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Show 75 "He's going to speak to the elders about me," Chua said to his mother. He knew he shouldn't have said it, but he couldn't help himself. He looked at the log beams of the roof. "Don't disrespect me," Ahote said. "I will speak to the elders." Ahote's black eyes seemed to enter Chua's head.TJe shook his head to get the eyes to leave. Ahote reached for the pouch. Only the strap was broken. "I'll find a leather strap for my pouch and my sandal in the midden," he said. The pouch was bulging with chewing root. His eyes were glassy. Chua stared fist at the pouch and then at Ahote. J^iA- "You think I can't leave this stuff alone?" he asked Chua. "Well, you'rewrong. I can quit any time I want." Chua didn't reply. Ahote continued in a loud voice. "I'll show you. I'll quit tomorrow." He took another pinch and put it in his mouth. Chua knew he wouldn't quit. He was just talking. Ahote stepped backwards, and his foot slipped into the sipapu. He fell to the floor, twisting his already swelling foot. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh," he yelled in pain. Since he fell into the hole representing the path to the world before this one, . •• f t f maybe he needs to go back there and start over again, thought Chua. He sjjMtedTBside. His angei dissolved. Ahote crawled out of the hole on his hands and knees. His eyes glazed over as he hung his head down. K |