Marus arose early the next morning and headed for the sick man’s apartment. He was greeted in the street by smiling neighbors as he approached. “He lives.” They proclaimed. “Yes. Quickly. Go and see. He lives.”

Marus entered the apartment to find the man sitting up and smiling. He held a cup of the tea in his hand. “I am most grateful,” he said. “I feel much better. I will survive?”

“It seems to be so. I am happy to see you thus. But I can not promise tomorrow.”

“Yes, yes. But today is good and I am grateful.”

Sophia came in the door and saw Marus. She rushed over to him. Her short stature only allowed her to grasp him about the waist in an awkward hug. “I knew you could do it.”

“You did? Then you have the second sight. For I was unsure.” Marus smiled. He turned to the wife and handed her a small packet of herbs. “If the fever returns, boil these herbs, a little at a time as you have done.”

“Yes, thank you.” Tears, this time of joy, were in her eyes.

Marus turned to go and noticed that the light from the door was blocked by several people peering in. As he exited a man reached out and said “My wife has the fever. Pray, come attend to her. Perhaps you have more herbs?” Another man did the same on the other side, “My daughter has been abed for three days. She screams in pain.” Another called out, “My husband also ails. Can not you offer help?”

Marus stood in the center of the small crowd looking at the worried faces. “I will see what I can do.” He turned around and saw Sophia standing in the doorway. “Sophia, come with me.” She did not hesitate.

He went to first one apartment then another. Each time he instructed Sophia to bring fresh water and that a cook fire be started. He gave the same instructions to each household: a cool cloth on the forehead, tea every few hours.

After fetching several buckets of water for several households Sophia complained. “I grow tired in the repetition. Can not tea be made in one cook pot and given to many homes?”

Marus stared at her and almost laughed. “You are clever, Sophia. You remind me of someone I knew long ago. Yes, that is possible.” Marus handed her what remained of the moringa. They both returned to where Sophia now lived and enlisted the help of the couple who would now raise Sophia.

She took the responsibility seriously and called to others her age in the neighborhood to fetch water. She borrowed additional pots so that one could always be boiling and another seeping tea. She told others how to care for the sick.

The next few days saw the illness mysteriously spread. Hundreds, then thousands in the city became sick. Most died quickly. A few lingered. A few survived. But there were far fewer deaths in the neighborhood where Sophia lived.

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