“The light outside seemed to be surging up against the window seeping through, and smearing the faces of the people facing it with a coat of yellow oil.”

“If a ghost were to consider climbing in the window, or seeping through the plaster, he might think twice about facing Maria.”

“But still, sometimes, in the heart of winter when the light outside seemed yellow- sleepy, like a cat curled up on a sofa...”

“The soy is seeping through the material like a BP oil slick in a Louisiana swamp.”

“The thing about being catapulted into a whole new life--or at least, shoved up so hard against someone else's life that you might as well have your face pressed against their window--is that it forces you to rethink your idea of who you are. Or how you might seem to other people.”

“On previous trips the pirates have stolen valuables, killed people, raped and abducted girls...the women work frantically to ugly themselves up by smearing black charcoal paste on their faces and bodies. With ashen faces, some of the younger, prettier girls reach into the bags we have vomited into and scoop out handfuls of it to smear on their hair and clothes. ”