The Elephant Gate

The popping noises in his joints sounded like gunshots when Kevin woke up and stretched the next day. The tester bed was a little too short for him to stretch out comfortably, but despite this, he felt happy. He was back in Pra'dee with his expanded adoptive family. And with a good night's sleep, he was ready to face the fact of this country's destruction, and see what he could do to fix things.

Duchess lifted her head from the rug she was curled up on, and thumped her tail. He reached down and scratched her between the ears as she tried to lick his hands.

There was a fresh change of clothes on a rattan chair in his room. along with a basin of water and a towel. He scrubbed his face and neck with the bar of soap, splashing his face until it felt clean. The towel was rough but helped wake him up further.

Since there wasn't a razor, he left his chin alone, although it might feel itchy later. He carried the water basin and towel with him to the kitchen, and emptied it in the sink. The dog followed him.

"Good morning, Noy Kevin." The housekeeper called out, stepping out of a side door in the kitchen.

"I was just bringing up some vegetables from the cellar. It will be a little bit before breakfast is ready. Your parents are on the back porch."

Kevin bowed, and then, deciding something different, walked over and hugged the older woman. She sputtered, embarassed, before shooing him out of the kitchen.

The dog trotted down the steps into the backyard and disappeared around the corner. His parents stood and looked up at the mountain, their hands entwined. Khun Joy rested her head on her husband's shoulder. "There's a lot to do today, but I have faith in you and Kevin, my dear."

"If my thoughts are accurate, a lot will be expected of all of us, but I'm confident that we can prevail. I'm just worried about the cost in lives. We don't have a lot of people who are adept at the modern weaponry, and we only have a handful of rifles."

"I might be able to help." Kevin called out. The pair turned around. "I have training in firearms, so I can help explain proper safety and use, if I can look at what you have. Your guns may be different from what I'm familiar with, though."

Thadchai walked over to him and put his hand on his son's shoulder. "We are going to put you through your paces today to see what skills and abilities you have and what you retained. So prepare yourself for a busy day." He smiled, but it did not quite reach his eyes.

Together, the three of them went back inside for their meal.

* * *

By the time they were finished, there was a knock on the front door. Thadchai excused himself from the table to answer it, coming back a short time later with an older man carrying a suitcase in tow.

"Noy Kevin, this is Khun Pat. He's going to get you registered with the local council."

At his puzzled face, the captain explained. "Everyone needs to carry identification on them at all times. If you don't, your only option is go into hiding and try not to get captured. For what we need to do, we must be able to move about freely, and that includes you, too. So this is the first step."

Kevin formally greeted the man. They all went into a small living room. The case turned out to hold the tools of his trade, and in short order, Kevin had a new identity and new credentials.

"You are now Khun Pongthep, an animal wrangler. That way it doesn't seem unusual to be seen with the horses. Thank you for your services, Khun Pat."

The man smiled and bowed. "He will be added to the town's rolls today as a villager from Rayong. Since it was destroyed, there is no way of verifying everyone. He should be safe from most scrutiny."

"My thanks, Khun Pat." Kevin added his own as the man left.

Thadchai was now all business. "The first thing is to get to the training grounds and see your abilities. I imagine a writer is probably soft." He poked Kevin in the belly. "Although it seems you still have a few muscles here and there."

"Enough to take you on, old man," Kevin mock-growled. They clapped each other on the back and together walked to the stables. Duchess came back and walked alongside, already much more spry with her beloved master around.

Joy watched them disappear into the outbuilding before returning to the house.