i come upon the lama sleeping in the forest, lift him, carry him to a secret cave where my family has hidden for generations. he snores in my arms, as i dance across the rough terrain, my feet barely touching the earth. a mile away, soldiers stalk through brush--surveying, tracking, their eyes and noses hungry for clues. light rain begins to fall. i sit quietly by the lama, shivering and waiting. it may be days before we can reemerge.