First Flip (continued more)

Mc Fizzer took me away from the church and guided me down the narrow streets to a safe house he knew, i remember little of staggering there only pain and the sound of the minster as it chimed 5. He lay me upon a low cot by a fire and i fell into a deep sleep. It was 4 days before i was well enough to sit up unaided and all the time i slept and dreamed terrible nightmares McFizzer sat at the foot of my bed in a wooden chair with his booted feet resting on a table.

"You look somewhat better then when we first met Tavis and you have some colour back in your cheeks," he said as i raised myself upon my elbows and stared along the bed to where he sat like a faithful old Labrador.

"Yes thank you, i feel much better," i said wincing as a sharp stab of pain hit me from my chest.

"Best not to move to suddenly, i fear you have broken a rib or two," he said. "But the wound on your arm is mending well, i used a potion that was shown to me by another traveller some time ago, it has an almost magical effect on deep cuts, his name is Cornelius - do you know him?"

"Sorry no - should i?," i added.

"I suppose not and you are new to this business, are you hungry?"

I was starving i couldn't remember the last time i had eaten, "yes i am."

"Excellent that is an encouraging sign my friend, see if you can get yourself over to the table whilst i dish out some of this delicious stew." Mc Fizzer begins to ladle out the contents of a blackened pot that is suspended above the fire. He passes me a bowl of steaming broth and returns to get himself a bowl full. "Bread," he says as he sits next me at the table and slides a plate of greyish looking stuff that has a green tint to the crust, "It is really rather good if you remove the mold."

The flavour of the stew was unfamiliar - stronger than i had expected and there were some rather dubious looking items lurking below the oily surface but i ate it all and relished in mopping up the remaining drops with hunks of rotten bread.

"Good - very good," Mc Fizzer smiled at me. "You have a healthy appetite, we will make a warrior of you yet."

I laughed although i am not sure why it just felt like the right thing to do, there was something about Mc Fizzer that put me at ease, something i had not felt for a long time. i felt good - relaxed - comfortable and then i laughed a little to much and my broken ribs reminded me of the reality of my situation. "Mc Fizzer have you any idea why that lunatic Shades was torturing me, and why the stupid questions and why the hell am i here and where the hell is here and wha........."

McFizzer held up his hand to silence me, "Go sit over there boy back on your bed and get yourself comfy and i will try my utmost to answer as many questions as you have."