Page 19 (1/2)

Mr Myers looked at Jamie’s red hair with interest

"Scotch, are you? Be you one of thehlander"

"Be you kin to Old Hector Cah I have not met him myself I was told that he ell known to you, and that you uideeach other up, eyes flicking head to toe as they talked, appraising bearing, dress, and ar sheath-knife at the woodsman’s belt, while Mr Myers’s nostrils flared ith interest

"Cous res "…aux culs" Next thing you know, they will be slance at Fergus, and I saw a quick flash of amusement in the hazel depths before he returned to his assessht be, but he plainly had soe of French

Given Mr Myers’s olfactory inclinations and lack of self-consciousness, I ht not have been surprised to see hiested As it was, he contented himself with a careful inspection that took in not only Ja," he said casually, holding out a set of massive knuckles to the latter Rollo, thus invited, instituted his own inspection, sniffing industriously from moccasins to breechclout as the conversation went on

"Your uncle, eh? Does he know you’re co?"

Jaia, a o, but I’ve no way to tell whether he’s had it yet"

"I shouldn’t think so," Myers said thoughtfully His eyes lingered on Jamie’s face, then passed swiftly over the rest of us

"I’ve met your wife This’ll be your son?" He nodded at Ian

"My nephew, Ian My foster son, Fergus" Jamie made the introductions with a wave of his hand "And a friend, Duncan Innes, who’ll be along presently"

Myers grunted, nodding, and et you to Caot the look of the widder Cameron, in the face The boy some, too"

Jamie’s head jerked up sharply

"TheCah the thicket of beard

"Old Hector caught the ure they getthe Camerons for matters of more immediate personal interest, Myers resu," he explained toas one o’ ht could be as I’ve decided sudden-like to grow an extry, do you?"

"Well, no," I said, biting my lip "I really doubt it" Heundone; people in the street were beginning to pause, staring

"Please don’t trouble yourself," I said "I do believe I knohat that is--it’s an inguinal hernia"

The wide hazel eyes got wider

"It is?" He seemed impressed, and not at all displeased by the news

"I’d have to look--somewhere indoors, that is," I added hastily "--to be sure, but it sounds like it It’s quite easy to repair surgically, but…" I hesitated, looking up at the Colossus "I really couldn’t--I mean, you’d need to be asleep Unconscious," I aain, you see Perhaps a truss--a brace--h"

Myers scratched slowly at his jaw,

"No, I done tried that, ’twon’t do Cuttin’, though…You folks be staying here in the town for a spell before you head up to Ca," Ja upriver to ed"

"Oh" The giant pondered this for a

"I know the very o this minute and fetch Josh Freeh, he’ll be not too drunk to do business yet" He swept me a bow, battered hat to his ht have the kindness to enteel than the Sailor’s--and have a look at this…this…" I saw his lips try to forive up the effort and relax "This yere obstruction"

He clapped the hat back on his head, and with a nod to Jaed retreat down the street, slowed by cordial greetings to all he passed