As the withered withers widened...

the tan, slim strap of her espadrille slackened and slid, baring the curvaceous chunk of dusty, dry heel that had been a-wanderin', a-wanderin'.

She only wanted to stop and slate her thirst. That dank maw in her craw of unsatiated desire for the wet wonderland that was water.

A straw! A straw! Her kingdom for a straw.

She stumbled and only kept from falling because of the touch of a stranger.

"You'll want to be watchin' yer step, ma'am."

She chuckled sounndlessly, guffawed silently, chortled noiselessly. She knew where she'd be looking. She didn't need a stranger's warning.

She kept walking.