Kara smiled, appreciating his effort. She relaxed. But not enough. Something more was needed.
So he made a picture for her, angling it so that she could view it comfortably without lifting her head. It was of a fence between pastures, and a flock of sheep in one. But the grass was greener in the other pasture, so an enterprising sheep leaped over the fence, landing with a musical thumping of his four hooves. Naturally it was followed by another, and another, making an endless chain, all of them jumping to the music. It was the standard device used by his folk; his mother had put him to sleep when he was tiny with just this vision. Counting sheep-and soon the monotony of the distraction caused relaxation and dreams.
Kara smiled with wan appreciation, but even so did not relax quite enough
