Page 46 - beyond-hate

38.

THE AMERASIAN'S MOTHER

I don't know what you are talking
about. My son didn't do anything
bad. He is going to America soon,
so he would have to be very stupid
to do bad things.

POLICEMAN A
And yet he did. I will be straight
with you two. Policemen from
another neighborhood have started
an investigation, and they may be
here tomorrow morning. This mixed-
race boy will be arrested, and you
will need to be prepared to bring
rice to him in prison. And you can
forget about going to America.

THE AMERASIAN'S MOTHER
(Turning white with fear)
Is it true? How could they move so

fast? No one has denounced him yet.

Policeman A is surprised, but he catches on quickly.

POLICEMAN A
How do you know no one has
denounced him? Ah, so you did
negotiate with them, right? Even if
no one has denounced him, your
Amerasian son has committed a
crime, and he must be punished. The
law won't forgive him. Raping
someone under age is punishable by
tens of years in prison. It is not
a minor crime.

Policeman A stays silent for a while to let his words sink in and then
says softly: