‘Oh. You have altitude sickness.’ Zarita came over to the bed as Teya fell back onto it, and peered at her with a professional eye. ‘You’ll be fine soon. It happens to all the tourists when they first get here. We are very high up in Cusco. Exactly three thousand three hundred and ten metres above sea level.’ The kid seemed to know all about it. ‘But don’t worry. It usually only lasts a few days.’
‘Great. I’ll be dead in a few days.’
‘Oh no. You won’t die.’ Zarita laughed. ‘Mum can make you some special tea, out of coco leaves. It really helps.’
‘I feel terrible.’ Her head was starting to throb, and she hoped she wasn’t going to throw up. How embarrassing would that be.
‘Go get mum,’ Zarita said, and Emelina ran out to call Papan.
Papan came in a few minutes with hot coco tea and some
