Marit crossed with the goose book in her personal bag.
Iven saw its bright cover when she opened the bag to find her water cup. The girl from the neighbouring household saw it too. She had been waiting beside her father under the same lamp, trying to stay awake without admitting she was tired.
“Does the boat sink?” she asked.
“Not where you expect,” Marit said.
“Can I see?”
Marit looked at the guide. Their group still had a few minutes before the call. She opened the book to the first picture and held it where the girl could see without leaving her father’s side.
The goose stood on a crate, addressing a crew of animals who plainly did not share his confidence.
Iven could remember the picture’s effect on him years earlier. He did not try to make the girl’s pleasure into evidence that the night was healing. It was a girl looking at a funny book while the adults around her carried a much harder day.
