Atha sat on the wooden seat of the guides' wagon-boat, waiting for Eltier to return. 

...I'll be back, he had said. Atha didn't like that he was taking such an interest in her. 

Why wouldn't he, though? Meeting someone with an immunity to the burning waters... I must be a facinating spectacle. Atha remembered the stares that had followed her and Belon as they had walked by the rest of the wagon-boats. What will happen to me now?

Atha was beginning to feel that she should discourage Eltier from paying any attention to her. There was no telling what his motives may be. Maybe I should go back to the other wagon-boat... But she couldn't get there without getting wet again, unless she allowed Eltier to carry her. And that just wouldn't do. She would have to stay here, at least for the time being.

During the next hour guides came and went, performing their various duties. Eltier did come back at the end of that hour, and brought with him Atha's belongings.

"I thought you might need this," he said, handing up her blanket, the two poles, and the length of rope. "It may get chilly tonight." She was surprised and touched by his thoughtfulness, but then reminded herself that she needed to keep him at a distance.

"Thank you," she mumbled, then turned and put the poles and rope on the seat behind her, draping the blanket around her shoulders. With the sun gone down it was indeed getting colder.

"You're welcome," he said, then climbed up and removed his waterproof clothing. He then went into the wagon-boat, returning a few moments later, handing Atha a bowl of gruel and a cup of water. "Sorry," he said with a shrug, sitting beside her with his own meager meal. "Even the guides have to eat this stuff."

"It's fine, thank you." To avoid speaking any further, she ate her gruel slowly, hoping that he would finish before her and leave. He did down the food and water quickly, but continued to just sit there. 

Apparently she couldn't get rid of him so easily. 

When she finished he took her bowl, spoon, and cup away, handing them to another guide inside the wagon-boat. Then he sat back down beside her. There were a few minutes of silence before he spoke.

"So you lied to me," Eltier said, turning his gaze on her.

"What?" she asked, startled by the blunt statement.

"At the water line that day, you said you didn't touch the water. You lied."

"Yes, I did. But I'm not sorry for it." 

He chuckled. "Most people are sorry when they lie. Especially when they get caught." He raised an eyebrow, and she realized that he was teasing her.

"Well, I'm not. What would you have done if I had told you the truth?" That puzzled expression crossed his face again.

"I don't know. I probably wouldn't have believed you." Silence again, but only for a moment. "How is it possible?"

Everyone would be asking this question of her soon. It was time she came up with an answer to give them.

"I didn't really know, not until I saw Belon in the water. The parts of him that had stayed under the water didn't blister. So I thought, I just have to keep him under longer."

"But how did you become immune?" Atha stiffened. The memories came flooding back again. She ducked her head, hoping to hide her emotions from Eltier. But he was more perceptive than she thought.

"Are you alright? I'm so sorry, I'm being incredibly nosey aren't I? If you don't want to talk about it, I understand."

Do I? I've never talked about it... to anyone. Atha thought back to everything he had done. 'Saving' her at the water line. Being the first to get out of his harness to rescue Belon. His concern for both her and the little boy.

Atha turned back towards him, her eyes seeking out his. Eltier just looked back, curiosity the only thing she saw.

"Years ago... I nearly drowned in burning water. By some miracle, it didn't burn me when I finally got out." Atha took a deep breath, then let it out shakily. "Ever since I've been able to touch the water unharmed. I thought I must have some sort of immunity to it."

"...So you didn't know that you could save the boy when you jumped in?"

"I knew I could save him from drowning. But no, I didn't know how to save him from the water until I realized that some of his skin wasn't blistering." Is he really believing what I'm saying...? His eyes met her own steadily, so he must be. "I had been completely covered in the water for... I don't really know how long. I thought that if I could just keep Belon under long enough, it might have the same affect."

"And it worked!" Eltier exclaimed. "It's amazing! You may have discovered the way to peace, I suppose, with the water."

"But it's only worked on me and Belon, that I know of. And I was very young when it happened. What if it only works on children?"

"I'd be willing to try. But... what would happen to the people who have already had contact with the burning water?" Eltier rolled up his left sleeve, revealing a giant scab running from his shoulder down his forearm. Atha gasped at the sight. 

It must be extremely painful, especially with all the work he has to do. 

"I would risk it, if it meant that this would go away." Eltier said. Atha had never seen the effects of the burning water so close up. She lifted her hand and gently brushed her fingers over the bumpy red flesh. Eltier flinched and grabbed her hand.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" she apologized frantically.

"No, wait." He kept a hold of her hand, staring at his wounded arm. Then he placed her palm against the skin, took it away, and put it back again. 

"Strange," he whispered, then looked up into her face. "When you touch it, the pain goes away." It was quiet again as he gazed at her, his hand still over her own on his muscular arm. Atha felt heat rise to her cheeks, but she found that she was unable to move. She told herself to push him away, but her body was refusing to obey.

"Eltier!" A man shouted from inside the wagon-boat. Atha jumped, snatching back her hand. The guide that had called for Eltier peered over the side at them. "You better claim your spot before someone else does."

"Alright," Eltier called back, but he made no move to leave. He looked at Atha, that strange expression still on his face. "Are you sure that you'll be alright out here? You can have my spot, if you want." She shook her head. She was glad for the chance to not sleep inside one of the crowded wagon-boats, and especially didn't want to be squished in one with a bunch of men. "But what if it rains?" Eltier asked. Atha paused, not having thought about that. She didn't really mind being wet, but sleeping like that might be uncomfortable. She shrugged. 

I'll just have to deal with it. "I'll be fine. I have my blanket." He shook his head at her. But he seemed to accept her answer, and he climbed up into the wagon-boat, but not before flashing that smile at her.

"Goodnight," he said, then disappeared over the side. A second later his head popped up again. "I just realized that you never told me your name," he said, looking at her expectantly. 

"Oh, it's, uh... Atha."

"Goodnight, Atha." He smiled again, then disappeared once more.

"Goodnight," she whispered. Atha laid down on the wooden platform, balling up the blanket to use as a pillow. Staring up at the star-filled sky, she felt her body begin to tremble.

I've never told anyone about that. Why did I tell him? He's a complete stranger to me. But somehow... I feel a little better.

Even if I did only tell part of the story...

At day break, the guides again emerged from their wagon-boats to deal out another meal, and start the caravan moving. Eltier was one of the last of the men to disembark, and offered another wide smile to Atha as he donned his leather clothing.

"I hope you got at least a little bit of sleep," he said, to which she nodded.

"I did. It really wasn't too bad."

"I'm glad to hear that." Eltier lowered himself down into the water. "I assume you still want to stay here?"

"If that is alright."

"I imagine it is. Joel will kick you off if it's not."

"Joel?"

"The lead guide."

"Oh, right."

Eltier waved at her. "Well, I better go. We should be reaching Half-Land today, so we need to get going earlier than normal."

"Half land?" Atha had never heard the term before.

"It's a bit of dry land at about the half-way mark of the crossing." Eltier shrugged. "'Half-Land'. Guides aren't that creative."

"I didn't realize there was such a thing. I thought we'd be on the water the whole time."

"It used to be that way, but some guides a while back decided to find somewhere to rest. People could get pretty anxious on such a long crossing, but taking a couple of days off of the wagon-boats keeps everybody from going crazy."

"That's something to look forward to then."

"Eltier!" A guide called out, waving his arm. "Come on, we're already late!"

"Coming!" Eltier turned back to Atha, smiling again. "I'll see you later." Eltier waded away through the water, leaving Atha alone on the wooden seat.

The caravan began moving again, and Atha enjoyed being out in the open instead of cramped inside of one of the wagon-boats. Atha stood up on the seat and held onto the top of the side of the vehicle, grateful for a chance to stretch her legs and back.

But she couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive about reaching Half-Land. It might not be as easy to stay isolated from the other Pilgrims there...