27The humidity rose exponentially the further they travelled into the bush. Gabriela’s skin itched—with sweat, with the sand that had found its way into her clothes, with the prick of every leaf off every branch off every damn bush she’d had to push her way through on the animal track they’d followed in from the beach.
True, the lagoon wasn’t that far from the beach; if you were a bird. They’d finally cut through to the sandy fire trail and it was wider so they could walk fast, but still the track was windy, hilly, and soft sand all the way. She could barely hear the waves crashing and people shouting on the beach. To reach the lagoon they’d needed to leave the trail and find their way through the thick bush again. The walk had been long and with each step, the heat had risen.
Lael had g
