the nebuliser

I went to Jeepee and begged him to take this crushing burden from my chest. He gave me a nostrum saying imbibe this now and daily henceforth until a quarter of a moon is passed. Then he led me to a darkened chamber wherein twin nurses perspired at a gigantic bellows fashioned out of brass and leather. To this was attached a mask which covered my whole face until only the pupils of my frightened eyes were visible to the world. This machine they called 'the nebuliser' though whether it was the vapours emanating from the mask in rainbow curliques about my head or the swirling of my thoughts to which the name referred I will never know. I felt the top part of my cranium revolve with a sound like the opening of an etruscan amphora after three millenia and then - lo, there is balm in gilead! - the sweet airs of the world returned to me. I turned to thank my rescuer but he had no time to countenance my gratuitude. He was gone to heal another.