Animal's People

When Elli opens the clinic the first day, she is disappointed that no one is waiting. All around the neighborhood, people whisper that they need care and that they “hope Zafar brother knows what he is doing” (135). Animal watches her open the clinic each morning. One day she asks him to come in so she can examine his back. Animal at first refuses—“Angry I’m with Zafar, I like Elli doctress, but I guess as things are I should not be seen talking to her” (135)—but eventually follows her inside. He is seething in his resentment for Zafar, as the people are suffering terribly but are willing to sacrifice relief for his “mad paranoia” (135). Zafar, says Animal, is “without any proof” (136) that Elli is working for the Kampani and is “making the people suffer for nothing” (136). Animal states that the Kampani, which “does what it wants and no one can say anything to it” (137), is “stronger and cleverer” (136) than Zafar.

Elli leads him into an office. Animal is surprised to see Khã-in-the-Jar from the hospital. Khã tells Animal that the hospital learned nothing from him and asks that Animal “[b]reak the jar, with