"I swallowed mother's ring," Cora said flatly. "Cause they take our stuff away when we arrive so we're all equal and stuff and I didn't wanna lose her ring. Plus, sometimes the bigger boys will take things. So I swallowed it."

And kept swallowing it, every time it reappeared.

The things you did, while waiting for your rescuers that you lost a little more faith in every day that came and went without them.