their faces burst into flames and entered into the air like ghostly spirits moving in shadows of dust that flowed in tiny spirals within the glowing heat . the ground was either frozen , sloppy with mud , or dry and hard as rock . you didnt tell me you werent feeling well . he gulped it down and handed the cup back to her smiling . they stayed at home , minded their own business , and generally speaking went on about their lives . introducing her as the new director of the clinic would be part of a report . 