Cassie DePeckel

Harrington is all the hungrier because somehow the food in the camp has gotten worse.

A month ago, the Commandant cut their meals to two per day.

And this morning, Harrington's porridge had dead worms in it.

The nurses' lending library has brought in some money, but not enough to buy a whole meal's worth of additional food.

At last, Commandant Sadaki Kaneshi opens the door of the administrative building and ascends the steps.

The guards near the boxes snap to attention.

Kanishi approaches the boxes and takes out a knife that's fastened to his belt.

He slices into one box, tears open a package inside, and paws through it.

He holds up tins of food.

Harrington's mouth waters as she reads the labels.

There's corned beef, bacon, condensed milk, even chocolate cake.

She tells herself she can't eat it all in one sitting.

Kanishi beckons toward the guards and shouts an order in Japanese.

The guards bend over and pick up the unopened boxes.

But instead of distributing the packages to the prisoners, they turn and haul the boxes inside the admin building.

The prisoners yell in protest.

Harrington calls out.

What's going on?

When do we get our packages?

The interpreter casts a glance over his shoulder.