“There’s an acupuncture technique …” he said as he wadded one strip up into a tight little ball. “You press on your wrist, and that stimulates the nerve, which is more specific than the mixed messages the brain is getting, so it helps the brain ignore them. So press this against your wrist …”

Mia held the wadded cloth against her skin with a finger, while Bear wrapped the other strip tight around it, tying it off in a knot to hold it firm. The wad pressed into the skin of her wrist.

“You can’t walk around pressing your wrist all the time, so this has the same effect. You can also try looking at the horizon. It looks like it’s moving, even though it isn’t, so your brain gets the same message from eyes and ears.”

Mia usually hated it when people gave her ‘good advice’. Especially grown ups. But looking at the horizon really did seem to help. Besides, she really didn’t want to throw up again.

“How are you feeling?” Bear asked after a little while.

“Less sick now,” Mia agreed. “Thanks.”

Bear smiled, and passed her a tablet from a bottle.

“This is for rehydration. Being sick loses water and salt from your body, and neither of us can afford that.”

Mia popped it into her mouth, and reached gratefully for one of the mugs. The sick had left a taste in her mouth and she wanted it gone. Bear took the other mug. They both drank at the same time – and immediately spat it out.

“It’s salty!” Mia exclaimed. The water was disgusting.

“Yup,” Bear said gravely. “That’s not good. If the sea has got into our water tank that means we can’t use it. Not a drop.”

6

BIG WATERY DESERT

Mia looked longingly at the waves. Sparkling blue water in every direction. It seemed to be calling, ‘Come on, drink me!’ And she badly wanted to. The salt water had soaked into the sides of her mouth and her tongue, and made her ten times thirstier.

“I know you’re not supposed to drink salt water,” she said, “but why? You can eat salt on your chips, so why can’t you drink it too?”

Bear nodded.

“It’s a good question, Mia. Salt in sea water is three times more concentrated than your body can cope with,” he said. “It pickles your kidneys, which filter toxins out of your blood. If you drink too much, it’ll kill you. So, the basic rule is – do not drink sea water. Ever.”

Mia sighed and looked back at the ocean. It stretched out as far as she could see.

“It’s a bit like being in the desert, isn’t it?

We’re surrounded by this stuff that’s dangerous to us.”

“One big, watery desert,” Bear agreed with a smile. “But there are ways to cope. Right now our number one priority is to get moving again.”