The skies were clearer that night and the dim moonlight made it easier to see. The stream bed became more obvious the farther they walked, and just before daybreak, they found the water tank Bibi had seen on the PlAK at their kitchen table in Bana.

“That’s where we can hide today,” Bibi panted.

“It’s open to the sky,” Sorrel objected. She’d never thought the water tank a useful destination – given that the stream bed was dry.

“Yes, but maybe like those people we saw in the roofless house in Guaqua, we can move around to avoid the sun. Maybe there’s even some water inside. Or some plants.”

The concrete water tank was cool to the touch. “But how’re we going to get into it?” Sorrel asked.

Bibi collapsed on a patch of gravel. “I can’t go any further, One, I can’t. We have to find a way to get inside that tank.”

Sorrel stared at her mother. This was only their second night. “Lie down, Bibi. Drink a little. We’re going to be fine.”

Sorrel got the PlAK out of her backpack and kept its light on the water tank as she circled it. The top was uneven and breaking away. There were a few holes in the side, some quite low down which meant the tank could only hold a little water. A rusted pipe curved over the top edge but the rest of it was missing. As the sky lightened, she noticed the bushes were bigger and different in the hills, and she thought the tank might almost – almost – be in shade when the sun came up. There were a few vines as well. She could just curl her fingers over the edge at full stretch of her arms, but she doubted she had the strength to pull herself up. Her thoughts whirled. She looked around for rocks. There were many but they were either too small, or too big to move, even with Bibi’s help.

She pulled herself up to where the land had built up around the tank, then launched herself at the rim. Her fingers held her for a few seconds then she fell back. She tried again, kicking with her feet to give her momentum, but it wasn’t enough.

Bibi joined her and they stood side by side. “You okay?” Sorrel said, staring at the distance to the top of the tank.

“I know how we can do this,” her mother said and there was excitement in her voice. “I’ll kneel down. You step onto my back and then you can easily climb in.”

“Then what, Bibi? You’ll be on the outside, I’ll be on the inside.”

“I’ll hide.”

Sorrel shook her head.