I was in and out of consciousness for the next few hours. I woke up once to the feel of warm water on my skin, a soft hand cleaning my wounds. It wasn't the first time Dannie and I had been naked together, but it was way more intimate than the last. I woke up again as she carried me from the shower to the bedroom, and lowered me gently onto Despre's bed. It would normally have been embarrassing being carried by a woman. I was too exhausted to care. When I woke up the third time, Danelle was cradling me against her, and running her hand along my bald scalp. We were still naked, and the warmth of her body was comforting. "How are you feeling?" she asked. I took a deep breath and coughed. She handed me a towel that was already stained with my blood. I spit some fresh drops out onto it. "I've been better." I looked through the glass roof at the thousands of stars above us. "You were right. It is pretty amazing." She put her arms around me and gave me a gentle hug. "I thought you were going to die, you were shivering so badly.
