“You are free men. But to remain free you must work hard.”

It is the face of the man who hit him in Pačići, who told him to run, who put a boot to his chest, fired his gun, and mouthed the words, Be silent, you are dead.

It is not the Germans who are doing this, it is the Chetniks and Partisans.

These remain always under the teacher’s desk and are unpacked and displayed only for the inspector’s annual visit.

two human skulls are within the ashes.

too heavy for her to carry.”

Tears springing to her eyes, she whispers, “Are you from Rajska Polja?”

their fathers are coming in from the animal sheds,

Slowly, slowly, he realizes that he has learned to swim.