35: The Chi

S H E  H A D  A W O K E N  with a start, probably from a dream she had had. Natasha sat up on her bed and could see some light coming through the hut’s closed window and could tell it was morning.

She then got the urge to pull herself out of bed after which came the hard part—standing. Natasha heaved herself up ever so painfully, fighting through her upset legs and finding the walking staff that Sang had give her, propped its arm rest under her right shoulder and the pressure on her legs loosened. She exhaled and made for the door.

Outside, Natasha could see people going about their business in the rising sun that was barely visible over the horizon. She realized that she had gotten up a bit earlier.

Cows were being herded out onto the small patches of grass while others were being milked. A young boy ran with a scruffy looking dog away from the village before stopping to lap at water from a flowing