By early the next morning, the rain had stopped. Everyone awoke early, anxious to check traps, draw fresh water, and prepare for their journey to Mercury.
The first thing Hayden did was check on Brita.
Brita was having migraines, just like she always had. But to Hayden, it looked like what was really wrong with her was that she’d lost the will to live.
She looked up into Hayden’s eyes.
“Yes?” Hayden said.
“Do you have any more medicine?”
Hayden shook his head.
“The last one you gave me didn’t help.”
“That was an iodine pill, to help protect your thyroid from the radiation.”
Brita’s face crumpled.
Would she even make it to Mercury? Niko had said it was a five-hour walk, and with the rain gone, the heat was back in full force.
He didn’t have much time to think about it. Niko and S
