TO BE THAI

By Ajarn Steve Wilson.

Author's note: All of us should know the word Thai means free. So instead of saying I am an American, or I am a Canadian, and so on, Thai people say 'I am Thai' or 'I am a Thai person' meaning they are free. This story is dedicated to my little sister, who is fighting her own war.

            Nantarat was terrified as she knelt in the small clearing of the jungle, light and shadow surrounding her. More terrified than she had ever imagined possible, even after fleeing the burning capitol city of Ayuthaya. Even after saying her final farewell to her dying brother Khaosai, when he gave her his instructor's sword from the Temple Buddhai Sawan, his last words "Find General We-la-ma-ha-tape in the mountains." Now she was alone, and horribly frightened, and trapped in the clearing by a hated Burmese soldier.

            All she had left was her faith in Buddha and her faith in what her brother had learned at the Buddhai Sawan and passed on to her. So she prayed and forgot herself, remembering her Lord, her beloved Siam, her King and her dead family. She prepared herself for what was to come. Silently Nantarat danced, moving around the clearing, checking the footing for soft spots or roots, which could trip. She looked for trails to flee down if she had the chance. She listened for the arrival of friends. She calmed her mind and body. There was just herself alone to face the monkey-faced Burmese who stood laughing across the clearing. Buddha had given her no peaceful alternative.

            Now the warrior, Nantarat grips her sword. Her mind is empty of the past, only alive in the present. She accepts the attack. The Burmese swings his spear at her head. She ducks and slides to her left, pushing him on the side of his knee with her right leg while she cuts to his midsection. Aiyee! The Burmese is surprised but as he stumbles manages to twist out of range of her blade.  Pay nah, he grits through his teeth. Kill you!

            They circle, battle-hardened veteran and teenaged girl, breathing heavily, eyes wide. The Burmese cuts down at Nantarat's head. She jumps back, barely out of his reach, but it's a feint! He thrusts his spear at her stomach. In desperation she throws herself to the right while blocking across her body to the left. She grips her sword with both hands now, pushing the spear away. She kicks to his exposed back with her shin. Unh!  That was a good one she thinks, as the Burmese grunts in pain. Pay nah, she screams!

            The Burmese, enraged, spins as quickly as he can to his left and slices to her midsection. Nantarat blocks but is knocked to the ground by the force of his blow. The Burmese raises his spear above his head and, with all of his weight stabs at the young Thai warrior lying helpless on the ground. Pay nah!

            Nantarat is breathlessly feeling around for her sword. The force of the swinging spear had been too much for her and it had been knocked from her grip. She rolls frantically to her right and elbows his shin as she thrusts her left foot up into the Burmese's groin. His falling weight almost crushing her, she pushes again, throwing him off, and scrambles to her feet. Now they are both unarmed.

            She thinks to run but realizes the Burmese would just chase her down. She decides. As her enemy gets to his feet she throws a hard left kick to his right thigh. Grunting, he stumbles back a bit and launches a kick of his own to her head. Nantarat blocks his dtae (Kick) with her forearms but the force pushes her back also. He kicks to her head again, this time with his left. Nantarat ducks under and cut kicks to the front of his right knee. The Burmese cries out in pain.

            Nantarat fakes a poke to his eyes. He doesn't buy it. Now in his anger he limps toward her, flailing with his fists. Nantarat dances out of his reach and hop-around-kicks his right thigh. The Burmese drops his right knee to the ground. Now is her chance!

            Nantarat runs at the Burmese. She steps her right foot up on his left knee. She steps here left foot up onto his right shoulder and stands up.  Raising her right arm high above her head she drops back to the ground in front of him while elbowing the crown of his head. Pay nah!

            The young girl is terrified as she kneels in the clearing and prays by the body of the Burmese soldier. But she lives. Now if she can reach General We-la-ma-ha-tape she can continue her studies of the war art Krabi-Krabong, and help her people take back their country.

She is Thai. 

She is free.