As she eats and sips the water, he strokes her hair back from her face, drawing the strands out of the way, soaked with sweat as they are. "Your fever is very high," he agreed. "In some cases, fever is good. It can burn the sickness out of your body. But when it is this high, it is dangerous. The cool water I've been bringing from the fountains can help. If we could soak all of you in it, that could be best - but I know our mutual love for water is low." But there was one possibility.

"When my sons were ill and we had little water at hand, I would have them lay on their stomachs and wipe their backs with what we had. It helped them, it seemed. It could help you as well."