What purpose did it serve to lay gasping like this, dying cruelly without a hope of rescue, when a shorter way was at my side?
I had not drank for a day and a half.

I was past active reviling; my head swam; my reason was clouded.

No! I would not stand it any longer.

Once more I would take Heru and poor Si the cup that was but a mockery after all, then fix my sword into the ground and try what next the Fates had in store for me.
So once again the leathern mug was fetched and carried through the prostrate guards to where the Martian girl lay, like a withered flower, upon her couch.

Once again I moistened those fair lips, while my own tongue was black and swollen in my throat, then told Si, who had had none all the afternoon, to drink half and leave half for Heru.