I have been born to many peoples with many different ancestors and spirits.”

“You should bring me with you next time,” she said, smiling.

“I wish I knew how,” I said, “it is very lonely. And people only look at me with disdain. They believe me to be afflicted with madness.”

“I don’t believe you are mad,” Dayita said.

“I believe I have been cursed,” I said, rolling back over onto my back.

“Who has cursed you?” Dayita asked.

“The people before any tongue,” I said, “when we could not speak.”

“You have been cursed by a child?” Dayita asked.

“No,” I said, “many lifetimes ago in a land of rock and salt. I wandered the sands as one...

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