‘Show your eyes.’
Beth groaned, and rolled onto her side. Her arm was consumed by fire. Is it still attached, or been wrenched off completely? No - amputating it with a blunt knife couldn’t hurt this much.
‘It’s going to be long to fix. I asked nicely to get better quick fast.’ Galen’s soft voice whispered close to her ear.
‘Not so quick,’ Beth said through clenched teeth.
There was a pause. Galen was clearly pondering her comment. Suddenly the heat began to fade; it cooled to a slow roast. A sob of relief pushed past her lips and tears dripped from her nose to the hot metal deck. There were voices now - male, loud and agitated.
I need to show I’m not actually dead; at least, not any more. The thought gave her pause. She remembered watching them hook her body from the water. The implications were too vast to contemplate; too weird.
I’ll review the experience later - before I decide what it means, if anything.
She rolled slowly onto her back and through narrowed eyes counted half a dozen men. Skin baked to cocoa, they stared at her, arguing in what she assumed was Hindi. Confusion receded. We have to get off this boat.
Galen was crouched close by and looked to be in rude health, though thoroughly soaked and barefoot. The nearest man, whom Beth took for the captain, was shaking his head violently. He started to shout and made wild gestures at the bridge high above; he didn't seem overly pleased that she was alive.
Beth gazed up in awe. Wow, that is one hell of a bridge. It looks a mile high from here. She shook as she reached for Galen with her good arm. She’d counted on his healing powers to kick in for them both, but the jump now seemed outlandishly stupid. She’d no right to risk his life or hers so recklessly. Guilt burgeoned up from her gut, but she pushed it back.
I don’t have the time for that now; I have to get us far away from here. There are too many witnesses. As she drooped against the hot metal side, she realised she was naked to the waist. She checked the cable was secure around her hips and hoped the money pouch was still attached. Beth looked around for some cover and the captain hurled a ragged t-shirt at her. It stank of fish and body odour.
‘Thank you,’ she pulled it on. ‘Lucky this boat was near, huh?’ she asked Galen, who was helping her injured arm through the t-shirt. She couldn’t seem to move it. There was a thick red and black crust encircling her bicep, but the burning sensation had eased further.
‘I nearly landed on top! The mans helped me find you. It was hard to feel...in the water. Mum, don’t you jump out of a train.’ Galen’s sweet clear face was serious. Beth couldn’t hold back a painful chuckle.
‘I promise never, ever, to do it again my darling. I’m sorry I did it. It wasn’t very clever and I shouldn’t have let those men scare me into it.’ Not that she’d had many options. She couldn’t risk Galen ever having to defend her directly again from their pursuers.
I never want him to be in that position. To use force against others isn’t in his nature, he’s just a baby.
‘Excuse me, sir. Will you take us to shore?’ Beth struggled to her feet and the crew stumbled away from her. She was glad they were wary.
‘Shore.’ She pointed to the distant riverbank. The bridge was fading into the distance, but they still had to get out of town.
How are those guys following us? What do I do now?
Their passports, change of clothes, everything had been left on the train. The thought of getting false identities, fake passports and goodness knew what else was daunting. She wouldn’t know where to begin.
The captain beat his head with his palms and slumped down on the gunwale. He peered off to the distant shore Beth had indicated.
He probably thinks he’s going to get into trouble, but seems to have calmed down.
‘Nhava Sheva,’ he said. He flapped his arms in resignation, gabbled at his crew and the boat turned.
‘Thank
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