Behind her, she heard Nara's breathing change — the specific, slight change of someone who had just witnessed something and had identified what they felt about it and had decided not to share that identification.
Preet walked faster.
The sound arrived first.
The specific, low, continuous sound of moving water — not the ocean, which was always present somewhere behind everything on this island. A different water. Fresh. Moving. The specific, clean sound of something falling.
"'Is that—'" Gia said.
Behind her, she heard Nara's breathing change — the specific, slight change of someone who had just witnessed something and had identified what they felt about it and had decided not to share that identification.
Preet walked faster.
The sound arrived first.
The specific, low, continuous sound of moving water — not the ocean, which was always present somewhere behind everything on this island. A different water. Fresh. Moving. The specific, clean sound of something falling.
