Danny swallowed. What should he tell the boy? It seemed that his life depended on the knowledge that she would recover.

He must have slept for a while, for when he awoke, the sun was lower in the sky, and a cool wind was playing about his face, comforting him like a prayer.

He sat up. Someone was saying Tehillim. B’shalom yachdav eshkevah vishan ki atah Hashem l’vadad lavetach toshiveini. The voice was young and strong yet beseeching and broken.

He looked around. No one was there. No sign of the monkey. Only the box remained, right next to him on the sand, and his fist was throbbing where he had smashed it.

He must get back to Yitz and Zvi. But the thought of being alone in those huge echoing caves filled him with dread.

Hakshiva lekol shav’i malki Veilokai….

Who was that? Was someone there or was it his imagination?

Despite his doubts, he felt a strange new confidence as he stepped into the cave. There was no confusion now; the direction was clear to him, and within a minute or two, he had found the small patch of sand with the spring of water and the flowers. His heart was light as he opened the box and filled the goblet. The water was exquisitely cold and clear and seemed to rush to meet the vessel, where it bubbled and frothed almost joyously.

He found himself singing as he made his way through the tunnel, thanking Hashem. How strange to have confidence when he was in such danger!

Yitz was waiting for him, a vein on his forehead bulging with the strain of pent-up panic and fear.

“Where have you been?” he yelled.

“I’m so sorry Yitz… I got lost.”

“Lost! What have you been doing? Sightseeing? I’ve been going crazy taking care of Zvi all by myself! He’s delirious. He keeps throwing himself about and crying for his mother. It’s really scary.”

Danny stared at Yitz. It seemed that some of the old anger had returned.

“I’m sorry, Yitz,” he said again.

Danny’s apology seemed to appease him. Yitz glanced down at Danny’s hands. “What’s that goblet you’re holding?”

‘It’s — I found it in a box in the tunnel.”

“Ah, the intrepid explorer—”

“No, Yitz, it wasn’t that at all. I—”

“What’s in it?”

“Just water. Have a look.”

There was a strange expression on Yitz’s face as he held the goblet and stared at the water still bubbling and frothing at the surface.