"Yes, indeed. The tribe of Afar who live in Dallol village have, in recent years, become... strange and perverse. We fear it may be affecting her as well."

"This is troubling news. If I return to the nunnery, might I have your permission to tell them of this as well, that we might pray for them?"

"Yes."

"Thank you, my brothers and sisters. I will be sure to pray for your health also, and the health of your cattle, and your prosperity. What ought I to know, so I might be prepared while traveling with Zoe?"

"You ought to know that you should stay far from Dallol village."

"Of course. Thank you for your guidance."

"Why would you want to burden yourself with knowledge of things best avoided?"

"I am afraid that, traveling with the white people as I am, I will learn these things either way; and I would rather know first, so that I am not so surprised in the moment as to be useless."

"All right. They used to travel, as we do."

Araari knows that most tribes of Afar are nomadic. Although some members of most tribes settle down in villages or cities from time to time, individuals often cycle back and forth from the nomadic group to the stationary place, on and off over their lifetimes.

"Now, none of the people from Dallol leave their village."

Araari bows her head. "That is troubling."

"The Dallol tribe used to carry salt to Kolluli for trade. They trade salt no longer. Not that they would be welcome."

"What have they done, that they would be unwelcome for trading?"

"It is... taboo to discuss. If we dig into the concerns of the Dallolites, it will bring ill luck upon us."

"I am sorry for pushing; I was not aware of the taboo. Thank you for sharing what you have. I will pray for you and for them, that all might be made well through the grace of God."

"Thank you. God must help them, as we cannot."

Meanwhile--

Zoe pets Magnificence. "I wish she were here, too. It's not fair. She would be so much better at all of this. But I got lucky, and she..."

??????

WHY is Anemone not here.

"She was so sick. So much sicker than me. And she was never... very well, to begin with."

Probably it's better for her to be at the plane but in that case why are they not ALSO at the plane.

"I wish we could have been there with her. I'm glad she had Lev, but... it should have been us. I hope it wasn't awful. I hope it was just... like sleeping."

Frustrated noise.

She was never as good at understanding him. She has no idea what to say, or what he needs. "What is it, Magnificence? Can you show me?" She is not actually sure how that would work.

Well How Is He Supposed To Do That. Does Zoe have anything that is related to Anemone in any way.

Zoe rummages in her pack looking for anything she can use to represent things. She finds Anemone's tarot deck.

"Okay. Let's say this card is you." She draws the Tower and puts it on the ground by Magnificence. "And this one is me, and this one is Anemone." She lays out the World and the Devil.

Zoe looks at the last card and frowns.

Those are some PRETTY WEIRD CARDS, Zoe.

Magnificence is PRETTY SURE that Anemone is not the devil.