In “The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa,” Viv is Loretta’s former colleague at the center. It’s Viv who calls Loretta to tell her that Chaminda died. The story also hints that Viv played an indirect (and unintentional) role in Chaminda’s implied suicide: a note that Loretta left on Viv’s computer got misplaced and forgotten, delaying Chaminda’s release from the detention center indefinitely, which then motivated him to poison himself.
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Viv Character Timeline in Foreign Soil
The timeline below shows where the character Viv appears in Foreign Soil. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa
...marriage. After Sam finishes, Loretta reaffirms that she has to go to the center, since Viv can’t go today. Sam protests, but Loretta gets out of bed to get ready anyway....
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...doesn’t seem to register her question. She can’t believe how young he is. Ever since Viv called her to tell her about Chaminda, Loretta has tried to forget the horror of...
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...center, Chaminda’s case was almost closed. She left a note detailing his release memoranda on Viv’s computer, but it got lost. In retrospect, Loretta should have known; stuff like that happens...
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