Alfie became more nervous with each passing day, as he waited for Pong to bring news from the village grapevine. He wanted to tell the police or the village mayor he was there, but knew enough about Thai culture to be wary. How could he explain, so they would understand, what he saw and why he didn’t stop? He wasn’t going to get involved in other people’s business and expose himself, without making damn sure he was in no danger.

When Pong came back from shopping, she turned her mobile off and said.

“Listen to this, Alfie. The injured man is Bia. He has brain damage, is in a coma, and in intensive care on life support. He is brain dead, but they won’t turn off the life support because there’s another funeral in the village this week, so they have to wait.”

Funerals lasted from three to five days and cost up to one hundred thousand Baht. They burn the body on the last day, following several days of visitors coming to the house of the deceased where they meet, talk and eat. They were big events, and in a village of seven hundred people, Alfie was amazed at how many funerals there were, yet so few births. Old people die and too many men between forty and sixty kill themselves with whiskey lao khao, the local rice brew, which at ninety baht a bottle is too affordable, even to the poor.

When Alfie recovered from the shock and processed the startling news Pong had brought, he asked,

“Did I hear you right? They won’t let him die until they finish the other funeral. He has to wait his turn?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Is there more I should know?”

“They arrested the killer, but they let him go, because the two families got together, and Bia’s family agreed not to press charges as long as the man who killed him pays for the funeral.”

There were very few occasions in his life when Alfie wished he’d been a bus conductor, lived in the same house all his life, retired on a measly pension, and sat by the fire reading books about people who travelled and had amazing adventures in tropical countries. This was one of them. He never drank hard-stuff, but he desperately needed a stiff one right then.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I can.”

“This is hard to believe. Nobody saw a thing except me, and nobody knows I was there. Bia is in a coma and can’t speak to anyone. Is that correct?”

“That’s right.”

“How did the police know who to arrest, then?”

“I don’t know.”

“Of course, you don’t, because what you heard is bullshit. Are you sure you haven’t missed something?”

“No, but I do know the killer. His name is Tum, and he is a drug dealer.”

“I see. And I suppose Bia bought drugs from him and owes him money?”

“Something like that. Yes.”

“Do you know how much?”

“Five hundred Baht.”

It wasn’t funny, but so ridiculous Alfie couldn’t help himself. His laughter was infectious, and Pong laughed with him as the tragicomedy unfolded.

“Five hundred Baht! He killed a man over a case of beer?”

“Looks like it. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

“I’m sure you haven’t. I suppose Tum just gave himself up like a good citizen, and there was no need for the police to interview anyone?”

“I don’t know about that, but I’m sure I’ll find out more soon.”

“Well, I won’t be saying or doing anything, that’s for sure. When do you think they’ll turn the life support off so we can enjoy another action-packed funeral party?”

“Wait and see.”