled for a long time.”

“Why don't you run away with someone else? Not afraid of the Burma Army coming to attack Or grab a woman?” The woman looked at a beautiful Burmese woman with a patch of powder on her face.

“No, I haven't seen it yet. This is a phone.” The young man hurriedly picked it up and held it before walking outside. He immediately dialed the phone number to the driver's destination.

"Scottish Army Officer, this is Captain James."

“Yes, Commander.”

“Right now we are stranded in a village in Loikaw. The car that we rode with has been misplaced. If you come back from Myawaddy Dropped by to pick us up at a village about twenty miles from the checkpoint through the old city. we will wait here Until something changes, I'll call you back once more.”

“Understood, Captain.” The young man handed the phone over to the young woman.

“I don't know the hotel number. Our phones are not working at all. We can find a number on the Internet and call to tell the reception. If you're lucky, come back to this number. Can you help us check the phone number of the Yangon Hotel for us?” the woman told him.

"Okay, I'll try to look it up again."

“You must be very tired. It's past noon I'll set up a side dish for you. You can stay here.”

“We should probably be here no later than this evening or tomorrow. If our people can pass through the gates from Myawaddy."

“No problem, we're happy to help. You guys look so bad If you want to cleanse your body, I will prepare some clothes.” The young woman and the man laughed together for the first time.

"Fine, I've been feeling dirty all day."

“This way, please.” He walked into a room.

“This is my room. You guys can stay together here. I'll get you a change of clothes in a moment.” The woman sat down in relief on the mattress laid on the floor. The young man stood still.

"It's our luck that we met them, don't you think?"

“But we should spend as little time here as possible. If we can quickly cross to another city, we will be safe. If we can connect to the internet, we can send Scott where we are. That would be great,” said the young man as he stood and looked out the window. His gaze stretched forward along the forest as if exploring the surrounding landscape. Turning around, he saw a young woman falling asleep on the mattress. He looked at the picture and began to feel a little softer. The pain was still a scar deep in my heart. James didn't think he could start with anyone. But the order he received made him unable to swallow. He hadn't been very close to her or used the male charm to seduce her to fall in love. Because of her rebellious childish annoyance, he's gone completely wrong.

Ramen brought them clothes, towels and soap. The young man said that the Internet still cannot be used. He said his sister was preparing food and asked them to shower and change clothes. The young man shook her arm to wake her up.

“Wake up, go take a shower and then we can go down to eat.” The sleepy girl woke up. nodded before accepting the cloth and the things the young man handed over to the basement of the house The young woman cleansed her body and came back refreshed. She was wearing a short t-shirt and a sarong that Sister Ramen had borrowed. It seemed fairly short because she was taller than Ramen's sister. girl sitting and waiting for a young man He was in the same condition. The traditional shirt that Ramen lent him to the Burmese sarong, which was too small when he was in James' tall, majestic body. The girl looked at him playfully.

Why are you laughing at me?” He looked down at himself. The girl glanced through his turquoise eyes.