"Oh, you wouldn't do that!" Fright showed on her face.

"Why wouldn't I?" Craig challenged.

"Because--oh, because--"

"What have you got to offer me that is worth a cup of water?" he
demanded.

"What have I got that you want?" she answered. Her eyes were fixed
hungrily on Craig's face.

"What have you got that I want! Oh, damn it, girl--" The big man twisted
uncomfortably. He avoided her gaze, looking instead at the glassy sea.

"Is it time to wake up?" a new voice asked. It was the voice of Mrs.
Miller, who had been lying in the middle of the boat. She raised herself
to her knees, looked around at the glassy sea. "I thought--" she
whispered. "For a moment I thought I was home again. I guess I must have
been--dreaming." She pressed her hands against her eyes to shut out the
sight of the sea.

"Is it time to have a drink?" she said, looking at Craig.

"No," he said.

"But we always have a drink in the morning," Mrs. Miller protested.

"Not this morning," Craig said.

"May I ask why? Are we--are we out of water?"

"We still have water," Craig answered woodenly.

"Then why can't I have some? I--well, I guess I don't need to tell you
why I need a drink."

The reason she needed water was obvious. Worse than anyone else in the
boat, Mrs. Miller needed a drink.

"Sorry," Craig shook his head.

"Why?"

"Well, if you must know," Craig said uncomfortably. "Margy and I have
decided to keep all the water for ourselves."

"Damn you, Craig!" Margy Sharp said quickly.

"You two have decided--to keep all the--water?" Mrs. Miller said slowly,
as if she was trying to understand the meaning of the words. "But
what--what about the rest of us?"

"It's too bad for the rest of you," Craig said. He was aware that Margy
Sharp was gazing frantically at him but he ignored her. Picking up a tin
cup, he held it under the faucet in the side of the keg. A thin stream
of water trickled out. He filled the cup half full, and handed it to
Margy Sharp.

"Drink up," he said. "Double rations for you and me."

* * * * *

The girl took the cup. She looked at Craig, then glanced quickly at Mrs.
Miller. Her parched lips were working but no sound came forth. She
looked at the water and Craig could see the movement of her throat as
she tried to swallow.

Mrs. Miller said nothing. She stared at Craig and the girl as if she did
not understand what she was seeing.

"Damn you, Craig," Margy Sharp s