The man in black pointed in the general direction of the village and spoke no further. The flames crackled, and the delicious fragrance of cassavas became stronger. From time to time, the head of a sheep or a calf appeared in the circle of light. Little Halfbreed stared at the flames in total absorption, thinking still about the red horse which, upon neighing, had transformed into a beautiful maiden.

　　"How do you know that he was thinking about the red horse?" my grandson asks.

　　At the time, I had the same question. My grandfather replied, "How could he help thinking about it?" I ask my grandson, "Aren't you thinking about the red horse? Tell me the truth, grandson. I'm asking you seriously: what are you thinking about right now?" My grandson stares trancelike into the flames. "You are thinking about the red horse, aren't you? You can't fool me. I've had the same experience."

　　No wonder! No wonder, I think to myself, such a beautiful red horse. What liquid eyes and flower-like hooves! What petal-shaped lips! Our herbivorous clan has been living and multiplying on this meagre piece of land for years and years, one generation after another. Who hasn't heard about the story of the red horse? Who hasn't had daydreams about it? How, with a neigh, it changed into a beautiful, fascinating maiden? Neither mountain nor oceans can prevent people from longing for such an enchantress. When emotion is at its peak, neither you, me, my grandfather, my grandfather's grandfather, nor men of any generation can help but call out: Ma! Ma! Ma! 3 These words have become a great secret code.

　　My grandfather told me that the man in black removed a roasted cassava from the fire and wrapped both its ends in dry grass. With a snap, he broke it in halves. The rosy flesh was steaming. He handed half the cassava to Little Halfbreed and took the other half for himself. In a blink of an eye, it was in his stomach, but Little Halfbreed still blew on his half, afraid that it would burn his lips.

　　The fire slowly died down until there were only glowing embers left. The contours of the surroundings became gradually visible. The shadows of oxen and sheep trembled, and whistling bugs sang shrilly and unexpectedly, startling the listeners. Noise from the marsh seemed to come from a far-away place. Little Halfbreed heard the breathing of the young horse. Her smooth, silky skin was so close it was as if he could reach out and touch it.

　　"Then what?" Little Halfbreed asked.

　　"You still want to know what happened later?" The man in black asked with a grin. Little Halfbreed felt that there was something sinister behind that grin.

3. The alphabetical "Ma!Ma!Ma!" appears in the original Chinese text. The homephone "horse 瀧" alludes to the other homophone "mother 第".