ETHAN REGARDED THE disgusting, sodden sludge that comprised his river-soaked packets of food. At least clean water wasn’t an immediate problem. The supply bag contained his small water tank that remained intact. Yet he’d grown so hungry he knew he would have to try to eat too.
He dug a wet packet out from the mess. Its original contents had been dried algae, and the stuff seemed the least affected by the water. The algae was supposed to be rehydrated before you ate it anyway. Ethan dipped his fingers into the green goo and lifted some to his mouth.
He didn’t much like algae when it was at its best, let alone when it had spent days soaking in dirty water. He swallowed the slimy stuff without chewing it, grimacing as it slipped—cold and glutinous—down his throat. At first he didn’t feel to
