Psychicians Page 10

  Eva and Vyrda both leaned back down close to Josie’s abdomen, sending in their ghirits. When they stood back up, Eva was giving Vyrda a grim look. Vyrda blinked, “What?”

  Eva said, “I don’t think we should wait for Tarc. If you try and can’t tie it off, then he can cut the suture and pull it out when he gets here. If you don’t try, and it starts to leak, that’s going to kill Josie.”

  Vyrda felt her heart thumping. “What if I can’t pull it tight enough?”

  Eva shrugged, “Then we’ll have to wait for Tarc. But I have an idea for that too.” She reached over Josie and put one finger low, near the midline of the young woman’s abdomen and the other higher, on her posterior flank. “Can you visualize how Josie’s appendix is between these two points?”

  Vyrda nodded.

  “So,” Eva said, “we’ll use a really long suture. You pull the needle in from down here,” she indicated the low spot in front, “pull it in over the bladder, past the ovary, around the loop of bowel, and then take it around the base of the appendix. Make the throws of a knot and try to cinch it down. If you can’t pull it tight enough, then you’ll pull the needle end of it out up here in back,” she indicated the high spot on Josie’s flank. “Then we’ll be able to pull on the two ends with our hands to tighten the knot. Voilà.”

  Vyrda stared at them, but Daussie was calmly pouring moonshine on one of her needle and suture packs. Vyrda said, “I should’ve practiced this on an animal carcass.”

  Eva calmly said, “That’s a good idea. You do that before the next one.” She took the packet from Daussie and placed it on Josie’s lower abdomen. She reached out and put her hand on Vyrda’s shoulder, “Come on now. You can do it.”

  Suddenly, Daussie lifted a hand, “Wait, I might have an idea…” She broke off, staring at Josie’s abdomen. When she spoke again, it was slowly and contemplatively, “You see how her appendix is bigger at the base than it is out near the tip? Do you think you could invert it? You know, turn it inside out like a sleeve or pants leg, pushing the appendix inside out into the colon through its own opening?”

  Vyrda blinked in confusion, “What?! Why?”

  “Because, by our first plan, when we tie it off and then I port the appendix out of the abdomen, we’ll still have two problems. First, that the stump that sticks out will still have a little bit of pus contaminating the part beyond the ligature. Second, that the stump is going to die because the ligature will cut off its blood supply. Dead tissue like that’s a great place for bacteria to grow.” She paused for a moment, “But, if we push it inside the colon, dead tissue and pus isn’t a problem in there. After all, the colon’s always full of dead food and bacteria. Then, you’ll just put a few stitches over the dimple where it’s inverted to keep it from everting and to force it to heal over in that position.”

  Daussie paused, but when—still coming to grips with Daussie’s idea—neither Vyrda or Eva said anything, she said, “You can still put a ligature around it where it’s inside the colon and I can teleport the rest of it away just in case it might cause trouble.”

  Eva sounded concerned, “What if that weak area of the appendix comes apart while she’s turning it inside out?”

  Daussie shrugged, “It’s out near the tip, so she can leave it uninverted… just push it into the rest of the appendix, inverting that part. She can use her telekinesis to keep the stress off it while she’s doing the inverting.”

  To Vyrda’s utter amazement, that’s what they did. Inverting it was easier than she’d expected. Daussie teleported away a thin layer of the tissue around the base so when Vyrda over-sewed it the tissue would heal across from the raw tissue on one side to the raw tissue on the other.

  Then, rather than Vyrda having to pull the suture in from outside the abdomen, Daussie said, “Wait a sec,” and the needle suddenly appeared inside the abdomen right next to where Vyrda needed to suture over the inverted appendix.

  Startled, Vyrda said, “You teleported the suture into the abdomen?” She snorted, “Of course you did. But why weren’t you doing that for our earlier patients?”

  Daussie snorted, “Too dumb to think of it. Sorry.”

  Eva drew herself up pompously, “Are you calling the rest of us dumb for not thinking of it either?”

  With a laugh, Daussie said, “No, no, that can’t be what I meant. In fact, I’m not sure what I meant.”

  Vyrda found it to be relatively easy to over sew the appendix using her ghirit. Since the suture didn’t need to be tied as tightly as a ligature would have, the knots weren’t a problem either.

  Daussie teleported a heavy suture without a needle into the colon where Vyrda ligated the base of the inverted appendix. This time she tied it as tightly as she could, reminding herself that if she couldn’t get it snug enough Tarc could ligate it when he got home. But it seemed like it was tight enough as it markedly indented the tissue of the appendix

  After she’d done it the first time, Eva had her do it a second time, placing the second ligature right next to the first one for insurance against one of them slipping.

  Then the appendix vanished out of Josie’s colon. Daussie lifted the little glass bottle to show everybody where it was, then lifted one of the jars of sterile saline up onto the stretcher beside Josie. She said, “Vyrda, since our ghirits can’t detect bacteria, I’m going to port some saline into the area. You slosh it around so it’ll wash away any contamination that might’ve leaked out of the thin area, then I’ll port it away.”

  Daussie ported some in, Vyrda sloshed it about, and Daussie ported it away. They repeated the process several more times, Daussie brightly saying, “We’re following one of the ancients’ sayings. ‘The solution to pollution is dilution.’”

  Eva picked up the glass bottle, eyeing the appendix and pus inside it. She said, “I’d read that bowel infections produced horrible odors, but this was a real eye-opener for me.”

  Vyrda told them about draining the abscess from the ruptured appendix. “There was a lot more pus from that one. Everyone in the room thought they were going to throw up from the stench.”

  Still looking at the contents of the bottle, Eva said, “This should be great stuff to try staining with my new crystal violet. Then we can examine it under the microscope. There should be a lot of bacteria.”

  Daussie suddenly stood up. “I think I’ll go help in the kitchen.”

  Eva gave her a strange look, “Since when are you volunteering for that kind of duty?”

  Daussie snorted while eyeing the little bottle, “Since my mother started threatening to open that jar.” She produced a bright cheerful tone, “I’ll come back to look at it after lunch, once you’ve got it all stained, okay?” She turned and rapidly left the room, as if she were fleeing danger.

  Josie moaned and started to move. Kazy said, “She seems to be coming around just fine. Maybe I should go help in the kitchen too.”

  Eva laughed, “Okay, okay. No need to panic. I’ll go outside and open this jar where there’s a breeze. Why don’t you stay with Josie until she’s awake?”

  Josie spoke, sounding confused, “I’m awake. Are you guys really taking me outside for your treatment?”

  Eva stepped to the side of the bed and took Josie’s hand, “No, we’ve already done what we can. It went well.”

  “But you haven’t done anything!”

  “How’s your pain?”

  Josie’s eyes widened. “Oh…!” After a moment’s inward reflection, she said, “Wow! Lots better…”

  ***

  Farlin slowly stretched his arm now that it was out of the splint. Eva’d told him the bone was healed but still weak so he still kept it in the sling when business was brisk. The sling reminded people his arm was injured so they’d be careful about bumping into him. Also, it jogged the memory of the rest of the people working in the tavern so they didn’t ask him to lift and carry yet.

  At present, though, the lunch rush was over so he was taking the opportunity to exercise out some
of the stiffness.

  A well-dressed man appeared in front of him. “I’m here to be fitted for some of the new eye lenses.”

  “You can wait over near the bottom of the stairs,” Farlin said, pointing, “and I’ll send word upstairs that you’re here.” He gave a little shrug, “But it might be a while. They’ve got somebody really sick up there.”

  The man drew himself up, “I’m Ronald James, Baron Vail’s Financier.”

  Farlin eyed him for a moment. James seemed like the kind of man who was used to having people kowtow to him. And, that could well mean that he was the kind of man Farlin didn’t want to piss off. Farlin gave another little shrug, “I’m sorry, but if they’re trying to save someone’s life, they make everyone else wait. If you give me a moment, I’ll go up and let them know you’re waiting.”

  The corner of the man’s mouth tugged back, “Can’t Ms. Hyllis take care of me while the others are saving this person’s life?”

  Farlin eyed him askance, but said, “I’ll go check, okay?”

  “Tell them Ronald James is waiting. Financier for Baron Vail.”

  ~~~

  As Farlin climbed the stairs, Daussie came down, followed shortly by Kazy.

  He stepped into Eva’s clinic room, blinking at a faint odor—like a chamber pot. He wondered if their patient had a bowel movement. Eva and Vyrda were talking to the young woman who’d been brought in on the stretcher. She looked much better. I guess she wasn’t as sick as she looked, he thought. When Eva looked up at him, she said, “Are there patients waiting for us?”

  Farlin nodded, “A young man who fell and hurt his knee and an older guy who looks rich. The rich guy’s complaining about having to wait until you’re done with her,” Farlin indicated the young woman on the stretcher. He turned his eyes back to Eva, “I told him you were saving someone’s life, but he wanted you to take care of him, while the others took care of her.”

  Eva’s eye’s narrowed. “What’s wrong with him?”

  “He wants lenses.”

  “Who’s been waiting longest?”

  “The guy with the knee.”

  Without hesitation, Eva said, “We’ll see the guy with the knee first.”

  “The other guy’s gonna be pissed,” Farlin warned. “He thinks he’s important. Some kind of finance guy for the baron.”

  Eva gave a little grin, “Aw, are you saying he might leave and get his lenses at one of the other lens places in town?”

  Farlin snorted and shook his head.

  As he left, she said, “We’ll need Daussie for the lenses, so send her back up when you send up Mr. Muckety.”

  Farlin gave her a little grin back, saying, “Okay.” However, when he turned for the stairs he felt a little trepidation. He knew his father would’ve leaned over backward to take care of the self-important rich man first. He thought, People like that can make you sorry you didn’t give them what they wanted.

  Nonetheless, he felt a joyous little flare of spite when he sent up the young man with the hurt knee next. Then a twinge of doubt when he saw the anger flare over Mr. James’ face.

  As he made to pass James, the man leaned toward him and said dangerously, “You told her I was waiting?!”

  Farlin nodded, “Yeah, sorry, she said you’d be next. Right after the guy with the hurt knee.”

  ~~~

  By the time the young man came downstairs leaning on a couple of sticks and James went up the stairs, his incandescent rage had faded. However, he was still in a bad mood. These people have no idea who they’re dealing with, he thought.

  He recognized Vyrda Soh, so assumed the other woman had to be Eva Hyllis. There was a young woman lying on a high narrow bed in the corner. If she was the one whose life they’d supposedly been trying to save, she didn’t look all that sick. They probably just told her she was dying so they could “work a miracle,” he thought. He forced a smile and extended his hand to shake, “Hello Ms. Hyllis, I’m Ronald James, Financier for Baron Vail.”

  “Hello,” she said, shaking his hand. She cocked her head curiously, “What’s a financier do?”

  He shrugged and waved airily, “I just keep track of the accounting for the barony. Work out a budget, evaluate the state of the treasury, set the rents.”

  Her clear grey eyes remained steady. “I assume from the emphasis you placed on ‘rents’ you’re trying to tell me that I should have seen you before the young man with the injured knee, right?”

  James smiled. “You must run your business as you see fit.”

  She nodded. “Yes. Though I would argue that we are engaged in something different than a simple business. We try to care for people the same way we would want to be cared for ourselves. By someone who feels morally bound to do the best they can for patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Cure them if we can, comfort them if we can’t, all the while helping them understand their condition. So, you see, we don’t think the poor with serious conditions should have to wait until the rich with minor problems have been cared for.”

  James glanced at Soh, seeing she looked nervous. “Admirable,” he said unctuously, “though, perhaps unwise.”

  “Perhaps,” she said. “What can we do for you?”

  “I told your man I was looking for eye lenses.”

  She nodded, “And he told me. He didn’t know what kind of trouble you’re having with your vision though. Do you have trouble seeing things that’re far away, or close up, or do you have trouble seeing everything?”

  “Ah, things close up. In my duties, I must read numbers that’ve been writ small. It’s becoming more and more difficult.”

  “Okay,” she said, “please sit here at this little table with myself and Ms. Soh. I’ll need to look at your eyes.”

  He sat across from her at the table while she stared motionlessly at his eyes for a minute or so. This’s ridiculous, he thought.

  Getting up, she said, “I’m going to get some of our test lenses. If you’ll just hold still a few moments longer, Ms. Soh will keep studying your eyes.”

  James couldn’t imagine what they thought they were doing, nonetheless he sat and waited, trying to appear patient. Ms. Hyllis returned and sat down across from him. She laid out a sheet of paper with letters of all different sizes written on it. She asked him to read the smallest line he could. As always, the letters were blurry. He pointed to a line he thought he could read.

  She said, “Okay, please read it to me.”

  Feeling a little like a schoolchild, he read the letters to her.

  She frowned, “You got more than half of them wrong. Try the next bigger line.”

  James felt a little embarrassed, though he didn’t know why. After all, this was exactly the problem he’d come in for. He read the next line up.

  This time she nodded and said, “You got all but one of them right that time.”

  She handed him an exquisite little lens on a glass handle. He couldn’t see a single scratch on it, though that was probably because of his blurry vision.

  She said, “Close your right eye and hold this lens in front of your left eye.” When he’d done it, she said, “Try reading that first line again.”

  It looked sharper. He read it and she said, “You got all but one of them right this time.” She held out another little lens, “Here, try this one.”

  This time the letters were clear and sharp. When he read it, she sounded delighted. “You got all of them right! Can you read the next line down?”

  In fact, he could. And the one below that—with tiny print—as well.

  “Try it on your other eye.”

  It worked just as well on his right eye. James began to feel quite excited about the possibilities. He thought that, looking through the little lens, his vision was at least as good as it’d been when he was young.

  “So,” she said, “you’d need ‘plus three lenses’ to see that well. Do you want me to see if we have one? Or do you think you’d want two so you could have them mounted in spectacles?” />
  “Um,” he said, suddenly unhappy for being rude to her earlier. He’d never dreamed she’d have lenses that would let him see so well. “How much would they cost?”

  “Well, of course, it would depend on whether we had any. How much would they be worth to you?”

  Her eyes bore into his. After a moment, he dropped his eyes and said, “A silver?”

  She didn’t say anything so he looked back up at her.

  He got the feeling that she was not impressed. In a steely tone she said, “For a silver, you might be able to get a fragment of a lens like this from one of the antiquities dealers. If they had one it’d be badly scratched as well. But, why don’t you try their shops?”

  “Two silvers?”

  She blinked, then turned to Ms. Soh. She said, “And here, when he came in here, I thought he was trying to impress us with how wealthy he was, didn’t you?”

  Soh gave a tiny nod.

  James stared unhappily at her for a moment. “Twenty silvers.”

  “Fifty.”

  “That’s robbery!”

  “If that price’s unfair, you should just buy them somewhere else.”

  He closed his eyes and sighed, “Okay! Fifty.” Really, she thinks she got the better of me but they’d actually be worth a lot more than that to me.

  James looked up, seeing that the beautiful young daughter had come in the door while they were dickering. Disappearing into a little alcove, she said, “I’ll see if we have them, Mom. What strength does he need?”

  Hyllis was looking him right in the eye, she said, “A plus three.”

  ‘A’ plus three? James thought unhappily. He said, “Two plus threes.”

  Hyllis spoke in a flat tone, “You understand two lenses will cost you a gold?”

  “I was negotiating for two lenses,” James ground out.

  “Ah, but I was negotiating for one. We may not have two lenses. And if we did, and we gave both of them to you, we might not have one for the next person.” She paused and her jaw bunched a little as if her placid expression hid an angry interior. “In fact, I think two lenses will cost you a gold and ten silvers.”