Sea of Gratitude by Kate McMahon

Author:Kate McMahon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kate McMahon

‘Okay, so it was a long walkway, undercover, but mostly glass so you could see everything around you?’ Mel says, whispering into the darkness.

‘Yeah, but you can’t see into the tunnel from the outside,’ Carolyn says, her head heavy on her pillow. She barely has the energy to keep her eyes open, let alone for this interrogation about her impromptu visit to the favela. ‘There’s some kind of mirrored stuff on the outside.’

Jaspa is sitting up in her bed, leaning against the wall and plaiting her hair over one shoulder. ‘I’m confused. Why was the tunnel there?’

‘For the tourists of this fancy hotel to see the favela,’ Carolyn mumbles.

‘Wait.’ Mel props herself up on one elbow. ‘It’s so the rich people can watch the poor people from the safety of a tunnel?’

‘Err, yeah, I guess,’ Carolyn says.

‘That is so freakin’ wrong on so many levels,’ Mel spits.

‘Shh,’ Jaspa says. ‘You’ll wake Mum and Dad.’

‘It’s like a favela zoo,’ Mel continues. ‘A putrid display of privilege at the expense of the less fortunate. I seriously want to vomit.’

Carolyn shrugs in the dark. She hasn’t thought of it like that. If anything, she feels more connected to what she saw from the tunnel than to the tourists who use it for amusement. ‘We did see a robbery,’ she adds sleepily. ‘Right in front of us.’

Jaspa gasps, and Mel sits upright. ‘What the heck?’

‘Yeah, fully. Thais said it’s pretty common; the favelas don’t have cops. A guy walked past another guy, then walked back past him again and snatched the wallet outta his back pocket, then bolted.’ It’s not the first time Carolyn’s seen thieves in action. The crew of guys who live in the shack next to her apartment block are forever doing dodgy acts, sometimes in full daylight for all to see, even if you don’t want to.

‘I can’t believe Thais grew up there,’ Jaspa says, finishing her plait and sliding down under the covers.

‘It’s so hectic, such a world away from our reality,’ Mel says.

Maybe for you, Carolyn thinks. She rolls over and surrenders to sleep.

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