The village and canyon were dark with shadow but overhead the clouds were still gray. Y Ksar pulled his blanket more tightly about his neck and shoulders, sucked harder on his bent pipe. Where are the children? he thought. Chhuon will be here soon. He looked at the sky. A lone blackbird swooped down from the cliff, effortlessly glided the length of the village street, winged over, flapped and glided back to alight on the roof of Y Ksar’s longhouse. The bird cawed loudly once. Then it seemed to jump from the roof and slide through the air to the roof of the new commonhouse. Then it disappeared. Y Ksar shook his head. Everything which blooms...his thoughts began, but before they could be completed they were halted by Sraang’s and Mayana’s shouting from the cattle pasture. The girls were bre