Chapter 13: The Mountains RumbleMarika almost panicked when she opened her eyes and bolted upright. The light returned as soon as she sat up. She held her head in her hands and then shook her head. Last night had been a disaster. She had vomited part of the pasty mess. How could anyone eat that?
She ran into what her father had designated a cleansing room and used the sit-down facility and then the faucet that flowed water when hands were held underneath. She took a quick glance in the mirror. Her hair and clothes were a mess. It didn't matter. They had to descend down to the prairie and she had a message for the Teacher.
At the bottom of the ramp, she paused and touched the spaces she had before. The ramp folded into the machine and the door slid shut.
“Goodbye, Papa. Thank you.” The w
