Chapter 30An immense sand dune covered with a tangled mat of Carpabrotus, a succulent commonly known as ‘pig face’, protected Asian Village 23 from ocean storms and erosion. Several rows of concrete dwellings stretched from the dune to a small freshwater lake gleaming green in bright afternoon light. Along the shore facing the village, market stalls stood empty beneath a sun-shield while a second shield shaded the play area of the adjacent school.
Trooper Reyd’s home, closest to the sand dune, appeared older and shabbier than the rest, at least from the outside. Pia stood in the shade of a wind battered ti-tree opposite the door waiting for Kaire and Reyd to appear, reluctant to enter the house even though she’d been told it wasn’t locked. The men had remained behind to secure the boat to
