Chapter 22
Arabel pulled a bota bag of water from the small storage compartment. “Remember which one is yours,” she said. “I don’t think I want to share with you after that.”
Lina tried to laugh, but nothing came out.
“There’s some kind of fruit in there too. Lychee. Your mentor said they were your favorite.”
Lina looked at the pinkish rind of lychee fruit and felt the first tear in the corner of her eye. All the emotions she had been holding inside, so that she could deal with the emergency at hand, came streaming out all at once. Tears streaked her face and stung her eyes. She wailed and pounded the decking with her fists.
Arabel wrapped Lina in her arms, cautiously at first, but then tighter as Lina began to regain her composure. Lina had settled to the point of the occasional sob when she suddenly sat up, hung her head over the railing, retching again.
“Oh, baby,” Arabel said, “I’m here for you. Do you want to try some fruit?”