Chapter 36
The village high up in the mountains, much higher than Costel's inn and Igor's party boss dominance, had been deserted for more than thirty years. Ana told Maria the truth years ago about people returning to maintain the houses, though. The small yards were still neat and clean with the recent attention, dirt roads patched and cleared of winter debris, rustic timber fences in good repair.
One house, low to the ground and painted white like all of the others close by, gave no sign of being occupied again. No smoke rose from the gray stone chimney. The doors and windows were closed and covered with white shutters. There was no electricity for lights, inside or out.
And yet a sort of life had returned to the seventh house on the main street. The life may have been unusual and un
