Turning Point (25 page)

Displeased, Skai followed Guynor. He was able to get a better view of the interior of the craft now—his first look at Sholan culture. It surprised him. Although cramped, it was roomier than he had thought from outside. There was a central pillar with what appeared to be various computer or control modules set into it. Surrounding the column was a narrow circular bench seat. Round the outside walls were several more of the pull-down bunks, plus more of the display panels, their dials and lights winking urgently now that Mito was punching in commands at a terminal near the hatch.

Guynor abruptly reclaimed Skai's attention by shaking him. “We aren't sightseeing! Check these hatches over there. See if you can find anything that looks like food,” he said brusquely, pointing to the section of hull behind him. “I'll check the central column.”

“Sure,” murmured Skai, squeezing past the Captain.

Meanwhile, Vanna was concerned about Kusac. His inner eyelids were nearly closed now that the danger was past and he was able to rest. She touched his arm gently.

“Just how much pain are you in? Truly, now. You'll do nobody any good in your present state,” she admonished. “I need to know so I can assess Carrie's condition.”

He sighed. “Quite a lot,” he admitted, shifting his arm slightly in his lap to give it more support. “I have been doing my best to block it from Carrie, but some must have got through. I couldn't say anything ...”

“I know,” interrupted Vanna soothingly, “but we're safe now for at least a day or two. Let me see your shoulder.” She moved round behind him and began loosening the blood-soaked bandage.

The wound had reopened. Though it was clean, there was some swelling.

“Have you come across the medical supplies yet?” she called out to Guynor.

“Yes,” he said, passing them to her.

She opened the case, quickly going through the contents.

“Wonderful!” she said. “At last I've got a reasonable selection of drugs and instruments. We'll have you both right in no time,” she said with satisfaction.

She wiped Kusac's arm with an antiseptic pad before placing a freshly loaded hypoderm against it. “This might sting a little,” she warned as she depressed the trigger.

Kusac winced.

“Just one more, then I'll dress the wound,” Vanna said, taking out another ampoule. “You should have a fever because of a minor infection in the wound. You haven't, but Carrie has.”

After injecting his arm, she sprayed more of the antibiotic sealant over the wound and rebandaged it securely.

“I didn't get a chance to tell you, but Carrie pulls the pain from those she cares about without knowing she's doing it,” mumbled Kusac.

“Tell me about it tomorrow. You should feel a lot better by then,” she said.

Kusac rose to his feet, then staggered, nearly falling over.

“Careful now,” warned Vanna, catching hold of him.

“What have you given me?” he groaned, trying to focus on the medic.

“A hefty dose of antibiotic and analgesic, plus a mild sedative. I want you to sleep properly tonight.”

She gestured to Skai to pull down the bunk beside Carrie's and helped Kusac weave his way over to it. As he sat down heavily, she swung his legs up for him.

“Now sleep,” she ordered, pulling the blanket over him.

Kusac grabbed her arm urgently as she was about to move away.

“Watch Carrie for me,” he whispered.

Vanna frowned, glancing over at Skai. “Don't worry,” she whispered. “I'll keep an eye on you both.”

 

“Preliminary checks finished, Captain,” Mito said, turning away from the console. “Do you wish a status report?”

Garras looked up. “Carry on.”

“The interior of the pod and the life-support systems are stable, therefore the inner hull has not been breached. I've opened the sphincter valve and we are now on an external air supply. Air filters are sound, so no indigenous life can enter.”

“What about the state of the transmitter?”

“The automatic transmitter linked to the scientific programs is not functioning. Without the benefit of an external examination, I presume that the outermost hull, containing the experimental packages, has suffered damage sufficient to shut down the experiments. As for the transmitter, I have no information at present. We cannot gauge the extent of any damage until morning, but we seem to be in no immediate danger of being overrun by anything from outside.”

Garras rose stiffly to his feet, supporting himself against the hull. “Well, we knew that the pod had ceased transmitting, now we know why. I assume that the Valtegans have destroyed our satellite, which leaves us with only the manual emergency transmitter. Have you located that yet, Mito?”

“No, sir, but I have located an inventory and procedure check for anyone having to use the pod. It should be listed there,” she said, returning to the screen.

“Have you found the galley area?” continued Garras, peering round the column to where Vanna was dressing Guynor's tail while he continued to check the panels.

“I've located the food heating unit,” Guynor replied, “but no food.”

“Is this what we're after?” asked Skai, holding up several packages. “I've also found what looks like the water purifier, and it's full.”

“In that case, I suggest we all eat and sleep before doing anything more,” said Garras, rubbing a hand across his scalp and scratching his ears. “It's been a long day. Is there an electronic alarm system, Mito, or do we have to post a watch?”

“The alarm is already set and functioning, Captain.”

“Stand down from duty,” said Garras tiredly, moving over to one of the bunks, but Vanna was there before him and had it pulled down and waiting.

“Will you be able to sleep tonight, or do you want a sedative?” she asked, concern showing in the angle of her ears and the flicking of her tail.

Garras shook his head. “I'm so tired that I don't know if I can stay awake to eat,” he confided. “It will be tomorrow when I'll really need those pills and potions of yours, especially one for that most tenacious of all diseases, age.” He groaned as he swung his legs up and lay down.

Vanna laughed. “I haven't got anything for that, I'm afraid, but I should be able to do something for the minor aches and pains.”

“What about Kusac and the girl? How are they?”

“He's got a minor infection in his shoulder and all the signs that he should have a fever,” said Vanna, “but it's Carrie who has it, not him.” She hesitated. “I've treated them both for the fever symptoms, but this link of theirs worries me. It's so unlike anything we know. I've never heard of a crossover of physical problems to this degree. Their link seems so much more intense.” She shrugged. “Perhaps I'm wrong, after all, between us we know next to nothing about Leska Links, and Kusac seems to be plucking what he knows from thin air. It's almost as if the Link is telling him.”

Garras took hold of her hand. “You've really taken to these two, haven't you?”

“Yes,” she said. “Before we crashed here there was a ...” she searched for the appropriate word, “... vulnerability about Kusac. He didn't seem to have much experience of life. Now, well, you can see for yourself. It's as if he's a new, stronger person now he has the responsibility of Carrie.”

“As a Telepath he should have been incapable of fighting Guynor,” said Garras, “but since he returned, there is little that is typical about him. The things he's doing now with Carrie make me sure that he's a much higher Grade than his official military listing says. I wouldn't be surprised to discover he's well placed in one of the Telepath Clans. That young man is used to giving orders as well as obeying them.

“What about Carrie? What do you make of our young Terran?”

“She's good for him. I like her. As a species, I think we're not too dissimilar in outlook. As a Telepath, in my humble opinion as a non-Guild member, I would say she's as powerful if not more so than Kusac, and I agree with you about his rating. He's certainly not a Fifth Grade, judging by what he's been doing lately.”

Garras' eyes were closing with tiredness. “You should have spoken to Kusac sooner, Vanna. You are always underestimating your own worth.” He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze before releasing them.

“I have a feeling all hell will break loose over these two once the
Khalossa
arrives. They'll need all the friends they can get. How would you like me to insist you are seconded from me to the Ship's Medical section as the only Medic with a working knowledge of Terran physiology? I know you want to work in xenobiology. This could be your only chance.”

Vanna was stunned, unable to think of anything to say. What Garras was suggesting was not only a chance for the career she'd always wanted but an advancement in rank as well.

“I take it that means yes,” said Garras, yawning. “Now go and get some food and rest, that's an order.”

It was dark in the pod when Carrie woke. She felt for Kusac, sensing him nearby, but he was still deeply asleep. There was a brief moment of panic until she remembered that she had passed out as the pod hatch opened.

Her head still throbbed as she tried to move it to look around her. She ached all over. She began to shiver, finding it difficult to breath. Pain flared agonizingly in her shoulder, making her whimper.

Almost instantly, Vanna was at her side, rubbing the sleep from her own eyes as she switched on the personal light above the bunk.

She took one look at Carrie, then glanced over to where Kusac slept on the next bunk. He was beginning to move restlessly. She turned back to the Terran girl, briefly touching her damp forehead and then feeling for her pulse. It was weak and rapid as was her breathing. Her color was odd, too. Instead of her usual pinkish brown, she was almost gray.

“I'm cold, Vanna, and it hurts,” whimpered Carrie, looking up at her with eyes made huge by fear.

I don't know enough about her,
Vanna thought, beginning to panic. Then common sense took over.
Wait a minute, there's nothing wrong with Carrie, it's Kusac! What did he say about her? She takes the pain from those she cares for? And she was suffering his fever earlier? Then right now she's in shock because of his shoulder wound!

“It's all right, little cub,” she said, touching her fingertips to the girl's cold cheek, “I'm here, I'll see to it.” She pulled Carrie's blanket back and began to loosen her clothing. Several of the fastenings were unfamiliar, but she managed.

Then she added her own blanket to the one Carrie already had and wrapped them both loosely around her. As she folded the girl's jacket to place under her legs, she reviewed the drugs she would use for a Sholan. There was nothing she dared use on the Terran for fear it would cause more harm than good. With any luck she wouldn't have to if she could treat Kusac independently.

She checked her again, taking her pulse and feeling her skin temperature. At least the shivering was diminishing.

“I'll be back in a minute,” she said. “Don't worry, you'll be fine.”

Moving carefully around the sleeping bodies, she went over to Mito's bunk and began to shake the Sholan awake.

“Vanna? What's up?” Mito asked, blinking as she sat up.

“I need your help,” said Vanna. “Carrie's gone into shock because of Kusac's wound, and I daren't treat her. I need you to help me monitor them.”

“I don't understand. Why should she go into shock?” whispered Mito as she got up.

“She's using their Link to take his symptoms away from him. It's apparently not something she can control. I want you to watch Kusac for the moment and let me know if his condition changes,” she said, leading the way back over to where the Leskas lay.

Vanna squatted down beside Carrie, reaching under the blankets to take her hand. She felt a little warmer, but her pulse was still erratic.

“Carrie,” she said, “I need your help. Kusac's the one who's ill, not you. I can't help him because you're stopping his symptoms. You aren't helping him, cub, you're making it worse for him—and yourself. There's no need for you to suffer like this.”

Carrie turned to look at her. “I don't understand you. How am I making him worse?”

“You are using your Link to take his pain, Carrie. You mustn't do that, it stops me from treating him.”

“I'm not!” she said fretfully, trying to pull her hand away.

“Yes, you are,” Vanna insisted gently, preventing her from breaking their contact. “There is nothing wrong with you, Carrie. The pain you feel is Kusac's, not yours. You have to break the Link, cub, or I can't treat him.”

“But I'm not doing anything.”

“Carrie, you are. Trust me. You have to block your Link to Kusac so that I can treat him. I don't have any psychic suppressants, so I can't help you. You'll have to do it on your own. Block that Link, Carrie,” she urged, giving the human's hand a squeeze.

“My head hurts so,” she moaned.

“I know, cub,” said Vanna soothingly. “Just block the Link and it will stop, I promise.”

Pain flared through her shoulder again. “I'll try,” she whispered, shutting her eyes.

“Vanna, what's ...” began Garras, pushing himself up on one elbow.

“Hush!”

“Kusac's beginning to pant,” said Mito, “and his breathing is getting shallower.”

“Good girl!” said Vanna, her free hand caressing Carrie's cheek. The color was rapidly returning to the girl's face now and her breathing was becoming deeper and more regular. “In a minute, Mito will sit with you while I see to Kusac.”