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Page 63
inviting. A large, plaid divan faced the stone fireplace. There were two comfortable-looking chairs and several bare, carved tables. The walls were painted white, and on them were attractive sketches of desert scenes. Doorways indicated there were at least four other rooms.
Mike said, "Why don't you take a nice, warm bath or shower while I get us something to eat? The bathroom is in there." He pointed toward an open door near where they stood. "There are fresh towels under the sink, and I'll get you something to put on."
A bath or shower here, in the middle of the desert? How wasteful of precious water that would be . . . but a warm bath certainly sounded heavenly. And after that day's stormwell, he probably had a cistern to collect water. She would simply be careful not to use too much.
She realized, then, that she had not spotted the privy when they were outside. Perhaps she would be expected to use a chamber pot. Too uncomfortable to ask, she decided to find out for herself. She went into the darkened bathroom and looked around for the lantern. There was none that she could seenot in a wall sconce or on any surface.
Looking at her as though she were quite peculiar, Mike reached into the room from behind her and pushed upward a protrusion on the wall. Immediately the bathroom was filled with a bright, steady light from a glass globe overhead. This time Abby stifled her gasp and just smiled weakly at him. "Thank you," she said.

 
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