Ralph and the Pixie

When he awoke several hours later, still dressed in his clothes, he felt more tired and drained than he could ever remember feeling. He was getting far too old for this kind of work, and his stores of endurance were limited. But he rose, bathed, and went to look in on the aftermath.

As he entered the infirmary, all heads turned to watch him as he made his rounds. He had introduced what the other Healers found to be a dizzying assortment of innovations, including charts and records for all the patients who entered the infirmary. One young nurse, who showed great potential for becoming a Healer herself, came up to him a bit apprehensively.

‘Sir, you asked if a mechanical timepiece existed. One of the Merchants whose son was treated here has donated such a thing, though we don’t see what help it will render.’

Doc smiled broadly. ‘It’s Luni, isn’t it?’

She smiled uncertainly in response.

‘Well, Luni, let’s have a look at this timepiece, shall we?’

At the center of the infirmary there now stood a circular desk where all the information was kept, and laying to one side, on its back, was an enormous pendulum clock. Doc could have hooted for joy. On the far wall, where all could see it, Doc had the clock mounted. Once started, it produced a tremendous tok every second as its ponderous pendulum swung. Calling his staff together, he explained that exact time was to be entered into the patients’ records, to keep a more accurate record of administered medicaments, amongst other things.