Nepal, Jan. 11 -- The ground was alive long before anyone realised it. At first, it was just dust rising in the gentle afternoon breeze, a few scattered footprints, and a murmur. Then, like a spark striking dry grass, children gathered, and the entire area breathed. From a distance, the movement appeared random and unplanned, yet it had its own rhythm, formed by habit, memory, and the basic desire to move before being called back inside.

They moved together in a loose, laughing herd, hands linked, feet skipping over the dusty earth. Someone shouted, "Chu-chu train!" and instantly their small bodies rearranged into a wiggling line, the first child puffing out imaginary steam while the rest followed with delighted shrieks. From afar, it lo...