Gold Ring

"Okay you two, we have got a train to catch."

The three bustled to the railway station. It was packed, but they got three seats together.

"This is second class. Thank God you didn't buy third-class tickets," moaned Philippa.

Nick was hungry. "You'll have to wait," said his sister. She was edgy, raising the eyebrows of her travel companions.

"What's the matter with you?" asked Hla.

"Nothing that concerns you." Came the too-quick answer.

She stood and paced the carriage, up and down, as if soundlessly arguing with herself. She then left the carriage and marched towards the front. Outside the toilet door stood a young child trying to open the door. She jumped from leg to leg and failing to grab the door handle. Philippa leant across to help the small girl. As she clasped the catch, the girl's fingers got tangled between Philippa's much tougher fingers and the sharp metal. The edge of the lock snagged the girl's thumb, drawing blood.

"Oh!" she yelped.

"Let me look," said Philippa.

Roughly grabbing the tiny hand. Her nose twitched, her eyes widened, her mouth opened. She sucked and sucked until a rivulet ran to her chin. She licked her lips and pushed the crying girl inside. Wiping her chin and lips, she wandered to her seat with a gratified smile.

Plonking herself into her seat. "That's better," she breathed.

"Where have you been?" asked Hla.

"I needed the toilet."

Nick averted his eyes and watched the scenery change from rice paddy fields to the industrial outskirts of the city.

With a clanking of heavy metal and a squeal of brakes, they arrived at Bangkok's main station, Hua Lamphong. Hawkers screamed the prices of their edible goods for the hungry, taxi drivers yelled, trying to drum up a fare for those on their way across Bangkok. Business people, students and families rushed to their departure gate. Hla led Philippa and Nick further away from the station.

"Taxies are cheaper over here," she said as she pointed away from the bustle of the station. There was only one cab at the rank. Its driver was relieving himself behind a nearby tree. With a grin, Hla whipped her stiletto from its hiding place at the bottom of her bag. Silently and swiftly the blade was plunged into his kidney. He toppled forward into a bush. He would never water trees again.

"Jump in, your carriage awaits," said Hla, laughing. "We'll be going by taxi if that's okay?"

The passengers had never seen their driver so happy.

"Were you a taxi driver in a past life?" laughed Philippa.

"Fortunately, I'll only be one for just over one hour and a half in this life." She grinned.

They headed north out of the city, through the built-up area of Nonthaburi, to the farming area of Pathum Thani and on to their destination of Si Ayutthaya.

"Did you know that my country of Burma once owned this city?"

Nick nodded, as expected. Philippa remained close-lipped. Until Nick whispered in her ear.

"Yes, and did she know that at the end of the 1600s Christians and Muslims tried to change Thailand from Buddhism to their faith.?"

"Nick, I don't want to spend the trip in a history lesson."

The cab was quiet for the rest of the trip.

"There is a Macro centre," said Hla.

"So?"

"We need to ditch the cab. The store is open twenty-four hours a day. No one will notice a taxi parked there. At least for long enough for us to do our little job," said Hla.

They parked and walked to the main doors. After a short wait, a couple were dropped off by a taxi. The driver was pleased to get a fare into the town centre.

Hla spotted the river, then the tower of the church she was looking for. She then told the driver to pull up outside the homely-looking guest house. Their home for two days, one night. After checking in, they went to their room. Philippa went to the bathroom. Nick flopped on the bed. Hla was busy hiring a car for two days of 'sightseeing'.