A half hour later the senator found himself irritated by the one likable thug looking the part. “Can you see anything with those sunglasses on?” he asked bitterly.
“Not much” said Jatupon.
“I’ve seen what you look like. Take them off.”
“Take them off you little idiot” said Kumpee. Jatupon obeyed but glanced at Kumpee with a strong glare of hate.
“Did you really get that from Songkran?” asked the senator. Jatupon sensed that the senator’s tone was jocular. He could tell that the avuncular stranger, like them all, just needed a respite from the grave images they were witnessing.
“He’s always getting into fights” lied Kumpee stealing the words that still wouldn’t come from Kazem’s mouth.
“Is that so?” asked the senator but it was to no one specific.
“All the time” confirmed Suthep.
“Is that true?” the senator asked Jatupon. “Who with?”
“I can’t imagine who. I guess myself,” said Jatupon while he stared into the senator’s eyes with a bold earnestness.