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‘Oh,’ the child said ‘I understand now It died’

‘Yes,’ Shurq said, nodding ‘It died’

After Mother had left, thousands of ghosts following, Kettle walked to the tower’s entrance She studied the flagstones set before the door, then selected one and knelt before it Her fingernails broke prying it loose, and she was surprised at the sting of pain and the welling of blood

She had not told Shurq how hard it had been speaking to those ghosts Their endless voices had been fading the last day or two, as if she was becoh other sounds – the wind, the dead leaves scurrying about, the crunch and munch of the insects in the yard, and the sounds of the city itself – all were as clear as ever So vibration in her chest had quickened Five, six eights a day, now The places where her skin had broken long ago were closing up with new, pink skin, and earlier today she had been thirsty It had taken some time to realize – to renified, but the stagnant water she had found at the base of one of the pits in the yard had tasted wonderful Soher

She dragged the flagstone to one side, then sat beside it She wiped the dust from its blank, polished surface There were funny patterns in it Shells, the imprint of plants – reeds with their onion-like root-balls – and the pebbled impressions of coral Tiny bones So to s

She looked down the path, through the gate and onto the street Strange, to see it so e

And so she waited

The bleeding froertips had stopped by the ti She looked up, then slass eyes – the one she had never seen before yet kneay

They saw her, and Brys strode through the gate, the oldbehind with nervous, tentative steps

‘Hello, Uncle,’ Kettle said

‘Kettle You are looking… better I have brought a guest, Ceda Kuru

Qan’

‘Yes, the one who’s always looking atanyway’

‘I wasn’t aware of that,’ the Ceda said

‘Not like you’re doing now,’ Kettle said ‘Not when you have those things in front of your eyes’

‘You mean, when I look upon the Cedance? Is that when I see you without seeing you?’

She nodded