How long had she left him alone? Moriah looked at the chronometer. Less than an hour had elapsed, but she remembered how he'd burned with fever. Guilt and concern cut through her. She hurried to his cabin. He lay very still on his bunk, but she heard his labored breathing from the entry. He thrashed when she touched him, but he didn't wake up. He felt even hotter, if that were possible. She re-wet the cloth and wiped his face. The water seemed to evaporate as soon as it touched his skin. Panic elevated her heart rate. He was burning up. Surely he wouldn't die. She knew nothing about illness, only that this was serious, enough to incapacitate him. She had the sudden thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to escape. But, no, she couldn't do that. Sabin had treated her wound from the Jaccians. He had spared her life when she discovered the Shielder colony, and he had protected Celie. Every shred of honor within her demanded that she help him now.
