The Land Of Pretas เปรตดงตาล

.ELEA#-N-D-EOt&F-THEBPER: .E?ETA. -S-H
Written by Si-Ong
THAI-ENGLISH VERSION

i' NO!

Volume 55

Written and painted by Si-Ong

In Petchaburi, palm sugar is a popular product of the province. That is why
the villagers here tend to make sugar palm sap. In making palm slugar, the
makers often scrape off the buds to remove their juice in the early
morning and late evening.

Hey! Phol, how much
have you got?

Te w !

:

Tew and Phol were locals *A rai is a unit of area equal to 1,600 square meters.
here. They have been
friends since they were As they both owned 10 *rai
young and single. of land for cutting buds of
sugar palm trees, they
needed to hire villagers.

Tew! good to
see you here.

Sugar palm plantations have been Hey! Tew
in the family for generations. This evening, I’m going to buy the drinks
Nowadays, traveling in the village for Uncle On, my future father-in-law.
is more convenient as there are You have to go with me!
more roads.

SCREEECH!!

Moo The Land Of Pretas

Has

then you can see my girl, Are you sure you will end up
Nong Oi. with her?

Well, well, well, Phol. Alas!
You don’t seem to keep The old man is rich and
away from her. his daughter is pretty.
You are such a good man.
You have just seen her recently. If I don’t ask her out
now, I will miss her so
Is she into you?
damn much.
Trust me.
Hmm, to whom is Uncle Tin
talking?

The Land Of Pretas Hog

Muammar

Uncle Tin is Tew’s The three were once mechanics students.
father. Hey Tew,
Howdy! Tew, Phol, my old friends!
someone’s here
to see you! Hey Na,
what
brings you
here?

By The three buddies set up a round of
drinks and share some good old
Mana was a friend from Bangkok. me mo r ie s .
What are you all up to?
Ha ha

We are
scraping

palm
sugar.
Let’s get
inside.

You doing good?

Mme. The Land Of Pretas

MMM

I’ve just quit the job. Hey, forget about that.
Still I can’t find a new Just enjoy the stay first and return
one.
to Bangkok.

So, I came here to catch Is it true?
up with you all. And what about us?
Couldn’t wait for a big
No one would mind that! I’ll take you to my
future father-in-law’s house this afternoon. party hahaha.

Hooray! Phol is about
to get married!

The Land Of Pretas Mma

Matt

That afternoon, at Phol!
Uncle On’s house.
Ah!
Good afternoon. Le t ’s
get
inside
firs t !

Honey, go get them Ooh! How beautiful
s ome t hi ng . she is!

Dad, this is Mana, my old friend Here are only fried grasshoppers,
from Bangkok.
the villagers around
here usually eat
them. And you?
Umm...I mean rice
whiskey, young boy.

Ye s,s u re .

o.o The Land Of Pretas

☒

After they drank for a while, It was late at night and
Phol’s future father-in-law began all the guests had left.
to drunk, Phol separated from
others and talked with Oi.

Byaobuys,oI mbaisds!

You are such a Uncle On, we are
sweet talker. hitting the road
Good night!
When dawn arrived, the men
went out harvesting the sugar Hey, just help them carry the
as usual. bamboo tube. No worries, later

Look at I will take you to be
you, Na flirtatious around the village.
You don’t even
know how too Ladies around here are
climb a tree, damn hot!
so you can’t
be a jerk around.

The Land Of Pretas 1¥

IF

Na has just been hefrreiennodtlfyotrhsaotloenvger, ybuont ehienisthsoe Everyone in the
village trusts him. village knew him.

Hi Na. Are you simmering
palm sugar?

Could I give you a
hand?

Sugar is mostly made from As usual, the noise of all-nighter was incessant
sugar palm, coconut, sugarcane, throughout the night from Phol's house.
and some from nipa palm.
Come on, let’s drink! We’re partying
all night ‘til the sun rises.

if

-

it

i

v.

☒ The Land Of Pretas

§

The three men, Uncle Tin and his friends were The reason for the big
having fun as some of them were hitting the drum, party was that Uncle
singing a song joyfully and the rest were passed On gave permission to
o u t. his daughter to
marry Phol.
Uncle Tin, let’s drink.

I wish you and
her will breed
like rabbits!

No,
thanks.

Enjoy your meal. Easy now Tew!
Tomorrow is one day off.
It’s the snatching ghouls day. Yep! Snatching ghouls
is the day when petras
What did you come out for food.
say Phol?
snatching
ghouls?

The Land Of Pretas 1$

D8

Right! Na, It's Have you Hey! Someone would have seen it.
the local seen one of I've heard its groaning sound.
tradition here. the ghouls
Nobody ever cut before?
sugar palm.

I mean for Forgod’s
tomorrow at sake, Phol!
dawn. Suddenly, he bum-rushed out of the drinking party.
Where the hell are they? I’ll go
Hahaha, I want to look for them.
screw with those
ghouls and goblins Jeez! Na. You must
once. be out of your mind.
Let’s see if their
mouth is the size
of a needle.

Hold your
horse there!

FIG The Land Of Pretas

8MW

Na didn’t listen to anyone. He Na came out in the middle of the field
immediately left the house. with his liquor. He shouted madly
with his drunkenness.
Back off! Tew
Where are you asshole?
Let him Come on out! Ha ha!
go!

He will be back sober soon.

Suddenly, the howl of And then, a voice which had never been heard before
the dogs approached. resounded around him.

YOU DAMN Eeeek
FREAKS!
Your mouth is as f.eek
poor as a .
needle, come ..
out! fucking ,
cowards.

f

Woof

The Land Of Pretas ☒

2202h

He threw a bottle of liquor to the Too bad, as soon as the bottle hit the trunk.
sugar palm trees in front of him. That strange internode moved back and forth.

SNOOTY What the
, hell?

Shit! E-eek! * * !
It’s empty.
Oh my goodness! it’s not the Na couldn’t believe
Na looked up at sugar palm trees, but the his eyes.
the mysterious legs of one giant monster.
sugar palm
t re e s .

Geek k
..

2BGBP The Land Of Pretas

way

The enormous face of the The sound was so loud that Tew and his friends
petra appeared with anger. could hear it from far away.

That's Na! I knew it!

BBB

Na's voice shrilled When they arrived, Uncle Tin seemed to be
with fear. more calm than others.

Hurry! Uncle
Tin.

Dad! Woahh!

AIB!

If we do
nothing, he
will surely
die!”

The Land Of Pretas Goes

23-36

Uncle Tin decided to pull Na away
from all ghouls.

No!

Run!

The ghouls kept Uncle Tin and the
others quickly ran
groaning angrily. into the house.
Some were even
towering more than Hey! get
sugar palm trees. on the
stairs!

Shut the door
and all the
windows!

Eeeek ! Woah, it’s
getting closer!
tab The Land Of Pretas

BOY

Chinabanchorn; recitation for blessing of protection, the invitation for the Buddha, arahants, suttas,
and parittas (verses about protection to ward off misfortunes and dangers)

The pretas smacked the roof Uncle Tin took a bowl of
loudly, frightening all inside. holy water and recited
*Chinabanchorn.

¥08 Booing

cool 008
These drunkards
could have been
totally three
sheets to the
wind!

Eeeek k K. . After reciting, Uncle Tin opened
. .. the windows and splashed the
water over the roof.

Go

Away !

⑤5*pÑ•⑤§•

The Land Of Pretas 256959

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353m90

The pretas groaned for a Next morning!
moment, then their
sounds disappeared. What the heck!
How can he go out to the field like

that? Those pretas were out for
food. He might have done

something unpleasant, making the
pretas get mad like hell.

Eeeek!

Na remained Late in the next day, Na Both waited until
silent. decided to return to Bangkok Na was out of
since he started to feel their sight.
discomposed.
-
I think you better stay here for a on -
few days, then you can go back as Vroom; .
you wish.

I agree.

No, my friend. END
$0M The Land Of Pretas

☒

Written by
Si-Ong

Painted by
Si-Ong

Translated by
Aftina Yeemareb
Darinee Chire
Napatsorn Huayhin
Asmawee Usengmae
Abideen Abdulrahmankul
Saehera Binabdulla

Supervisor
Ajarn Fatimah Jeharsae

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