Ravuth nodded and said, “Yes, I haven’t found what I came here for.”
Tik had not asked why Ravuth was there, but seeing the disappointment in the old Cambodians face, asked, “What are you looking for?”
Ravuth smiled and said, “My family. We were separated and I believe they were brought here many years ago.”
Tik smiled and said, “I know people who have lived here a long time. I will ask around. Have you got any photographs?”
Ravuth had made photocopies of his old photographs and handed Tik two A4 sheet’s with them on. Although the black and white prints were poor quality, he pointed at the figures.
“This is my mother, Rotha, that’s Tu, my father, and he is my younger brother, Oun.”
“You look a lot different now, Ravuth,” said Tik, who chuckled as he saw the young Ravuth’s grubby young face smiling back at him. Tik folded up the copies and put them in his pocket. “I will try to find out something before you leave,” he said, before driving away chuckling.
A creaky old fan squeaked as it slowly rotated, swirling hot muggy air around the small tatty guesthouse room. The dimly lit room made reading difficult for Ravuth. He spent a few hours going over more literature, discarding most of it as rubbish. There then came a knock on his door. It was Tik with another Khmer, who appeared of similar age to Ravuth.
“Ravuth, meet my father, Sok,” said Tik, introducing the Khmer man who greeted Ravuth.
They sat on the bed while Ravuth related his story to Sok. Ravuth noticed that Tik bore no similarities to his father. Sok was a short, chunky, hard-faced individual, who wore a large amount of gold jewellery around his neck and chunky gold and ruby rings on each finger. He spoke with a harsh, intimidating tone.
Sok pulled the folded copies from his shirt pocket, unfolded them, and said, “I remember this family… and the village they came from.” He looked at the sheet, pointed at the picture of Rotha, and said, “Yes, I know this woman and her husband and son, your brother, he is about my age.”
Ravuth’s heart leapt as Sok continued, “I know their village… I will take you there tomorrow. Oh, but I will need to hire my friend’s Range Rover. He will want $500,” said Sok
Ravuth knew this was well over the odds, but didn’t care. He felt elated and would have paid a lot more.
“Fantastic, thanks,” said Ravuth. “Although I will need to go to the bank first, I only have $300 on me.”
“No problem,” said Sok and grinned.
A shiver went through Ravuth as Sok grinned. He looked into his menacing eyes that brought back terrifying memories of the last time he saw evil in a Cambodians eyes, but this man might have found his family so he ignored his instincts.
“Okay,” said Sok, “let’s celebrate.”
“Yes, yes, and thank you again,” said Ravuth with a beaming smile.
They walked a short distance to a dimly lit Cambodian karaoke and entertainment bar. Ravuth noticed how much respect people paid to Sok in the establishment and many ‘taxi girls’ (hookers) came and sat with them and Sok ordered them drinks. One pretty girl caught Ravuth’s attention. She was a young Khmer called Anni. Ravuth felt uncomfortable in the bar and having no experience with women, he was still a virgin. Anni and Ravuth chatted over the loud thumping music, and she could feel his nervousness. Anni kept receiving stares off Sok and the *mamasan, which was her signal to get on with her job and seduce Ravuth.
The mamasan came over, whispered to Anni, and then asked Ravuth, “Do you like Anni?”
“Yes,” Ravuth mumbled looking timid.
“She wants to take you somewhere a little quieter,” said the mamasan sounding aloof.
Ravuth, being naïve and unsure of what the mamasan implied, shrugged and said, “Yes, okay.”
Anni led Ravuth to a block of five dingy apartments outside the rear of the bar and they went inside a small dirty room. There was a bed and a shower room, with a hole in the floor for the toilet and a square concrete container full of dirty water, which the girls and customers used for ablutions. Noticing several rails of clothes, Ravuth realised that many girls must live in this shabby room and it had a strange smell, which Ravuth never having sex it was unfamiliar to him.
They sat on a thin, filthy mattress. Anni smiled and said, “I will shower Ravuth,” she pulled off her t-shirt Jeans and bra; Ravuth looked away as she wrapped a large threadbare towel around herself and removed her panties.
Ravuth was nervous and apprehensive, but as he watched Anni naked, throwing small pales of the dirty water over her head, and lathering herself in soap, he became aroused. Anni came from the shower wrapped in the scruffy towel, looked at Ravuth, smiled, and let her towel slip.
Anni was so thin he could see her ribs; she had small pert breasts and a shaven chalice. She grabbed his hands and eased him to his feet. Ravuth felt nervous and excited but became embarrassed when Anni removed his Y-fronts and he stood with a boner, which he covered with his hands.
Anni smiled, knelt down, and took a condom from the pile on the table. She moved Ravuth’s hands away and rolled on the condom; having to replace it several seconds later.
“I am sorry,” said Ravuth as Anni smiled and caressed renewed vigour back in his old todger.
Once his old todger stood to attention, Anni directed him to the bed and he lay down. Anni straddled him, thrusting herself up and down on his little soldier.
Thirty seconds later as Anni took another shower, Ravuth lay on the bed smiling, in his blissful heaven,
Anni felt pleased that it was over so quick, she still had a long night ahead, and Ravuth was her fourth customer already.
Ravuth returned with Anni into the main bar and sat with Sok, Tik, and several girls. They drank and chatted for a while longer and noticing Ravuth looking tired, Sok said, “Okay Ravuth, pay the bill and we will take you back to the guest house.”
“Thanks a lot,” said Ravuth “I want to get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow’s a big day.”
“Som khet loy, the bill please,” said Ravuth, and then asked Anni, “Can I see you tomorrow evening?”
Anni nodded and smiled. “I will be here if you want to see me,” she said.
The mamasan brought a small folder containing the bill and handed it to Ravuth. The total was $300.
Ravuth paid the exorbitant bill. He knew it was far over what it should be, but didn’t care.
Tik and Sok escorted Ravuth back to the guesthouse and arranged to pick him up at 8:00 am. Ravuth went to his room and lay on his bed, feeling ecstatic. ‘It has been one of the best days of my life,’ he said and thought about Anni.
Sok and Tik returned to the karaoke bar, the mamasan handed Sok $200, delighted at having made $100 for herself. Sok took Anni for a free short time shag.
Sok then got into his Range Rover and took the photocopied sheets from his pocket. He laughed as he tore them up, threw the pieces out of the window, and drove home.
Ravuth had a restless night, excited by his thoughts of reuniting with his family after all these years. Unable to settle, he sat on the concrete benches outside the guesthouse, watching the sunrise, swatting away mosquitos, and looking at his watch, willing the hours to pass until Sok arrived.
It was a hot, muggy day. Sok drove Ravuth to a bank and smirked as he watched him withdraw cash. He, Ravuth, and Tik drove to the outskirts of the town and headed towards the Cardamom Mountains. The Range Rover’s air conditioner was a welcome relief to Ravuth, who still hadn’t acclimated to his old country’s climate.
Sok explained that after the Khmer Rouge was ousted and Cambodia liberated, most survivors returned to their old towns, cities, and villages. Although the Khmer Rouge still had sporadic bands of fighting factions in and