Sokha pointed forward.

Across from him, the champion, , laughed. He was tall, with silver hair and a cape made of woven silk krama .

It hit Mengly square in the chest. The champion flew off his bike and crashed into a stall selling num pang . The battle was over. Sokha didn't celebrate. He grabbed the prize money—a golden Check (literally, a giant check)—and drove his broken-but-healed bike straight to the Calmette Hospital .

A barrier of solid light—engraved with the words (Compassion), ករុណា (Mercy), មុទិតា (Sympathetic Joy), and ឧបេក្ខា (Equanimity)—blocked the attack. The missiles exploded into confetti.

Sokha wiped his eyes. He held up the golden check.

His sister sat up in bed. She wasn't crying. She was laughing.

They clashed.