Watch your mouth,” Mahlia said, “or I’ll stitch your guts shut.

“Doctor Mahfouz used to say living in the Drowned Cities made people crazy. Like…”

“You call me castoff,” Mahlia said, “Chinese throwaway, whatever.” Amaya was try…”

“Mahlia… understood Doctor Mahfouz and his blind rush into the village. He wasn’…”

“I'm a chess piece. A pawn,' she said. 'I can be sacrificed, but I cannot be cap…”