Reblogged from Jim Webster, aka Tallis Steelyard:

Strangely enough Maljie features only sparingly in this tale, although there are those who claim that the whole thing was her fault. Still I know from mine own experience that blame is far too easily spread about by those interested mainly in hiding their own faults.
Maljie has been described to me as a lady who, “enjoyed rude good health, or at least enjoyed rude.” The tale starts because she didn’t: She was noticeably unwell and was feeling particularly under the weather. Still, once old Prophet Weden pronounced her not to be infectious, various people visited her. The prophet himself sat with her and commented, “Tis but a simple pox, stay away from pregnant women, infants, and fer some reason, horses.”

He also pronounced, “What you need is a touch from the hermeneutic Catherine wheel.” This was reported to the incumbent who commented that this was obviously something to do with the teaching being offered at a distant mountain monastery in the Aphices Mountains. Given that Laxey, the sub-Hierodeacon, had managed to become involved in the choir robe scandal, he was the obvious person to send. It should be noted that this outrage, where the choir robes of various ladies were misplaced and turned up in all sorts of unlikely places, was dealt with by the ladies themselves and nobody, not even the incumbent, was entirely sure what had gone on.

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