When he finishes with the gel, Hannibal lifts the injured foot gently by the heel, playfully kisses the big toe, covers the gel-daubed ankle with gauze and then starts to tightly bandage the foot in place, tightly, with an elastic bandage.

"This would hurt a lot without the anaesthetic," the doctor says, "and even so, it might feel quite unpleasant -- please tell me if it gets too bad."