Goodbye, Vietnam Read Online Free Page B

Loc got a commission on everything I bought.” He looked hastily in the direction of the kitchen, where Loc and his wife were also whispering together, but the look on their faces was one of satisfaction.
    The man who was to take us to the boat arrived only moments after it grew dark. He was a small man with a crafty face like a monkey’s. Quach Loc introduced us. The man consulted a paper he held and, bowing before Bac si Hong, said, “From you, eight taels of gold for yourself and your daughter.”
    I caught my breath. So much money! There was not that much in all of our village.
    Bac si Hong reached into a canvas bag and took out a leather purse. One by one she placed the small gold coins into the man’s outstretched hand. As she was counting out the money, the man was staring at her hand. When she had finished he said, “Now I must ask for one tael to give as a bribe to the officers who guard the harbor.”
    Bac si Hong raised her eyes and stared hopelessly at the man. “That is all I have,” she said. “We had to sell everything to get that much.” She held out the leather purse. “Look for yourself.”
    “I will take your ring,” he said, pointing to a wide gold band on her left hand.
    “But that is my wedding ring.”
    The man shrugged. “If you don’t wish to go …?”
    Bac si Hong began to tug at her ring. “I can’t give it to you,” she said. “It hasn’t been off for years.”
    “Allow me,” he said. He grabbed her hand and began to twist the ring, but it would not come off. In disgust the man gave up. “What else do you have?” He snatched at her bag and emptied it onto the floor. Pushing aside a small heap of clothes, he took up a leather case. “What is in here?”
    “Medicines,” she answered. “There may be sickness on the boat.”
    “Medicine is scarce and sells well. I’ll accept it in payment.”
    “Wait,” Bac si Hong said. “There is something of my daughter’s I could give you instead of the medicines.” I saw her give Kim a pleading look. “The medicines may save lives, Kim,” she said.
    When Kim did not move, her mother reached over and took from her hand a long black case, which she opened. Inside was a thin silver object.
    “What is it?” the little man asked greedily. He reached for it, but Kim pulled it out of her mother’s hand.
    “It’s a flute,” she said, and lifted the instrument to her lips. She began to make the strangest, most beautiful music I had ever heard.
    The man dropped his hand and stood staring at Kim while she played. The music sounded to me as if it ought to be played in pleasant gardens where there were fountains. When Kim finished, she put the flute back into its case and handed it to the man. He shook his head, indicating that she should keep it. But he was embarrassed by being caught in a kind act, and when he turned away, his voice was rough. “Come with me,” he ordered.
    Quach Loc opened the door for us. He and his wife bowed low in farewell. Our family, with Kim and her mother, followed the little man. I had not liked the house of Quach Loc, but it seemed safer to me than the unknown streets of Go Cong.

5
    The man led us through the darkened city toward the harbor. Our father walked ahead. Our mother followed with Thant holding her hand. It was rare for Thant to allow anyone to take his hand. Anh and I came next and behind us the grandmother and Bac si Hong with Kim. We were silent as we walked through the dark streets. Soon I smelled something strange. Although I had never smelled it before, I knew what it was. The sea. We were at the harbor. I could make out the shapes of sampans with their shrimplike tails curled over the backs of the boats. The lanterns that hung from the masts looked like they were floating in the air. The man had stopped. Ahead of us on a wharf a crowd of people huddled together. As we came closer, the knot of people pushed and shoved against us. I pulled back. When I had thought about the trip I had