ries of the injured children. Some of the younger ones woke up at night screaming, clinging to her like frightened birds in a st

ding hair, peeling cassava. But her eyes often drifted to the clinic's charred skeleton. Her thoughts wandered to the day she had

romise of help. Only rumors floated through the village-some saying the fire was accidental, others whispe

ehind the hills, a village boy came ru

, Mama!"

government. It was a summons-from the local council. She was to appear and answer questions about the child

over her shoulder. "But they know

unreadable. "Sometimes, knowing isn't enough. Someti

the soft breathing of the children. She looked at the stars through the broken clinic window, wondering how long she

ll, she