'No. Magic might relieve the symptoms, but the disease would still be there, andwhen the magic wore off, the sickness would return. Here. Take it! I don't wantyou two to say a word about it, ever, but I was once trained in the art ofmedicine. And where I come from, a doctor is twenty times superior to any you'llfind in Sanctuary.'

Masha studied his dark shiny face. He looked as if he might be about forty yearsold. The high broad forehead, the long straight nose, the well-shaped mouthwould have made him handsome if his cheeks weren't so thick and his jowls sobaggy. Despite his fatness, he looked intelligent; the black eyes below thethick bushy eyebrows were keen and lively.

'I can't afford to experiment with Kheem,' she said.

He smiled, perhaps an acknowledgement that he detected the uncertainty in hervoice.

'You can't afford not to,' he said. 'If you don't use this, your child will die.And the longer you hesitate, the closer she gets to death. Every second counts.'

Masha took the envelope and returned to the water pitcher. She set the spoondown without spilling its contents and began working as Smhee called out to herhis instructions. He stayed with K-heem, one hand on her forehead, the other onher chest. Kheem breathed rapidly and shallowly.

Wallu protested. Masha told her to shut up more harshly than she'd intended.Wallu bit her lip and glared at Smhee.

K-heem was propped up by Smhee, and Masha got her to swallow the greenish water.Ten minutes or so later, the fever began to go down. An hour later, according tothe sandglass, she was given another spoonful. By dawn, she seemed to be rid ofit, and she was sleeping peacefully.

7

Meantime, Masha and Smhee talked in low tones. Wallu had gone to bed, but not tosleep, shortly before sunrise. Eevroen had not appeared. Probably he was