"Did you figure out what's wrong?" Charles asked the doctor.
"Not really. So far, there doesn't seem to be anything abnormal with your body."
"But my head still hurts a lot."
"This kind of trouble—don't come to me. You brought this on yourself, going to sea this often, a headache is light. If that thing happens again, tell me immediately. For now, I can't see any unusual problems. I'm leaving. Nice new tattoo."
The doctor stood up, heading toward the door.
The ship doctor's last sentence sent a chill through Charles. "I have a tattoo? Where is it?"
Seeing Charles examine himself so intently—it didn't look like an act—the confused doctor pointed at the spot where his neck met his collarbone. "This thing really isn't new? You didn't get it yourself?"
Charles hurriedly grabbed a mirror from his nearby drawer. Looking in it, he quickly spotted something abruptly new on his body.
