Themostmercilessthingintheworldislove.Whenloveflees,allthatremainsismemorytopensate.Ourfriendswereeithergoingoheirghoststhebestourpoormindscouldjuretofilllovesabsence.Iamhauhisdaybyallthosewhoaremissing.LosingKivi,Blomma,Ragno,andZanzaraprovedheartbreakingforSpeck,too.Shewentabouthertasksgrimaermined,asifbystayingbusyshecouldkeepphantomsatbay.

    Afterthedisasterinthemine,wedeposedBékawithhissent,andthediminishedelectedSmaolachournewleader.Welivedabovegroundforthefirsttimeinyears,boundtoonesmallclearingintheforestbyChavisorysimmobility.Theimpulsetogobaeateatusall.Fiveyearshadpassedsincewehadleftourcamp,ahoughtitmightbesafetoreturtimeanyonehadseenourformerhome,thegroundshadbeendenuded,butsurelynewgrowthhadbegun—whereblackashhadbeen,saplingsshouldbeingupamidthewildflowersandfreshgrass.Justasnaturereclaimsitsruins,thepeople,too,wouldhavefottenaboutthatboylostintheriverawofaeriesfoundinthemarket.Theydwantlifetoremainastheythoughtithadbeen.

    Withitsafetotravelagain,Luchóg,SmaoladIsetout,leaviherthreebehindatourmakeshiftcamptowatchoverChavisory.Althoughthewindblewcoldthatday,ourspiritsquiedattheprospectofseeingouroldhauntsagain.Weracedlikedeeralorails,laughingasonepassedtheother.Theoldcampshimmeredininationsasapromisehtredemption.

    Climbiernridge,Ihearddistantlaughter.Weslowedourpudaswereachedthelip,thesoundsbelowpiquedourcuriosity.ThevalleycameintoviewthroughthebrokenveiloftreelimbsandbranchesRowsofhousesandopenlawnssnakedandcurledalongribbonsofroadways.Ospotwh