[She smiles faintly in return.]

I wish I'd had the foresight to choose the smaller scale. But the hindsight was part of the prize, not a precondition.

[Not wanting to dwell on her own fate and take away from Need's tale, she instead focuses on the descent for a moment as they pass by a steep section. By now, the oasis is near, and whether it's a real difference or merely a feeling, the air seems a little cooler when she looks at the bright blue water.]

...

Now, we're forced to operate on a small scale. Perhaps, that's one of death's mercies.