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‘Let’s go outside,’ she whispered. She had taken her poncho out of her pack. It was really just a large sheet of nylon, I put it on, and she crawled underneath. We stood like that, the rain pelting down upon us. I was still wondering where I was and with whom I was galloping. I could hear Dede whisper, ‘I love it so much. I don’t know why. It’s so exciting.’

She was pressing her buttocks up against my groin. Suddenly she seemed so tiny. I stroked her short hair.

‘I love it so much,’ she repeated. ‘I love it so much.’

The rain stopped as suddenly as it had begun. Soon the wind subsided too. I could hear a faraway flute, its strains pure and pleasing. Captivated, I listened, almost in a trance. The sound drew nearer. It was an enchanted flute from the world of legends.

‘Do you hear the flute?’ I whispered.
‘Of course,’ said Dede. ‘Where can it be coming from?’

We were so far from the village, the night was so stormy, and it was so late. ‘Hey, you, come here!’ I yelled, but the flute slowly faded.

Dede left my side and wandered among the trees, humming.

The abyss, I thought. Lord, she’ll fall into it! And I shouted after her, but she didn’t answer my calls, and I became hysterical. I shouted, gripping the trunk of a tree with both hands. ‘Don’t go over the abyss!’