Fortunately, there were no storms, but the days grew long and numbered as she slowly drifted, the sea an endless desert. She had no food and no water. She was so angry at herself for not thinking to gather provisions before she left. She was too anxious to leave, to afraid she would be caught.

She began to hate the color blue and the smell of the salty sea sickened her. She lay in the longboat curled up, the waves rocking her gently. She slept most of the time, waiting for either death or rescue. She wondered briefly if Nathaniel thought about her, but pushed it quickly from her mind. She did not want to think of him. It was his fault she was in this situation. Really, it was her fault. She should have just stayed with Fredrick. Since the day she left, she had met not but misfortune. No, her gifts were good. That was the only thing. Just one day out of months. If it were not for bad luck, she would have no luck at all.

Had it been two weeks? Three? She did not know. She just wished she would die or be found or something. She was on her stomach, her face buried in her arms. She felt so weak, so helpless. She was stupid. She was so stupid. Maybe she was a slave after all. Unintelligent and unable to make decisions for herself, good decisions anyway. Now she could not even care for herself.

She sat up and instantly felt even more ill. Her head hurt, and her vision was blurry for a minute. She gazed into the foamy water, her reflection murky. What would drowning be like? How would the cold weight of the ocean feel with her airless lungs soon filling with the briny liquid? Would it be painless? Would it hurt worse than starvation? Would it be quicker? She remembered reading about it, and she tried to recall the information. Her head hurt so much. Then she remembered something. She remembered reading that death occurred by either lack of oxygen or as a result of cardiac arrest from the lowered body temperature.

She dipped her hand in the water to feel the temperature. She instantly pulled it out, it was freezing. She had read about cardiac arrest as well. A heart attack was said to be painful. Would she black out from lack of air before that happened?

She seriously weighted her choices. She could jump in and drown, she did not know how to swim ,after all. She lacked to much information to decide properly. There was to much risk. She did not want to die in pain. May hap a shark devoured her? That might be worse than drowning or starving. She was already starving and could easily imagine how that would feel before the end. Being torn apart by the razor sharp teeth of a shark would be most unpleasant way to die.

No, she should not be thinking this way. She had gotten this far, curse it. She had escaped Fredrick, and now Nathaniel. She would not die here. She would survive and be free. Nothing and no one would stop her. She had found something called the Holy Bible in Fredrick's study. She read all of it and found it enlightening. She had never prayed before, but she felt now was a good time. She prayed to God that, against all odds, to grant her the strength to hold on or that she would find a ship or land soon.

Suddenly, an enormous wave knocked her out of the boat and over turned it on her. It sent her and the boat rolling, the water rushing down her throat as she screamed. She finally hit land, the boat falling on top of her with the crash of a wave. The impact hit her hard enough to pump the water out of her lungs.

She rolled on her side, and coughed into the mucky, wet sand. Her eyes and lungs burned and she was sure to have bruising from the cursed boat. She lay on the shore, for awhile, angrier than even. Then, it finally occurred to her where she was. She was on land! God be praised! Thank you Lord!

She was weak and her body protested as she forced herself to her feet. Food was what she desperately needed and fresh water as well. Meagerly, she made her way to the woodland that was only just in eyesight of the shore. It was hot, and the dry sand burned her feet and the shells pricked and cut them. The sun beat down on her, making her light headed, but still she walked. If it came to it, she would crawl.

Despite the heat, she felt cold. Her body shivered against her will, a fever had begun its course. From one desert to another and now, she was sick. But, the forest was close and it would only take time. Was it just a delusion? May hap it was, but she continued toward it nevertheless.

After she crossed half the distance, her legs gave out. She was nearly falling asleep on her feet, so she did not even raise her arms to catch her fall. Graciously, she landed on the side of her face, but the shells still cut her; adding scars to the unmarred side of her face. She tried to get back up, but her body would not respond. Not even her fingers would move.

This was it. It was really over. She was going to die here. After all her efforts, in spite of everything bad that had happened and the distance she was from Fredrick, this was the end. She could not even cry and she could not feel anything. She was so tired, but she knew if she slept now; she might not wake again.