868
1936
Sugar awoke when the sun rose above the flowering Chinese plum trees – as she had each day in their new home on the edge of the international compound in Anqing.
She smiled, joyful, remembering the child growing in her womb, then dreading that she might be nauseous again.
The hallway door opened and Alex walked in, carrying a tray of strong coffee and a glass of what appeared to be water. Sugar drank the water first, but its bitter taste caused her to gag.
“What is that?” she asked.
“Quinine,” Alex said. “Drink it all. It’s good for the baby.”