attersoutsideourknowing.Iwasanxious,however,tohavethemgoaway,sothatImightpracticemywriting.Butthegirlsliilthefirecollapsedintoembers;thentheyleduhecether,wheretheytiheirdiscussion,pthefateofthewriters,theirsub-jects,andtheirintendedreaders.Iwouldhavetowaittousethepages.Thenightbecamebitterlycold,andsoonalltwelveofuswerehuddledtogetherinatangleoflimbs.Wheofuswiggleduhemat,Isuddenlyrememberedtheday."MerryChristmas!"Isaid,butmygreetingsbroughtonlyderision:"Shuddup!"and"Gotosleep."Duringthelonghoursbeforedawn,afoothitmeonthe,anelbowknackedmeinthegroin,andakneebangedagainstmysoreribs.Inadarkerofthepack,agirlgroanedwhenBékaclimbeduponher.Enduringtheirfitfulness,Iwaitedf,theletterspinnedagainstmychest.

    Therisingsunreflectedagainstablaofhighcirrusclouds,cthemirumthatbeganinbrightnessoernedgeandfainsoftpastels.Brahetreesbroketheskyintments,likeakaleidoscope.Whentheredsuhepatternshiftedhuesuntilitalldis-sipatedintoblueandwhite.Upandoutofbed,Isavoredthelightgrowingstrongenoughfordrawingandwriting.Itookoutmypapersandpencil,putacoldflatstoneinmylap,andfoldedthemestatementintoquarters.Idrewacrossalongthefoldsandmadepanelsforfourdrawings.Thepencilwasatonceoddandfamiliarinmygrasp.Inthefirstpanel,Icreatedfrommemorymymotherandfather,mytwobabysisters,andmyself,full-bodyportraitslinedupinastraightrow.WhenIsideredmywork,theylookedcrudeanduneven,andIwasdisappointedinmyself.Ipanel,Idrewtheroadthroughtheforestwiththedeer,thewoman,thecar,SmaoladLuchóginthesamepers