Every Storm Read Online Free Page A

handed her the first cracker, she couldn't make herself eat it. Memories having little to do with food had suddenly assailed her, and her mouth had gone dry.
    "How were those crackers?" Lionel asked, noticing how slowly she chewed.
    "They were good."
    "I've got some beef broth here for you now. Do you think you can manage it?"
    "I think so."
    She drank slowly and gratefully, smiling at him often. Lionel just smiled back and kept his hand ready as hers seemed to be shaking all of a sudden. The warm broth gone, she thanked him one last time and moved a little to let her head fall against the side of the plane.
    "Don't forget me," she saidjast one point, her eyes closed.
    Lionel didn't answer. She w^s already asleep.
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    "What's the news, Quinn?" Rigg asked him on the beach, the boat in sight.
    "I can get to that hole now, but it's going to take morehours of daylight than we have left."
    Rigg's head went back as he studied the sky. He knew they would be spending the night here, but he had hoped to be on his way in the morning. It wasn't going to happen.
    "Get back to it at first light."
    "Will do."
    Rigg turned up the beach then and made his way back into the interior of the island. He hadn't checked on Lionel and his charge all afternoon. He could fill a book with questions he had for the woman but was quite certain they would all have to wait. Some questions he was sure never to have answers for, but maybe Lionel had learned some things.
    He found that man on the edge of the clearing but no sign of Lorri.
    "She slept all afternoon," Lionel told the lieutenant.
    "Where is she now?"
    "I suspect she needed a few minutes of privacy."
    "Is she any more lucid?"
    "About the same as before she slept, and very groggy when she woke"
    "When is her supper coming?"
    "I expect Ellis any moment."
    "Head back to the Storm and gather some things to make her a little more comfortable for the night. I'll stay here until you get back."
    "Yes, sir."
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    Rigg looked around while Lionel was away. He took in the wreckage and shook his head that anyone had lived to tell about it. It crossed his mind that she was more than starved, that her brain had been affected in some other way because of the crash, and he found himself praying it wasn't so.
    Rigg was still taking it in, inspecting the damage and the small ways she tried to establish some comfort. Not until he'd nearly cut himself on a piece of sharp metal did he realize he was being watched.
    Lorri had come back from relieving herself and stood watching the man she had spoken with earlier. He was looking around, and she couldn't understand why.
    "Did you lose something?" she asked in all sincerity.
    "No, nothing like that. How are you doing?"
    Lorri came forward, thinking about his question. She felt a little better but was very thirsty and realized that she hadn't had salt in all this time.
    "I think I might go and have a drink. I'm thirsty."
    "Your supper will be coming soon."
    "I won't be long."
    Rigg almost stopped her but changed his mind. Instead he followed her. She didn't move very fast but clearly knew where she was headed. If she knew he was behind her, she gave no indication but followed a well-worn path to a rocky area. She stepped around a very small pond to where water trickled from the rocks. Here she went to her knees and drank for a long time. When she sat back, Rigg questioned her.
    "How long was it before you found this?"
    "Not long." She remembered this part well. "I was so thirsty the first day that I could smell the water. I think it might be the only reason I'm alive."
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    Without comment, Rigg stepped around to help her to her feet. The bones in her arm felt as though they would break in his hand, but none of his feelings showed on his face. "I'll let you lead the way back," he said.
    "All right."
    They stepped back into the clearing to see that Ellis had arrived with the food. He didn't speak but set the food down, dipped his head a little, and went on his way. Rigg