Rice

Jesse slid an empty coconut half to me over the table. There was a wad of rice in the bottom and I tilted the makeshift bowl to look at it. A mosquito buzzed around my ear but I didn't have the energy to beat it away. I just looked at the stodgy rice.
- Can I have water? I asked.
- There's none. I'll go to get more in the morning.
- I need water. Is there any left at all?
- No, Charlie, there's no water. Hear me? None.
- Well what's the God-damned point of boiling up this rice if there's no bloody water left?
- Forget it, okay? The rice is from yesterday. I didn't boil it, I heated it over the fire.
The mosquito buzzed and I lifted my heavy arm up over my ear to shoo it.
Outside the hut the bush creaked.
- I'll go now, I said.
- Don't be stupid, Jesse said. It's dark already.
- Well? I need water, I said.
- Please? She moved her hand across the table and onto my shoulder. You're still weak, Charlie.
- I know, I said. But I'm thirsty. I can't eat unless I've had something to drink first.
- Fine. I'll go.
- I didn't mean -
- I'll go, okay? Christ.
She brushed aside the thin curtain outside the bedroom and I saw her silhouette perch on the end of the bed to strap up her thick boots. She slipped on her jacket and then came back to where I was sitting with my head low at the table.
- You'll eat the rice when I get back, she said.
- Yes, of course.
She trod over the wooden floor heavily and descended into the dark night outside. Her torch beamed awkwardly into the hut for a moment and then her sound and light disappeared into the dense jungle.
I waited, listening. The mosquito buzzed about my ear again and I twisted and jerked my head until it buzzed away. A spot behind my ear was starting to itch. I folded my arms in front of me and dropped my head between them on the table.

I was woken by footsteps behind me, and I lifted my head.
- How did you go? I asked.
She said nothing.
- I'm sorry if I was short with you.
When I looked up it wasn't Jess but a stubbly-chinned man in a strange uniform holding a rifle against his chest. He stepped around the table and stared at me as he lifted the cocount bowl, then looked down at the rice. He grunted, spat in the bowl, and placed a thick dirty finger into the rice. When he pulled it out it was covered with the soggy stuff and he sucked on it, then spat again.
- What do you want? I asked.
He turned and pulled aside the bedroom curtain and looked in there. He didn't say a word. After he circled the table again he left the hut and was swallowed by the night.

I waited until Jesse came back, still too tired to move, unable to shoo the mosquito that buzzed around my ear.