THE SUNRISE MOTEL
Posted: September 21st, 2025, 7:16 pm
THE SUNRISE MOTEL
Chapter -1
FELL, NEW YORK
NOVEMBER 1982
VIV POV
Vivian-i chuan zankhuain amahte chauhin a awm dawn tih a hria. Mahse hnathawh tur a mamawh miau a, a intihpachan angai. A thawhna motel chu khaw pawn a awm a ni a, zan lam duty chu a hna a ni. Thutpui tur leh titi pui tur tal nei ni se a zia deuh tur, mahni chauh a zan reh a han thut tlawk tlawk mai chu a hreh thin ve hle a, mahse mi nep tak anga awm chu a duh lo.
New York khawpui a veng pakhat, Fell hmuna awm Sunrise Motel kawt motor park na chu a thleng a, a car chabi chu a herh hlum a, a car chhung tihlumna leh radio erawh a la off tel lo. A kawrchung chu a darah a bat a. A hma zawna a thawhna motel chu a thlir a, building pahnih, chhawng nei lo, L shape anga awm hi a ni a, a thim rup lehnghal. A phur lo hle a, mahse a tih ngei angai. Zan dar 10:59pm a ni a, hnathawk turin a in peih tawh. Mahse a ruk tak chuan a zam a ni.
Tah vak mai te a chak rum rum a, a khuate chu a rawn sik ser ser ni hian a inhria a. A motor hma darthlalang chu ruah mal hraw pui pui hian a rawn vawm thawt thawt a, a hnung lam kawngpuiah chuan truck lian zet hi a tlan ruah ruah bawk a. Sana pawhin 11pm a kawk ta chiaha, radio pawhin zanlai chanchinthar an rawn puang ve chiah bawk . A kal vat loh chuan a tlai mai dawn. Mahse chu chu a pawina vak a hre lo. Sunrise motel chu lun tak a ni hran lo a, customer pawh an awm ngai lem lo. Chuvang chuan zan lam duty tur nula a rawn tlai hret tih mai mai chu tuin nge care vak ang?
A chhuah hmain a sam, a beng hnuai chen lek a sei chu an tuai thuak thuak a, a mit cheina te chu a that leh that leh an en nawn leh bawk a
Chutih lai tak chuan radio ah chuan Melborn road kawng sirah hmeichhe ruang chhar a nih thu an rawn puang a, chu chu tuna a awmna atanga mel 10 vela hla a ni. An puan chu a ngaithla chhunzawm zel a. Chu an hmeichhe ruang chhar chu a hming Tracy Waters a ni a, an hmuh hnuhnun berna chu an khaw thenawm a a thiante in atanga a chhuak lai a ni. Kum 18 mi a ni a, kawng sirah saruak vek a hmuh a ni. A ruang hi a nu leh pa ten a bo thu an report atanga ni hnih hnuah hmuh a ni.
A car a thu reng chung chuan kum 20 mi Vivian-i chuan chu thu chu a ngaithla a, a tirilah a khur der der a, ruah sur hnuaiah, ruak vek lehnghala a thih hun nghaka an awm tur chu a ngaihtuah a, a vawh dan turte a suangtuah a. Chutianga hmeichhe la naupang ruang chhar a han ni mai chu mak a ti a, fimkhur leh khur loh pawh ni lovin kan tawn tur a nih chuan tu pawh hian kan tawng thei vek a ni tih thleng tein a ngaihtuah a.
A thawhna motel lam chu a hawi leh a, an signboard tarah chuan Sunrise Motel tih chu light eng in a phe zek zek a, a hnuaiah chuan ‘Vacancy, Cable TV’ tih a eng zeuh zeuh bawk a.
Hreh tak chung chuan a motor chahbi a phawi a, pawn khawvawt takah chuan a chhuak a. Ruah chuan rei loteah a rawn nan huh nghal a, thli a thaw vuk vuk bawk. Hmanhmawh takin a tlan a, ‘Office’ tih intarna lam chu a pan a.
A chhungah chuan lo duty mek Johnny -a a lo awm a, a chhung atangin a lo hmu vek a ni tih hriat takin haw turin a lo insiam mawlh mawlh a. “I rawn tlai a ni maw?” tiin banga sana intar chu a melh zeuh a.
“Minute 5 chauhin alawm” ti a hnial let pahin a kawrchung hak lai chu a phelh mawlh mawlh a, a chhungrilah tak chuan in a haw a duh a ni.
Mahse khawnge in a neih? Fell khua chu a khua a ni lo a, a pianna hmun Illinois pawh a khua tiin a chhiar thei lo. In a chhuahsan dawn khan nasa takin a nu nen an inhau a, a chhan chu lemchanthiam nih tuma New York pan a tum vang a ni. Khami tum khan a chhungte chu mangtha hmakin a chhuahsan a,mahse New York lemchanthiam nih chu a tum ang ngawt a thil awl ai a lo ni lo.
“Room 27 naah sawn Pi Bailey-i a riak a” tiin an motel a an mikhual neih ang chhun chu Johnny -a chuan a hrilhfiah a. “Tunah sawn zu a in mekin ka hria. Mamawh a nei ngei dawn a, a rawn phone vat che ka ring” a ti a, Vivian-i chu a bu nghauh nghauh a.
Pi Bailey-i chu Sunrise Motel ah hian zu in tur ringawtin a rawn kal thin a, a chhan chu in lama a in chuan buaina an neih thin vang a ni. A ruih deuh tawh chhan front desk hi a rawn call deuh chhen thin a, duh belh eng eng emaw a neih thin avangin.
“Midang an la awm em?” tiin Vivian-i chuan a zawt a.
“Florida atangin nupa pakhat an rawn kal mek. Prank call vawihnih ngawt ka dawng a,an rawn thaw ri huam huam a. Tleirawl chimawm ho bak an ni lovang. Room number 103 saw a kawngkhar a tha lo a, kalh vek pawn thliin a chhem hawng thei a, chumi chungchang chu Janice-i hnenah note ka ziak tawh bawk a”
“An rawn ngaihsak tak tak lo” tiin Viv chuan a lo chhang a. “Karhmasa pawhin Janice-i chu i hrilh tawh kha” a ti a. Janice-i chu motel neihtu hi a ni a, Viv-i phei chuan thla khat chuang a hmel a hmu tawh lo. Thil pawimawh te a awm a nih loh chuan a rawn tlawh zen zen lo a, zanah ngat phei chuan a rawn kal ngai lo.
“Ka hrilh nawn leh tawh a, a rawn siam tir ve tawh em em ang” tih pahin Johnny chuan a rawn en a. “A mak ve ngawt mai tiraw?” a rawn ti a.
“Ni e, mak tak a ni” tiin Viv-i chuan a chhanglet a, mahse Johnny a mak tih dan leh a nin ‘mak’ tih a sawi dan ki chu a inang lo. A chhan chu chulai a thawk tumah chuan a hmuh thin ang leh a tawn thin ang chu an tawng ve tlat lo. Zanlaiah chiah a thlen thin vang a ni. Chhunlam leh tlailam duty thin ho tan chuan hriat ve ngaihna a awm lo.
“Tumah rawn kal an awm pawh ka ring lo. A reh viau zawk ang” Johnny chuan a ti a.
‘A reh ngai lo’ tih chu Vivian-i rilruah a rawn awm nghal a. “Nia, beisei ang” tih ringawtin a chhang a.
A chhuak lai leh a tlan liam lai chu Viv-i chuan a thlir reng a. Johnny chu kum 36 a ni a, a nu nen an chengdun a. Inah a haw anga, mut hmain TV an en hmasa te te emaw aniang a. Viv i’n a hlauhna a neih ruk thin ang te chu a nei ve ngai dawn si lo. Tracy Waters ruang chhar a ni tih ri te chu a bengah a ri nawn ve tluk tluk lovang.
Boruak a reh tlawk tlawk a, Highway kawngpui a truck lian rawn tlan thawm leh thli thaw in an bul vela thingkung a chhem rik thawm bak hriat tur a awm lo. Banga sana tar pawhin 11:13pm a kawk chiah a.
A kawrchung chu a kilah a khai a, tshirt navy blue, a hnute veilam zawna Sunrise Motel tih intarna chu a ha a. Dawhkan chu a hlui tawh hle a, pencil dahna bawm leh telephone a awm a, dawhkan lai takah mikual hming ziahna lehkhabu lian a awm bawk a.
Ama lehkhabu bik chu keuin eng emaw hi a ziak a.
‘Nov 29. Room 103 kawngkhar pawh thliin a chhem hawng leh ta. Prank calls kan dawng. Tuman an awm lo. Tracy Waters a thi’
Pawn lam atangin thawm a rawn awm a, a ring a fan a. Room 103 na kawngkhar thliin a chhem a vanga a invaw ri a ni. Viv-i chu a han chhing vang vang a, hlauhnain a rawn man a, mahse tih theih dang a awm tawh lo. A nih tur ang ang a ni tawh a, a duty na hmunah a awm tawh. A pen chu a pangaiin a hum leh a.
‘Ka thil hmuhte, ka thil ngaihtuah zawng zawng te hi a tak an ni em? A tak an ni ngeiin ka hre si a’
Mikhual ziahna bu a an mikhual hming chu a en a, a ziah lai a chawl det a, a hnung banga sana intar chu a inkhawng ri keuh keuh a, a ziah chhunzawm leh a.
‘zaninah thlarau ho chu an rawn tho leh dawn. An chawl hahdam thei lo. Mahse heng thil hi a tawp vat tawh ka beisei’. A ziah lai chuan a kut a rawn khur a, a inthunun hram hram a. ‘Tracy, pawi ka ti lutuk. Ka tih tur ka hlen loh avangin’
A ziah lai chuan a ngik feih a, thawm dang erawh a chhuah lo. A pen a dah a, a mit a nuai a, a kutah chuan a eyeshadow inhnawih lavender rawng chu a kai a. November ni 29, 1982…11:24pm a ni.
Sana chu a inher zel a, zing lam dar 3 a ni. Chulai hmunah chuan Vivian-i hmel reng reng hmuh tur a awm tawh lo.
Hei hi a intanna tur chauh a ni.
*** *** ***
FELL, NEW YORK
NOVEMBER 2017
CARLY POV
Ka awmna hmun chu ka ngaihnatzawng a ni lo. Ka mutna khum te, tukverh atanga street light rawn inkap lut ruah te, a room awmdan te chu. Ka hming chu Carly a ni a, kum 20 mi ka ni. New York hmun a Fell khuaah ka awm mek a, a nihna takah chuan helai a awm tur hi ka ni lo.
Ka khum bula ka phone chu ka han la a, zing lam dar 4 chiah ala ni. Muthilh erawh ka tum tawh lo, ka tarmit ka vuah a, ka tho a. Niminah Illinois atangin ka rawn kal vang vanga, tlan chhung a rei bawka, hotel ka thlen rual rualin ka muhil nghal ang vel a ni.
Ka email kan check thuak thuak a, ka lawyer hnen atangin mail ka dawng a. ‘I rokhawm tur chu i account ah deposit a ni tawh e. A hnuaiah hian receipt pawh ka lo thawn tel e’ tih hi a ni a, mahse engzat nge rawn lut tih chu ka check kher peih lo.
Ka nu pawisa tlem a zawng chu ka khawm dawn tih ka hresa a, a zavai pawhin a tam lo a, chu chu ka unaupa Graham nen kan la insem leh a. Tam lo mahse rei vaklo chhung ka ei in man leh ka riahna man chu a daih ang. Cancer vangin i nu i chan a, chu pawh kum 51 mi chauh a la ni. Chutiang dinhmunah a ro engzat nge ka khawm tih mai mai a lo buai chu thil atthlak tak a ni.
Graham -a message a lo awm bawk a. ‘I thil tih hi i ngaihtuah chiang em Carly? College i chawlh san dawn maw? Ti khan i inchawm zo in i ring tak tak maw? I college fees zawng zawng te kha a lothlawn in a ral mai mai dawn ania. Eng pawh ti la, good luck. Inthah te kha i lo tum ange’
Ka reply nghal a. ‘Lo phi chung zel suh. Reilote chhung bak ka kal bo dawn lo. Ka zin khawthawng mai mai alawm. Min ngaihtuah a ka lawm e’
Ni rei cham ka tum lo. Ka nu a thih atang khan college kal phurna reng reng ka nei tawh lo a, nun hi a ho ka ti vek tawh. Chubakah zawhna chhanna hriat chak em em mai ka nei a, tun hi chu mi zawnna hun tur tha tak niin ka hria.
Ka labtop ka hawng a, file pakhat chu ka han hawng a, chutah chuan kum 1982 a mi tawh chanchinbu thlalak pakhat a awm a, a headline ah chuah POLICE IN HMEICHHE PAKHAT BO AN ZAWNG MEK tih a inziak a. A sirah chuan chu hmeichhe thlalak chu a chuang bawk a. A hmeltha hle a, a sam a puk laih a, camera lam rawn melhin a nui sang a, a mitmeng a mawi hle. A hnuaiah ti hian a inziak a.
‘Vivian Delaney, kum 20 mi chu November ni 29 atang khan hmuh ala ni lo. A hmu leh a chin hria kan awm chuan police hnenah hrilh thuai turin kan in ngen e’
Hei hi. Hei ngei hi a ni a chhanna ka hriat duh chu.
Ka nu khan a sawi chhuak ngai meuh lo a, a sawi tha duh lo ni berin ka hria. A chhan chu kan chhungkuaah tualthi, tu tih nge tih hriat loh an awm tawh vang a ni. Thlalak chu ngun takin ka en a, Vivian Delaney chu ka nu laizawn a ni a, kum 1982 khan a hnathawhna Sunrise Motel a zan lama a duty chu a khuangcher bo hmiah mai a, a ruang takngial pawh hmuh a ni lo.
Chu chuan kan chhungkuaah hmun ruak zau tak a siam a, ka pa khan a sawi thin a, i nu phei chu zawt reng reng suh, a mood a chhe vek zel a ti thin. Ka nutei bo atangin kum 35 a liam tawh a, tunah chuan ka pi leh ka pu te, ka nu ngei pawn min awm loh san tawh. Ka nutei thlalak emaw a hriatrengna tur emaw tar kan nei ngai lo a, ka nu thih hma kum khatah khan ka nutei chanchin chu internet atangin ka hmu hlawl a, a thlalak pawh ka vawikhat hmuhna a ni. Kum tam a ral tawh tho tiin ka print a, inhnuai lamah ka tlan thla a. “Hei ka hmu ania” ka ti a.
Ka nu chu sitting room ah thuin TV a lo en a, ka lehkha ken chu la in a chhiar a, a thlalak phei chu a bih vang vang a. Chuta a rawn hawi chhuak leh chu a hmel a dang vek. Chutiang hmel a put chu ka la hmu ngai lo. Rilru natna nge hlauhna hmel pawh ka hrethiam lo. A hmel chu a tar nghal bawihin ka hria. Chutih lai chuan a cancer tih kan la hre lo a, a hnu kumkhat naah min thih san a, a inhre sa reng anga min hrilh duh loh a nih ka ring. A rawn tawng a, a aw chu a tham chel a. “Vivian-i chu a thi tawh” a ti a, lehkha chu dahin a tho a, a kal sawn nghal a. Khata tang khan ka zawt leh tawh ngai lo.
Ka rilru hi a dam chiah lo. Khatih hunlai khan ka nu chu tleirawl mai ala ni a, tih theih em em a nei lo ang. Mahse ka chhungte dang ho hian engmah an ti lo em ni? Enga tinge police te an chhui tir loh? Zawn luai luai awm a ni a, khawilaiah emaw a ruang hlawmtu pawh nei lo a tawih ral mai mai chu engtin nge an phal theih?
Graham-a hi kei ai a upa zawk a, thil a hriat zawk ka rin avangin ka zawt a. “Nute Viv-i a thih hnu lawk khan ka pu in ka pi a chhuahsan a, ka pi kha a hmeithai ta a ni” a ti a.
“A nih chuan a fanu chu a zawng eih lo em ni? Ka pu pawhin?” ka ti a.
“Ka pi khan pawisa a nei lo alawm. Ka nuin a sawi dan chuan nute Viv-i leh ka pi kha an inhau reng thin a, tha taka inbiak kha an nei meuh lo.
Graham-a chu ka en reng a. “Ka nu in a hrilh che amaw? Tinge engmah min hrilh ve duh loh?”
Ka unaupa chu a thaw hak a, a phone a khawih a. “Internet ala awm lo a, DNA test na pawh ala awm lo. Han zawn ngaihna vak kha a awm lo alawm. Fell khua a va kal tur khan ka pi khan a hna a chawlhsan thei si lo a, ka pu lahin nupui dang alo nei tawh bawk nen. Ka pu kha chuan an inthen hnu khan tumah hi a rawn ngaihsak tawh lo”
Chu chu a dik. Ka nu leh ka pu kha an inpawh lo hle a, an awm awm a awm tura chhuahsan tawp tu a nih avangin a vuinaah pawh a kal lo. “A nih engatinge police pawn an zawn loh?” ka la ti leh a.
Graham-a chuan a phone a dah a, nin hmel zet hian “Nute Viv-i khan in a chhuansan a, kum 20 a ni tawh bawk a. Khawiah emaw a tlanbo daih a nih te pawh an ring aniang. Hriat i va chak awm ve a? min ti a.
“Chak e. A ruang pawh an hmu lo ania. 1982 a ni tawh lo a, internet leh DNA testna pawh a awm tawh a, eng emaw chu a tih theih ka ring” ka ti a.
“Nangmahin maw?”
Aw keimah pawhin ka zawng mai ang. A hre ber tur ka nu a awm tawh lo a, tumah zawh tur dang an awm tawh lo. An ngaihsak lo lutuk chu ka thin a rim a, rukbo a ni nge a thi tih pawh tuman hriat an tum lo. Fell khuaah chuan ka va kal anga, ka zawhna chhanna chu keimahin ka va zawng khawp ang.
Ka laptop ah chuan thlalak dang chu ka han click leh a. Headline ah chuan HMEICHHE BO HMUH ALA NI LO tih a inziak a, hetiang hian a hnuaiah a inziak a.
‘Viv-i chu kum 20 a upa a ni a, Fell khuaah hian thla 3 chiah ala awm. Sunrise Motel ah zan lamah hna a thawk thin. Hnathawk turin a kal a, hemi zan atang hian a chin hriat a ni lo. A car, a purse leh a thil te chu a nih ang anga hmuh a ni. A roommate Jenny chhan Viv-i chu mifel tak, hmeltha tak leh kawm nuam tak a nih thu a sawi. Bialpa a neih hriat a ni lo a, inzuar pawh a ni lo. Damdawi leh zu lam tih a nei lo’.
Chu chanchinbu hlui chu ka nu thih hnuah a drawer a ka hmuh a ni a, a hnungah chuan ‘27 Greville Street, Apartment C’ tih a ziak a, chu chu Viv-i chenna thin a nih ngei ka ring. A bo thu chuan a huap zau lo hle a, Fell khua local newspaper bakah chhuah a ni lo.
Sunrise Motel chu internet an ka zawnga, an la kalpui ve reng a ni awm e. Chulai hmunah chuan va kal ila, Viv-i chanchin hria tu emaw tal an lo awm mahna.
Tunah Fell khuaah chuan ka awm ta ngei a, ka mut a chhuak tawh lo a, khawvar hun nghah tawp mai loh chu tih theih ka nei rih lo.
*** *** ***
FELL, NEW YORK
AUGUST 1982
VIV
An khua Illinois ah kha chuan Viv-i chu fanu buaina riallian-i te pawh a tih theih ang chu. A nu leh a pa an inthen atang phei kha chuan a che fuh hleithei meuh lo. A laizawnnu kha chu a bu ang thlap a che, sawisel tur awm lo a ni a, ani ve thung erawh a letling hlauh. Sikul a tlanbo a, zan rei tak tak thleng a leng a, a nu a bum fo bawk a, exam naah lah entawn a hrat. Chung thil te chu a tih duh vang pawh a ni bik lo. Mahse tinge a tih si? A chang phei chuan tu emaw taksa chhunga lut ang mai te in a inhre rum rum thin.
Chung a awmdan te chuan a nu a ti thinrim thei hle a, zan khat phei chu dar 2 pelhah a haw chauh a, chumi zan chuan a nu in a beng thelh a ni. ‘Tawhsual te tawk la engtin nge i tih anga?’ tiin a nu chuan a hau tawn tawna.
Tunah chuan an in atanga hla takah a awm tawh. August thla tlai lam van boruak chu a sen phut a, tlai ni tla tur pawh a mawi hle. Kawr ban nei lo, a dar pah a ha a, jeans pawl a ha a, kawnghren var, a kilhna silver rawng a hreng bawk a, tennis shoe a bun a, a dar pakhatah a bag a ak bawk.
A hma zawna motel sign intar lam chu a hawi a. SUNRISE tih chu a eng leh a pawlin a inziak a, a hnuaiah chuan VACANCY CABLE TV tih a inziak bawk a. Signboard hnungah chuan motel chu L shape ang hian a awm a, chei hnum tak a ni hran lo. Highway bula awm a nih avangin zin mi te leh a bik takin truck driver ho in riah nan an hmang tlangpui thin. Car pakhat chiah a in park a, pindan hmasa berah chuan OFFICE tih a intar a.
A hma a modeling vel a tih thinna a a hlawh tlem a zawng a account ah a awm tih loh chu pawksa ah lai dollar 20 chiah a nei a, a nun bul tan nan chuan a beitham hle. Chu motel chu a hmel en reng reng pawhin riah man a to dawn lo tih a hriar nghal a, mutna leh inbualna a awm a nih chuan a lungawi mai.
Office lam chu a pan a. A bul thingkungah chuan choak ni awm tak hi a hram a, kawngpuiah pawh motor tlan engmah a awm lo. A lo nghaktupa chu a hmel en ringawt pawhin a nelawm loh hle a, tlanchhiat san tawp chi kan tih ang hmel kha a pu. Mipa a ni lo, hmeichhia zawk a ni.
Chair hlui tawh takah a lo thu a, a hma zawn dawhkanah chuan a ke hlangin megazine a lo chhiar a. Kum 30 bawr vel, hmel rum lampang a ni a, a sam chu a phengin hnung lamah a bawk a, sweatshirt lian lam leh jeans thawl zet a ha a, boot uk a bun bawk.
“Eng nge i duh?” a rawn ti a, a ke pawh chu a hlang thla chuang lo.
Viv-i chuan a bag chu a dah a, a model hmel nuisang chu a han hmuh a. “Chibai le. Room ka duh a. Mahse dollar 20 chiah ka nei a. Engzat man nge ni le?” a han ti a.
Chu nu chuan “Dollar 30 an ni tlangpui” a ti a, a awmdan chu a sawn eih lo. “Amaherawh chu a neitunu ka nia, i neih zat chuan ka tihsak mai ang che” a ti a.
Viv-i chuan a dollar 20 ken lai chu dawhkanah chuan a dah a, chu nu chu a la che eih chuang lo. A megazine chhiar lai chu a dah lo a, pawisa pawh chu a la lo. Viv-i chu a rawn melh a. “Nangmahin i zin em ni bawihi?”
Viv-i chuan “Aw ni e” a ti a.
“Highway 6 ah sawn maw?” a ti leh a, Viv-i chu a bu nghat a.
“I nu chu ni ila ka vaw nasa ngawt ang che. Sawlai kawng ngat saw chu hmeichhia mahni chauha zin nan chuan a him lo asin”
“Nia, New York pan tum ka nia”
“Hei te chu Fell alawm, kawng ni lo lamah i kal a nih chu”
“Nia ka hria alawm” a ti a, chu nu chuan a room chahbi tur pe vat vat se a ti ngei mai. Inbual a chak a thil ei te pawh a chak. Mahse a pawisa ah chhun chu a pek a ngai dawn si a, engtin nge thil a ei ang? Dawhkan sir a lehkhabu lian chu a kawk a. “Tah hian ka hming ka ziak dawn em ni?” tih pahin a pan phei a. “Naktukah bank ka kal anga, dollar 10 chu ka pe leh ang che. Tunah chuan an inkhar vek tawh awm sia” a ti a.
Chu nu chu a nui huk a, a ke pawh a hlangthla ve ta. “Tihdan ka hria. Zan lam a duty thin pa hi a bang a, chuvangin zanin chu a ai awh la, i dollar 20 pawh hi ka pe let ang che” a ti a.
“A ai ka awh ang maw!!?”
“Thiam loh tur a awm lo. Tah hian i thu anga,phone a rik chuan i chhang anga, mi an lo kal chuan pawisa i la anga, chahbi i pe ang. Chahbi chu hetah hian a awm” tih pahin pawhdawh chu a pawt hawng a. “Lehkhabu ah hian an hming k ziah tir anga, chu zawng chu. I tih theih i ring em?”
“Midang ti tur an awm zawk lo em ni?”
“Ka michhawr pa a bang ka tih chu. A neitu ka nia, i theih loh chuan keiman ka ti mai ang”
Viv-i chu a thaw hak a. Hnathawh chu a lo tih tawh hnu anih avangin a hreh hran lo. Mahse zankhua a han men chu a nawm hmel vak loh. Mahse a thawh chuan a dollar 20 a safe dawn tihna ania, thil eina tur pawh a nei ang.
Office chhung chu a chul rup a,tukverh inhawng atang chuan meizial rim a rawn nam chum chum a,mikhual riak zingah mei zu an awm a ni ngei ang. Amah chauhin a awm dawn lo tih a hriat phaha, a thla a muang deuh. Kawngpui a car tlan thawm hriat tur a awm zeuh zeuh a, ni pawh a tla fel tawh a, khua a thim tan.
“A tha alawm. Ka lo duty ange” a ti a.
“A tha e” tih pahin chu nu chuan pawhdawh a chahbi pakhat chu dawhkanah a rawn theh chhuak a. “Room 104 saw i riahna tur. Va inbual la, va mu hahdam la, zan dar 11 ah min rawn hmu dawn nia. Tunge i hming?”
“Vivian Delaney. Viv tiin min ko”
“Aw le Viv. Janice ka ni a, hei hi Sunrise a ni. Va chawl hahdam rawh”
“Ka lawm e” Viv-i chuan a ti a, Janice-i erawh a hma ang thoin a ke chu dawhkanah a hlang a, a thil chhiar lai bawk chu a bih leh a.
Chahbi leh a dollar 20 chu a la a, a chhuahsan a. Pawnah meizial zu an awm ngei a nih ringin a han hawi kual a, tumah reng a hmu lo. Khua a thim tawh a, room tin mai chu a thim vek a, riak ve dang awmin a lang lo. Thingkung thli in a chhem rik sung sung chu thawm hriat tur awm chhun a ni. Chutih lai chuan a kil lama leithril rah rik thawm hi a hria a.
“Awm in awm em ni?” a han ti a, engmah chhanna a dawng lo. Thim thamah chuan a ding reng a, a thaw ri leh thli thaw ri bawk hriat tur a awm lo.
A room tur 104 chu a pan a, a inbual a, a inbual zawhah towel a intuam chungin a mu a, inchung ceiling chu a melh reng a. Hotel a i thlen chuan pawn a mi kal thawm te, mi inbe thawm te i hre thin a. Chulai hmun erawh a reh tlawk thlawk mai.
Hetiang hmunah te engtia Motel han din nge an nih le? Hetiang hmun rehah eng nge zan duty an awm a tulna? Office kawngkhar chu kalh se, hawsan mai se.
Chung thil a ngaihtuah lai chuan a hriatloh hlanin a lo muhil riai riai a.
END OF CHAPTER -1
Chapter -1
FELL, NEW YORK
NOVEMBER 1982
VIV POV
Vivian-i chuan zankhuain amahte chauhin a awm dawn tih a hria. Mahse hnathawh tur a mamawh miau a, a intihpachan angai. A thawhna motel chu khaw pawn a awm a ni a, zan lam duty chu a hna a ni. Thutpui tur leh titi pui tur tal nei ni se a zia deuh tur, mahni chauh a zan reh a han thut tlawk tlawk mai chu a hreh thin ve hle a, mahse mi nep tak anga awm chu a duh lo.
New York khawpui a veng pakhat, Fell hmuna awm Sunrise Motel kawt motor park na chu a thleng a, a car chabi chu a herh hlum a, a car chhung tihlumna leh radio erawh a la off tel lo. A kawrchung chu a darah a bat a. A hma zawna a thawhna motel chu a thlir a, building pahnih, chhawng nei lo, L shape anga awm hi a ni a, a thim rup lehnghal. A phur lo hle a, mahse a tih ngei angai. Zan dar 10:59pm a ni a, hnathawk turin a in peih tawh. Mahse a ruk tak chuan a zam a ni.
Tah vak mai te a chak rum rum a, a khuate chu a rawn sik ser ser ni hian a inhria a. A motor hma darthlalang chu ruah mal hraw pui pui hian a rawn vawm thawt thawt a, a hnung lam kawngpuiah chuan truck lian zet hi a tlan ruah ruah bawk a. Sana pawhin 11pm a kawk ta chiaha, radio pawhin zanlai chanchinthar an rawn puang ve chiah bawk . A kal vat loh chuan a tlai mai dawn. Mahse chu chu a pawina vak a hre lo. Sunrise motel chu lun tak a ni hran lo a, customer pawh an awm ngai lem lo. Chuvang chuan zan lam duty tur nula a rawn tlai hret tih mai mai chu tuin nge care vak ang?
A chhuah hmain a sam, a beng hnuai chen lek a sei chu an tuai thuak thuak a, a mit cheina te chu a that leh that leh an en nawn leh bawk a
Chutih lai tak chuan radio ah chuan Melborn road kawng sirah hmeichhe ruang chhar a nih thu an rawn puang a, chu chu tuna a awmna atanga mel 10 vela hla a ni. An puan chu a ngaithla chhunzawm zel a. Chu an hmeichhe ruang chhar chu a hming Tracy Waters a ni a, an hmuh hnuhnun berna chu an khaw thenawm a a thiante in atanga a chhuak lai a ni. Kum 18 mi a ni a, kawng sirah saruak vek a hmuh a ni. A ruang hi a nu leh pa ten a bo thu an report atanga ni hnih hnuah hmuh a ni.
A car a thu reng chung chuan kum 20 mi Vivian-i chuan chu thu chu a ngaithla a, a tirilah a khur der der a, ruah sur hnuaiah, ruak vek lehnghala a thih hun nghaka an awm tur chu a ngaihtuah a, a vawh dan turte a suangtuah a. Chutianga hmeichhe la naupang ruang chhar a han ni mai chu mak a ti a, fimkhur leh khur loh pawh ni lovin kan tawn tur a nih chuan tu pawh hian kan tawng thei vek a ni tih thleng tein a ngaihtuah a.
A thawhna motel lam chu a hawi leh a, an signboard tarah chuan Sunrise Motel tih chu light eng in a phe zek zek a, a hnuaiah chuan ‘Vacancy, Cable TV’ tih a eng zeuh zeuh bawk a.
Hreh tak chung chuan a motor chahbi a phawi a, pawn khawvawt takah chuan a chhuak a. Ruah chuan rei loteah a rawn nan huh nghal a, thli a thaw vuk vuk bawk. Hmanhmawh takin a tlan a, ‘Office’ tih intarna lam chu a pan a.
A chhungah chuan lo duty mek Johnny -a a lo awm a, a chhung atangin a lo hmu vek a ni tih hriat takin haw turin a lo insiam mawlh mawlh a. “I rawn tlai a ni maw?” tiin banga sana intar chu a melh zeuh a.
“Minute 5 chauhin alawm” ti a hnial let pahin a kawrchung hak lai chu a phelh mawlh mawlh a, a chhungrilah tak chuan in a haw a duh a ni.
Mahse khawnge in a neih? Fell khua chu a khua a ni lo a, a pianna hmun Illinois pawh a khua tiin a chhiar thei lo. In a chhuahsan dawn khan nasa takin a nu nen an inhau a, a chhan chu lemchanthiam nih tuma New York pan a tum vang a ni. Khami tum khan a chhungte chu mangtha hmakin a chhuahsan a,mahse New York lemchanthiam nih chu a tum ang ngawt a thil awl ai a lo ni lo.
“Room 27 naah sawn Pi Bailey-i a riak a” tiin an motel a an mikhual neih ang chhun chu Johnny -a chuan a hrilhfiah a. “Tunah sawn zu a in mekin ka hria. Mamawh a nei ngei dawn a, a rawn phone vat che ka ring” a ti a, Vivian-i chu a bu nghauh nghauh a.
Pi Bailey-i chu Sunrise Motel ah hian zu in tur ringawtin a rawn kal thin a, a chhan chu in lama a in chuan buaina an neih thin vang a ni. A ruih deuh tawh chhan front desk hi a rawn call deuh chhen thin a, duh belh eng eng emaw a neih thin avangin.
“Midang an la awm em?” tiin Vivian-i chuan a zawt a.
“Florida atangin nupa pakhat an rawn kal mek. Prank call vawihnih ngawt ka dawng a,an rawn thaw ri huam huam a. Tleirawl chimawm ho bak an ni lovang. Room number 103 saw a kawngkhar a tha lo a, kalh vek pawn thliin a chhem hawng thei a, chumi chungchang chu Janice-i hnenah note ka ziak tawh bawk a”
“An rawn ngaihsak tak tak lo” tiin Viv chuan a lo chhang a. “Karhmasa pawhin Janice-i chu i hrilh tawh kha” a ti a. Janice-i chu motel neihtu hi a ni a, Viv-i phei chuan thla khat chuang a hmel a hmu tawh lo. Thil pawimawh te a awm a nih loh chuan a rawn tlawh zen zen lo a, zanah ngat phei chuan a rawn kal ngai lo.
“Ka hrilh nawn leh tawh a, a rawn siam tir ve tawh em em ang” tih pahin Johnny chuan a rawn en a. “A mak ve ngawt mai tiraw?” a rawn ti a.
“Ni e, mak tak a ni” tiin Viv-i chuan a chhanglet a, mahse Johnny a mak tih dan leh a nin ‘mak’ tih a sawi dan ki chu a inang lo. A chhan chu chulai a thawk tumah chuan a hmuh thin ang leh a tawn thin ang chu an tawng ve tlat lo. Zanlaiah chiah a thlen thin vang a ni. Chhunlam leh tlailam duty thin ho tan chuan hriat ve ngaihna a awm lo.
“Tumah rawn kal an awm pawh ka ring lo. A reh viau zawk ang” Johnny chuan a ti a.
‘A reh ngai lo’ tih chu Vivian-i rilruah a rawn awm nghal a. “Nia, beisei ang” tih ringawtin a chhang a.
A chhuak lai leh a tlan liam lai chu Viv-i chuan a thlir reng a. Johnny chu kum 36 a ni a, a nu nen an chengdun a. Inah a haw anga, mut hmain TV an en hmasa te te emaw aniang a. Viv i’n a hlauhna a neih ruk thin ang te chu a nei ve ngai dawn si lo. Tracy Waters ruang chhar a ni tih ri te chu a bengah a ri nawn ve tluk tluk lovang.
Boruak a reh tlawk tlawk a, Highway kawngpui a truck lian rawn tlan thawm leh thli thaw in an bul vela thingkung a chhem rik thawm bak hriat tur a awm lo. Banga sana tar pawhin 11:13pm a kawk chiah a.
A kawrchung chu a kilah a khai a, tshirt navy blue, a hnute veilam zawna Sunrise Motel tih intarna chu a ha a. Dawhkan chu a hlui tawh hle a, pencil dahna bawm leh telephone a awm a, dawhkan lai takah mikual hming ziahna lehkhabu lian a awm bawk a.
Ama lehkhabu bik chu keuin eng emaw hi a ziak a.
‘Nov 29. Room 103 kawngkhar pawh thliin a chhem hawng leh ta. Prank calls kan dawng. Tuman an awm lo. Tracy Waters a thi’
Pawn lam atangin thawm a rawn awm a, a ring a fan a. Room 103 na kawngkhar thliin a chhem a vanga a invaw ri a ni. Viv-i chu a han chhing vang vang a, hlauhnain a rawn man a, mahse tih theih dang a awm tawh lo. A nih tur ang ang a ni tawh a, a duty na hmunah a awm tawh. A pen chu a pangaiin a hum leh a.
‘Ka thil hmuhte, ka thil ngaihtuah zawng zawng te hi a tak an ni em? A tak an ni ngeiin ka hre si a’
Mikhual ziahna bu a an mikhual hming chu a en a, a ziah lai a chawl det a, a hnung banga sana intar chu a inkhawng ri keuh keuh a, a ziah chhunzawm leh a.
‘zaninah thlarau ho chu an rawn tho leh dawn. An chawl hahdam thei lo. Mahse heng thil hi a tawp vat tawh ka beisei’. A ziah lai chuan a kut a rawn khur a, a inthunun hram hram a. ‘Tracy, pawi ka ti lutuk. Ka tih tur ka hlen loh avangin’
A ziah lai chuan a ngik feih a, thawm dang erawh a chhuah lo. A pen a dah a, a mit a nuai a, a kutah chuan a eyeshadow inhnawih lavender rawng chu a kai a. November ni 29, 1982…11:24pm a ni.
Sana chu a inher zel a, zing lam dar 3 a ni. Chulai hmunah chuan Vivian-i hmel reng reng hmuh tur a awm tawh lo.
Hei hi a intanna tur chauh a ni.
*** *** ***
FELL, NEW YORK
NOVEMBER 2017
CARLY POV
Ka awmna hmun chu ka ngaihnatzawng a ni lo. Ka mutna khum te, tukverh atanga street light rawn inkap lut ruah te, a room awmdan te chu. Ka hming chu Carly a ni a, kum 20 mi ka ni. New York hmun a Fell khuaah ka awm mek a, a nihna takah chuan helai a awm tur hi ka ni lo.
Ka khum bula ka phone chu ka han la a, zing lam dar 4 chiah ala ni. Muthilh erawh ka tum tawh lo, ka tarmit ka vuah a, ka tho a. Niminah Illinois atangin ka rawn kal vang vanga, tlan chhung a rei bawka, hotel ka thlen rual rualin ka muhil nghal ang vel a ni.
Ka email kan check thuak thuak a, ka lawyer hnen atangin mail ka dawng a. ‘I rokhawm tur chu i account ah deposit a ni tawh e. A hnuaiah hian receipt pawh ka lo thawn tel e’ tih hi a ni a, mahse engzat nge rawn lut tih chu ka check kher peih lo.
Ka nu pawisa tlem a zawng chu ka khawm dawn tih ka hresa a, a zavai pawhin a tam lo a, chu chu ka unaupa Graham nen kan la insem leh a. Tam lo mahse rei vaklo chhung ka ei in man leh ka riahna man chu a daih ang. Cancer vangin i nu i chan a, chu pawh kum 51 mi chauh a la ni. Chutiang dinhmunah a ro engzat nge ka khawm tih mai mai a lo buai chu thil atthlak tak a ni.
Graham -a message a lo awm bawk a. ‘I thil tih hi i ngaihtuah chiang em Carly? College i chawlh san dawn maw? Ti khan i inchawm zo in i ring tak tak maw? I college fees zawng zawng te kha a lothlawn in a ral mai mai dawn ania. Eng pawh ti la, good luck. Inthah te kha i lo tum ange’
Ka reply nghal a. ‘Lo phi chung zel suh. Reilote chhung bak ka kal bo dawn lo. Ka zin khawthawng mai mai alawm. Min ngaihtuah a ka lawm e’
Ni rei cham ka tum lo. Ka nu a thih atang khan college kal phurna reng reng ka nei tawh lo a, nun hi a ho ka ti vek tawh. Chubakah zawhna chhanna hriat chak em em mai ka nei a, tun hi chu mi zawnna hun tur tha tak niin ka hria.
Ka labtop ka hawng a, file pakhat chu ka han hawng a, chutah chuan kum 1982 a mi tawh chanchinbu thlalak pakhat a awm a, a headline ah chuah POLICE IN HMEICHHE PAKHAT BO AN ZAWNG MEK tih a inziak a. A sirah chuan chu hmeichhe thlalak chu a chuang bawk a. A hmeltha hle a, a sam a puk laih a, camera lam rawn melhin a nui sang a, a mitmeng a mawi hle. A hnuaiah ti hian a inziak a.
‘Vivian Delaney, kum 20 mi chu November ni 29 atang khan hmuh ala ni lo. A hmu leh a chin hria kan awm chuan police hnenah hrilh thuai turin kan in ngen e’
Hei hi. Hei ngei hi a ni a chhanna ka hriat duh chu.
Ka nu khan a sawi chhuak ngai meuh lo a, a sawi tha duh lo ni berin ka hria. A chhan chu kan chhungkuaah tualthi, tu tih nge tih hriat loh an awm tawh vang a ni. Thlalak chu ngun takin ka en a, Vivian Delaney chu ka nu laizawn a ni a, kum 1982 khan a hnathawhna Sunrise Motel a zan lama a duty chu a khuangcher bo hmiah mai a, a ruang takngial pawh hmuh a ni lo.
Chu chuan kan chhungkuaah hmun ruak zau tak a siam a, ka pa khan a sawi thin a, i nu phei chu zawt reng reng suh, a mood a chhe vek zel a ti thin. Ka nutei bo atangin kum 35 a liam tawh a, tunah chuan ka pi leh ka pu te, ka nu ngei pawn min awm loh san tawh. Ka nutei thlalak emaw a hriatrengna tur emaw tar kan nei ngai lo a, ka nu thih hma kum khatah khan ka nutei chanchin chu internet atangin ka hmu hlawl a, a thlalak pawh ka vawikhat hmuhna a ni. Kum tam a ral tawh tho tiin ka print a, inhnuai lamah ka tlan thla a. “Hei ka hmu ania” ka ti a.
Ka nu chu sitting room ah thuin TV a lo en a, ka lehkha ken chu la in a chhiar a, a thlalak phei chu a bih vang vang a. Chuta a rawn hawi chhuak leh chu a hmel a dang vek. Chutiang hmel a put chu ka la hmu ngai lo. Rilru natna nge hlauhna hmel pawh ka hrethiam lo. A hmel chu a tar nghal bawihin ka hria. Chutih lai chuan a cancer tih kan la hre lo a, a hnu kumkhat naah min thih san a, a inhre sa reng anga min hrilh duh loh a nih ka ring. A rawn tawng a, a aw chu a tham chel a. “Vivian-i chu a thi tawh” a ti a, lehkha chu dahin a tho a, a kal sawn nghal a. Khata tang khan ka zawt leh tawh ngai lo.
Ka rilru hi a dam chiah lo. Khatih hunlai khan ka nu chu tleirawl mai ala ni a, tih theih em em a nei lo ang. Mahse ka chhungte dang ho hian engmah an ti lo em ni? Enga tinge police te an chhui tir loh? Zawn luai luai awm a ni a, khawilaiah emaw a ruang hlawmtu pawh nei lo a tawih ral mai mai chu engtin nge an phal theih?
Graham-a hi kei ai a upa zawk a, thil a hriat zawk ka rin avangin ka zawt a. “Nute Viv-i a thih hnu lawk khan ka pu in ka pi a chhuahsan a, ka pi kha a hmeithai ta a ni” a ti a.
“A nih chuan a fanu chu a zawng eih lo em ni? Ka pu pawhin?” ka ti a.
“Ka pi khan pawisa a nei lo alawm. Ka nuin a sawi dan chuan nute Viv-i leh ka pi kha an inhau reng thin a, tha taka inbiak kha an nei meuh lo.
Graham-a chu ka en reng a. “Ka nu in a hrilh che amaw? Tinge engmah min hrilh ve duh loh?”
Ka unaupa chu a thaw hak a, a phone a khawih a. “Internet ala awm lo a, DNA test na pawh ala awm lo. Han zawn ngaihna vak kha a awm lo alawm. Fell khua a va kal tur khan ka pi khan a hna a chawlhsan thei si lo a, ka pu lahin nupui dang alo nei tawh bawk nen. Ka pu kha chuan an inthen hnu khan tumah hi a rawn ngaihsak tawh lo”
Chu chu a dik. Ka nu leh ka pu kha an inpawh lo hle a, an awm awm a awm tura chhuahsan tawp tu a nih avangin a vuinaah pawh a kal lo. “A nih engatinge police pawn an zawn loh?” ka la ti leh a.
Graham-a chuan a phone a dah a, nin hmel zet hian “Nute Viv-i khan in a chhuansan a, kum 20 a ni tawh bawk a. Khawiah emaw a tlanbo daih a nih te pawh an ring aniang. Hriat i va chak awm ve a? min ti a.
“Chak e. A ruang pawh an hmu lo ania. 1982 a ni tawh lo a, internet leh DNA testna pawh a awm tawh a, eng emaw chu a tih theih ka ring” ka ti a.
“Nangmahin maw?”
Aw keimah pawhin ka zawng mai ang. A hre ber tur ka nu a awm tawh lo a, tumah zawh tur dang an awm tawh lo. An ngaihsak lo lutuk chu ka thin a rim a, rukbo a ni nge a thi tih pawh tuman hriat an tum lo. Fell khuaah chuan ka va kal anga, ka zawhna chhanna chu keimahin ka va zawng khawp ang.
Ka laptop ah chuan thlalak dang chu ka han click leh a. Headline ah chuan HMEICHHE BO HMUH ALA NI LO tih a inziak a, hetiang hian a hnuaiah a inziak a.
‘Viv-i chu kum 20 a upa a ni a, Fell khuaah hian thla 3 chiah ala awm. Sunrise Motel ah zan lamah hna a thawk thin. Hnathawk turin a kal a, hemi zan atang hian a chin hriat a ni lo. A car, a purse leh a thil te chu a nih ang anga hmuh a ni. A roommate Jenny chhan Viv-i chu mifel tak, hmeltha tak leh kawm nuam tak a nih thu a sawi. Bialpa a neih hriat a ni lo a, inzuar pawh a ni lo. Damdawi leh zu lam tih a nei lo’.
Chu chanchinbu hlui chu ka nu thih hnuah a drawer a ka hmuh a ni a, a hnungah chuan ‘27 Greville Street, Apartment C’ tih a ziak a, chu chu Viv-i chenna thin a nih ngei ka ring. A bo thu chuan a huap zau lo hle a, Fell khua local newspaper bakah chhuah a ni lo.
Sunrise Motel chu internet an ka zawnga, an la kalpui ve reng a ni awm e. Chulai hmunah chuan va kal ila, Viv-i chanchin hria tu emaw tal an lo awm mahna.
Tunah Fell khuaah chuan ka awm ta ngei a, ka mut a chhuak tawh lo a, khawvar hun nghah tawp mai loh chu tih theih ka nei rih lo.
*** *** ***
FELL, NEW YORK
AUGUST 1982
VIV
An khua Illinois ah kha chuan Viv-i chu fanu buaina riallian-i te pawh a tih theih ang chu. A nu leh a pa an inthen atang phei kha chuan a che fuh hleithei meuh lo. A laizawnnu kha chu a bu ang thlap a che, sawisel tur awm lo a ni a, ani ve thung erawh a letling hlauh. Sikul a tlanbo a, zan rei tak tak thleng a leng a, a nu a bum fo bawk a, exam naah lah entawn a hrat. Chung thil te chu a tih duh vang pawh a ni bik lo. Mahse tinge a tih si? A chang phei chuan tu emaw taksa chhunga lut ang mai te in a inhre rum rum thin.
Chung a awmdan te chuan a nu a ti thinrim thei hle a, zan khat phei chu dar 2 pelhah a haw chauh a, chumi zan chuan a nu in a beng thelh a ni. ‘Tawhsual te tawk la engtin nge i tih anga?’ tiin a nu chuan a hau tawn tawna.
Tunah chuan an in atanga hla takah a awm tawh. August thla tlai lam van boruak chu a sen phut a, tlai ni tla tur pawh a mawi hle. Kawr ban nei lo, a dar pah a ha a, jeans pawl a ha a, kawnghren var, a kilhna silver rawng a hreng bawk a, tennis shoe a bun a, a dar pakhatah a bag a ak bawk.
A hma zawna motel sign intar lam chu a hawi a. SUNRISE tih chu a eng leh a pawlin a inziak a, a hnuaiah chuan VACANCY CABLE TV tih a inziak bawk a. Signboard hnungah chuan motel chu L shape ang hian a awm a, chei hnum tak a ni hran lo. Highway bula awm a nih avangin zin mi te leh a bik takin truck driver ho in riah nan an hmang tlangpui thin. Car pakhat chiah a in park a, pindan hmasa berah chuan OFFICE tih a intar a.
Office lam chu a pan a. A bul thingkungah chuan choak ni awm tak hi a hram a, kawngpuiah pawh motor tlan engmah a awm lo. A lo nghaktupa chu a hmel en ringawt pawhin a nelawm loh hle a, tlanchhiat san tawp chi kan tih ang hmel kha a pu. Mipa a ni lo, hmeichhia zawk a ni.
Chair hlui tawh takah a lo thu a, a hma zawn dawhkanah chuan a ke hlangin megazine a lo chhiar a. Kum 30 bawr vel, hmel rum lampang a ni a, a sam chu a phengin hnung lamah a bawk a, sweatshirt lian lam leh jeans thawl zet a ha a, boot uk a bun bawk.
“Eng nge i duh?” a rawn ti a, a ke pawh chu a hlang thla chuang lo.
Viv-i chuan a bag chu a dah a, a model hmel nuisang chu a han hmuh a. “Chibai le. Room ka duh a. Mahse dollar 20 chiah ka nei a. Engzat man nge ni le?” a han ti a.
Chu nu chuan “Dollar 30 an ni tlangpui” a ti a, a awmdan chu a sawn eih lo. “Amaherawh chu a neitunu ka nia, i neih zat chuan ka tihsak mai ang che” a ti a.
Viv-i chuan a dollar 20 ken lai chu dawhkanah chuan a dah a, chu nu chu a la che eih chuang lo. A megazine chhiar lai chu a dah lo a, pawisa pawh chu a la lo. Viv-i chu a rawn melh a. “Nangmahin i zin em ni bawihi?”
Viv-i chuan “Aw ni e” a ti a.
“Highway 6 ah sawn maw?” a ti leh a, Viv-i chu a bu nghat a.
“I nu chu ni ila ka vaw nasa ngawt ang che. Sawlai kawng ngat saw chu hmeichhia mahni chauha zin nan chuan a him lo asin”
“Nia, New York pan tum ka nia”
“Hei te chu Fell alawm, kawng ni lo lamah i kal a nih chu”
“Nia ka hria alawm” a ti a, chu nu chuan a room chahbi tur pe vat vat se a ti ngei mai. Inbual a chak a thil ei te pawh a chak. Mahse a pawisa ah chhun chu a pek a ngai dawn si a, engtin nge thil a ei ang? Dawhkan sir a lehkhabu lian chu a kawk a. “Tah hian ka hming ka ziak dawn em ni?” tih pahin a pan phei a. “Naktukah bank ka kal anga, dollar 10 chu ka pe leh ang che. Tunah chuan an inkhar vek tawh awm sia” a ti a.
Chu nu chu a nui huk a, a ke pawh a hlangthla ve ta. “Tihdan ka hria. Zan lam a duty thin pa hi a bang a, chuvangin zanin chu a ai awh la, i dollar 20 pawh hi ka pe let ang che” a ti a.
“A ai ka awh ang maw!!?”
“Thiam loh tur a awm lo. Tah hian i thu anga,phone a rik chuan i chhang anga, mi an lo kal chuan pawisa i la anga, chahbi i pe ang. Chahbi chu hetah hian a awm” tih pahin pawhdawh chu a pawt hawng a. “Lehkhabu ah hian an hming k ziah tir anga, chu zawng chu. I tih theih i ring em?”
“Midang ti tur an awm zawk lo em ni?”
“Ka michhawr pa a bang ka tih chu. A neitu ka nia, i theih loh chuan keiman ka ti mai ang”
Viv-i chu a thaw hak a. Hnathawh chu a lo tih tawh hnu anih avangin a hreh hran lo. Mahse zankhua a han men chu a nawm hmel vak loh. Mahse a thawh chuan a dollar 20 a safe dawn tihna ania, thil eina tur pawh a nei ang.
Office chhung chu a chul rup a,tukverh inhawng atang chuan meizial rim a rawn nam chum chum a,mikhual riak zingah mei zu an awm a ni ngei ang. Amah chauhin a awm dawn lo tih a hriat phaha, a thla a muang deuh. Kawngpui a car tlan thawm hriat tur a awm zeuh zeuh a, ni pawh a tla fel tawh a, khua a thim tan.
“A tha alawm. Ka lo duty ange” a ti a.
“A tha e” tih pahin chu nu chuan pawhdawh a chahbi pakhat chu dawhkanah a rawn theh chhuak a. “Room 104 saw i riahna tur. Va inbual la, va mu hahdam la, zan dar 11 ah min rawn hmu dawn nia. Tunge i hming?”
“Vivian Delaney. Viv tiin min ko”
“Aw le Viv. Janice ka ni a, hei hi Sunrise a ni. Va chawl hahdam rawh”
“Ka lawm e” Viv-i chuan a ti a, Janice-i erawh a hma ang thoin a ke chu dawhkanah a hlang a, a thil chhiar lai bawk chu a bih leh a.
Chahbi leh a dollar 20 chu a la a, a chhuahsan a. Pawnah meizial zu an awm ngei a nih ringin a han hawi kual a, tumah reng a hmu lo. Khua a thim tawh a, room tin mai chu a thim vek a, riak ve dang awmin a lang lo. Thingkung thli in a chhem rik sung sung chu thawm hriat tur awm chhun a ni. Chutih lai chuan a kil lama leithril rah rik thawm hi a hria a.
“Awm in awm em ni?” a han ti a, engmah chhanna a dawng lo. Thim thamah chuan a ding reng a, a thaw ri leh thli thaw ri bawk hriat tur a awm lo.
A room tur 104 chu a pan a, a inbual a, a inbual zawhah towel a intuam chungin a mu a, inchung ceiling chu a melh reng a. Hotel a i thlen chuan pawn a mi kal thawm te, mi inbe thawm te i hre thin a. Chulai hmun erawh a reh tlawk thlawk mai.
Hetiang hmunah te engtia Motel han din nge an nih le? Hetiang hmun rehah eng nge zan duty an awm a tulna? Office kawngkhar chu kalh se, hawsan mai se.
Chung thil a ngaihtuah lai chuan a hriatloh hlanin a lo muhil riai riai a.
END OF CHAPTER -1