Blood Moon Read Free Page B

an ingredient in the healing process, would naturally be useless. Happily though, his apothecary business has flourished - so much so that when he asked for my help in finding him an assistant I had no hesitation in recommending my old friend Onethumb.
    What Onethumb’s birth-name was no-one has ever discovered or even whether he ever had one. His nickname was given him when he was a child living – or rather surviving – on the streets of Bury, for in addition to being mute he was also born with a deformed right hand which consists of a normal thumb but four pea-sized stumps in place of fingers. Despite these handicaps Onethumb manages all the skills necessary to the apothecary trade, so much so that Joseph now swears he cannot do without him. Indeed, it is largely because Onethumb is so very good at his job that I see so little of my brother. I no longer have to visit Joseph’s shop in order to replenish my stock of oils and potions for by the time I’ve noticed that I require them Onethumb has anticipated my need and appears as if by magic at the door of my laboratorium with the items already measured and invoiced. And that was where I found him waiting for me when I returned from Ixworth that evening. With everything else that had been happening I’d completely forgotten that I’d arranged to meet him, a dereliction that I realised as soon as I saw him waiting patiently in the gathering gloom.
    ‘What hey, Onethumb!’ I greeted him heartily and pointed to the bundle lying next to him. ‘My goodness, what have we here? Half my brother’s stock by the look of it. Did we , erm, agree that you should bring it tonight?’
    The question was rhetorical of course, for being mute Onethumb couldn’t reply; but his features, mobile and expressive as ever, were eloquence itself. He was not taken in by my false bonhomie.
    ‘Yes, you’re quite right,’ I nodded humbly. ‘I have no excuse. I admit it, I forgot you were coming. My apologies, my friend, for keeping you waiting.’
    I could have blamed my mother for my lapse of memory, I suppose, but that would have been unworthy. Besides, I knew well enough how to soothe Onethumb’s temper.
    ‘Tell me,’ I beamed at him, ‘how are the lovely Rosabel and little Hal? Still beautiful and thriving I trust?’
    At the mention of his wife and son Onethumb’s frown instantly evaporated and his face split into a shy grin as I knew it would. But it faltered a moment later as he looked over my shoulder and cocked a warning eyebrow. I turned to see in the gathering twilight another figure gliding silently towards us across the expanse of the Great Court like a hawk falling upon its prey. Prior Herbert, his beaky nose twitching with disapproval, was the first to speak and from his tone I could tell his mood was not placatory:
    ‘Brother Walter, there you are.’
    ‘Indeed I am, Brother Prior,’ I smiled affably.
    He tutted disapprovingly. ‘Do you know the time? It is past compline. Did we not agree when we allowed your visit to your mother it was on the understanding that you would be back by now?’
    I shrugged. ‘But I am back by now.’
    ‘I meant back in time for compline brother, not after . We were fearful that something might have happened to you.’
    I shrugged again. ‘What could have happened?’
    ‘Well that’s just it, we don’t know, do we? And that is the danger of allowing these…excursions.’
    Oh dear. I could see he was still smarting over losing his fight with my mother. If only the Lady Isabel realised the havoc she left in the wake of some of her battles.
    Prior Herbert continued with his peroration: ‘ Do you not realise that we monks are innocents in a wicked world, brother? Within these walls we are, so to speak, oysters secure in our shells. Out there...’ and he encompassed half the town in the sweep of his arm ‘…are many predators waiting to gobble us up.’
    ‘Crabs, Brother Prior?’
    Behind me I heard Onethumb snigger.
    ‘I speak