Swamped

"I need you to hold onto this for me. Keep it secure."

He holds out your father's book. You open up your pouch, and he puts the book in before you close it again.

"Why me, though? You can take care of yourself better than I can."

"In an emergency, I may need to serve as a distraction while the rest of you flee for the camp. I hope it won't come to that, but better to be prepared. Without the book, Long's condition is sure to deteriorate."

"I don't understand."

"Long can explain it better than I can, once he's recovered. In the meantime, I've earned the desert horse's trust, so we should be able to leave soon. Now, Marshall, whatever happens - I want you to keep yourself and that book safe. Understood?"

"Yes," you say, though honestly he's making you a little nervous. You hope he's just worrying over nothing.

Rider walks over to Rivers and Starling and starts talking to them. Then he lifts up the lizard-worm and slings it over his shoulder. You suppose it's coming along for the ride, too.

So it seems you'll be leaving this part of the desert soon. You stop for a moment to think about if there's anything that needs to be done before you go.