Assa thought this was a terrible thing to say. How could people condemn others to being left behind like this?
She walked up to the captain and grabbed him by the lapels. The captain, startled, moved to push Assa away, then, when he saw she was a young woman, relaxed a little and endured her uncivil manner.
We’re your people, said Assa. You can’t refuse us.
Bah! said the captain. It’s not me that refuses you. It’s the boat. It isn’t big enough. If everyone who wants to get on one does, it would sink. How about that? Is that what you want your escape to be? A grave in the ocean?
Assa held his lapels as long as she could. Her hands began trembling. The captain put his hands on Assa’s wrists and gently moved them from him down to her sides.
People are going over the mountains, he said. Y
