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"I am not a deckhand Or a boy," Kartik answers

The Indian sailor laughs at this There’s an ugly scar snaking from the corner of his eye across his cheek I shudder to think how he otten it or what happened to the other er at his side

"You trained dog to English?" He points atsound that tu fit that leaves blood on his hand

"The English" He spits "They give us this life We are their dogs, you and I Dogs What they promise you cannot trust But Chin-Chin’s opiuet what they do Forget that you are a dog That you will always be a dog"

He points the tip of his dagger into the sticky black ball of opium, ready to smoke his troubles away and float into an oblivion where he is no one’s inferior Kartik and I h the smoky haze The Chinaman leads us to a tiny roos over the door Kartik’s jaw remains clenched

"What that man said " I stop, unsure of how to continue "What I mean is, I hope you know that I do not feel that way"

Kartik’s face hardens "I aher caste"

"But you are also Indian They are your countrymen, are they not?"

Kartik shakes his head "Fate deter to the rules"

"You can’t really believe that!"

"I do believe it That man’s misfortune is that he cannot accept his caste, his fate"

I know that the Indians wear their caste as a land, we have our own unacknowledged caste system A laborer will never hold a seat in Parliament Neither will a wos until this moment

"But what about will and desire? What if sos?"

Kartik keeps his eyes on the rooainst fate"

"That means there is no hope of a better life It is a trap"

"That is how you see it," he says softly

"What do you mean?"