Luscious, broad-leaved trees line our path through the fertile plains of Chengdu. A few scattered homesteads hide among the burgeoning green. There’s nothing particular about this stretch of our journey, yet it unsettles the two of them—Karma’s eyes have combed the banks of the meandering creek ever since we left this morning; and instead of slouching in the saddle like usual, Dendup swerves around the edges.
At first, I thought Dendup’s disturbing words two nights ago had caused this behavior. But all was well yesterday, so that can’t be it. I’m not imagining it either—something’s off with them. Norbu notices it as well.
“What’s up with these two today?” he says, and steers his stallion closer to mine. “Seems like Dendup’s sitting on a bag of beans instead of in the saddle.” He points
