“It will get warm in about an hour.” Galloway pointed at the pinking sky. “The sun is about to make an appearance.”
Securing my plait with a hair-tie from around my wrist, my silver and gold bangles jangled. Every second the sky brightened helped switch my attention from kissing to the plastic-wrapped leaves of our tree.
I cleared my throat. “I have a question.”
Galloway looked at me. “Which is?”
“What exactly is that for?” I pointed at the funnel and the small catchment of liquid. The leaves were cramped in the tight space and condensation only increased as the day grew warmer.
“It’s a lifesaver, that’s what that is.”
My throat panged with thirst. “It makes water?”
Galloway nodded.
“How does it work?”
“I’ll show you.” He turned to Conner. “Where did the poncho go that your sister found in Estelle’s pockets?”
“I’ll get it.” Conner jogged toward the baby-blue packet that I’d bought in Texas. He ducked and touched his sleeping sister’s forehead before making his way back to us. With every movement, he was very aware of his broken wrist.
Passing the poncho to Galloway, Conner asked, “What are you going to do with it?”
Galloway clutched the packet, using his crutch to hop to a free branch. “Demonstration time.” He ripped open the packet and shook out the poncho. Passing his crutch to Conner, Galloway stretched and grabbed an armful of the tree, struggling to wrap the thin raincoat around it.
“Here, let me help.”
He gave me a dark look as I tugged the branch, giving him room to secure it. Wrapping it tight, he used another piece of my singlet to tie the ends together at the top.
“Damn, I’ve run out of ties.”
Thinking quickly, I pulled the elastic from my hair and handed it over.
A second passed before he accepted it. Pinching the plastic, he formed another funnel, allowing space for water to slide to the bottom.
The moment it was done, he nodded with satisfaction.
Conner asked, “So...now what?”
“Now, we do nothing.”
“But I’m thirsty.”
Galloway chuckled. “You and me both, kid.”
“What are you doing?” Pippa appeared, her little arms wrapped around her goosebump-decorated body.
I welcomed her against my side. “Making water.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened. “Good because I want some.”
“Galloway was just explaining how it works.” I looked at him expectantly.
“I’m not sure exactly.” He cleared his throat. “When wrapped in something non-breathable, the leaves perspire and it condenses into fresh water.”
Wow.
I cocked my head. “How?”
“Not sure how. Photosynthesis or something. The man I worked for used this method when we’d forgotten to take the large canteen. We’d gone logging and there were no streams or lakes to fill up our empty bottles. He had some clear tarp in the back of the truck, and after wrapping it like I have, we returned to work. It took a few hours but by the time we stopped for the day, we had enough to keep us going until we got home.”
“That’s amazing.”
“But what if there’s an easier way?” Conner asked. “Do you think there’s a river or something?”
Galloway looked at me. “Estelle? You guys have explored the perimeter twice. You know this place best.”
Me?
Hardly.
Crawling around in the storm then foraging for crutches didn’t make me an expert. Yes, I’d walked the coastline, but I hadn’t bushwhacked through the dense interior.
Could there be a waterfall?
I wished there was, but I didn’t think we were that lucky. I’d seen no mangroves, no soggy ground, no trickle.
Three hopeful faces watched me. I had nothing to offer. “I don’t think so.”
We fell silent, consumed with hunger and thirst and the desire to find some way off this damn island.
“Anyway.” I broke the nasty silence. “Soon, we’ll have purified water thanks to Galloway.”
He gave me an awkward smile. He couldn’t take a compliment. He couldn’t allow himself one moment of pleasure for doing something so life changing.
Why is that?
My heart swelled at his self-defacing attitude. “This is huge, Galloway.”
He shook his head.
“You just kept us alive as if it’s no big deal,” I said. “I would never have known how to do that.”
He shrugged uncomfortably. “Don’t mention it.”
“When can I have some?” Pippa reached up and pinched the funnel where a couple of droplets had rolled.
Galloway touched her head. “Not for a while. The tree isn’t fast like a tap. It takes a few hours for the leaves to sweat.”
My blood warmed as Galloway tucked hair behind her ear. He came across so angry and gruff but beneath that lurked a man I’d caught glimpses of, a man I wanted to know.
He was the man I’d kissed.
He was the man I wanted.
Pippa squirmed. “But I’m thirsty.”
“I already said that.” Conner slung an arm over her shoulders, careful not to touch her scabbing wound. “Copycat.”
Pippa stuck out her tongue. “I’m hungry, too. Did you say that already?”
He patted his concave stomach. “That goes without saying. I could kill for a lasagne.”