fortuneswheel

by Lisanne Norman

  “Is this the main hospital for Valsgarth?” asked Carrie, aware that Vanna was trying to put her at her ease. She moved her fingers slightly in Kusac’s grasp, holding his hand more firmly.

  “The main hospital is in Nazule,” said Kusac. “This facility is here mainly for the guild members, but is also available for ordinary patients who have need of the treatment that they can only get here, like the aura readings for diagnosis of certain conditions.”

  Vanna stopped outside the last door, opening it for them.

  The small room was brightly lit, that was the first thing she noticed; the second was an examination couch. Carrie felt a surge of panic. Here she was, alone among a room full of Sholans with only Kusac and Vanna between her and them. They could do anything they wanted to her.

  It’s only an aura reading, cub, Kusac reassured her. Shall I let them take one of me first?

  No. I’m fine, honestly. “What do you want me to do, Vanna?” she asked, determined not to let anyone else know how nervous she was.

  “I’m not conducting the test, Carrie. I’m merely here to see how it’s done and how they interpret the data. Khafsa is the physician,” she said, indicating the medic talking to two technicians by the control desk to their left.

  Khafsa came forward, hand outstretched to touch theirs in greeting. Carrie noticed he wore the telepath and medic colors on his long sleeved jacket.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, mouth falling open in the Sholan grin. “We’ve heard a lot about you,” he said to Carrie. “It’s wonderful to have found another telepathic species. Makes us feel a little less alone!”

  Carrie grinned back, feeling instantly more at ease.

  “It’s a completely painless experience,” he said, taking her by the forearm and drawing her toward the couch. “Just sit up here while I explain it,” he said, helping her up.

  As she sat down, she realized that Kusac had remained with Vanna. Firmly she suppressed the instant surge of panic at being left alone with this strange male and made an effort instead to concentrate on what he was saying.

  “The couch is formfitting, as you’ll realize when you lie down,” he said, carefully swinging her legs up. “Just lie back and relax. You should find it reasonably comfortable, we’re using one of the small couches for you.”

  Carrie felt the surface of the couch yield slightly under her, adjusting to the contours of her body.

  “If you turn your head to the side, you’ll see the lid. It’s made of two layers of crystal with a special clear fluid between them which enables me to see your aura more clearly. When I close the lid over you, my technicians will put out the lights. In the darkness I’ll be able to see the colors that surround you. The next bit’s the really clever stuff,” he said with a wide Sholan grin. “I use my particular Talent to reproduce those colors around you, so they can be photographed to study later in more detail. There’s nothing to it,” he reassured her. “It takes about fifteen minutes, so just lie still and relax.”

  “I’m not afraid,” she muttered, turning her head again to look at Kusac who was sending encouraging thoughts to her.

  Khafsa lifted the lid over her, closing it carefully. As he did, a gentle flow of cool air began to move round her. Beneath her she could feel the couch beginning to warm gently. As the lights went out, she shut her eyes, gradually relaxing as the chill started to leave her body.

  *

  “Wake up, sleepy one,” said Vanna, giving her a little shake. “Before you get down, I want to take my samples.”

  Carrie opened bleary eyes. Her limbs felt as dull and heavy as her head. Slowly she lifted her arm up for Vanna.

  “Your temperature’s a bit high,” Vanna said, checking the panel at the side of her sampling unit. “How do you feel?”

  “Like I want to go back to bed,” she said, sitting up carefully when Vanna had finished. “I think I’m coming down with something nasty, like flu.”

  Kusac was instantly at her side, helping her down. “I’m taking her upstairs now, Vanna,” he said, concern in his voice. “I didn’t realize till now, but she’s right, she isn’t well.”

  “I’ll come up when I’ve finished analyzing these samples. By then I should have some idea of what’s wrong with her. Thank the Gods I’ve been taking baseline tests for so long. It should help me isolate any infection.”

  Khafsa touched Kusac briefly on the shoulder to attract his attention. “When your Leska is settled, I’d like you back down here to run a scan on you,” he said. “I want a current reading to compare with your last one.”

  Kusac nodded. “I’ll come down when Vanna’s with her,” he said, swinging Carrie up into his arms.

  “I can walk,” she objected halfheartedly, glad not to have to use her aching limbs.

  “I’m carrying you,” he said firmly, heading for the door. “We’ll be back at our rooms sooner than if you walk.”

  *

  Vanna watched them leave, then turned to Khafsa. “Was the scan adequate?”

  “Yes, we’ve got the data we need. It’ll take some time to interpret it because I don’t know what a Terran aura should look like, but on first appraisal, I’d say you’re right. Much of the scan has a Sholan look to it, more than one would expect from a different species.”

  “We need Kusac’s as well,” she said. “I want you to compare them, see what, if anything, they have in common. Meanwhile, I only hope that Carrie hasn’t picked up a serious infection. I’ve no real idea how our viruses will affect a Terran system.”

  “I thought that would have been checked out on the Khalossa.”

  “It was, in theory. I was able to give her some shots to protect her against our most virulent infections. Thankfully, the serums worked, but that doesn’t mean to say she’s immune to everything. A simple infection for us could be serious for her.”

  “I’ll see if our readings show anything.”

  “Thanks,” she said. “I’ll be in the lab if you need me.”

  *

  It was over an hour later before Vanna arrived at their apartment. Kaid let her in.

  “You got my message all right?” she asked as she followed him toward the bedroom door.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  Vanna glanced curiously at him, but he said no more, merely opened the door for her.

  Kusac was crouched on the bed beside Carrie, trying to calm her as she moved restlessly from side to side.

  “Thank the Gods you’re here,” he said without looking round. “She’s been like this for the last half hour. She’s burning hot and she’s delirious.”

  “She would be,” said Vanna, going round to the other side. “It’s nothing serious. She’s managed to get a dose of ni’uzu. There’s nothing I can do, I’m afraid, but treat her symptoms.”

  From her medikit, Vanna had taken a smaller version of the sampling unit she’d used downstairs. Unsealing it, she placed it around Carrie’s arm and closed it.

  “Ni’uzu?” he repeated. “How did she manage to catch that? It’s usually a winter virus, not a summer one.” He reached out to take Carrie’s other arm as she feebly tried to dislodge the unit. “None of us are ill.”

  “She could have caught it anywhere,” said Vanna, noting the readings from the unit in her comp pad. “It’s a common enough virus. She’ll have aches and pains in her joints, and a high temperature for a couple of days. Hopefully, it won’t be severe enough to cause any chest or throat infections. The lab’s working on a vaccine now.”

  Kusac looked up at her, eye ridges creased in puzzlement. “Why a vaccine? Surely it’s too late for that.”

  “For her, yes, but remember her system is different enough from ours to mutate the virus. You’ll likely go down with it, too, not to mention anyone else she’s come into contact with over the last three or four days. Can you get me some water, please? I’ve got a rehydration formula here. I want her to drink as much as possible. Make it a whole jug,” she called out after his retreating figur
e.

  Brushing back the damp hair from Carrie’s forehead, she concentrated once more on pushing the worries she didn’t want Kusac to feel deep down into her subconscious. Time enough for them later, if her fears proved to have foundation. There was a vaccine, for the purely Sholan virus, not the one Carrie had caught. What neither she nor the lab could work out was how and why the virus had mutated into the form that Carrie had caught.

  Once more, she didn’t dare treat the human girl. Instinct told her to let it run its course— with both of them, because without doubt, Kusac would contract it, too, if he hadn’t already.

  Kusac returned with the jug and a glass which he put down on the night table beside Vanna.

  “Thanks,” she said, tipping a packet of powder into the jug then waiting for the effervescence to subside. She poured a glassful for Carrie. “You go down and see Khafsa, I’ll stay with her.” She took a couple of tablets from a container and dropped them into the glass. “It’s just a febrifuge,” she said, picking up his concern. “On you go,” she urged, swirling the pills round in the glass to make them dissolve more quickly.

  When he’d gone, she lifted Carrie’s head and slowly encouraged her to drink the mixture. Replacing the glass, she went to the bathroom to fetch a dampened towel and began to wipe the girl’s face in an effort to cool her down.

  “Hush, cub,” she said soothingly as Carrie’s hand plucked ineffectually at her wrist, trying to push her away. “You’re safe, I’m here.”

  Carrie continued to toss and turn restlessly, muttering in a mixture of Terran and Sholan, trying to evade Vanna’s touch. Gradually, the drug began to take effect and she became calmer.

  Vanna took the opportunity to talk to Kaid and get him to bring in a more comfortable chair for her. She also arranged for him to prepare a meal for them when Kusac returned.

  She’d just begun to relax when Carrie began to moan again, her head tossing from side to side on the pillow. Vanna leaned forward, taking one of the girl’s damp hands between hers.

  “Carrie, it’s all right,” she said.“Hush, you’ll feel better soon.”

  “It hurts, ‘Lise,” Carrie moaned. “Don’t do it, it hurts me.” She began to move restlessly, trying to push the covers aside. “Don’t go back to them, please.”

  ‘Lise? Does she mean Elise? thought Vanna.

  “Don’t go back to them. They’ll catch you.”

  Gods, she’s reliving her sister’s death! Vanna thought furiously for something to say that wouldn’t upset the girl even more.

  “Carrie, it’s over, cub. The Valtegans are gone. You’re safe with me.”

  The girl became more agitated, her movements more determined as she opened her eyes and tried to get up.

  “I have to stop her! It hurts me when she’s with them,” she whimpered, looking round with wide, staring eyes. “If she goes back, I know she’ll get caught this time. You mustn’t go, Elise! Come back!”

  By now, Vanna had her hands full trying to stop Carrie from getting up. The human had very little strength, but she seemed to have more than two arms as she tried to push Vanna away.

  Suddenly Carrie went rigid, then began to tremble convulsively. “Blood,” she whispered in Terran, looking at her arms and hands. “There’s never been blood before!” Tears began to roll down her face as she tried to wipe her hands on the covers.

  Panicking, Vanna attempted something she’d never have thought of trying under any other circumstances. She reached for Kusac, crying out mentally for him. Kusac!

  I’m coming, he sent.

  Carrie had begun to struggle more strongly now. “Elise!” she cried, trying to escape from Vanna’s grip. “No! I won’t go with you! Let me go!” she screamed at Vanna, trying to hit the Sholan female. “Leave me!”

  She was so busy trying to defend herself from Carrie’s sudden attack that she didn’t hear the door burst open behind her. All she was aware of was Kusac reaching in front of her and taking hold of Carrie, imprisoning her flailing arms in his hands.

  Go! he sent, waiting for her to leave.

  *

  Carrie continued to struggle with him, but more weakly now. “I won’t go, Elise! Leave me!” she whimpered.

  Kusac released her, one arm at a time, pulling her close against his chest, reaching for her mind with his.

  Carrie, I’m here, He took one of her hands in his, pressing it against his face. Elise has gone. She’s left you with me. Touch me, feel my fur, he sent, moving his cheek against her hand. She’s gone, cub. You’re safe with me now. Safe.

  She became still, her hand curling round his cheek of her own volition. She let it fall lower, moving down his shoulder to his arm before stopping.

  “Kusac?” she said quietly.

  “Yes, cub?”

  Her eyes closed wearily. “She’s gone without me?”

  “She’s gone,” he said. “You must rest now.”

  Her head moved in a slow nod as he laid her back on the pillows. He touched her forehead. It was cooler now. He waited while she relaxed into sleep, ignoring the aches that had begun in his limbs. He couldn’t afford to be ill yet.

  *

  “Are you sure you want to see the body, Sub-Lieutenant Draz?” asked the coroner, hesitating before pulling out the refrigerated drawer. “It isn’t a pretty sight, I warn you.”

  “Just let me see it,” said Draz impatiently. “I need to be sure that it’s a reasonable assumption he’s the missing member of the scouter that blew up several weeks ago.”

  “If you’re only missing one male, then it’s him.” The physician pulled the drawer out, then lifted the foil cover off the corpse.

  Draz took a quick look then turned away as the Coroner replaced the cover and slid the drawer back.

  “I did warn you. He was found lying in the open on the edges of swampy ground. The indigenous amphibians have been dining off him since the crash. You’re lucky,” he said, turning back to Draz who was still looking an unhealthy color around his nose and eyes, “you didn’t have the smell as well. You think he’s a mess now? You should have seen him before I cleaned him up. Funny thing is, though, there was no water in the lungs. You’d think there would be if he was still alive when he hit the ground. Then, maybe he wasn’t.”

  “Are his injuries consistent with being flung from an exploding vehicle?” asked Draz.

  The coroner laughed, ears giving a flick of amusement. “They’re consistent with having been chewed on by the local wild life! How the hell do you expect me to tell when there’s as little of him left as that? As I said before, if you’re only missing one male, then it’s him. That’s what my report’ll say.”

  “Thanks,” said Draz, moving toward the door with relief.

  A week later, a copy of the report was waiting on Kaid’s comm for him. He read it carefully, wanting to believe it was Chyad, but there were too many convenient anomalies. Like the lack of ID tags and the implanted locator device, either of which in the absence of enough physical evidence would have identified him. However, the scenario was believable. It could be the remains of Chyad. Though there wasn’t enough proof that it was him, equally there wasn’t enough proof that it wasn’t. The coroner hadn’t ordered a DNA test on the grounds it was unnecessary as he had no doubt as to the identity of the body. Thoughtfully, Kaid filed the report in his desk.

  Chapter 13

  Though he’d managed not to catch the full-blown version of the fever, Kaid hadn’t escaped without suffering some of the symptoms. A day later, though, he was up and about again. With Carrie and Kusac still laid low recovering, he was free to follow up Garras’ message. Personnel from the Khalossa due planet leave had landed earlier that day, so leaving Meral and Sevrin on duty in their apartment, he left the Telepath Guild.

  He threaded his way through the busy streets toward the outskirts of Valsgarth, skirting round the groups of exuberant younglings on their leave day. As he sidestepped one group, one of them stumbled against him, righting himself quickly
with an apology. Pocketing the note thrust into his hand, Kaid continued to head for the aircar park.

  Once in a vehicle, he fished the note out of his coat and read it. Satisfied, he screwed it up and pocketed it again. It merely confirmed the information sent to him by Garras. Powering up the aircar, he took off and headed for Nazule.

  As the bay came into sight, he skimmed lower, listening for the landing beacon in the center of the city. Once locked onto it, he let the city’s traffic system guide his craft in to land.

  Climbing out of the aircar, he stepped off the conveyor belt, leaving the vehicle to be swept off into the interior parking area. An elevator took him down to the street level. As in all Sholan towns, no traffic was allowed from dawn till the twentieth hour. However, because of its size, Nazule boasted an underground transport system.

  Kaid headed purposefully to the ticket barrier and inserted his personal card into the maw of the access machine. Once his details had been scanned and the requisite cost deducted, it spat the card back at him and opened the gateway. Loping quickly down the stairs, he just made it in time for his shuttle.

  It wasn’t a long ride, but as the ancient monorail jolted and hissed to a stop at each station, he idly wondered if Carrie’s home world possessed equally antiquated transport systems. He had a feeling that their worlds had more similarities than they guessed. Funds for civic works were always scarce if one believed the politicians. Earth with its lack of centralized government would probably fare worse than Shola.

  With a howl of compressed air the shuttle came to a standstill, doors sliding open to disgorge the passengers. Kaid joined the living tide that swept along the platform and up to the fresh air above.

  He hesitated a moment, getting his bearings as he looked along the busy street. This side of the city, so far from the Warrior Guild, the streets weren’t restricted to specific crafts. Everywhere was a jumble of different kinds of stores— restaurants rubbing shoulders with clothing and jewelry shops.

  Accommodation Guild Houses, catering to those from every guild, were allowed generous numbers of premises since the actual Craft Guilds had chosen to keep to the outskirts of the city, preferring the quietness and room for larger premises. The only exception was the Warriors’ Guild situated close to the town center.