Page 227 of Mercy Written in Blood

"Yours looks like one."

"Mine has had more time."

She frowned at the paper.

"I did it wrong."

"No."

Renji leaned closer but did not take it from her.

"Open that side."

"This one?"

"The other."

"You said that one."

"I pointed."

"You pointed badly."

Haruki smiled. Renji looked at the child with the long-suffering expression he usually reserved for Haruki.

"Open the left fold."

Yumi did. Renji guided her through the next steps with quiet patience. He did not fix the uneven edges. Did not sharpen the creases for her. When the paper resisted, he told her to try again. When she crushed one wing, he showed her how to unfold it without tearing the paper.

At last, the shape emerged. Crooked. One wing larger than the other. Its neck leaned to the side.

Yumi held it in both hands.

"It looks sick."

"It has character."

"That means ugly."

"So I have been informed."

"Can you make it better?"

Renji considered the bird. Then shook his head.

"No."

Yumi's face fell.

"You made it," he said. "If I change it, it becomes mine."

"It's bad."

"It is your first."

She turned the crane over. The paper bore part of the hospital watermark across one wing.

"What if Mummy doesn't like it?"