The otak's healing

Ged lies in a trance, seemingly dead. The old woman watching over him falls asleep. The otak, Hoeg, creeps down from the rafters and begins to lick Ged's hands, wrists, temple, and closed eyes. Under this gentle touch, Ged slowly wakes. He realizes that the otak's instinctive act of comfort called him back from the spirit-lost state. From this time, Ged believes that the wise man never sets himself apart from other living things. The otak's loyalty and simple wisdom save his life when all magic had failed.