Nightside the Long Sun

Silk cleared his throat, resolved to deceive Maytera Marble as little as possible without revealing the nature of his visit to the villa. “You see, Maytera, after I saw—saw Maytera Mint’s friend, you know who I mean, I thought it might be wise to call on Blood. Do you remember Blood? You showed him around yesterday afternoon.”

Maytera Marble nodded. “Of course, Patera. How could I forget?”

“And you had spoken afterward, when we talked under the arbor, about our buildings being torn down—or perhaps not torn down, but our having to leave. So I thought it might be wise for me to have a heart-to-heart talk with the new owner. He lives in the country, so it took me a good deal longer than I had anticipated, I’m afraid.”

Crane said, “Lean back a little more.” He was swabbing Silk’s chest and abdomen with a blue solution.

Maytera Marble nodded dubiously. “That was very good of you, Patera. Wonderful, really, though I didn’t get the impression that he—”

Silk leaned back as much as he could, pushing his hips forward. “But he did, Maytera. He’s going to give me—to give us, I ought to say—another month here at least. And it’s possible that we may never have to go.”

“Oh, Patera!” Maytera Marble forgot herself so far as to look at him.

Silk hurried on. “But what I wanted to explain is that a man who works for Blood keeps several large birds as pets. I suppose there are several, at least, from the way that he and Blood talked about them.”

Crane nodded absently.

“And he’d given this one to Blood,” Silk continued. “It was dark, of course, and I’m afraid I got too close. Blood very graciously suggested that Doctor Crane come by today to see to my injuries.”

“Why, Patera, how wonderful of him!” Maytera Marble’s eyes positively shone with admiration for Silk’s diplomatic skills, and he felt himself blush.

“All part of my job,” Crane said modestly, replacing the stopper in the blue bottle.

Silk swallowed and took a deep breath, hoping that this was the proper moment. “Before we leave, Doctor, there’s something I must bring up. A moment ago you said you would treat that injured bird if I was able to catch it. You were gracious about it, in fact.”

Crane nodded warily as he rose. “Excuse me. Have to get my cutter.”

“This morning,” Silk continued, “I was called to bring the forgiveness of the gods to a little girl named Teasel.”

Maytera Marble stiffened.

“She’s close to death, but I believe—I dare to hope that she may recover, provided she receives the most basic medical attention. Her parents are poor and have many other children.”

“Hold your leg out.” Crane sat down on the footstool again and took Silk’s foot in his lap. The cutter buzzed.

“They can’t possibly pay you,” Silk continued doggedly. “Neither can I, except with prayers. But without your help, Teasel may die. Her parents actually expect her to die—otherwise her father wouldn’t have come here before shadeup looking for me. There are only two doctors in this quarter, and neither will treat anyone unless he’s paid in advance. I promised Teasel’s mother I’d do what I could to get her a doctor, and you’re the only real hope I have.”

Crane looked up. There was something in his eyes, a gleam of calculation and distant speculation, that Silk did not understand. “You were there this morning?”

Silk nodded. “That was why I got to bed so late. Her father had come to the cenoby before I returned from my talk with Blood, and when Maytera Rose saw that I had come home, she came and told me. I went at once.” The memory of green tomatoes stung like a hornet. “Or almost at once,” he added weakly.

Maytera Marble said, “You must see her, Doctor. Really you must.”

Crane ignored her, fingering his beard. “And you told them you’d try to get a doctor for whatshername?”

Hope blossomed in Silk. “Yes, I did. I’d be in your debt till Pas ends the whorl, and I’d be delighted to show you where she lives. We could stop there on the way.”

Maytera Marble gasped. “Patera! All those steps!”

Crane bent over the cast again; his cutter whined and half of it fell away. “You’re not going to climb a lot of stairs if I have anything to say about it. Not with this ankle. Marble here can show me—”

“Oh, yes!” Maytera Marble was dancing with impatience. “I’ve got to see her. She’s one of mine.”

“Or you can just give me the address,” Crane finished. “My bearers will know where it is. I’ll see to her and come back here for you.” He removed the rest of the cast. “This hurt you much?”

“Not nearly as much as worrying about Teasel did,” Silk told him. “But you’ve taken care of that, or at least taken care of the worst aspect of it. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”

“I don’t want your thanks,” Crane said. He rose again, dusting particles of the cast from his trousers legs. “What I want is for you to follow my instructions. I’m going to give you a remedial wrapping. It’s valuable and reusable, so I want it back when your ankle’s healed. And I want you to use it exactly as I tell you.”

Silk nodded. “I will, I promise.”