'An old friend', a short story by Chart Korbjitti

'An Old Friend', a short story by the Thai writer Chart Korbjitti, describes a meeting with an old friend against the background of the events of October 6, 1976. Some find it impossible to let go of the past, others are more successful. 

Chart Korbjitti (Thai: ชาติ กอบจิตติ) is a well-known Thai writer. Born in 1969 in Samut Sakhon province, he wrote his first story at the age of fifteen. He founded the publishing house himself Howling Books where all his books have been published. 'I preferred writership and dedicate my whole life to it,' he once said.

In 1981 he won with his book 'The Judgment' the SEA Write Award and again in 1994 with the book 'Time'. His stories are often sombre, they describe the tragedy of the condition humane, are socially critical and written in very different styles.

The short story 'An old friend' is an example of this. It was written against the background of the events of October 6, 1976 when hundreds of students were brutally raped, tortured and murdered by right-wing paramilitary organizations on the grounds of Thammasaat University.

Thousands of students then fled to the existing communist bases in the North and North-East. Many returned early, bitterly disappointed, and in 1981 a general amnesty ensured that all left the jungle. Many of these ex-Communists now hold positions in universities, in business, and on both sides of the political spectrum.

This is a link to a video showing footage of the massacre of unarmed students at Thammasaat University October 6, 1976. Not for the faint-hearted! www.youtube.com

The story 'An old friend' is in: Chart Korbjitti, An Ordinary Story (and others less so), Howling Books, 2010.

Other translated books are his The Judgment, Time, Mad Dogs & Co, No Way Out en Carrion Floating By. I have also read the last two and they are very worthwhile.

Tino Kuis

---

An old friend

                                   1

San can't believe his eyes. He can't believe that the man, leaning against a tamarind in the midst of a number of onlookers, is Tui, his old friend Tui.

But it is true, undeniably true.

It's hard to say whether it's fate or just chance, but if San hadn't decided to take a walk on the Rachadamneun, he'd never have met Tui, and he can't decide whether this meeting will bring good luck or bad luck. He stands there speechless, as if his brain is about to explode.

He left the publishing house at Tha Phra Chan an hour ago. His design for the cover of a tea table book had just been approved and he had received a check for his work, which now lay comfortably in his bag. His work was done, he didn't have to hurry anymore. He hated the traffic jams around this time when everyone wanted to go home at the same time, and he didn't want to sit in an overcrowded and swarming bus like a bunch of misery. Instead of hailing a taxi, he decided to pass the time until the traffic eased.

San never drank alone, and he shrugged off the thought of a cold beer and grilled duck at the shop around the corner from the bookshop. While he had to wait for the publisher, he had already made the rounds of all the books, and he was now in doubt about what to do.

Suddenly the image of the Rachadamnoen flashed through his mind, the children flying kites and the people sitting relaxed in the early evening, something he hadn't seen for years.

As he went up the Rachadamnoen he saw a group of people looking at something under a tamarind. He slowly walked over to see what was going on.

What he saw was Tui, his old friend.

2

'You bastard! How can you do that!' a furious Tui shouted at San when he heard that San had changed his mind and did not want to flee into the jungle with him, as agreed.

'I really can't go. My mother is not feeling well. I have to go home', San lied to his friend, although he felt that Tui understood that lie too, and he himself knew that he was making excuses because he was afraid.

"Good luck, all the best!" San gave his friend a firm handshake as he boarded the train.

“There's definitely going to be a raid, you know. I got that from a good source. Believe me. Don't fall into a trap, stay out of those demonstrations'. Tui squeezes San's hand for the last time.

San sees Tui disappear in the train car, his backpack over his shoulder.

Tui disappeared in the jungle on October 1, 1976.

Warned, San did not join the demonstrations in the following days. He chose to watch everything from the Rachadamneun. Unfortunately, on October 6, he witnessed terrible crimes committed in broad daylight in front of many onlookers, atrocities even committed to corpses that were kicked and beaten and turned into a pulp. These images continue to haunt him to this day.

On that day, several of San's comrades were arrested; some were killed. San was lucky not to be arrested himself.

He was grateful to Tui for the warning. If he had been in the closed courtyard of Thammasaat University that day, he too would have been in trouble and perhaps he would have lost his life.

San couldn't shake the question of how Tui had known that freedom would be crushed that day. That means there were people who knew. But no one in that courtyard knew until it was too late.

Pawns always remain pawns. And pawns are always sacrificed first.

3

Tui disappeared into the jungle for so long that San's memory of him began to fade. At that time, San finished his studies, found work and new friends with whom he spent a pleasant time.

One day Tui reappeared. Because they hadn't seen each other for so long, San invited Tui to have a drink somewhere, but Tui refused. San didn't understand because when they were still students they often grabbed a beer together, but now Tui refused no matter how much San insisted. Tui had given up drinking. He was now a model party member. He looked different, spoke carefully and impressively, watching his words as if afraid to reveal secrets to his friend.

As the guerrilla war continued in the jungle, Tui occasionally came to see San, and each time San gave Tui some pocket money.

The fire in the jungle died out, leaving only ashes and smoke, and everyone descended from the jungle. But Tui did not come to see San, so San sometimes wondered if the model party member might be dead.

One day, Tui turned up at San's rental house again. Tui was drunk, he reeked of beer and was limp as if he hadn't washed in days. Now it was Tui's turn to invite San for a drink. That night, Tui poured out his heart. He was utterly disappointed in the Party and in the People. It seemed as if the glittering palace of his imagination had crumbled before his very eyes.

From that night on, a drunk visited Tui San whenever he was around and he only talked about the past. When he left the jungle everything had changed, not even his friends were the same as before.

San thought that Tui was still unable to adapt to ordinary city life. He had spent too long in the jungle, like so many others, and he needed more time.

Every time Tui had had enough to drink, he started to rant against the party and cursed all kinds of comrades and leaders. San understood how bitter Tui was about what had happened, but there was nothing he could do for his friend except encourage him to find work. Tui, however, had not graduated.

San remembered that the last time Tui visited him drunk, he didn't go on and on about the guerrillas and the party as usual. That night he kept berating his old comrades who had returned to the fold of society and who then behaved worse than bona fide capitalists. He was completely disappointed in his old comrades who were his last resort. He was like a man who had lost hope over and over again and now lost everything.

The next morning discovered San Tui lying on the mat in front of the bathroom.

After that, San Tui was never seen again. Every now and then he heard something about him: Tui was still drinking and wandering around without a job.

The last San heard was that Tui had returned to his native village and had stopped drinking. San didn't know if it was true but he was happy for his friend anyway.

But that was over ten years ago.

4

San makes his way through the spectators to be more sure.

But there is no doubt: it is indeed Tui.

Tui leans against the trunk of the tamarind, crying. Sometimes he stands up and looks up, cursing the names of his former comrades in a kind of mumble. He wears a white shirt tucked into his pants and leather shoes and looks just like you and me. Seeing him like that you wouldn't believe he's crazy. San thinks that's why so many people watch the spectacle.

San is standing there listening to the people next to him. A woman who sells bottled drinking water saw him hanging around there one morning, alternately crying and laughing.

San stands there watching for a long time before he has to acknowledge that it really is his old friend Tui.

San thinks that if Tui could understand what he is about to say, he could take Tui to his house to visit a hospital the next day. But then he sees his wife and son in front of him. Where should Tui sleep? Their house is rather cramped. And what if Tui started screaming at night, the neighbors wouldn't be happy about it. San has lost track for a moment. He wonders what to do with Tui. He decides to see how crazy Tui is before taking any other steps.

He wants to go to greet Tui but he doesn't dare, he is embarrassed with all those looks on him.

5

San looks at his watch, already after nine. The traffic must have decreased, but San is not going home yet. There are now about five people watching Tui who keeps swearing, laughing and crying.

"Would someone help me get him to a hospital?" San asks a few bystanders he had just talked to about Tui's condition.

A man turns and stares at San as if he can't believe such a question is being asked.

'I'm not free. I have some obligations,' he says and walks away. The others also sneak away leaving San alone with Tui under the tamarind.

San decides to go to Tui. Tui looks up the trunk into the tree as he mutters curses to his old comrades who have returned to normal life; he mentions the names of businessmen and politicians, curses them profusely and reveals some biographical information about them.

'Tui? Please calm down, will you'. San has decided to interrupt his friend's muttering, but Tui continues to swear without paying any attention to him.

“They have forgotten justice. They have forgotten the people they said they would care about. Today they also grab along. You bastards are no different from the bastards you used to condemn. Run to the lightning and don't be reborn'.

'Tui? Tui! It's me, San. Can you picture me?' San wants to grab his friend's arm to shake him but he doesn't dare.

Tui keeps muttering to herself without paying attention to San. San thinks that Tui probably doesn't recognize anyone anymore, doesn't remember anyone, not even herself.

'Tui? Tui! Tui?' San tries one more time without anything happening and San gives up.

Tui still looks into the tree cursing as if he doesn't care about San's voice.

It would be very difficult to take Tui to a hospital all by herself. San looks at his old friend for a while who no longer recognizes him.

He decides to walk back to the Tha Phra Chan.

While he takes some sips of his orange juice and waits for the ordered one khaaw pat he suddenly realizes that it is better to take a taxi instead of walking. He is afraid that Tui will run away. When he comes back and Tui is gone, Tui has nothing to eat.

San gets out of the taxi with his two boxes of food and two bottles of water and goes straight to the tamarind. He feels a little better when he sees Tui with his head hanging against the tamarind. He's glad he's still on time. When he walks to Tui, he wonders somewhat defeatedly whether that food and water is enough to help Tui.

'Tui! Tui!', he shouts to his friend.

But Tui is too busy crying and sobbing.

“Here Tui, I bought you some food. Now eat something, maybe then you will be less angry and sad'.

San puts the food and water at the foot of the tamarind, next to Tui, his old friend, who keeps crying.

'Good luck, my friend,' San says softly to that body at the end. He turns and walks away. Is this all I can do for my friend, he thinks to himself.

He hails a cab to go home, thinking of his wife and child. When he sits down in the taxi, he turns around and takes one last look at Tui.

Tui's dark shadow is still there, crying under the tamarind, all alone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siO2u9aRzns