Saving Fish from Drowning - Heal Burma

SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING
dreamed she was a monkey living in a tree. She was crawling up its
trunk to get away from dangerous creatures below, but soon she tired
and dug in her fingernails. Were all trees this warm? When she placed
her face against the trunk, she saw that it was Harry, and soon she
and the tree began to make love. But in doing so, she let go of her
grip and fell, jerking herself awake.
Why had she dreamed that she was a monkey and Harry a tree?
And why had she dug in her fingernails so deep? Was she too clingy?
Before she could ponder any further, she saw that someone was mov­
ing outside. It was not yet dawn. Were people making breakfast al­
ready? The figure was hunched over, eating furiously while glancing
about. The figure froze, eyes fixed on Marlena’s. She was confused,
for it was as if her simian dream-self had escaped and was just ten
feet away, a hoolock gibbon with a white-rimmed eye mask, stuffing
its mouth with the candy bars left out by the new intruders at No
Name Place.
I N THE MORNING, over coffee, Harry and Heinrich were dis­
cussing who should be sent out with the search party, when a huge
clatter and whine broke the air. A longboat with four military
policemen came swooping up with an impressive backwash. Most
boats slowed to a soft putter well before they reached the resort. But
these men were beyond such rules, because they had made them.
They jumped onto the dock, and with important strides went di­
rectly to Heinrich and spoke rapidly in Burmese. Harry strained to
understand what they were saying from the tone of voice, gestures,
and reactions. Heinrich seemed astonished, and the police looked
stern. Heinrich pointed out toward the lake. The police pointed in a
slightly different direction. More exchanges, and Heinrich shook his
head vehemently. The police pointed to Harry, and Heinrich made a
dismissive motion.
297