Philomina put the last bit of food from the can into her mouth, chewed, swallowed, and breathed out. As she pursed her lips for the third time, Richard handed her another heated, opened can.
He did not ask whether she was full or wanted more, because Richard knew very well how hard this girl from the Felsher Family was to feed.
Besides, she had spent many days lying in wait outside this time, so she certainly needed even more nourishment now.
After opening another five cans for her in succession, Richard could tell from the speed of Philomina's swallowing that she was nearly done. So he opened three cans of fruit, poured them into a pot, added some water, and made her a sweet soup.
"Gulp, gulp..."
Philomina finished the soup and braced her hands on the makeshift steps behind her.
Although cans littered the ground at her feet, her belly showed no sign of swelling after eating so much. It was still flat.
Richard marveled inwardly, She really can eat anything without getting fat.
A short while later, Philomina stood up. "I'm going to take a shower."
Richard reminded her, "You shouldn't shower right after eating."
"Get me some extra bars of soap. The more, the better."
"I'll get them from logistics. Lavender-scented. Go straight to the showers. I'll fetch your clothes from your tent."
Philomina's figure dispersed and appeared in the distance, then dispersed again and appeared even farther away;
then she stopped sucking in her stomach, and her belly swelled.
Richard first fetched her clothes from Philomina's tent, then collected scented soap from logistics. Outside the women's showers, he stopped a female cleric who was about to enter and asked her to take them inside.
As he prepared to leave, Richard saw his parents and aunt approaching