I pretended to be asleep in the hut. I knew my daughter would not sit for long. As soon as she left, I walked out behind her. I took only what I could tie to my body, and one of the filmy garments the Tribals wore. The sound of the river guided me out of the camp. I could swim, but it’s easy to drown in a strong river.

To keep me company, I talked to Drew in my mind. I’d never seen his prison cell. When I used to visit, they would bring him to me in a concrete room with peeling paint and low benches. I never told him goodbye when we left Bana, but I know he would have said: go. We agreed long ago we would do whatever was necessary to keep our daughter safe.

I hesitated on the riverbank. Sacred, the Zorah had named the river. Maybe a judgment, maybe a name. The water was dark with curls of white around rocks or branches. I wondered whether I should take off my boots. They would weigh me down but protect my ankles. I left them on and waded into the cold water, near a fallen branch. I jumped down feet first, protecting my head from the rocks.

The current pulled and I didn’t want to let go of the branch, but I knew Sorrel would not be long outside the hut and I was sure she’d look for me when she saw me gone. I didn’t have a plan, I didn’t have a destination, I didn’t have the PlAK. All I knew was the river would take me away and I could stay in the water during the day.

I breathed as deeply as I could, then I let go.

CHAPTER 19 – SECOND CAVE

“So, she left,” Caroni said.

“Looks so,” Sorrel said. She stood with Emrallie in Caroni’s hut. It hadn’t taken the band long to discover Bibi’s tracks down to the river.

“She knew I would let you stay, but not her. She made the decision for you,” Caroni said.

“You’re guatan heartless.”

“I’m sorry for your loss. But it’s best it happened this way.”

“What’s going to happen to me?”

“Nextnight, like I said.”

“Why is everything nextnight?”

“We like to consider things without too much emotion. Emrallie, take the Lowlander to the cave cell. We’d have to go after her if she ran now.” She turned to Sorrel. “I’m sorry to have to restrain you. Use the time to grieve.”

“Please don’t lock me up.” Sorrel gave up trying to hold back her tears.

“You’ll be comfortable. The cave is cool right through the day. I’ll let you take the PlAK and there’ll be food and water. Even a coconut. We’re not cruel, but I must look after the others. Twelve hours and you’ll be out.” Caroni turned away.