The wound exploded in a fountain of gore.

“Nyaaaaarrrrrgggggghhhhh! Mother Fucker!” The Captain’s scream was so loud I could feel my ears ringing.

“Sorry...” I said. I wiped the mucus, blood and puss from her arm- and my face.

“Jesus... So how is it?” She looked at the wound.

“It’s not good,” I picked up the scalpel again, and sliced off the last of the loose tendrils, causing it to squirm. “I can get it out, but it’s going to hurt like a mother fucker.”

“So, how much of her arm is our beautiful captain going to loose?” Malloy grinned, evilly.

“Y’know, after the doc gets this bug off of my arm, I may have to shove it up your ass, Malloy.”

Malloy’s grin widened. “Captain, any time you want access to my ass you just gotta give me the word.”

“I...” the Captain started.

“Sorry to interrupt your macho flirting, but can we get back to the matter at hand? This top tourniquet is starting to give way. If we don’t hurry, the bug’ll make it into the rest of your blood stream, then it’s central nervous system time, and you know what that means...”

She scowled at me. “I know. So just one question – do you have anything resembling anaesthetic ‘round here? Some whisky? Vodka even?”

I smiled slightly. “No. I’m afraid the only alcohol within about a hundred miles of here is the turpentine I used to sterilise my instruments. And I don’t think you’re going to want any of that.” I held up the rusty container.

She glanced at it, “I’m sure I don’t,” she said, and then, looking deep into my eyes, “Do it.”

I couldn’t hold her gaze. It felt like she was looking into my soul, and that’s not somewhere I want other people to be hanging about. Too many secrets. Too many lies. And too much guilt.

“Okay, well, I’m going to do it in one hit. You’ll probably pass out from the pain, but until you do, bite down on this leather belt. The screaming kinda puts me off.” I put the belt in her mouth and she winked at me. I heard Malloy laugh, softly. I was slightly puzzled and glanced at him, but this was hardly the time to be wondering about stuff like that.

“Okay, so first, I’m going to yank the body of the bug out. This will be very painful. Then, I’m going to cut out the major arteries that the tendrils had managed to get into before the tourniquets were applied. This will be more even more painful. Next, I’m going to sterilise the wound and surrounding area by using the acid. This will feel like I’m setting your soul on fire. Finally, I’ll cauterise the wound. Less painful, but you wont be awake to feel it.”

“I wouldn’t count on it.” I heard Malloy mutter. I ignored him.

“You’re going to loose about 5% of the muscle mass, and it’s going to be a big wound. I have some antibiotics, but you may well die from a secondary infection. Also, there’s no guarantee I’ll get it all out and we may have to amputate. But hey – those are both better options than the alternative. I’m going to start now.”

So that’s what I did. I thought at one point she may stay conscious throughout, but they all go eventually. The body can’t handle that much pain, so it just gives up. Funny thing is, though, I could have sworn she was grinning when she went.