89. Bribery
I have to resort to bribery, thought Larson. He gave the kid a ten baht coin. The little boy wai’ed Larson and ran over to his mother with the coin. The mother wai’ed Larson too.
Larson used the opportunity to get away. But other children had seen him give the beggars money and they came running to get a handout. Larson was surrounded. He gave them coins. Five baht, five baht, ten baht and ten baht. He was out of coins. Larson gave a girl holding a baby a 20 baht bill. An older girl tried to snatch the money. The girl with the 20 baht held her baby and the money with one hand and fought off the thief with the other. She screamed in anger and hit the thief, who gave up.
Larson was appalled. They fight like animals over small change, thought Larson. He had thought the poor were nice to each other. He expected that in desperate conditions people would show some solidarity and honesty. If they have nothing the least the can do is to be civilized, thought Larson as he felt a tiny hand in his pocket. A boy hardly more than five had snuck up behind Larson and was trying to steal his wallet.
- I don’t think so, said Larson and wagged his finger at the small pickpocket.
Larson could see more children coming and decided he had to get out. He walked over to the Thai-Cambodian bridge, ignoring the chants of “one baht one baht” from children that were behind him. At Thai Immigration a guard raised his stick threateningly at the children. The kids stopped and didn’t bother Larson as he filled out the papers. When he received the stamp in his passport he had another 30 days in Thailand.
His tout was there again. The shock of Larson’s swearing in Swedish had worn off but the tout was still more careful than he had been. He didn’t go as close to Larson as the first time.
- I no money, said the tout. I no money eat. 300 baht.
- No way, said Larson, unhappy to see the pest again.
- I hungry. 200 baht. I hel you visa. You give money me.
Larson ignored him and the tout didn’t dare to follow the farang. Larson walked through the crowded market, mindful of where he wallet was and on the lookout for thieves big and small.
At the tuk-tuk stand Larson saw the driver that had dumped him the day before.
- My flend, said the tuk-tuk driver and smiled broadly.
The driver pointed to his back seat and wanted Larson to get in.
I can’t believe these people, thought Larson. Doesn’t he realise he is the last tuk-tuk driver in Thailand I want to hire? Is he dumb or completely shameless? It must be stupidity. How can anyone cheat me, grossly overcharge me and the next day pretend I am a long lost friend? Now he thinks our dealings yesterday evening makes him entitled to be my designated driver!
Larson went to another tuk-tuk but this one was reluctant to go. It appeared it was the turn of Larson’s enemy from the day before to get a customer. Very well, thought Larson. If they have a que system here I will wait for that cheating crook of a driver to get another passenger. I have all the time in the world. That criminal is not getting another satang from me. Larson went to Star Chicken to have a snack and cool himself in the air condition.
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