        He looked over at her alphabet, and she imagined he wished to repeat the exercise.  She needed a drink, first; fortunately, they were rather close to the water.  Lyra carefully stepped around their work area and walked in until she was fetlock-deep.  It smelled all right, but she cast a disinfectant spell in her mouth, just in case.  This was an alien land, after all, and it was best to be careful.