She was on the verge of collapse.

Her skin, the inside of her mouth, were hot and dry.

She had to walk along at snail's pace or her heart would begin to beat as if it were about to burst and the blood would choke up into the veins of her throat to suffocate her.

A terrible pain came in her side--came and went--came and stayed.

She had passed turning after turning, to the right, to the left--crossroads leading away in all directions.