A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain

A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain Summary | Detailed Summary

As the story begins, we meet the narrator, a Vietnamese man named Dao. He tells us almost immediately that he is very old and before long, we learn that he now lives in New Orleans. Dao then tells us that Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese communist nationalist, had "come to him" the previous night, presumably in a dream. When Ho appears before Dao, his hands are covered in sugar and he tells Dao that he is having trouble remembering how to make a special glaze.

Dao and Ho Chi Minh had originally met many years earlier when both men worked at a hotel in London: Dao as a dishwasher and Ho Chi Minh as a pastry cook. The two men quickly became friends. Now, as Ho appears before Dao, he is trying to remember how to make a special glaze. He slowly begins to recall portions of the recipe, but is having trouble remembering the entire process.

As a man nearly one hundred years of age, Dao has decided that it is time to summon family and friends for one last visit before is death. As Dao sits in a chair in his living room waiting for his visitors, he notices with regret that many of his closest family members have become so Americanized that they seem to have lost touch with their Vietnamese roots.

In the room with Dao are his son-in-law Thang and Thang's son Loi, both of whom had served in the Vietnamese army. Also present is Dao's daughter, Lam, as well as his oldest daughter who is not named. When Thang believes Dao has fallen asleep, he begins to discuss the recent murder of a Vietnamese immigrant that occurred in New Orleans the previous week. The man, a newspaper publisher, was murdered for expressing his belief that it was time for the Vietnamese community to accept the communist government in place within Vietnam.

As Dao explains the circumstances that led to the newspaper publisher's death, he describes how the man died: while sitting in his Chevrolet pickup truck. Dao believes that the fact that this man owned a Chevrolet pickup truck proves that he too had become Americanized before his death.

Dao listens as his son-in-law tells his son that no murder weapon has been found, and he senses that the two men are using some sort of code to convey their true thoughts. Dao feigns sleep so that he does not have to participate in the conversation. He points out that he is a Buddhist and as such, he has an obligation to preserve peace within his family.

Dao then goes back to his visit with Ho Chi Minh. He recalls that Ho had asked him at that time if he was still following the teachings of Buddha. Dao's decision to embrace Buddha many years ago when the two men were living in Paris had hugely disappointed Ho. Dao describes that period as one in which he returned to the religion of his father and in a sense, returning to the past while his friend was embracing his future. Dao recalls Ho spending weeks in Versailles attempting to meet with Woodrow Wilson who was in France participating in the peace talks that would eventually end World War I. Among the items Ho wanted to request, was Vietnamese representation in the French parliament. The meeting never took place.

Dao motioned to the prayer table in his room, indicating to his friend that he still followed the teachings of Buddha. Four Chinese characters are on the table, symbols of the Hoa Hao Buddhists, a group who believed in simplicity in all things. The four characters on the table mean "A good scent from a strange mountain."

When Ho finally leaves Dao, Dao summons his daughter to see if the doorknob that Ho touched on his way out is sticky from the sugar that had covered his hands. She tells him it is sticky and asks if he would like her to clean it. Dao asks her to clean it in the morning.

As Dao drifts off to sleep, he recalls his now dead wife and many other relatives that have also died. He is overwhelmed with a sweet scent, a scent he describes as being as if a mountain of emerald had found its own scent. He attempts to explain to his daughter that the doorknob is sticky from Ho's sugar covered hand, but he is too tired to talk any longer.

The next night, anticipating that Ho will return, Dao leaves his bedroom light on. Dao falls asleep and Ho who is sitting in a chair next to Dao's bed awakens him. Ho holds his hands, still covered with sugar, up for Dao to see. They discuss the glaze for a few moments before Dao asks Ho if he has seen his wife. Ho responds that he never knew Ho's wife.

Dao then asks Ho if he is disappointed in Dao for not joining his cause. Ho assures him that he is not before telling Dao that he is not at peace. Dao tells Ho that the knowledge that he freed his country from the French should bring him peace, but Ho dismisses this thought, saying there are no countries in the afterlife.

The next morning, Dao's son-in-law and grandson continue to discuss the murdered newspaper publisher. As they speak, it becomes clear to Dao that the two were either present at, or involved in, the publisher's murder. This realization turns Dao's thoughts to his infant son who died shortly after birth and he wonders how his son will look when they meet in the afterlife. Believing he has fully lived his life, Dao wishes for death.

That night, ho visits again and this time, Dao asks that they pace the room, just as they did when they were young men living in Paris. Ho agrees, thinking it will help him remember how to make the glaze.

As they walk the room, Dao tells Ho that he believes his son-in-law and grandson are involved in a political killing. As he waits for Ho's reply, he is reminded of a time when, as he is holding his infant grandson, he becomes sickened by the smell of milk on the baby's breath. Dao asks Ho if there are politics in the afterlife. Ho does not answer, but instead moves toward Dao. As he moves closer, the smell of the sugar on Ho's hands becomes increasingly stronger and he senses that although he cannot see his friend, he is moving through his body. He then hears the door open and close- a sign that Ho has left the room.

Dao returns to his bed knowing that he will never tell his grandson what he knows. He also looks forward to being with Ho in the afterlife and hopes they can help each other. Finally, he remembers the recipe for the glaze.