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the South Vietnamese navy who had escaped execution by the Communists because of his war injury.
    Mai hadn’t seen Captain Le since they’d arrived on Pulau Tengah. She wondered what had happened to him. And she rarely saw Hiep anymore. He spent mornings at the Red Cross tent listening for their names to be called, then dug wells with Sang the rest of the day, and then disappeared after dinner.
    One evening in early February, after she had helped Small Auntie wash the dishes, she and Hiep went for a walk along the beach. The sky was a black tent embroidered with silver sequins, the moon a sliver. The smoke of the cooking fires mingled with the salty sea air. Above her she could see the Silver River in the sky.
    â€œI’m glad you stayed here tonight. Where do you go after dinner?” she asked Hiep.
    â€œOh, just hanging out with some of the guys I work with.”
    â€œI miss you.”
    â€œI’m just having fun, Mai.” He stopped and stared at the sky.
    â€œBut it’s not fun for me. I have to work all day for Small Auntie, and then in the evening, she still makes me tend to the children. Oh, Uncle Hiep, I want to go home. Why did we have to come here?”
    â€œNow Mai, you know your father was right. We couldn’t hide forever. They’d find us. And then they’d kill us or send us to the re-education camp. It couldn’t stay like it was. You’ve got to be brave.”
    Mai walked along next to Hiep, feeling the soft sand on her feet. Oh, how she missed her family. She would try to be brave, but it wasn’t going to be easy.

Six
    The next morning, Mai was eating with Hiep by the fire. Small Auntie came around the side of the boat with her broom in her hand.
    â€œGood morning,” she said, smiling, her face smudged from smoke.
    â€œGood morning, Small Auntie,” Mai replied, standing up. Hiep rose too.
    â€œSit down, sit down. Eat your breakfast.” Small Auntie stood in front of them and folded her arms.
    â€œIs anything wrong, Small Auntie?” Hiep asked.
    â€œI don’t want to burden you with my troubles.” Small Auntie sighed.
    â€œOh, tell us, please,” said Mai.
    â€œYou’ve lived here for four months. Four months is a long time. You need to pay me more.” She wiped her hand across her brow.
    â€œWe have nothing else to give you. We gave you the bracelet.” Hiep’s voice was firm.
    â€œOh, surely you brought more than one small bracelet. Maybe some diamonds?” Small Auntie smiled as if they shared a secret.
    â€œWe brought some, but pirates stole them,” Hiep replied.
    Mai sucked in her breath, shocked that Hiep would lie. There had been no diamonds. At least, none that she’d known about. Did Hiep have diamonds?
    â€œAh, such bad luck,” clucked Small Auntie. “What about your brother in America?”
    â€œWe haven’t heard from him yet,” Hiep said.
    Small Auntie stared at him with hollow eyes. “I have someone who wants to live with us who can pay. Perhaps you could find another place to live.”
    â€œOh, Small Auntie, we are so happy here,” Mai said.
    â€œIt makes me sad for you to leave, but if you can’t pay, you’ll have to leave tomorrow.” She shook her broom and walked away.
    â€œUncle Hiep, what are we going to do? Small Auntie really wants us to leave.”
    â€œI heard her. I can’t believe it. We’re out of money except for your gold bracelet. We’ll have to give it to her.”
    â€œNo, we can’t do that. I promised Mother. It’s our good luck. We need to keep it. It will help us get to America.”
    â€œI don’t know what we’re going to do then.”
    â€œWhat was that about diamonds? Did you really bring diamonds?”
    â€œOf course not, Mai. But I knew if I told her we hadn’t left with anything, she wouldn’t believe me.”
    â€œWhere will we live? What will we