"I know," Devero says quietly. "When there's so much to do and you're so perfectly suited to doing it, how can you stop, right? But we have to remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. If we don't pace ourselves now, we will have anything in reserve if something big comes out later?"

It's advice he's had lobbied his way more than once at base camp; it's only fair he get to pass it on here.

He puts his arm around Koumyou's waist, careful not to touch the healing wound, and pulls the priest more firmly into his side. "You can spare a few hours take a break," he says. "You're going to take a break, because I'm not letting you up again until you do."