We moved from the pool of water to another part of the cave. It was more like a small chamber. As I watched, Deborah brought out a ceramic basin that was pretty large. She filled up the basin to its surface with water. Then she began talking with me again after, a long silence.

"Come on, Louis, come sit close and see for yourself the current state of your friends," she motioned with one of her hands to me as she spoke. I come closer and sat on one of the small rocks which were arranged in a circle around the large basin of water that she had filled.

I...