feel, like other men. They injure themselves, bleed, and are unaware of theinjury. They let a foot stray into the fire, sleeping, and only awake to thestench of their own flesh burning. They touch and cannot be sure they touch,hold and cannot lift what they would take up. Without sensation, withoutpurpose, fingers, toes, hands, feet, drop away and rot. As Lazarus had lostfingers and toes. But such victims do not walk, however lamely, as Lazaruswalked, do not prise themselves up from the ground with active, effectiveenergy, or grasp a support as Lazarus had grasped the arm Mark offered in hisaid, and that with the maimed hand. Not unless, not until, the devil thatdevoured them has died of his own corruption.

“Are you thinking,” asked Mark hopefully, “that this may not be leprosy,after all?”

“Oh, yes!” Cadfael shook his head at once. “Yes, no question of it, this wascertainly leprosy.”

He did not add that in his opinion many of the ills they treated here,though they carried the same banishment and were called by the same name, werenot true leprosy. Any man who broke out in nodes that turned to ulcers, orpallid, scaly eruptions of the skin, or running sores, was setdown as a leper, though Cadfael had his suspicions that many such cases arosefrom uncleanliness, and many others from too little and too wretched food. Hewas sorry to see Brother Mark’s hopeful face fall. No doubt he dreamed ofcuring all who came.

Along the road came the first distant murmur of another company approachingthe town. The whisperings of the watchers, subdued since Domville’sinauspicious passing, took on the cheerful chirping of sparrows again, and theycrept a little way down the slope of grass, peering and craning for the firstglimpse of the bride. The bridegroom had brought little but dismay with him.The lady might do better.

Brother Mark shook off his small disappointment, and took Cadfael by thesleeve. “Come, you may as well wait and see the rest of it now. I know you haveeverything in order there in the herbarium, even without me. Why should youhurry back?”