Page 37 (1/2)

Thewhile with the bubbles of rain breaking out in his whitened hair andfrom his wrists and his neck

"Pickard! We're leaving We're going on Follow us"

The rain dripped from Pickard's ears

"Do you hear me, Pickard!"

It was like shouting doell

"Pickard!"

"Leave him alone," said Simmons

"We can't go on without him"

"What'll we do, carry hiood to us or himself You knohat he'll do? He'll just stand here and drown"

"What?"

"You ought to know that by now Don't you know the story? He'll just stand here with his head up and let the rain come in his nostrils and his mouth He'll breathe the water"

"That's how they found General Mendt that ti the rain His lungs were full of water"

The lieutenant turned the light back to the unblinking face Pickard's nostrils gave off a tiny whispering wet sound

"Pickard!" The lieutenant slapped the face

"He can't even feel you," said Simmons "A few days in this rain and you don't have any face or any legs or hands"