Chapter Two AkraThe sun stood out, full and round on the horizon. The hot burn woke Mai. A whisper, just a whisper of her mother’s voice saying goodbye was remembered. Then the minister’s pointing finger came to mind. Mai smoothed away her sleepiness, circling her face with her hands three times. Waking didn’t feel the same without water over her face, or having a lizard sprawled out over it either. But water was precious out here in the desert and they had very little of it. Barka had been left behind, it was safer for him that way. Mai stretched out her arms, happy to be awake, and ready to truly begin their journey.
The previous night, Mai and Long had slept in the desert with little more than the clothes on their backs, a small amount of food, and a pouch of water. They had left their
