ace,takingmyinherhands,tokissmeonthelips,andIamaboyagaiIembermyname.

    Aniday.Awildchildlikemyself,agirlnamedSpeck,leaokissmyforehead,andherlipsyhotskin.Behiheoakleavesturnintoathousandcrowsthattakeoffinunison,flyingawayiwisting,singingtornadoofwings.Sileurnsafterthedrummingflockescapestothehorizonandmbreaksthrough.Igivechasetothebirds,runningsofastandsohardthatmyskinsplitsaseamonbothsidesandmyheartdrumsagainstmyribsuntilhaltedbythedeathlyappearanceofaroilingblackriver.tratingwithmyentiremind,Iseetotheotherside,andthereonthebank,holdinghandsaroundaholeintheground,aremyfatherandmother,thewomanintheredytwosisters,andtheboywhoisheystandlikestones,liketrees,staringintotheclearing.IfIsummoncetojumpintothewater,Imayreachthem.Blackwateroncecarriedmeaway,soIstandonthebank,callingoutinavoicethatotbeheard,withwordsnoonederstand.

    IdontknowhowlongIwasdeliriouswithfever.ht,adayortwo,aweek,ayear?er?WhenIawakenedunderadampsteelysky,Ifeltsnugandsafe,althoughmyarmsahrobbedwithstiffnessandmyinsidesfeltscrapedrawandhollow.Attendingme,RagnoandZanzaraplayedcards,usingmybellyasatable.Theirgamedefiedlogic,fortheyhadnotmaoswipeafulldeck.Mixingremnantsfrommanydifferentpacks,theyendedupwithnearlyahundredcards.Eachofthemheldafistful,andtheremaiinajumbleonmystomach.

    "Doyouhaveanyque?&qunoasked.

    Zanzarascratchedhishead.

    Holdingupfivefingers,Ragnoshoutedathim,"que,que."

    "Gofish."

    Andfishhewould,turningovercardaftercarduntilhefoundamat