“Do you have a radio?” Jean-Pierre asked Dr Capri. “Communication with the military?”
“No,” replied the doctor.
“What, you don’t have any…” Jean-Pierre started to speak loudly, but he was interrupted by Yulia.
“Radios and cell phones don’t work here,” she said calmly. “We’re scientists, and that’s why we are here.”
“Why don’t they work?” Jean-Pierre asked incomprehensibly. “I’m the assistant head of the General Directorate of Foreign Security of France, tell me everything, what’s the reason you’re here?”
“Listen,” Dr Capri stood up to defend Yulia, “your friend is in a very serious condition right now. I think we need to focus on how we can help her.”
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about!” Jean-Pierre said even louder. “We can help her if we understand what’s going on.”
David opened his eyes from his slumber. The hermit took the second pot off the fire and poured the contents into a smaller steel cup, smelled the aroma, smiled, and walked over to Jean-Pierre.
“Help,” Bhrigu said, smiling, and handed the cup to Jean-Pierre, “drink.”
Jean-Pierre looked at Bhrigu and wanted to refuse, but almost without thinking, took the cup and automatically, quenching his thirst, took a few sips. Bhrigu took the cup and went to Yulia.
“Drink. It warms you.”
Yulia tried to smile and bow. She took a few sips, too, and felt the warmth and pleasant light taste spreading through her stomach. Her hands warmed and her face relaxed.
Bhrigu took the cup and returned to the fire. He poured more decoction and held it out to the doctor.
The doctor gently lifted Debby’s head and began to drink it slowly.
“Help. Help,” the hermit repeated in heavily accented French, smiling. “Help not easy if you don’t know how, but it harder if you don’t know whom.”
Jean-Pierre looked stunned at the hermit, who was already walking toward David.
“What did he say?” the doctor asked Jean-Pierre in surprise.
“That… That we still need to figure out who needs help,” Jean-Pierre answered, continuing to follow the hermit with his gaze. “Who is he?”
“How would I know?” Dr Capri shrugged his shoulders. “When you came up, I just met him. He said his name was Bhrigu, and he lived around here.”
“Is that all?” Jean-Pierre was surprised.
“Yes,” said the doctor, finishing the rest of his drink.