Chapter One - Richard Lewis

dirt.
As Sudana moved the car closer, its bright beams caught an object tossed onto
Nol's tire iron.
At the hospital emergency room, the scans revealed a hairline skull fracture and a
blood clot on the brain. With the wall clock ticking loudly in the late night quiet, Nol
listened to the doctor, who spoke of immediate surgery. Nol understood, but nothing
stuck. It was Suti who remained focused, who asked the questions and sat down to fill in
the paperwork and pulled out the money as the down payment and told Nol where to sign
on the consent form. Nol's mother Arini was seated on a bench, comforting Dian, who
was wept quietly.
Putu lay on a gurney, an IV taped to his hand. A nurse plucked out teeth
fragments from his mouth and lacerated tongue.
A neurosurgeon swept in, bright and chipper despite the hour. He was optimistic
as he explained the procedure. "With all the motorcycle injuries we get, we're very
experienced at this. All brain injuries are serious, but this one we should be able to
resolve."
Nol looked at an image pinned to a light box, showing the smashed and broken
tooth roots. "He's supposed to have his tooth filing tomorrow."
"I'm sorry," the doctor said.
Suti bent and kissed her inert son on both cheeks. She straightened and asked Nol,
"Who did it?"
"I don't know."
"Call the police."
"I'll take care of this," Nol said emphatically.
A male nurse wheeled Putu down a hall to the operating theater, pushing through
a pair of double doors, beyond which Suti and Nol weren't permitted. The doors swung
shut. Suti's face crumpled, and she turned to cling to Nol.
Dharma and his two wives swept into the hall. The women embraced Suti,
clucking and crying. Dharma's hands still smelled of spice. Nol pulled him aside and
briefly related to him what had happened and the doctor's prognosis.
"All his teeth are smashed," Nol added. "It was deliberate. A tire iron. It was the
palace, you know. Suti wants to go to the police."
"And will you?"
"The tooth filing first. Dian still needs to have the ceremony."
"Mantera will be there," Dharma reminded. "And Gede Raka."
"I hope so," Nol said flatly.
Dharma gave him a long and searching look. "The keris has given warning," he
murmured. "Remember the betrayal."
Suti and Dian prayed at the hospital's garden shrine. After Putu had been an hour
in surgery, a nurse in green togs and plastic shoes and cap came out to say all was going
well and it shouldn't be much longer. Nol suggested to Dharma that he take Dian home to
his house. She needed to be up early to prepare for the ceremony.
"I'm staying here," Dian declared.
Nol patted her shoulder. "He'll be okay."
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