the girls to him. I and Lorna go there sometimes. All right? That's life. He likes us together. He wants us to do things. He does things to us—”

     “Correon.”

     “He is sadist.” She shifted the accent; I didn't understand right away. “One night it's different. He is angry. Not a game. Very angry. I am tie with a rope. All right? Lorna is tie. To me he is cruel. But I don't fight. I'm still alive. He wants somebody to fight, I think. Lorna fights. He kills Lorna with his hands. I'm watching. I see it. I am there.”

     She was daring me to challenge her.

     “Some men come for Lorna—I don't know who they are. Nonoy brings me to a doctor. He says because of what I have seen I must leave Negros. He gives me money. He feels bad. I know, Nonoy always likes me. He writes me letters, even up until now. I don't know anything about three more girls. Nonoy promise me, it will never happen again. Suppose to be, the father is very displease.”

     “The father—”

     “Luis. The father of Baby.”

     For an instant I was back in the gully beside the forest path. Nonoy swinging the pistol past gaunt-face, past Orlando and Luis, to cover Baby.

     “Baby killed her?”

     “Yes. Baby. Of course Baby. He is sadist. The monster.”

     I collapsed inside. I guess it showed: she held my hand in maternal comfort.

     “Don't feel bad. That's life. My boy is five years old. A beautiful boy.”

     Someone called her name.

     She said, “Sorry. My turn.” The mattress was empty. “You go now, huh? Good-bye.”

     I went to the door, but I didn't leave right away. I watched her stand at the mattress. Along one wall four men had begun a puerile joshing among themselves. One