214 - Larson goes to Sweden
Larson had taken Valium and a few drinks and he had survived take-off on the Scandinavian Airlines flight bound for Stockholm. But Larson dreaded the landing and could not sleep. Besides, the flight path was over Afghanistan and other scary places ending on stan and Larson suspected something bad would happen. Sure, the plane was high up but you never knew what terrorists could do.
- I shall be back! had been Larson’s final words as he left the Malaysia Hotel.
- When? asked Duff, who had helped Larson carry a huge suitcase.
- I will sit for my exams and then come back to Bangkok, said Larson.
- Don’t you have to teach?
- It is summery holiday, said Larson.
- Do Swedes ever work?
- We do sometimes, said Larson. - Such as when the school kids return in August.
The sun rose early in Sweden in the summer and Larson looked out on the endless forest surrounding Arlanda airport. One should think this country was only trees and mooses, thought Larson.
Larson had watched a cute blond boy who sat in front of him in Economy class. He boy had a nice tan from the beaches in Thailand. But Larson knew better than to try to chat him up. He had already entered the Swedish dirty old man zone where such things were forbidden.
Larson had been drinking on the flight and took another Valium before landing. Larson remembered an accident some years earlier when a SAS plane had landed in the forest, barely making it onto an open field before making an emergency landing on snow. Larson was convinced this sort of thing was waiting to happen to him.
Larson closed his eyes and felt the plane descend. Actually it felt more like it was falling out of the sky. He held his breath for the touch-down, the re-bounce and the second touch down. Why could they not do this smoother? Did they have to throw the plane down like this? Larson thought the landing gear would come off. He had seen that once on television and the whole thing went up in flames.
When the plane at stopped at the gate Larson sat still, leaving others to do the undignified standing up. Why stand up and crowd the aile before the doors were opened? What a pointless exercise. Larson would suffer in silence till he was out of this narrow metal tube.
The pills and the drinks made Larson feel dizzy when he walked towards passport control. He lined up for the European Union counter and held his Swedish passport up. The officer glanced at the passport to see if the photo was Larson and handed it back.
At customs a group of officers stood with a sniffer dog. An officer told Larson to walk by slowly while the dog sniffed his luggage. The dog did not react. It looked bored.
Another officer who had stood in the background stepped forward.
- Manual inspection, said the officer. – Please come this way.
Larson followed the officer to a small room. It had a metal top bench and a couple of plastic chairs. The lights were bright.
- Where are you coming from? asked the officer.
- Bangkok.
- Stayed long?
- A few months.
- That long?
- Yes.
- What did you do?
- Nothing much.
- Open your luggage please.
Larson had two suitcases and a soft bag. He put them on the bench and opened them. The officer watched Larson’s face.
- What do you have? asked the officer.
- Nothing, said Larson.
- Did you bring the tax-free quota?
- I forgot, said Larson. – And I don’t smoke anyway.
- Got a laptop computer?
- No.
- Digital camera?
- Just a small one. I bought it in Maboonkrong.
- Where?
- A shopping centre in Bangkok.
- Show me what is on it please.
Larson turned on the camera and held it so the officer could see the screen.
- Next, said the officer every time he had seen a photo. – Next. Next. Next. Who is this boy on the beach?
Larson turned the camera to see.
- It is Lek, a friend of mine.
- How old is he?
- 24.
- Next please. Next. Next. And who is this child?
- He is not a child. That’s Noi.
- He looks like he is 13.
- 19.
- I don’t think he is 19. He is a child.
- He is 19. He is the brother of the first one you saw.
- What is your involvement with these boys?
- They are my friends.
- What kind of friends?
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