Addressing the crowd, the sergeant shouted, “Let this be a lesson to traitors! If anyone has information about Viet Minh collaborators, come to the garrison. You’ll be rewarded.” As the truck lurched onto the road, Tuyet recalled her son’s cremation, how the fire had devoured her entire world. His urn had stood on the altar in the house. Ashes to ashes. All she treasured was now locked away in the chamber of her mind.
