Part 25 (1/2)
”I am stupid this morning,” he said. ”Had a bad night. I wanted you to do something for me--read a label, as a matter of fact--and it never occurred to me that I might bring the label to you. Cazi Moto, go get my box of medicines.”
”I do not quite understand,” replied the Leopard Woman. ”What is it you would have me do?”
”Read a label--on a bottle.”
”Why is it you do not read it yourself?”
”My eyes do not focus well this morning.”
”I see,” she said slowly. ”And you would have me indicate for you the remedy. That is it?”
”Yes, that is it. I've stupidly forgotten which the bottle is I want.”
He heard her moving slightly here and there. He strained his ears to understand what she was about.
”You are blind!” she cried suddenly.
”Temporarily--until I get my remedy. How did you know?”
”The look of you; and just this moment I thrust suddenly at your face.”
Cazi Moto arrived with the medicine chest which he placed at his master's feet, and opened. Kingozi extracted the three bottles.
”The table is directly in front of you,” came the Leopard Woman's voice.
He reached out, and after a moment deposited the vials on the table.
”It's one of these,” he said, ”but I don't know which. Just read them for me.”
”This remedy will cure you?”
”It will give me my sight. I have what is known as glaucoma. It is an undue expansion of the pupil. This remedy contracts it again. The only real cure is an operation.”
A silence ensued.
”Well?” asked Kingozi at length.
”It interests me,” came her voice. ”Suppose you had not this remedy?”
”I should remain blind,” replied Kingozi simply.
”Until you obtained the remedy?”
”Probably for always. One must not let glaucoma run or it becomes chronic. It's G.o.d's own luck that I have this stuff with me--it's the pilocarpin I told you of. The other stuff--atropin--would blind me for sure!”
He thrust forward the three bottles.
”Here,” he urged.
”If you had not the remedy--this what-you-call--pilocarpin, what would you do?” An edge of eagerness had crept into her tones.
”Do?” said Kingozi, a little impatiently. ”I'd streak it for a surgeon.