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“How many? Tell me, do you kno many there are total?”

His eyes meet mine over his shoulder “Hundred and fifty?”

I shakemy stone into the cave’s wall “Try one hundred ninety-five”

He gives a lohistle We hit the wall at the sa shards of rock all which ways He says, “I’ve been to thirty-one of them”

I shake my head at his back Thirty-one countries What must that be like—to have traveled so much? “Someone like you…” His family’s funds an a career Perhaps he’s being grooer run, and that’s what’s behind his visit to us

“If you could go anywhere?” he prohts

I lick ht throat on Or California”

“Yeah?”

I get a good chunk of rock as I slaain, and he says, “Nice one”

“Thank you And I’ revealed o if I were to flee—but I doubt the Carnegie would re, so I carry on “Perhaps I’d hate both places But I’ve heard of redwoods I’ve heard they’re massive, and I’ve never seen a terribly tall tree And California being sunny, with all the oranges and avocados, and the movie stars San Francisco with the sailboats I would like to see the beach in California I’ve heard the sand is soft and warm, and people swim there in the ocean”

He turns to face led as if he’s puzzled “You don’t swim here?”

“Nearly never”

“No good beach?”

I shrug “There are tiny spots of beach The current’s strong, though, and the sand is rocky No one ever thinks to lounge about there For the children, it’s forbidden Also, it’s quite cloudy” It’s almost always cloudy here

“What’s that like?” he asks, giving ain as he turns away