Chapter 17:
Jaidee sits in his cell, shaven and dressed in a novice's robe, contemplating life and Buddhism. He gives up on the idea that his wife is still alive surprisingly fast and comes to terms with the fact that life is change. He meditates under a painted Bo tree and we learn that many species of tree have become extinct due to "Ivory Beetle".
"Who would have thought that the calorie companies would attack figs? The farang have no respect for anything but money." p.169. I really have no idea who Paulie is trying to appeal to here except those juvenile, self-righteous little shits who think it's cool to tell everyone why they're horrible and short-sighted in order to make themselves feel superior. It ain't aimed at Thai people because it's terribly unflattering to them as well. It isn't kind to anyone and maybe that's the point? Except no, because I think we're supposed to at least like, Jaidee. The whole, the companies can do whatever they want to the detriment of the whole world with no interference from any government, is shallow and silly. But I'm not a cynical twit.
Since his wife must be dead, he decides he can do as he pleases. He walks out of the monastery (this is a punishment, you'd think there'd be guards) and goes to find Kanya. He asks for a gun.
Akarrat (trade) is his enemy (environment). Well, it only took half the book to consciously get what Bacigalpi was doing. Oy. The morally repugnant against the maybe-not-as morally repugnant but still kind of asses. Isn't there some way for the two to co-exist? The set-up is too simplistic. There are greedy bastards who will ruin anything for a buck or power against...the world? Thais? Everyone else is down-trodden? Fundamentalists are evil as well; Green Headbands commit massacre and the Grahmites, arson. Is there no room for middle ground?
"How can one fight their money? Money is their power...We are fighting money." p.170.
Lots of lights for a land with no oil. Ah, coal. Cheshire cats. A rich girls party favor. I haven't mentioned them before because they're basically a side show meant to how illustrate the spoiled West brought ruin by being arrogant and privelieged. Jaidee and one of his former men, Somchai, break in to the Trade Ministry to find the file of the man who had been watching them when they burned the cargo at the airfields. He was also at Jaidee's demotion so that means he had something to do with the wife's kidnapping/murder. His file is curiously empty. They kill a couple of guards (guards always are expendable non-human entities) who try to arrest them for trespassing. Then the mystery man shows up, a battle ensues, and they are captured and brought to the roof. (Spring guns apparently fire blades.) Akarrat shows up with palace bodyguards. The Mystery Man works for the palace! Oh goodie. Jaidee kicks Akarrat, his muay thai background giving him +10 damage, and he's shot off the roof.
Notes: This book combines disgusting '70's plot and sexual politics with a smug, snotty 21st century overlay.
He continues to be incapable of showing rather than telling about the slums, poverty, food shortages, and world chaos.
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