Killa

I've handled a century's worth of these, but on this cord only the third strand from the end twists left. Some knots raise the hair on your fingertips before your eyes even catch up.

• ChompiEleven skeins of left-twist thread came in last year, and eleven went out. None should be left. So where did that one come from?
  KillaThat's exactly what I'm asking.
• High Priest YawarArchivist, an old hand sometimes blames its own tremor on the knot.
  KillaMust be nice, having a hand that never trembles, High Priest.

That color won't wash out in three days of scrubbing. I wonder how many of these kids know the priests check palms first these days.

• UrcoI had my hands checked three times yesterday. Twice at both ends of the bridge, once on the steps.
  KillaYour hands are nothing but calluses. Nothing there to see.
• High Priest YawarThe temple doesn't check just any hands. Only the ones there's reason to check.
  KillaAnd that reason comes straight from the High Priest's mouth too.