A Long Walk to Water

Southern Sudan, 2008

The men from the jeep, after talking to the chief, locate two trees and pronounce that this is the place where they’ll find water. Nya thinks they are crazy. There is never water there except when it rains.

Southern Sudan, 1985

Salva feels how little is in his water gourd as he contemplates sharing with the unlucky victims of the sun. His uncle tells him no, that as young as he is, he would never survive giving up some of his water. A few of the men are revived from the water, but their five dead companions must be left to the vultures, there being no time to bury them.

After the third day in the desert, they will soon be approaching Itang, the Ethiopian refugee camp. Uncle tells Salva that he will only be taking him to the camp, but then he’ll have to return to the fighting. When Salva asks about his parents, Uncle tells him their whole village was destroyed with few survivors. Salva realizes he is going to be alone, without family, at the refugee camp. Uncle assures him that he will find many friends who will need him as much as he needs them.