Page 375 - The Grotesque Children's Book

Chapter 67.

Zaccario delivers the antidote

Zaccario delivered the poison antidote to Bianca exactly nine days after she’d asked for
it. (“Your antidotes, your Grace.”) He had actually had it for her the next day, but explained to
her that its effective potency would be greatly increased if she accepted it on the third day of the
third cycle of the lunar circumnavigation in opposition tot he apogee of the Piscean aspects of
health and healing, which she found very comforting and worth the wait.

“Now there isn’t much powder here,” explained Zaccario. “I’ve been able to make but
nine dosages. I shall make more for you, of course, but next must turn my attention to your
Bunduqiatqasara.”

“The Dragon!”

“Yes, the Dragon. In the meantime, however, here are nine doses of antidote for poisons,
which should see you through any emergency.”

Bianca asked, “This is an antidote for any poison?”

“It will slow the effects of all poisons, but it will completely neutralize arsenic.”

Bianca looked at the powder. It was cakey and very dry, like crumbled painter’s chalk;
dark, though; not orange like the painters' chalk, but blood red. “It’s beautiful,” she said. “You
have given me much comfort, Zaccario, knowing this will be near me.”

“If you suspect you’ve been poisoned, don’t hesitate to mix a ninth of it into water or
wine, immediately; or the sooner the better. Then a second ninth the next day, and a third ninth
the day after that. Then let three days pass without consuming the antidote, then three days with,
then three days without, and the final three days with.”

“Three sets of three days. I’m ever so grateful. You have saved my life.”

“Let us hope I haven’t.” Then, when he saw Bianca frown, Zaccario added, “By which I
mean, let us hope you’ll have no need to ingest the antidote, ever.”

“Better.”

“There’s one more thing you can do to increase its potency.”

“I shall do it! What must I do?”

“The antidote is at its most effective if it has been in physical proximity to you, say, in a
vial at your bedside, or in a locket hung around your neck from time to time.”

“I know the very thing!” said Bianca.

She had, as you might recall, a small square locket with a secretive clasp and inner
compartment originally meant for a miniature portrait of a loved one. Bianca replaced the
portrait of Francesco with the red powder, and wore it as a decoration in her hair, right on her

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