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bad sign； he knew。 The visionary's conceit。
On the next day； the hermits' cave appeared on a hillside。 It was empty； of course。 Ochs had looted their cache； resting and gorging on their food before heading on。 The one thing Ochs had not taken was a five…pound sack oftsampa。 Early on； he'd declared Rinchen's roasted barley meal inedible。 Mixed with water； it formed a sticky brown paste。 Nathan Lee took it like a sacrament。
One more pass loomed。 Shipton Pass was less than 18；000 feet high； but Nathan Lee was weak and his head ached all the time。 It took a week to climb through the cold fog； another week to descend。 He could judge the altitude when the leeches began bleeding him。Hirudinea suvanjieff did not live above 7500 feet。 They would reach out from the leaves and branches like slick black fingers。 Every half hour he would scrape them from his ankles and arms and eat a few； tasting his own blood。
On the last day of July； he reached a chain footbridge swaying over the raging Arun River。 Makalu was the headwaters of the Arun。 The beginning was the end。
He came to a village called Khandbari。 The street was vacant。 It turned out they were busy killing a rabid dog； which was done by setting out big leaves with poisoned rice and then everyone waiting indoors。 As he limped through the middle of the village； people came to their windows。 There was no question he made a strange sight with his beard and wood crutch and rain jacket made of a body bag。 Nathan Lee was so starved he picked up one of the leaves of rice； but they cried out to him。
He sat on a bench in front of a small schoolhouse。 After a while； two policemen in brown uniforms and Nikes approached。 The younger man looked frightened。 At first； Nathan Lee thought he was scared of the lurking dog。 Then he realized he was the source of the man's fear。
The older policeman was armed with a small bamboo baton tucked under one arm。 〃Please show me your passport； sir；〃 he said。
〃Gone；〃 rasped Nathan Lee。
〃Are you the gentleman； then； from Makalu？〃
They knew him。 Suddenly the last of his strength drained away。 Ochs had e through here； of course。 He had started weaving his cover story； and it was clearly one of his own survival from great violence and deception。 Nathan Lee was too tired to try to repair the damage。 〃May I have somechai； please？〃 he asked。
The interview was interrupted while the younger policeman scampered off for tea。 It took several minutes。 While he was gone； Nathan Lee asked； 〃What happens now？〃
The officer said； 〃Everything will be fine； sir。〃
The young policeman returned with a thick glass of milk tea dosed with sugar。 In his other hand was an ancient set of shackles。
Nathan Lee accepted the tea。 He calmly watched them cuff his good ankle。 None of this seemed real。 None of it。 He had a daughter back home。 He was not a bad man。 They would straighten matters out。Everything will be fine。
Out of kindness； they didn't shackle his swollen leg。 The chain and extra cuff lay on the ground； unnecessary。 It was plain for all to see that the beast had been captured。
4
Sunday
KERKYRA；CORFU
After mass； the faithful milled in the square； chatting with their neighbors； enjoying their last quiet hour before the tourists arrived。 Easter was over。 The mummified body of the island's saint had been paraded through the streets and returned to his church。 In the town museum； a 2；600…year…old statue of the Gorgon Medusa with serpents for hair had been dusted off。 The money season was about to begin。
In forty minutes the ferry from Italy would arrive at the New Port。 The first of hordes of pasty white British and Germans would descend into their midst。 Before the summer was out； the visitors would number tens of thousands； some on their way to other islands； many just planting themselves on Corfu's beaches。 All had to pass through the island's capital。 The town was ready。 Therembetis had tuned their bouzoukis and electric guitars。 Cafes and bars were well stocked。 The prostitutes and taxi drivers and hotel keepers could not wait。
It was a pretty morning。 The sun was warm； the sea blue。 The hills above town were bright green with basil and rosemary and thyme and oregano seedlings。 Drugged with sun； sleepy cats watched from windows and flower boxes。
Suddenly there was a shout from up the narrow street； then another； a bark of outrage。 〃Slow down； fool；〃 someone yelled。
A wild…eyed young man came careening down the winding lane； scarcely able to control his bicycle。 A big fisherman reached out and caught him before he ran into the Sunday crowd。 The bike struck a wall。 He dropped the young man onto his seat on the cobbles。
〃Ah； it's only Spyros；〃 people said。 Half the men on Corfu were named Spyros after their saint； the mummy Spyridon。 But something in the inflection distinguished this one。 He was Spyros the simpleton； a laborer on a farm。
〃Madonna； Madonna。〃 Tears poured down his face。 He was dressed in coarse； patched trousers and a faded Rolling Stones T…shirt。
〃What is it this time； Spyros？〃
Spyros scrambled to his feet。 He began shouting about an apparition。
〃Hush；〃 a woman said； 〃you'll scare the children。〃
But he went on。 An angel had appeared to him in the hills above town。 〃The Virgin herself。〃
A local tough strutted up。 He shoved Spyros。 〃Don't be sacrilegious；〃 he said。
The big fisherman pushed the tough away。 〃Leave him alone。 He's simple；〃 he said。
〃Then shut him up。 He'll drive the tourists away。〃
〃She is ing；〃 said Spyros。 He cast fearful glances up the street。 Others looked and saw nothing。
Someone threw a small stone at him as if driving away a dog。 Another stone followed。 People clucked or hissed or spit。
〃She es from heaven；〃 said the young man。
〃Go back to your goats； Spyros。〃
〃I never trusted his family；〃 a man said。 〃Look at those blue eyes。 He es from the Turks。〃
Only slowly did they bee aware of her。 She appeared from the lane's deep shadows and descended into view。 Perhaps she had followed the simpleton downhill。 Perhaps she was drawn by the church bells。 Maybe she had simply obeyed gravity on her trek to the sea。
〃Dear Christ in Heaven；〃 someone whispered。
She moved on two legs； but did not look human。 Naked as a ghost； she seemed made of glass。 From a distance； as they squinted into the shadows； her body seemed to flicker in and out of reality。 She drew nearer； but haltingly； with the pace of a sleepwalker。
As she passed； Spyros put his hands to his head and cowered against the wall。 The fisherman stared in disbelief； then took off his cap uncertainly。 He crossed himself。 She swayed past them without a glance。
〃What is this？〃 someone murmured。 The square opened to her。 The crowd pressed back against the buildings。Who could she be？ Where did she e from？
She entered the sunlight and became even more fantastic。 For her skin was nearly transparent。 Her veins showed clearly。 Backlit by the sun； her organs were a silhouetted mass。 One could see the limned bones。
And yet she was not a gruesome sight。 Quite the opposite。 Despite her condition； the woman's beauty was evident。 Her hair was long。 Except for the transparent roots； it was black and tang