World Without End Page 0,466

was beaten, and a look of utter fury came over his face. "I cannot treat patients in these circumstances," he said, and he stalked out.

Caris was shocked. She had tried to save his pride with her compromise, and she had not thought he would walk away from sick people in a fit of petulance.

She quickly put him out of her mind as she began to look again at the injured.

For the next couple of hours she was busy bathing wounds, sewing up gashes and administering soothing herbs and comforting drinks. Matthew Barber worked alongside her, setting broken bones and fixing dislocated joints. Matthew was in his fifties, now, but his son Luke assisted him with equal skill.

The afternoon was cooling into evening when they finished. They sat on the cloister wall to rest. Sister Joan brought them tankards of cool cider. Caris still had a headache. She had been able to ignore it while she was busy but now it bothered her. She would go to bed early, she decided.

While they were drinking their cider, young Joshie appeared. "The lord bishop asks you to attend on him in the prior's palace at your convenience, Mother Prioress."

She grunted irritably. No doubt Sime had complained. This was the last thing she needed. "Tell him I'll come immediately," she said. In a lower voice she added: "Might as well get it over with." She drained her tankard and left.

Wearily she walked across the green. The stallholders were packing up for the night, covering their goods and locking their boxes. She passed through the graveyard and entered the palace.

Bishop Henri sat at the head of the table. Canon Claude and Archdeacon Lloyd were with him. Philemon and Sime were also there. Godwyn's cat, Archbishop, was sitting on Henri's lap, looking smug. The bishop said: "Please sit down."

She sat beside Claude. He said kindly: "You look tired, Mother Caris."

"I've spent the afternoon patching up stupid boys who got into a big fight. Also, I got a bang on the head myself."

"We heard about the fight."

Henri added: "And about the argument in the new hospital."

"I assume that's why I'm here."

"Yes."

"The whole idea of the new place is to separate patients with infectious illnesses-"

"I know what the argument is about," Henri interrupted. He addressed the group. "Caris ordered that those injured in the fight be taken to the old hospital. Sime countermanded her orders. They had an unseemly row in front of everyone."

Sime said: "I apologize for that, my lord bishop."

Henri ignored that. "Before we go any farther, I want to get something clear." He looked from Sime to Caris and back again. "I am your bishop and, ex officio, the abbot of Kingsbridge Priory. I have the right and power to command you all, and it is your duty to obey me. Do you accept that, Brother Sime?"

Sime bowed his head. "I do."

Henri turned to Caris. "Do you, Mother Prioress?"

There was no argument, of course. Henri was completely in the right. "Yes," she said. She felt confident that Henri was not stupid enough to force injured hooligans to catch the plague.

Henri said: "Allow me to state the arguments. The new hospital was built with the nuns' money, to the specifications of Mother Caris. She intended it to provide a place for plague victims and others whose illnesses may, according to her, be spread from the sick to the well. She believes it is essential to compartmentalize the two types of patient. She feels she is entitled, in all the circumstances, to insist that her plan be carried out. Is that fair, mother?"

"Yes."

"Brother Sime was not here when Caris conceived her plan, so he could not be consulted. However, he has spent three years studying medicine at the university, and has been awarded a degree. He points out that Caris has no training and, apart from what she has picked up by practical experience, little understanding of the nature of disease. He is a qualified physician and, more than that, he is the only one in the priory, or indeed in Kingsbridge."

"Exactly," said Sime.

"How can you say I have no training?" Caris burst out. "After all the years I've cared for patients-"

"Be quiet, please," Henri said, hardly raising his voice; and something in his quiet tone caused Caris to shut up. "I was about to mention your history of service. Your work here has been invaluable. You are known far and wide for your dedication during the plague that is still with us. Your experience and practical