THE SECOND SKIN
Thick incense smoke wafted from the small shrine across the room. One of the children coughed and fled. The other one was oblivious and continued to gently torture the dog.
Robbie suddenly remembered the flowers in his coat pocket and pulled them out. The old man’s eyes lit up.
“Ah, very good you bring.”
He laughed, exposing no more than two or three blackened teeth. “You good man.”
He accepted the flowers and laid them carefully amongst the burning incense on his shrine.
Ashesh had returned with chia. He placed the tray beside the fire and left the room, a solemn expression on his face. Child and dog had quietened down to an occasional strangled gurgle from either party. Master Gyan followed the boy out and closed the door.
“Did you bring your opium, Robbie?”
He e
