I watched an alleged murderer walking freely in the village today. I nodded to him, and he nodded in return.
His father is one of the richest men in the village. He is also known for running drugs across the river from Laos. Two months ago, during a meth and drinking session with some of his acquaintances in another village, he allegedly flew into a rage and stabbed a man to death. He fled back home. The police did not arrest him because all five witnesses recanted their stories, too fearful to point their fingers.
People say he may live a month or he may live a year, but there is always an accounting. The dead man’s relatives will come for revenge. This is a certainty. People have long memory and patience here. The villagers are uncannily calm about having him in their midst. They have a strange confidence that justice will be dealt one way or another. This is the way things are done here.
It fascinates me. Just another day in the village.
Published on June 07, 2012 06:08