“I thought you left me here to die,” Sorrel said.

“We did consider it. You sure were sleeping. But, like I said, Caroni will decide. Come.”

“Don’t you need the torch?”

“No. Leave the torch here – might be needed in future.”

“How do you light it?”

“Oh, there are still many things we use from the Lowlands. Matches are one of them. But your PlAK will have a magnifying glass – that’s a useful tool, not easy to find these days. Put your hand on my shoulder and step where I step. We chipped away at this path,” she said, sensing Sorrel’s question. “Took months. But once you know where the edges are, they’re easy to find with bare feet.”

“Is it night?”

“Dusk.”

It is cooler, Sorrel thought.

They came out of the cave into the evening. To see in this gentle light was a gift. The breeze was strong, and the leaves made soft sounds. Here was an older world. She took her hand from Emrallie’s shoulder. “How far away is Caroni?”

“About two hours’ walk.”

“Emrallie. Please. We’re closer to my mother. I wasn’t running for ten minutes when I fell into that water. Let’s get her. Let Caroni decide about both of us. We can get the packs and the PlAK. Please.”

Emrallie glanced downward, then stared at her. “You got your period.” Sorrel looked down and saw her pants were bloody. “That’s gonna help you with Caroni. Is it your first time?”

“Yes.”

“Probably happened because you were with a lot of females. We don’t know why but we tend to bleed together. I’ll show you the type of leaves we use. Do you have cramps?”

Sorrel heard a hint of sympathy in Emrallie’s voice. “Cramps?” she said.

“Belly pain.”

“Yes. I thought it was the rodent. Or the coconut water.”

Emrallie laughed. “You really are a guatan babe in the woods. Let’s wash out your pants by the cenote. Fill your algaskin. You won’t mind being wet for a while. Then, okay, let’s find your mother. You have some things going for you now. Not so much for her, though. If she’s even alive.”

They stood beside the cenote. “Where did this water come from?” she asked. “Why doesn’t it evaporate?”

“It comes from underground. You heard it in the cave, right? This pool broke out in an earthquake a few years ago. The rocks fell in. Take your pants off, but don’t put them in the cenote. That’s drinking water.” Emrallie untied one of the round vessels from her waist. It was stained red. “See that flat rock over there? Put your pants on it. Take water from the cenote with this. Beat your pants against the rock.”

The pool had very steep sides – she couldn’t see a way to get down to the water without falling in. She hesitated.