Chapter 28: Chapter 27: Train heading to Sisaket

The seven dolls were placed on a table in the forensic womb, with Thup, Say, and Darin watching.

“Is this the last doll?” Say asked, before pointing to the object on the table.

Darin saw this and immediately raised his hand.

“So what do we do now? “All the dolls were found.”

“The dolls are only part of the evidence about how the killer chooses victims.”

“Is it correct to conclude that the murderer chose his victims based on their date of birth?”

“Looking at the circumstances, plus the case that occurred five years ago, and the one from ten years ago. Even the one from fifteen years ago.” Singha massaged the corner of his eye as he was used to doing. “The information I obtained at this time only defines the scope of my search. We have to wait to receive the remaining information.”

“So… now all we can do is wait?” Darin said and sighed.

“No, we will not just wait. I'm going to investigate where the case first occurred. Maybe I'll get more clues. I will go to Sisaket. “It will probably take about three days.”

"You're sure?"

“Um.” Singha looked at Thup, before looking at the seven dolls arranged face up on the table: “Do you want to go check something?”

“Why can’t he just be an ordinary person?”

“Say, keep an eye on Rin. Also keep an eye on the kids. I think Jump is still at the station. “I’ll be back quickly.”

"Very good. The boy named Jump is still stable, but I can't let him go yet. What do I do with the other two?”

“Take care of that yourself.”

“I have approved that they be placed in two empty rooms. “It will be dark soon.”

"Yes Yes."

After entrusting the work to his subordinates and completing other matters, Singha took Thup back to the house to pack his things and prepare to leave.

“Phi Sing…Are we really going?”

“Do you think I'm joking or stupid?”

“And if the matter is bigger than us.”

"What do you think? What is the problem? “It is greater to allow more people to die.”

Thup pursed his lips before zipping up his bag.

“We need to find someone who can help with this black magic madness. Besides, I already investigated the history of that policeman's house.”

"Already? “So, what information do you have?”

“Um ,” August closed the bag before throwing it on the couch. Then he took some documents that were on the table, and handed them to Thup to see.

“Montach, who is this?”

“Uncle Khuean.”

“Sisaket Police Station? Hey?!"

“Uncle Khuean used to be a police officer at Sisaket station. He resigned twenty years ago, do you know him?”

“That means…” Thup frowned, because this information is consistent with what his uncle Chai told him.

“This is also a matter we have to investigate.” When going out of home, Singha carried his own bag and Thup's, and left the young man with the paper in his hand, thoughtfully: "Let's go, we have to stop somewhere first."

"Where?"

“The Dhamma Practice Center.”

…

A black car drove past the wooden doors of a meditation center. He parked under a tree before they went outside and got some fresh air. There are no large buildings or complex facilities here, there are only trees and tranquility.

"Here?"

“Um.” Thup entered quietly behind the older man, not far away, as the sky was starting to turn orange. It wasn't a good time for him to be in a place like this at all.

After following the path for a while, they came across a small one-story wooden house. There were ten similar houses arranged in a row. Thup turned left and right and looked around. There was also a Dhamma practice base and a meditation area that seems to have been open for a long time. He walked behind the older man. before stopping in front of one of the houses. Thup looked at Singha and he knocked

softly on the door. Shortly after, the door that had previously been closed opened.

“How did you get here?” the old woman greeted with a soft smile. Her smooth head and neat white dress indicated that she has abandoned worldly desires.

“I came to visit you, how are you mother?” Thup turned to look at his elder with wide eyes.

“Then let's go for a walk and talk, okay?” The mother smiled at her son before turning around and smiling at Thup, who began walking behind them.

The breeze blows gently making the leaves sway. Thup watched the mother and son walk and talk, the place was so quiet, he could see the comfort in the older man's body, making him feel at ease as well.

"How are you son? Do you eat your food on time?”

“As a mother, but lately I'm on a very important case, so I've been a little busy, and that's why I couldn't come visit you. “How are you mom?”

“Well this is just my body,” she smiled before turning around looking at her son, “Sing, is there something going on that you came to see me about?”

“It's about the anniversary. It may not be available this time.” Singha's tone, voice and downcast eyes made Thup pause. He didn't think he should know such personal things about the major.

“To come or not? Meet or not? That doesn't matter, because it is known that you have good intentions. You do not have to worry." He looked somewhat sadly at the sky, which was beginning to change, turning purple as night approached. “August, be very careful during this time my child.”

"Yeah?"

"My heart Belongs to you. The body belongs to the child. Therefore, believe in yourself, believe in thinking as much as you believe even in doing.” Singha turned to look at his mother with puzzled eyes. “That young man who came with you. ”

“Thup?” Singha turned to look behind him and found that the boy who had been following him had disappeared. His dark eyebrows immediately furrowed because of how far apart they were. Things were always happening: “Where did he go?”

“If he’s here, he won’t care.” His mother smiled slightly. before sitting on a cushion under a large tree: “You can't see, but that child can see. You can't hear, but that child can hear. So try to listen to it.”

"I'm listening. “I’m listening carefully in a way I didn’t with my sister.”

“April doesn't blame the child. The mother herself does not blame her son. Therefore, the person with whom you should be most lenient is yourself. August has already passed. “Those things have already happened.”

Thup was sitting with his arms around his knees in front of the young inspector's mother's house. Surprisingly, he didn't feel scared or get goosebumps at having to be alone in the darkness here. There was only a light breeze that relaxed the mind when it blew.

“Sitting here alone, aren't you afraid of being bitten by mosquitoes?” A deep, hoarse voice said from behind, startling Thup.

“Hahaha, did I scare you kid?”

"Oh I'm sorry." Thup turned to raise his hand towards an old monk, his face showing a gentle smile. The dark-colored robe of the jackfruit made Thup kneel and prostrate on the ground as he usually did before Luang Pu.

“Wow, you're older now, sorry for making fun of you kid. But what are you doing sitting alone?”

“I accompanied my Phi.”

“Um, while you wait for people. There are also people waiting for you.”

"Yeah? Why does Luang Pu say that?”

“Ah, life, life. Well, I'll give you a blessing. Itisukto arahanbuddho namobuddhaya pathavikongka Phrabhummadeva khamamihan.”

Thup raised his hands between his eyebrows and bowed his head to receive the blessing. When the chanting stopped, the palm of the monk in front of him pressed against his head. A cool and comforting feeling flowed throughout his body until he slowly closed his eyes, while the figure in front of him slowly disappeared.

“What are you doing, Thup?”

“Receiving a blessing from the monk…” But in front of him, there was only emptiness.

“What monk?”

“If he gave you a blessing, consider it a good thing ,” Singha's mother greeted. “You should hurry, you don't want to miss the train, right?”

“Yes, then, we will go first mom. When I come back I will stop by to see you.”

The woman looked at her son's face for a long time before placing her hand on his soft hair. “Go son, come back safely.”

Both Singha and Thup walked towards the car, to go to the station, from where the train would leave in an hour and a half. As they walked toward the car, away from the wooden door, Thup looked for the first time, at an image on the stone slab.

“Phi Sing, please wait a moment.” Sing looked at him but could only frown.

Thup walked towards the image and saw that it was the old monk who had given him the blessing.

“It says here that he died twenty years ago.”

"Something happens?" August asked when he saw the boy next to him go silent.

“Well, it's just…” Thup turned to the older man before smiling at him with a relaxed expression. “I just received a blessing for safe travel.”

…

The sound of machinery running hard echoed throughout the train station. The long vehicles full of people were about to leave the platform. The noise of people rushing to get on the cars, saying goodbye or even selling things made the atmosphere not too calm. Singha and Thup boarded a special sleeper train going directly from Bangkok to Sisaket province. They walked around looking for their seats until they found them. But, what caused Thup to look at his elder with melancholy eyes was that their seats were five places apart.

“Alright, I'm going to bed now.” Singha gently ruffled the boy's soft hair.

"Alright." Thup reluctantly walked to his seat. When he put his bag in it, it was the same moment that the train whistle blew, signaling that it was ready to leave.

The brightness of the station lights began to change to lights on the side of the road. The slight sway and the sound of movement along the tracks made Thup a little excited, because he didn't know what they would find. But he was returning home, after a long time away. And that made him feel warm in his heart.

…

“Phi?”

"Yeah?" , Singha responded to the man next to him.

"Do you want water?"

"No, I am fine Thank you." Singha responded before taking the document and reading it as if he were not seeking to engage in conversation with this young man, as well-built as he was, with light skin and square-shaped glasses, which did not suit his sharp face at all.

“Are you going home? Or are you just traveling to discover?”

“I'm going to run an errand.” The young inspector looked up as it seemed like the other party really wanted to invite you to talk.

“Judging by your always serious demeanor, if I had to guess, you're probably a police officer, right?”

“Are you a police officer too?”

“Not at all Phi. I happen to be a doctor. But from my appearance I don't really look like that, do I?” The young man in front of him chuckled. Before resting your arms on the table

“If you want sincerity, I think it's right.” The soft words were said in a serious manner, which made the other person laugh happily. When he was about to continue the conversation, someone placed a bottle of water in front of the young inspector.

“Phi, I can’t open it.” Singha took a bottle of water that Thup gave him, and opened it for him, once he returned it, Thup returned to his original seat without saying anything. It wouldn't be so strange if it weren't for…

“Phi, I was going to brush my teeth but I forgot to bring toothpaste. You lend me?"

“Phi, do you want to go wash your face with me?”

“Phi, please unpack this for me.”

“Phi…”

“Phi…”

“Phi…”

And so the young doctor's conversation was interrupted each time until, when the staff arrived to make the bed, he lost the opportunity to build a relationship.

“If you want to chat, you can call me.”

The owner of the top bunk opened the curtain and told Singha, who was getting ready to go to bed on his bottom bunk.

"I do not think it does."

“Did you reject me like that because you don't like me or for 'another' reason?”

“I don't like anything that is annoying. And if you don’t shut up and get some sleep, I’ll throw you in the supply closet to sleep.”

The young doctor was going to open his mouth, but when he saw the fierce eyes from the corner of his eye, he chose to close the curtains and gave up the idea of flirting with the policeman in front of him.

…

Time passed until 11:00 p.m. As she gathered her things, she put the documents she brought with her into her bag and prepared to go to bed. It felt like someone was standing in front of the bed curtain, and when he reached out and opened it, he saw the boy who had been bothering him all this time.

“What's wrong this time?” Singha looked at the pillow in Thup's hand.

“I heard a crunch, I don't know what it was.”

“This is a train, it's noisy.”

“The bed upstairs is small. “I can’t stretch my legs properly, I can’t sleep.” Thup squatted on the floor in front of August's bed.

“The bottom bed and the top bed are the same size.”

“I'm afraid of ghosts.”

“Are you using that card now?”

“Phi, I hear someone walking here.” Thup pointed to an empty hallway in the maze of things. But before his eyes, there was an old man walking with a cane, he passed through the door and after a few minutes, he reappeared and walked as always.

"But if he just walks you shouldn't be afraid of him Thup... bastard."

“But I usually sleep with you.” His voice was soft but still audible. The message is clear to August, and he could only sigh.

“The space is small and I still have to sleep with you. Enters."

Thup smiled, his smile spreading so wide that his eyes almost disappeared when he heard that the older man allowed him to sleep with him. The space is large enough to sleep comfortably if it were just one person, but two men, lying on their backs, could barely move.

"I'm going crazy." Singha turned on his side, facing the catwalk, because he couldn't stand feeling so cramped.

“Phi…”

"What else do you want? “If you cause any more trouble, I’m going to kick you to the ground.”

“The man upstairs. Is he flirting with you?” Thup used his finger to point to the spot. from the top bed

"Because?"

“Well… for nothing.” Singha rolled his eyes before turning to Thup.

“The truth is… I asked him out.”

THUD!!

"Oh!" Everything happened so fast. When Thup heard the older man say that, he was so startled that he jumped until he hit his head on the bed above, then collapsed against his stomach with a groan.

“Seriously, you think too much. Your head is not broken, you are not dead yet. End of story and go to bed.” Sing said, and his body returned to its original position before closing his eyes, paying no attention to the boy behind him, who rubbed his head gently and then looked at the older man with regretful eyes.

Almost two hours had passed, when midnight of a new day was reached, August slowly opened his eyelids and turned to look at the boy breathing evenly behind him, one hand rubbing Thup's head where he had hit himself earlier. and found it slightly bulged, but there was no break or serious injury in any way, “That's a big hit.”

“Hmmmm,” Thup made a sound in his throat before turning around and hugging Singha's waist as usual.

And, curiously, the young inspector himself also felt accustomed to this action.