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shoulder and said, “Not yet. You must stay here with these other women until more arrangements are made.”
    Hang felt happy. The longer she was with Ngoc Bích, the better.
    Later that night, another cube van arrived and the fisherman came downstairs with a young Vietnameseman. The fisherman pointed to Hang and the young man immediately approached her.
    â€œYou speak English?” he asked.
    â€œYes,” replied Hang.
    â€œMy name is Tommy. I was born in Canada. My Vietnamese is not so good. Explain to the others that we must leave here at midnight tonight. We have to catch a ferry at quarter after five in the morning.”
    â€œAnother boat?” asked Hang.
    â€œNot long. Only two hours. Everyone will ride in the back of the truck. Tell them to be quiet. I do not want anyone to know there are other people in the truck.”
    â€œAnd after this ferry ride I go to United States?” asked Hang.
    â€œI do not know. I work for Dúc. He told me and Cuóng to bring everyone, so you’re coming to.”
    â€œCuóng?” asked Hang.
    â€œHe is driving the truck. He works for my boss, too.”
    â€œMister Dúc is one of three brothers?” asked Hang.
    â€œYes, Dúc has two brothers in business with him.”
    â€œNow I understand,” said Hang. “Mine is a special situation. I will not be working in the hotel business. Your boss is going to take me to live with a family in the United States.”
    â€œLucky for you.”
    Hang gestured at the
CSI
show on the television and said, “Lucky—only if I do not get caught by the police. The American police are very smart. They are scientists.”
    Hang believed her worry was justified and was startled when Tommy started laughing.
    â€œYou laugh that I may get caught? After what I have been through!” she said angrily.
    â€œNo ... this is just television,” Tommy said with a smile. “You need not be afraid. What you are watching ... that is notall the police in the States. CSI are a special type. They only work on dead people. Believe me, if my boss is looking after you, you will not have to worry about the police.”
    â€œYou are certain?”
    â€œYes. My boss does not take chances.”
    Their midnight truck ride, followed by the trip on the ferry, went without incident.
    It was eight o’clock in the morning when Hang accepted Ngoc Bích’s helping hand as she climbed out of the truck. The truck had been backed up to a garage where a man ushered everyone to the rear of the garage. The overhead door was shut as the truck drove away.
    The man inside the garage said his name was Giang. He said they would only have to wait a few minutes and would be on their way once more.
    As they waited, Hang saw Giang leering at the women. His eyes settled on Ngoc Bích and he stared brazenly, with a thin smile on his lips. Hang knew Ngoc Bích was perhaps the prettiest, but to be so bold as to stare ...
    â€œI do not like that man,” whispered Hang, while clutching Ngoc Bích by the hand.
    â€œIf he were an animal,” said Ngoc Bích, “he would be a pig.”
    Hang smiled and said, “You think of people as animals or birds?”
    â€œSometimes.”
    â€œOn our voyage, did you see a bald ape and a long-billed vulture?”
    Ngoc Bích paused for a moment, and smiled. “Yes. The two foreigners in the apartment in Hanoi!”
    They both giggled but Giang cut them short by steppingcloser. “What are you saying about me?” he snarled.
    Hang stepped back, fearfully tugging on Ngoc Bích’s hand but she remained firm and looked Giang in the eye and said, “Who are you that we should talk about you? We were talking about Hanoi.”
    â€œThat ...” Giang’s response was interrupted by a doorbell and another Vietnamese man hollered to him from inside the house. Giang immediately disappeared, only to return moments later