Shmurt slammed the door to his room behind him. He called, 'Whore! Slut!Adulteress!'

Masha shrugged, lit her lamp, and went up the steps with Smhee close behind her.Wallu looked very surprised when the fat man came in with her daughter.

'Who is this?'

'Someone can't identify me?' Smhee swi. 'Does she have a dead nose?'

He removed his mask.

'She doesn't get out much,' Masha said. She hurried to Kheem, who lay sleepingon her rag pile. Smhee took off his cloak, revealing thin arms and legs and abody like a ball of cheese. His shirt and vest, made of some velvety materialspeckled with glittering sequins, clung tightly to his trunk. A broad leatherbelt encircled his paunch, and attached to it were two scabbards containingknives, a third from which poked the end of a bamboo pipe, and a leather bagabout the size of Masha's head. Over one shoulder and the side of his neck wascoiled a thin rope.

'Tools of the trade,' he said in answer to Masha's look.

Masha wondered what the trade was, but she didn't have time for him. She feltKheem's forehead and pulse,'then went to the water pitcher on the ledge in thecorner.

After mixing the powder with the water as Nadeesh had instructed and pouring outsome into a large spoon, she turned. Smhee was on his knees by the child andreaching into the bag on his belt.

'I have some talent for doctoring,' he said as she came to his side. 'Here. Putthat quack's medicine away and use this.'

He stood up and held out a small leather envelope. She just looked at him.

'Yes, I know you don't want to take a chance with a stranger. But please believeme. This green powder is a thousand times better than that placebo Nadeesh gaveyou. If it doesn't cure the child, I'll cut my throat. I promise you.'

'Much good that'd do the baby,' Wallu said.

'Is it a magical potion?' Masha said.