The Flying Fool

The Burning Fish

Darkness, pain, the feeling of loss, hunger as well. Then consciousness Painful consciousness.

David tried moving his body, but immediately regretted it as the feeling of pain came full throttle. He could barely breathe because of the pain at his side, the pain around his facial area was something else and he smelt...something burning, something meaty.

As his eyes adjusted he could see a hole going out to the sky. A blue sky with a twinge of purple. A moment of confusion passed through Davids mind as he noticed he was sitting upright and the hole wasn't in the ceiling but in the wall, then David remembered he was in a flying ship, so that seemed much less weird. After his sight and some of his memory returned, his sense of hearing came back and with that an annoying voice repeating David, David. After the fifth time he decided to answer the voice even if not turning his head towards it.

"I can hear you, Boyle, you sorry excuse of a doctor" David grumbled through gritted teeth

"Aye don't be like that lad, it's important to know you can still hear out of your ears and see out of your good eye." Boyle answered in a less boisterous voice than usual

~good eye? ~ Slowly David moved his hand towards his eyes. He closed one of them and all he could see was the dark. Slowly, as panic rose in his chest, he touched his left side of the face and felt a stabbing pain as he winced. The wince causing seizures of pain across his body.

"Maybe instead of the weasel we should start calling you half face or the one eyed cooked one!" Boyle tried guffawing but was seized by a series of wet coughs.

David not appreciative of the doctors light tone and tried to aim a sharp retort at him. But turning his head made everything swim in his eye and he had to swallow down the sickness that was rising inside of him. When his vision steadied he could see the fat doctor, as well as the metal pole that was sticking out of his chest.

"Boyle..."

"No tears lad, I've lived a full life. Sired many children, made many a maiden blush." He tried to laugh but it came out more of a croak.

"No, you blabbering idiot. You're our only doctor and here you are on your last breathe. Surface, I'm surprised you've managed to survive for so long with that thing sticking out of your chest."

"Hit...an artery. The bar is stopping the bleeding, but don't think it'll last long. Vision fading, breathe slowing down. I may be a second rate doctor but I know when death is about...How about being nice to good ol' Boyle to make his passing better?"

"Not a priest, find someone else for a blessing to the afterlife." During the conversation David begun moving his hands slowly, trying to gain leverage to stand up. First slowly, and then faster and faster as his body got used to the pain. Once he got on his two legs he fought for his footing as the ship shook and lurched to the side. Explosions sounding outside the ship as steam burst out of the various pipes surrounding David and Boyle.

Boyle grunted as the bar shifted in his body and the blood started to come out faster. "Not a blessing, but either kill me or give me a falling drink" he said in clipped tones.

David checked his side but could not find his knife; he looked around and saw a broken piece of metal, sharp enough to be used for some stabbing business. "If I do kill you, I'll take everything in your pockets. Just thought I'd let you know as professional courtesy."

Boyle made a sound that was half laugh, half grimace. "You're a right bastard." He said as he clawed at his neck, pulling out a necklace with a pendant. "As a last request, instead of pocketing it, can you get this to my daughter...in Havenport?"