Chapter 85

           Althoughthenextday(protectivebrothersnotwithstanding)Ididgethitbyabus.Itwassortofasmallishbus,butneverthelessitdidknockmeoffmybicycleasIwascruisingdowntheshoulderlessroad.Igottossedintoacementirrigationditch.AboutthirtyBalinesepeopleonmotorcyclesstoppedtohelpme,havingwitnessedtheaccident(thebuswaslonggone),andeveryoneinvitedmetotheirhouseforteaorofferedtodrivemetothehospital,theyallfeltsobadaboutthewholeincident.Itwasn’tthatseriousawreck,though,consideringwhatitmighthavebeen.Mybicyclewasfine,althoughthebasketwasbentandmyhelmetwascracked.(Betterthehelmetthantheheadinsuchcases.)Theworstofthedamagewasadeepcutonmyknee,fullofbitsofpebblesanddirt,thatproceeded-overthenextfewdaysinthemoisttropicalair-tobecomenastilyinfected.

           Ididn’twanttoworryhim,butafewdayslaterIfinallyrolledupmypantslegonKetutLiyer’sporch,peeledofftheyellowingbandage,andshowedmywoundtotheoldmedicineman.Hepeeredatit,concerned.

           "Infect,"hediagnosed."Painful."

           "Yes,"Isaid.

           "Youshouldgoseedoctor."

           Thiswasalittlesurprising.Wasn’thethedoctor?Butforsomereasonhedidn’tvolunteertohelpandIdidn’tpushit.Maybehedoesn’tadministermedicationtoWesterners.OrmaybeKetutjusthadasecrethiddenmasterplan,becauseitwasmybanged-upkneethatallowedme,intheend,tomeetWayan.Andfromthatmeeting,everythingthatwasmeanttohappen…happened.