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Encounter
Surrounded by Panama jungle darkness, Vicente settles at a roadside table and urges a just-met teammate to follow his lead in a game of dominoes.
Rain beats on a metal roof. Vicente's hands shuffle quickly across the flower-print plastic tablecloth. Trucks grind up Route 4 toward the Continental Divide.
Vicente says, "I used to own a cantina."
He cackles and calculates which tiles two opponents are holding. A grandson spins nearby. Vicente plays his dominoes so that his novice teammate can go out first to win.
Vicente reaches for a high five.
"Compañero!"
He tells his opponents about the strategy:
"I committed suicide. For him."
TOM HAINES
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
