Dang, Jenn thought. Mom nailed that one.

“How long’s it been?” she asked Billy a police shieldcould hold me upside down and drainmy gutschange your mind .

“About ten minutes.”

“I can’t wait anymore. Let’s go back.”

“All right.”

When they found the puddle again, Jenn was ready to drop to her knees and start slurping, butBilly held her back. He swirled aside the mold, covered the open mouth of his water bottle with hishand, then filled it from the bottom of the puddle, half hoping the water would be a little lessbacteria-ridden beneath the muck. He handed his bottle to Jenn, then filled hers the same way.

“I always knew you’d kill me,” Jenn said. They clinked their bottles, said “Cheers,” and started togulp, trying not to gag.

They drank their bottles dry, refilled them, and started walking west again into the wilderness.