The mouth will wake back up and they are going to DIE. Oswald feels frozen in place.

"His state is fragile!"

Lev does NOT look like he is paying attention to this fact.

I Don't Know What Any Of Us Were Expecting

"Lev, he-- the mouth-- it might--"

"Araari only told you of this place in the hope that you would be mindful, Mr. Aarons - "

"George, I missed you."

Ayers does not seem quite capable of making noises.

He opens his mouth and no sound comes out.

Okay no he can't just stand here -- he walks steadily forward towards and then realizes he doesn't have a plan.

Unpanicked, he simply continues to move his mouth until he says, "I missed you too."

It sounds more like a croak than like words.

It is the most beautiful sound he has ever heard.

Sister Waletta begins praying. She's still considering prying Mr. Aarons away, but she hesitates to do that if it might result in an even greater shock to Ayers.

"Are you doing alright?" he calls to Ayers. Not that this is a sensible question or one Ayers can necessarily answer beyond head movements.

"Come inside," he croaks.

Lev is going to do this WHILE CONTINUING TO HOLD AYERS' HAND.

He follows.

He... also follows. What else is he going to do.

George Ayers takes them to a place inside the canyon. He gives them water in a little hand-carved cup; there is only one, so they have to share it.

Fresh water has never tasted as good as it does right now.

Ayers moves with deliberation, never stumbling when he steps, never rushing to move, never distracted from the focus of his attention, rarely blinking. He wastes no motion.

He does his best to take small sips and not drink all their water in one gulp.

There's something odd about Ayers. A good odd. Almost like those Eastern mystics Lacie used to read about who reached enlightenment.

"What did you have to talk to me about?"

MORDRED should handle the cult questions and LEV should handle the emotions. Is there anything an Oswald is qualified to say. "We found the epitaph you left. At Dallol. We didn't know what had happened to you."

Flop flop flop flop on the shoulder of✨HIS LOVER ✨

Who does not seem to be suffering from any novel mouth-related problems.

"I buried the dead. Before I had... not seen them as who they are. I regretted that. The nuns found me and taught me. They could have killed me. Thought about it. Didn't. Thought I still had... a role to play in the divine plan."

These are the most sentences he has said at one time in eight years.

"...Because everyone does, or a specific role, or... I'm sorry. I know talking must be difficult."

"Both."