Keno smiled. "I've seen this a lot on our planet until I got used to it. Maybe the matter here is bigger, deeper, and more intense, but the principle is the same."
Keno saw one of the red birds land on the hand of one of the inhabitants of Ghardaia, then its shape slowly changed; its facial features wrinkled, contracted, and sagged, and a long beard grew, as if it were an angry old man. Then they both heard the bird screaming in anger at the young man standing in a shop selling wood:
"Didn't I tell you, you clumsy fool, not to leave the barn door open? Now the livestock have escaped, and I've been running after them everywhere until my back is bent and I'm exhausted beyond measure. I'm coming to you to give you a taste of my cane's prodding until you stop your forgetfulness that is almost killing me!"
The young man swallowed, sweat pouring from his forehead. "Oh, woe is me. I've messed up again."
