Carla’s Account of David’s Transformation

Carla’s memories trace her son’s change from a cherished child poisoned near a stream into a boy she struggles to recognize and keep close.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Beloved Child

The Beloved Child A mother’s memories Carla remembers David as affectionate, lively, and delighted by outdoor play. The loss to come Her tender account makes the later estrangement feel like the destruction of a once-familiar family life.

The Streamside Drink

The Streamside Drink A dangerous discovery Carla finds the stallion at a stream and retrieves it while David plays nearby. A hidden exposure She later recalls David kneeling in the water and sucking his wet fingers, an act she did not recognize as perilous.

The Migration Choice

The Migration Choice A desperate proposal At The Green House, a healer says David’s poisoning may be survivable through soul migration. Irreversible consent Carla accepts the uncertain exchange, choosing a chance at survival over keeping David unchanged.

The Changed Return

The Changed Return A living body A boy returns to Carla, but his footsteps, speech, and manner are unfamiliar. Grief without death Carla must care for a child who survives while feeling that the son she knew has disappeared.

The Unresolved Son

The Unresolved Son A boy under suspicion David behaves strangely, wanders at night, and is feared by Carla and Omar. A mother’s divided bond Carla calls him a monster, yet still watches over him and mourns the child she remembers.

Before David’s illness, about six years earlier

The day the borrowed stallion escaped

The day after the stallion becomes gravely ill

Several hours after the migration begins

Years later, during Amanda’s vacation