brine checked the rest of the desert and found the lathians going about their business ; ardose fuming at balthus , balthus looking sleepy in the sun , sweat-wipe rubbing at his face , thirsty-man one running the back of his hand across his beard and handing the water skin to thirsty-man two , the burial squad moving to their second grave in the queue as the second dead lathian was dragged across the clearing , face-down in the sand and shirt rumpling around his head , towed by one booted foot and one bare .