page112 (1/2)

“Probably for the best” Tuttugu offered a hand to help me up “Good clean death”

I almost took his hand, then snatchedfor that one” It wouldn’t be long before I couldn’t beat a leper out ofthe bastard “You don’t look injured”

Tuttugu buried his fingers in the ginger bush of his beard and scratched furiously,

“What?” I asked

“Brothel rash,” he said

“Whore pox?” That at least made me smile “Ha!”

“Snorri said—”

“I ain’t laying on hands down there! I’ apothecary-cum-faith-healer!”

The fat man’s face fell

“Look,” I said, knowing I’d need all the friends I could ht not know much about wounds, but whore pox I know far more about than any man ever should Do you have mustard seed aboard?”

“We u furrowed his brow

“Rock salt? So, two needles, very sharp ones, and soerwell, that’s optional, but it helps”

A slow shake of the head

“Ah, well, we’ll pick it up in port I can cook it up to an old faions and you’ll be a new man within six days Seven tops”

Tuttugu grinned, which was good, and gave me the Norse punch of friendship, which hurt a lot more than the traditional manly shoulder punch down south, and that was that At least until he frowned and asked, “And the needles?”

“Well, when I said ‘apply’ what I really meant was ‘smear on a needle and jab in’ You’ll need more than one as the mixture corrodes them”

“Oh” Little re myself with?”

“To tie the bag onLook, I’ll explain the gory details when you’ve got the stuff”

“Land ho!” One of the quins fro a welcome distraction