![\"\"](\"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/maite-and-kepa-v3b.png\")
She walked over to where she guessed the barn was, gingerly stepping over piles of stone and scorched red roofing tiles. \u201cThe children\u2019s rooms would have more likely been over the barn, to better warm them with the animal heat.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kepa wasn\u2019t sure she was talking to him or to herself. Or maybe even Garuna. But, he continued to follow her with his stick, ready to move rubble at a moment\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite pointed. \u201cThere. That larger pile of stuff. Let\u2019s look under there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kepa nodded as he put the end of his branch under one of the stones. He grunted as he pushed it down, slowly moving the rock to the side. He repeated this process a few times before stopping to take a break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not used to this kind of work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite seemed not to hear him as she knelt down at the pile and rummaged through some of the looser dirt and rocks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAha!\u201d she exclaimed as she pulled something out of the pile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d asked Kepa, wiping the sweat from his brow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA book,\u201d replied Maite. \u201cOr, more precisely, a journal of some kind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA journal?\u201d asked Kepa. \u201cBack then, weren\u2019t the priests the only ones who knew how to read or write?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBai,\u201d answered Maite. \u201cI think that\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She opened the journal as Kepa looked over her shoulder. The pages were filled with strange symbols that were indecipherable to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnless you had a very special education,\u201d continued Maite with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n