Someone had opened the boys’ cabin and had ordered them to go to the higher levels of the ship. Tirad was running through the corridors, his breath had shortened and was passing out, but someone had called him. Lealy had opened the girls’ cabin and let him in. The girls were sitting tight close to each other with their heads hiding in their skirts. The smell of fear and urine had filled the cabin. Lealy had sat Tirad beside her and embraced him in her arms, as if to create a barrier for him with her body and save him from the sounds of the men fighting and dying. Tirad had calmed down under the softness of Lealy’s breast and from that night on, he had become addicted to the smell of her body that he associated with safety and peace. The Saviour Disciples were not allowed to sleep with women and that was the reason he always went on with Lealy to the extent of a sisterly embrace!

Healy had put an end to all that, taking away from Tirad the only comfort he had, right on the night when he had finally become a third-tier disciple. He only wanted to take shelter in her arms and share his happiness with her, to have her calm down his excitement and put him to sleep. But Lealy wanted more. She had told him that she was in love with him. She had begged him to make love to her for just that one time… “No one would know,” she had said… “Just this once, nothing will happen! Everyone is having sex in the ship. We could always escape together…” she had gone on, beseeching him and holding him tight in his arms as he was trying to distance himself from her. Tirad hadn’t said anything. Of course, he wanted it, not just for once; he wanted to do with her what he would often dream about, anytime he saw her and thought about her. He desired her but couldn’t bring himself to sleep with her. Especially on the night that he had sworn as a third-tier disciple for his humble and virtuous services to the Saviour. He had rushed out of the cabin, escaping the temptation and desire and had heard Lealy cry behind him. It was the first time he had heard her cry. He wanted to go back and comfort her. Hurmaz had said that if they were to give in to a temptation even for once, they would be lost forever. Tirad hadn’t endured enough pain in the ship to throw it all out instantly. He preferred to feel guilty for breaking Lealy’s heart than feel ashamed for having disobeyed the Saviour. He had spent the rest of the night silently crying as he sketched Lealy’s naked body, a picture that he had burnt early next day.