Thanks for your kind words, but it's simply fun for me. *g*
So we're looking at a time-range of about 6 days when they finally find that guy? Okay, you'll have to look up the time-line of an infection but I guess you have a lot of leeway here, since it heavily depents on the immune-system of the person in question how fast they'll die of that.
And for the possibility that the water from a hydrant could be tainted:
First, it's flowing. I guess they wouldn't go for a *still* water because, contradictory to floating water, it becomes bad way faster. (And what about bottled water from the supermarkets? Any undamaged bottles left? *g* That would be the most secure choice) So, the water from a hydrant would be the choice over a water source where the water is not moving.
Second, perfect opportunity to put Jim's senses to good use. *g* Come to think of it, would judging the water-quality by sight, smell and taste not naturally fall into the responsibility of a tribe-sentinel? Water is a basic need and to me it seems perfectly logical that finding and judging the water quality would be one of the most important tasks for a sentinel.
In any case, I would trust the judgment of a sentinel about the water-quality anytime more than the judgment of another person.
And for radiation, yes, he would. Remember "Red Dust". He could feel the radiation on the jewelry of that russian guy. *g* This is canon, so I think it wouldn't be much of a stretch to think that he could sense the radiation on water too. *g*
Re: writing
So we're looking at a time-range of about 6 days when they finally find that guy? Okay, you'll have to look up the time-line of an infection but I guess you have a lot of leeway here, since it heavily depents on the immune-system of the person in question how fast they'll die of that.
And for the possibility that the water from a hydrant could be tainted:
First, it's flowing. I guess they wouldn't go for a *still* water because, contradictory to floating water, it becomes bad way faster. (And what about bottled water from the supermarkets? Any undamaged bottles left? *g* That would be the most secure choice) So, the water from a hydrant would be the choice over a water source where the water is not moving.
Second, perfect opportunity to put Jim's senses to good use. *g* Come to think of it, would judging the water-quality by sight, smell and taste not naturally fall into the responsibility of a tribe-sentinel? Water is a basic need and to me it seems perfectly logical that finding and judging the water quality would be one of the most important tasks for a sentinel.
In any case, I would trust the judgment of a sentinel about the water-quality anytime more than the judgment of another person.
And for radiation, yes, he would. Remember "Red Dust". He could feel the radiation on the jewelry of that russian guy. *g* This is canon, so I think it wouldn't be much of a stretch to think that he could sense the radiation on water too. *g*
Pat
:-)