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Then； pulling her up against his body as he leaned wearily against the bulkhead； he held the cup to her lips。
〃Sip it； Kasia； you've got to get warm。〃
She was so cold she could barely swallow； but she did； and he coaxed sip after sip into her。 When she craned her head round； making noises in her throat； her bloodshot； weary eyes pleading； he drank too。 That cup drained； he made another and then put the soup kettle on to warm。 He had all but fallen asleep when the steam hissing from under the lid woke him； but he caught the pot before the pressure flipped the cover off。
It couldn't have been a long rest； but it had been enough for his resilient young body； and he poured soup into two cups； then put the water kettle back on。 He'd towel her down with warm water。
That might help。
He took half of his cup of soup between struggling out of his wet…weather gear and finding clean； dry； warm clothing from the cupboard。 He got out the warmest things Kasia had brought with her and the heavy woollen socks。 These he put on her feet； after chafing them until she moaned and tried to draw them away from him； they were pink with his ministrations。
Now he had enough warm water and soaked a towel； passing it from one hand to the other before he pulled back the fur and laid it against her chilled legs for a few moments； coaxing warmth back into them。
The blueness was leaving her skin by the time he got her to drink all her soup； but she lay limply under the fur； drained by even the slight effort required to swallow。 Under them the little ship rocked gently； pulling at the anchor chain； then following the sea as it was pulled back again。 He got in the bunk beside her； covering them both with the other fur； and at last allowed himself the luxury of sleep。
An urgent need to relieve himself was what brought Robinton back to consciousness。 He couldn't move easily； partly because of the weight of Kasia across him and partly because of the resistance of tired muscles。 It took him a few moments to remember why he had slept so deeply。 Startled； he looked out of the little round porthole and saw a shadowed shore through the mist that swirled on the surface。 Little waves splashed against the side of the ship； and she rode easily on the anchor。
Trying not to groan as he forced abused muscles to work； he slid out from under Kasia and all but fell off the bunk。 Kasia didn't move； but her face wasn't quite so white and her lips were no longer blue…tinged。 He tucked the fur about her firmly and staggered up the steps； throwing open the hatch。 The air was chill and dank with fog； and the deck was littered with sea wrack。 He went hand…over…hand from the cabin housing to the rail to get to the side and relieve himself … and it was indeed a relief。
Curious； he peered through the fog to see where they had fetched up； but he could see little detail on the shore … if there was a shore。
Some of the inlets were nothing but shallow pockets eroded from the cliff by the sea。 Whatever！ This one had saved their lives。
He went below again。
The brazier had gone out； the charcoal was all ashes。 He got more and started another fire； warming his hands as the charcoal began to burn。 Kasia moaned； stirred； and then coughed。 Fearful of fever； he felt her forehead but it was cold。 So were her cheeks。 Too cold。
He filled the kettle from the cistern and put it to heat on one side of the grill over the charcoal； then set the soup kettle on the other half。 Panting from even that little bit of exercise； he sat on the edge of the bunk and took deep； slow breaths。 A shiver ran down his back； and he realized that he was almost as cold as Kasia。
When the klah was made and the soup warm enough to be helpful； he roused her； stuffing pillows and the cadsaks behind her for support。 She turned her head restlessly； batting at him； and coughed again … a little； almost apologetic bark。
〃Kasia； wake up。 You need to eat； love。〃
She shook her head； her expression petulant even with her eyes firmly shut。
He talked her eyes open and made her drink； and she gave him a weak little smile and then went back to sleep again。
That seemed a very sensible idea； so he finished his soup and climbed back under the furs。 Her arms were cold under his hands and he rubbed them； breaking off only when even that effort proved exhausting。
They slept again。
Robinton began to feel real concern when the second long sleep revived him but seemed to have little effect on Kasia's terrible lethargy。 And the cold was increasing。 The wooden hull offered no protection against the cold's insidious draining of their body warmth。 He had dressed her in the warmest clothes and heated the kettle time and time again； wrapping it well and settling it securely near her feet which； in spite of the heavy socks； were like ice to the touch。 He forced her to drink and； when she plained that her stomach was bursting with all he had made her drink； he found a way to hold her over a bucket to relieve herself。
The fog had lifted sufficiently for him to see that sheer cliffs surrounded the little cove； with no discernible track up them to find help。 But he did not feel confident in himself to sail the ship out into the sea。 Also； he had absolutely no idea where they were： on Tillek's coast or the bleak western end of High Reaches； or if they'd been blown further down the coast of Fort。
He gave them both another day and； when that dawn rose frostily clear and even klah gave him no warmth； he roused her to give him what instructions she could from the bunk。
〃If I leave the hatch open； can you see enough to tell me if I'm doing anything wrong？〃 he pleaded with her when she seemed unable to grasp his concern。 They had little food left； almost no charcoal； and without that small heat to warm the cabin they would surely freeze in the night。
〃They'll e。 Search；〃 she murmured。
〃They won't see us。 We've got to stand out to sea where the sail will be visible。〃
〃You're able for that； Rob；〃 she said with the hint of a smile。
〃You can do more than you think you can。〃
〃Then so can you；〃 he said bluntly； fear driving him。
She shook her head sadly and closed her eyes again。
He watched her； thinking how valiantly she had fought the storm。 But now the storm was over and she looked to him； her spouse； to keep his promise to care for her。 Only he hadn't thought he'd be put to such a test quite this soon。
〃All right； if that's the way it's to be； I'll just have to do。〃
With fear making his feet heavier； he thudded up on deck。 The surrounding cliffs had an ominous look about them。 What had been a refuge now seemed a prison。
〃We'll just have to get out into the open sea；〃 he told himself。 〃I can do that much。〃 He licked his finger and held it up； but felt only the faintest touch of a breeze。 Fortunately it was blowing down from the cliffs and out to sea。 They had been mightily lucky to throw down the anchor when they did； for the ship would have been mashed against the cliff had it sailed much further。
He couldn't make up his mind whether to hoist the sail first； or the anchor。 At last he decided that if the sail was up； the ship might move towards the open sea once the anchor let it。
He managed both； but was panting by the time he reached the cockpit and took the tiller bar in his hands。
〃I've hoisted the sail； Kasia； and the anchor； though I could blow and get more use of the sail。〃
She murmured something that sounded encouraging and； sure enough； the little ship slowly eased forward and passed the sheltering arm of the cove。 The sea was almost too calm when he saw its vast expanse。 Once the ship was clear of the shelter； though； the breeze picked up and the sail filled。
〃Right or left； Kasia？ I've no idea where we are。〃
〃Starboard 。。。 right； Rob。 Go right。〃 He had to ask her three times to repeat her instructions more loudly so that he could hear her weakened voice clearly。
〃I'm shrieking nowwwww；〃 she protested； and her face came into his range of vision as she lifted herself off the bunk。
That was better； he thought； than lying there like a cut of wool。
〃Right；〃 he roared back at her。 〃I'm going right。 Starboard。〃 And almost immediately he had to correct the ship as he saw the jagged reef he had been about to sail into。 Panic gripped him； and he struggled to keep his bowels from loosening。
〃Stupid dimwit；〃 he admonished himself。 〃Watch where you're going。〃
When he judged they were well enough past the rocks； he changed his seat and threw the tiller over to port … he remembered that much of Captain Gostol's afternoon lesson。 And then he grabbed for the sheet to keep the wind in the sail。
The speed of the sloop picked up； and he rather enjoyed the pull of sheet and tiller in his hand。 At least he was doing something。
It was midday； to judge by the sun's position； and the high cliffs along which the ship sailed were totally unfamiliar to him。
〃We've got nothing but cliffs； Kasia。 Where could we be？〃 He saw her raise herself up and shake her head。 〃Keep