Her return at dusk was greeted by noisy chatter. Most of the kids had lost count of how many days Flora had been away, but Ratter had scored the four days and nights diligently on the concrete above his bedroll.
The kids knew the water would soon be sweet again and there might even be other treats in store. As Flora entered the den they gathered tightly round her as the light faded. To her amazement, Spider Girl was among them, a smile beaming across her face. Letting go of Wings’ hand, she walked gingerly towards Flora and embraced her, squeezing her waist in a bear hug.
Flora looked down and stroked the little girl’s blond hair, secretly wondering who she should be thanking for the miracle. She exchanged a happy smile with Wings who seemed to have grown yet again, her lanky body and spindly legs almost raising her green eyes to the level of Flora’s.
First the kids wanted to see how many shells the trade had yielded. They didn’t ask how she was, but then they didn’t know the ordeal she suffered every time she made a trade. All they knew was
