Later, they spread out their bedding on the floor, and one by one they fell asleep. Around two in the morning Nash awoke to see Amrita staring at him from her spot on the floor. The only light was from a small battery-powered lantern. The others were sleeping soundly.
“Not tired?” said Nash quietly.
She shrugged and then slid her bedding and herself closer to him. “You have a gun,” she said quietly. “I saw it inside your jacket.”
“Goes with being a personal bodyguard.”
“Does your boss have a lot of money?”
“Not on him, if that’s what you mean. Why?”
She shrugged again. “So, your boss has business in Myitkyina?”
“He does, yes.”
“Where are you from in America?”
“All around.”
“Have you been to New York City? And Hollywood?”
She said the latter with a starstruck giddiness that made Nash smile.
“I have.”
“And are they as amazing as people say?”
“They’re never boring, that’s for sure. When did you come here from India?”
“Four years ago.”
“Why?” he asked.
She said sharply, “Why not? Oh, you think this place is for shit?”
“No. But it’s not exactly the easiest place to live, either.”
“I. . .I got into some trouble in my country. I came here to get away from it.”
“Do you plan to stay here much longer?” he asked.
“Not if I don’t have to. Look around, this placeisfor shit. At least this part of it. And there is no government or law, just bullets and bombs.”
“Well, I hope you are being well paid to escort us.”
“I’m sure Thura is. Me and Zeya maybe not so much.”
“So you work for him?”
She inched closer. “I want to work for myself. But sometimes it doesn’tworkout that way, you know?”
Nash thought of his relationship with Temple and nodded. “I can understand that.”
“What does an American really want from this place?” she said.
“I’m just the hired help, Amrita. I go where my boss tells me to.”
“Have you killed people with your gun?”
