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The words stopped in the middle of the line I passed out

48

BEFORE

Port of Calcutta, India

I FOLLOWED BEHIND THE MAN IN BLUE, MY SMALL legs hurrying tostride Seven days had passed since he first brought an to live with Sister in the hut I was happy to be out again I was happy to see the ships again, standing tall and crawling with men

But I missed Sister I wished she was here I clutched the doll to my chest I had not yet chosen her na, and ent inside to lass discs on his nose The Man in Blue handed him a small black pouch The white ?" the whiteto learn He pushed the glass circles higher on his face

"Not to me," the Man in Blue said "But she speaks in Hindi and Sanskrit to es?"

"We have not tried"

"What’s that, there, she’s holding?" he pointed a bony finger at htly The white hter o nowhere without it now She is attached"

"Indeed" The whiteelse His eyes shifted back and forth between the paper and me, until finally, the Man in Blue was allowed to take ht

"I have business Ias you do not lose sight ofthe bustling stretch of land near the water

I nodded He waved his hand, sending hted in the freedom I absorbed every scent--mud and brine, spice and musk--and s and the ships

I ran until I heard a reedy sound repeat itself in a rhythmic, hypnotic melody It slowed ged before a basket, blowing on a long stick that swelled into a bulb People ringed the basket, staring as a snake rose out of the depths, swaying back and forth The people clapped

I did not understand their delight Did the animal live in the basket? Was it trapped there, to live in the dark?

I crept closer I was s noticed I drew nearer until anxious whispers rose to a loud murmur, until the old et back

I understood him but did not listen What did I have to fear from snakes? I ue that flicked out to taste my scent As I extendedbody back--

"Stop!" the Man in Blue shouted My skin stung frorabbed rasp, but after a o

"Are you mad, child?"

I did not kno to answer

He softened at my confusion "You like animals?" he asked, his voice warm, now Gentle

I nodded Yes

His cheeks folded into a sers in th of the port We careat ships, but that was not what stole my breath