A Wish in the Dark

Without Ampai, the people of the Mud House believe they are powerless against the Governor and want to cancel the march. Pong is shocked to hear even Somkit, who is lost in his grief for Ampai, agree. Pong encourages Somkit to share with everyone Ampai’s plan for the gold orbs. Once Somkit does, the people are inspired anew and donate all their faded orbs to replace the ones lost in the fire. The march will proceed as planned; the people will demonstrate to the Governor and to themselves that they can provide their own light.

Somkit gives Pong a border permit and convinces him that he must leave while the police are distracted by the march; if they catch him, he will go to jail for the rest of his life. Pong, feeling guilty, apologizes to Somkit for leaving him behind at Namwon all those years ago; to Pong’s shock, Somkit reveals that he engineered the entire situation. Back then, Pong was so despondent that Somkit thought his friend would die unless he got out, so he planned Pong’s escape. However, Somkit regrets it now, because he feels that his actions condemned Pong to a lifetime of running.