Modern People

If you kill me, he told us angrily, I’ll return to seek revenge.

We laughed. We’re a modern people, with no time for such superstitions.

We executed him on schedule, and that was the end of that.

Except…

Seven children have taken ill over the four months since. Our doctors have told us they’ve no idea what’s caused it, no idea if whatever’s wrong can be cured.

The elders are speaking about the old ways again, about what we can do to appease the great spirit.

I don’t know what to believe.

We are a modern people, but our children…