Even more disconcerning to the ninjas were the four-dozen black leather-clad men and women wearing masks and wielding sabres that now surrounded them.

They retired to the river of Tan-Chuy, with a prize which they made there, a small champan from China, which came from that kingdom to Hermosa Island to carry supplies and merchandise; in it was traveling a religious of St. Dominic, in the garb of a Sangley.

Deirdre’s mom never leaves her in the Grotto but also never leaves her side, and has the lipless and flinty-eyed look of a parent whose kid is preternaturally good at something.

Share-herding or purchase of small livestock are livelihood strategies within the reach of households headed by women, aided by children herders, but constraints including shortage of pasture and animal feed.