'NICKY, I THOUGHT YOU loved me, and only me.'

With that, she turned and fled with a twirl of a floral skirt. Skylab was the only one to react, and the boys looked at each other; she got up and went after the redhead.

The last person to burst out of their office was quick. But the Irish lass could only manage a few steps before she doubled up. She was far from quick! Skylab put her arms around her and led the sobbing girl to the guesthouse.

'Please sit down. My name is Skylab, and I'm Nick's friend.'

'Not another one! He's already got two in there.'

'No, no, not like that. I should have explained that Iʼm marrying Kev, the other Englishman over there. We are both Nick's friends.'

'What about those other two young girls?'

'That is a long story.'

'I have got all night.'

'Yes, I suppose you have. How about checking in here tonight? We can talk as long as you wish.'

'Okay! Have you got anything to eat?'

'What would you like?' asked Skylab.

'Anything but Thai food, sorry, but it's all I have had to eat for weeks. I fancy a burger or something like that.'

'Leave it to me, and I'll be back as quickly as possible.'

After settling the hungry girl, Skylab went back to the office.

'Nick, fancy a burger?' quizzed Skylab. Silly question to ask.

'Oh, yeah!'

'Right, go out and get a couple from somewhere, one for you and one for your lady over in the guesthouse. You had better cheer her up.'

'Yes, go on, and watch what you tell her,' said Kev.

Burgers were not that popular in Hua Hin. However, the ones in Gee Restaurant were the best available, and Nick had sampled them all.

Gee's was everyone's favourite spot to end an evening out. Khun Gee, the lady who kept her restaurant open throughout the night. Televisions in every accessible location. They usually showed football, English, Spanish, Italian any game worldwide. There would be a video horror show on the rare night when there was no football.

Nick loved it there. It would not win any prizes for hygiene or a Michelin Star, but who cares.

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Carrying a large plastic bag full of burgers and chips, Nick looked in, and he spotted Myrtle. She looked more hungry than sad. To see her always cheered him. The worries of the day floated out to sea.

'Look what I have got for you, honey.'

'Are you not eating, then?'

'Great to see you have not changed a bit. Still joking about my consumption.'

'Nick darling, I have missed you so much. Imagine the shock I got when I saw you with those girls cuddling you.'

'It's a long story, but nothing for you to worry about. They were shocked when you knocked at the glass, and they grabbed me for protection. That was all.'

'It looked like you were enjoying "protecting" them. Forget that. Can I stay with you tonight?'

'Of course. Have you checked in here? We can stay upstairs tonight. It will be more private.'

'Ooh, yes. And I have something to tell you. But that can wait. Let's eat, then bed. Ooh, I have missed you.'

Back at the office, Skylab said, 'Food organised.'

'Let's hope Nick organises sleeping arrangements.'

'Iʼll get the nod from the guesthouse when and if anything happens,' Skylab replied.

'Now, what about the Karen girls?'

'I'd better stay with them in Nick's room,' said Skylab.

'Good idea. Should we get Dam to sleep downstairs? In case we get another visit,' suggested Kev.

'I need him here for family reasons if you know what I mean.'

'Yes, he can be your chaperone again.'

Kev and Skylab tried their hardest to engage the girls, but they did not seem to understand a word spoken to them. The girls were chattering away in answer. Similarly, Kev and Skylab were blank-faced, not understanding a word.

Then Skylab had an idea. She got an encyclopaedia from the school bookshelf and flicked through the pages. The girls were immediately interested, looking at each page one after another. Beginning with B, Burma, the reaction was instant. Both young ladies point and try to explain something. Finally, the page showing the "Long Neck tribe" was reached. The girls started pointing at their necks and shook their heads. Next, they pointed towards the ceiling, again shaking their heads and nodding downwards. That makes it all clear, thought Kev.

Originally from Burma, the women of the Kayan tribes identify themselves by their form of dress. Women of the Kayan Lahwi tribe are well known for wearing neck rings. Brass coils are placed around the neck, appearing to lengthen it. The girls in Kev's office were not from the Kayan tribe. That much was clear. The book was interesting all present. They explained that tribe girls wore rings when they were around five. Over the years, the coil is replaced by a longer one, and more turns are added. The weight of the brass pushes the collarbone down and compresses the rib cage. The neck itself is not lengthened. The deformation of the clavicle creates the appearance of a stretched neck. They have suggested many ideas regarding why the coils are worn—often formed by visiting anthropologists. They hypothesised that the rings protected women from becoming slaves. By making them less attractive to other tribes? It has also been theorised that the coils originate from the desire to look more beautiful. By exaggerating sexual dimorphism as women have more slender necks than men. They have also suggested that the rings give the woman's resemblance to a dragon—an important figure in Kayan folklore. The coils might protect from tiger bites, perhaps literally, but probably symbolically.

Kayan women are asked their opinion on these ideas. They say their purpose for wearing the rings is cultural identity. They are associated with beauty. The girls visiting Hua Hin were pretty enough, with or without adding brass to their necks. Adding the brass rings may have saved them from capture or being lured to their fate.

Dam arrived with the news that Nick and "pom daeng" had gone upstairs. Pom Daeng, or red hair, was now cheerful, giggling and full of Western food, reported Dam.

Judging from the noise coming from their room, Nick was not thinking about Burmese females or anyone but Myrtle.