The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2003

ning in, his eyes betraying panic. “They’re here!” he hissed. “Who?” I asked. “Mrs. Ambassador and Mrs. Williamson! And the truck! Outside! They came back! I had to pretend to break the key in the lock on the gate to keep her out!” Soh said. “What should I do?” “I’ll come outside,” I said. Soh informed me of further details as we walked to the front gate. Mrs. Ambassador and Mrs. Williamson said that the driver had gotten partway to the destination. He had stopped the truck for a snack at Long Ning Village. After he was finished, the driver announced that the truck was broken, and he would go no further. After some dis- agreement, the driver agreed to drive back to the capital, even though the truck was “broken.” Mrs. Ambassador and Mrs. Williamson were deep in an argument about what to do next, so I was able to make my way to the driver unnoticed. “Look here,” I said. “What’s all this about? Do you want more money?” “I wouldn’t drive this truck there for all the money in the world,” the driver said. “Why not?” I asked. “Spirits. The people at Long Ning Village told me that the previous driver of this same truck had died right there in the parking lot, at the wheel, after a meal of Peppered Ants’ Eggs in Spicy River Weed. Clearly the truck must be cleansed of spirits before we pro- ceed,” he said grimly. Mrs. Ambassador was at my shoulder. “What’s going on here? Can you ask him what’s the matter?” she said. “He ... say ... brake ... no ... good,” I said. At this point, the driver turned off the motor of his Chinese truck, which idles with the sound of a disabled jet landing in a thunderstorm. In the comparative quiet that followed, the noise of the All-Night Full Moon Residence Rave was painfully clear. “What on earth is that?” said Mrs. Ambassador. As successive expressions of bewilderment, compre- hension, and rage crossed her face, Soh opened the gates. The vehicles rumbled onto the grounds. Mrs. F O C U S J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 45 SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE AMERICA S I NCE 1 9 7 1 2001 represents our 31 st year helping to maintain America’s fleet of vehicles throughout the world. All of us at D & M consider it an honor to have worked with all of you through these years. We are aware of the importance of your official and private vehicles, forklifts, generators, tools and equipment. We look forward to continuing this service in a professional manner. We are here to help, just ask! Gary Vlahov www.dmauto.com (516) 822-6662; FAX: (516) 822-5020; E-mail: info@dmauto.com