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they ate in silence. she needed some of his wits about him—for she intended to learn from him. understand him. friends close, potential enemies closer—that, she had learned. 
she looked to the fellahin and said, water. enough to wet his tongue well so he can bathe, if he wishes, and then she says to him, after another bite of food, eat… eat? a tilt of her head. would he know she was asking for his own word for what they two then did? she sought to measure his own intelligence.