Seth came back, with a cup in each hand. “There’s been no reception today,” he explained.

“But I got a call through earlier.”

“Not from here. There are so many relay towers down that the service is really spotty. You can get a signal in a few places, but not a connection. Most won’t even give you a signal. Here.” He offered me one of the cups. “It’s green tea. It’s from the monks. Take it.”

I took the cup.

“It’s hot but good. Sip it slowly. I was wondering, other than that water, when was the last time you had anything to eat or drink?”

“I ate on the plane, and I’ve had a couple of those army ration bars.”

“Not enough. You need to keep your own strength up. And do you know where you’re going to sleep tonight?”

I shook my head.

“There’s a temporary camp they’ve set up for foreigners. I’ll arrange for you to get there.”

“No, I can’t go anywhere. I need to stay here…with my father.”

“Beth, I can help you to identify him officially, but that’s all. There’s nothing more that you can do for him now. You have other work to do.”

“You’re right. I need to keep looking.”

“You do, but first you need to get to the camp so you can rest, sleep, and get some food. It’s only a tent, but you’ll have shelter and something to eat.”

“I don’t need to stop, I’m okay.”

“You won’t be okay if you don’t stop. Look, there are people there who can help. They keep track of all the information, and new evacuees are coming in all the time. Who knows, your mother and brother might be there already.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Lots of displaced foreigners are being gathered there before they get evacuated home.”

“If I go there, will they make me leave, will they send me home?” I wasn’t going to leave until I’d found Mom and Sam.

“Beth, I don’t think anybody could make you do anything you don’t want to do. Just go there and let them help you. Besides, it’s a very hopeful place, the best place possible for them to be.”

I knew what he meant. If I found my mother and brother there, it would be because they were alive and well.

They had to be panic-stricken worrying about my father. I just hoped Sam was being strong and helping Mom get through this. All this stress and hardship and lack of sleep would be playing havoc with her condition. As hard as this was for me, it had to be much harder for them. At least now I knew about my father. That meant that when I did find them I’d have to be the one to break the news. What would I say? How would I tell them?

“They’ve established satellite phone links at the camp so I know you’ll be able to call home,” Seth said. “You can let people know what happened, let them know if there’s anything they can do to help.”