Chapter 16: The Mother's Voice

"No," said Ming. The knife stayed where it was. The boy's hands were white on the handle. "I'm not one of them." She made herself look straight at him, at the dirt and the bruise and the fierce, frightened eyes. "I'm the one who let it go. Last night. I had it, and I let it go, and I shut up its sister instead. I made a mistake." Doudou looked at her. "A big mistake?" "The biggest one I've ever made." He thought about it. She watched him think. Children took things seriously, she remembered, more seriously than anyone. "Are you going to fix it?" he said. "Yes." "Tonight?" "Tonight." The knife came down. Not all the way. He held it at his side, point to the floor, the way a soldier holds a sword at rest. "All right," said Doudou. "A toast," said Nine. They were sitting on the…