Mrs. Wladek sighed. "At the office of the social workers, there is one, a young woman. She has done this to me."
Marya Proderenska nodded. Her eyes closed.
Mrs. Wladek stared at the still figure without moving for a minute. Time stretched endlessly. The room was very quiet; Mrs. Wladek heard the continuing voice in her mind and felt fear.
Another minute ticked by.
At last the gypsy woman opened her eyes. "It is a strong curse," she said in a distant voice. "But I have erased it for you. I have taken the hex from you. Is it not so?"
"Taken the hex—" Mrs. Wladek shook her head. "Then why do I still hear the voice?"
"You still hear it?" The gypsy woman muttered under her breath. "Come back tomorrow. We work again."
"Tomorrow is a long time."
The gypsy woman closed her eyes for a second. "All right," she said, and snapped them open. "Four o'clock this afternoon."
"I will be here."