Opening my eyes, I find myself reclining on a wooden palette. Kha must have moved me to his own bed. Sitting up, I inspect the space around me. The room is a simple box with an archway for a door and a few wooden chests on the floor. Through the nearby window, I can tell that the sky is lightening. Dawn will be here soon.
Kha slips into the room. “Ah, you’re awake,” he whispers.
When I speak, I take care to keep my voice low as well. The rest of the family must still be asleep.
“Yes, thank you for bringing me here.”
Kha motions me to follow him. We march outside until reaching a small cluster of palms that are located a short distance from the village. Here, we can speak freely while waiting for the other workers to arrive.
“How did you rest?” asks Kha.
“Well enough. I missed the cha
