The tiny persistent one. When did you have time to acquire three disciples?

From midday my clinic has been inundated by citizens and the odd Traveller complaining of a persistent cough, sore throat and feelings of nausea and dizziness. Not too alarming -- until we discovered that these symptoms could not be removed by use of the healing magic, and that other cures were merely temporary. What's more, our patients have begun developing well -- what look very much like burn marks all over their bodies.

Well just get rid of them then. I have my hands full with the clinic and you, I can't be expected to mind children too.

[A snort. Do you really think he'd get sick and leave you in the lurch?]

Then it is convenient that I do not plan on succumbing to anything.

You have our modern counterparts to thank for that. They adopted him or something -- I never got the full story.

Working on it.

I'm shocked.

Is that the extent of your advice?

Surely you know me well enough to know when I'm being ironic, old cock. Having been on the receiving ends of your diatribes against domesticity so often, I would hardly recommend you play mother to an impressionable waif.

Inflict your personality upon them. That works on most people.

I hope I do not sound sharp. This -- wretched affair is growing urgent.

This disease ... it seems very good at doing what it was desgined to do. It's foxing my modern counterparts and the magic abilities of our healers are making little progress.

Let's hear it, Holmes.

I never said that 'people can't die' -- in fact I know that's not the case, Holmes.

By 'people' you refer exclusively to the Traveller population?

... when was the last time you left your room?

[How have you missed the fact that roughly 70% of the Native Population is returned to full feeling and reasoning colour, Mr Great Intellect?]