"You've known that long?" Raju sounds pleased, puzzled. If he'd had to say when he'd started wanting what he does, feeling what he does, Raju isn't sure what he would decide, even now. And knowing that is strange. Offensive, but more than that, just strange. He's always trusted his own mind more than anyone else's. But if he should realise someone isn't only more learned than he is about survival here but is wiser, too, wise enough to be that much more aware of his own inner life and his own heart, that someone should be Francis. And of course it would be. That would be the person looking at him this way, holding his hand. Lucky isn't the word.

But, the cairns. An important moment, in more ways than Raju had known. Raju's brow wrinkles a little as he thinks over it. "You didn't mean to take me there, but showed me anyway. We stayed. What about it? I was grateful — I am grateful — that you showed me, but I don't remember doing anything spectacular."