frogs swallow black cobras; golden swans surround a crow; the wolf trembles for fear of the sheep.” No perversion of reality is happening here for me.

Stories of Past Lives 78 The Book of the Ones The Warding Tree Herring, the Miser: a past life story

Both are lame, both crippled, both cross-eyed, and both covered in warts: I see not which is Herring.

Stories of Past Lives 79 The Book of the Ones The Warding Tree The Harsh Sound: a past life story

When cows were plundered and killed, houses burned down, and people abducted, then came the son of she whose son is dead, sounding the harsh drum of war.

Stories of Past Lives 126 The Book of the Ones The Reed-stalk Chapter The Mark On the Sword: a past life story