‘Yes, lord, but there is opium in this mixture. We physicians learn from the Arabs. There are no constraints on sharing knowledge of healing.’ He gestured Blackstone to raise Meulon again and then put the glass to the wounded man’s lips. He drank without resisting. Ben Josef nodded, satisfied that the potion would soon do its work. ‘Lie him down,’ he told Blackstone. ‘And then bring me that candle.’

Blackstone reached for the burning candle as ben Josef swabbed Meulon’s wound with the clean linen, discarding each bloodied piece until satisfied that the exposed wound was dirt free. ‘Here,’ he said, beckoning Blackstone to bring the flame closer. Blackstone allowed him to guide his arm until the candle was exactly where he needed it. He placed a hand over Meulon’s lower ribs above the wound. ‘It is here,’ he said without looking up. ‘I feel the metal. It is lodged here. Now I must remove it without cutting into the rib.’

He chose one of the instruments laid out on the oilskin. It was tendril slender, a pair of blunt-ended scissors with flattened ends. The small finger holes were barely large enough to accommodate ben Josef’s hands. He bent to the task, using his free hand to ease a finger into the wound and get a sense of where to guide the thin forceps. He probed deeply. Blood drained from the wound and he swabbed it with more linen. Meulon flinched. Ben Josef stopped, waiting to see if the pain had penetrated the opiate potion. The big man’s breathing settled. Blackstone realized his own breath was held tight in his chest as he observed the Jew’s tender skill.

‘There is no sign that the blade cut his intestine. God has been merciful: the layers of muscle deflected the blade, but once I secure it, then we must offer a prayer I do not cause damage when I pull the shard of metal free.’ Ben Josef glanced at Blackstone and saw the two symbols at his neck. ‘God hears prayers no matter to whom you pray.’

Blackstone raised the Silver Wheel Goddess to his lips.

Halif ben Josef staunched a flow of blood and then drew back the blunt-edged clamp slowly.

‘It catches,’ said ben Josef. He stopped. ‘If it is a sharp or ragged, it will tear his intestine or another organ. He has been lucky so far. I tell you this because I cannot be certain what will happen if I continue.’

‘Do what you must,’ said Blackstone. ‘If you leave it in there he’ll die anyway.’