The hands were gentle on his face, the voice soothing. "It"s all right. Let me help." Watters felt soft fingers at his eyelids, fought the harsh light that tortured the pupils and strove to keep them closed.
"It"s all right. I"m trying to help. Keep your eyes open, please."
Watters obeyed. Light flooded him, with a shadowy shape moving behind. "Who"s that?"
"It"s all right, it"s me." Water scoured his eye, burning, scratching, sending deep shafts of agony into his head. "That"s the way." Something soft and cool covered his face. He closed his eyes, aware only of pain.
Watters lay still and tried to remember. The confusion of faces and words echoed in his head with that sudden blinding pain and the cloud of black powder. The high grating laugh of the small woman and that low, calm voice
