The Dance of Time

"No," he said. "We'll send a very small force—five men—with all the water they need to cross the rest of the Thar without stopping. They might be able to reach Ajmer in time to bring a Rajput relief expedition, if Rana Sanga's already gotten the word there."

Ashot winced. Abbu shook his head.

"That's a lot of 'ifs,' general," said the Armenian. "If they can cross in time. If the Rajputs are already prepared. If they'll listen to a handful of men in the first place. If they can get back in time with water before the rest of us are dead."

"The first 'if' is the easiest, too," Abbu added. "And it stinks. Five men, crossing as fast as they can... It would still take them at least five days. Another week—at least—before they could get back with enough water to make a difference. That's twelve days, general, at best."

Belisarius had already figured out the deadly arithmetic. If anything, Abbu was being optimistic—one of the few times Belisarius could ever remember him being so. Belisarius himself thought the minimum would be two weeks.

In the desert, in the hot season, a man without water could not survive for more than two days before he started to die. And he died quickly, thereafter. Maybe three days, depending on the temperature. That assumed he found shelter from the sun and didn't exert himself. If he did, death would come much sooner.

If the Roman expedition shared all their remaining water evenly—and gave none to the horses—they'd run out in three days. At most, the moisture still seeping into the bottom of the well might provide them with another day's water. Then...

They might last a little over a week, all told. Not two weeks, certainly. Probably not even twelve days.

There was no way to go back or to go forward, either. The last well was four days behind them, and it would be almost dry anyway after their recent use of it. The next well was at least two and a half days' travel, according to Abbu, for a party this size. Since they had to water the horses also, while traveling, they'd run out within the first day. The last two days they'd be without water.

So would the horses.

They'd never make it. Not in the Thar, in the hot season.

"I understand the arithmetic," Belisarius said harshly. "It's still our only chance."

The second decision, then.

"You'll lead the party, Ashot. Abbu, you go with him. Pick three of your bedouin for the remaining men."

Ashot's eyes widened, a little. Abbu's didn't.

"You're not going yourself?"

"No. I'll stay here with the men."

"But—"

"Be off, Ashot. There's no time to waste. And there will be no argument. No discussion at all."

He turned and started walking away from the well.

Are you sure? asked Aide, uncertainly.

Yes. These men have been with me for years. I'm not leaving them to die. Not that, whatever else.

Aide said nothing. His own survival was not at stake. There were things that could destroy Aide, Belisarius knew, although the jewel had always been reticent about explaining exactly what they were. But merely being without water for a few weeks—or even a few years—was not one of them.

When Ashot returned, most likely he would find Aide in a pouch hanging from a corpse's neck. But the jewel would be as alive as ever.

Working through Ousanas would be the easiest for you, I think, Belisarius mused. But he's probably not influential enough. You might try Rao, although there might be the same problem. The best would be Damodara, if you could reach him.

I don't want to talk about it.

I understand. Still—

I don't want to talk about it.

* * *

Ashot and Abbu left after sundown. Once they were gone, Belisarius addressed his bucellarii and the remaining Arab scouts.

"We don't have much of a chance, men. But it'll be improved if we set up good shelters from the sun. So let's work on that tonight. Also, we want to eat as little as possible. Eating uses up water, too."

One of the cataphracts asked: "Are you going to set up a rationing system?"

Several of the Arabs who heard the question started shaking their heads.

"No," said Belisarius firmly. "Once we make an even division of what's left, drink whenever you're thirsty. If fact, after a few hours, drink something even if you're not thirsty."

That cataphract and a few others seemed confused. Apparently, they didn't have much experience with the desert.