Part 9 (1/2)

But she didnat listen and vanished.

He gave up and let the sickness take him.

Artemisia had been nappinga”septhours had begun to seem like weeks and shead lost track of timea”and awoke to thready mews and cold.

Too cold, especially for Garrett, who had been nearly steaming with fever.

She hopped from bed and flinched through the two decontamination s.h.i.+elds to find a bare Garrett huddled in fetal position, face gray and sheened, s.h.i.+vering. His Fam was perched on his hip, also curled tightly.

aTQ, raise the heat, fifteen degrees now!a She yanked linens over him, found a blanket and a comforter, and piled them on him, but didnat think it would be enough. aWhat were you thinking to cool the room?a aI was so ordered,a grumbled TQ.

aAnd your orders are not necessary,a said Ura Heather from the sitting room door. aThe room was too warm for the patient.a aThe temperature was fine! Now itas far too cold!a Artemisia repeated, warming a scarf and putting it on Garrettas head. Still not enough.

Her gaze focused on the machine next to the FirstLevel Healer, an experimental med-tech. It was a thin, meter-high domed metal construct with two spindly arms ending in tri-pincers, and an extruded antenna. A light blinked green. aWarning! This unitas previous recommendation to reduce the temperature in the patientas room is not being implemented! Cooling must take place. Waiting for confirmation from FirstLevel Healer to drop forcefields so unit can enter the Healing area. Warning, the room must be cooled,a it said in a tinny voice.

aNo!a Artemisia countermanded. aTQ, keep raising the temperature. Primross is too chilled.a Nothing for it, shead resort to basic body heat and body-to-body warming spells. She stripped and flung her clothes on the floor. Crawled between the linens. They were cold.

Quickly, quickly lift! Garrett and the kitten floated. And warm! She warmed the bedsponge beneath. Nice, toasty.

She lowered the two and spooned around Garrett. His skin was clammy, but he felt like he belonged with her.

aTQ, follow the recommendations of the med-tech,a Heather said. aItas not that cold in here.a aThe temperature in the sitting room is twenty-two degrees Celsius,a TQ said.

aYou see!a Heather said. aStop the heat!a aWarning, the temperature in the adjoining room is too high for good health. Warning. Warning,a the machine said.

aThe temperature in the master bedroom is thirteen degrees Celsius,a TQ said.

aWhat!a Ura Heather slapped her hand on the top of the small machine.

aPerhaps the med-techas readings are wrong due to the forcefields,a Artemisia mumbled. She s.h.i.+vered against Garrett, spending Flair profligately to heat him.

His breathing stuttered. Wrapping her arms around him, she squeezed. I need you to fight! she snapped, aloud and telepathically. FIGHT!

Twelve.

Garrett heard the command. It wasnat Dinni, but he sensed the need came from someone with a claim on him. More soundsa”a small animal whimpering, s.h.i.+vering. Another need he must fill.

But he was so cold.

Let the sleet take him. Follow Dinni down that foggy path.

FIGHT!.

He was tired of fighting.

Something bit his ear. Ouch! Warm blood trickled down it, and then the cold faded and the rain and sleet and ice and fog stopped and bright primary colors swarmed behind his eyelids.

Warmth. He shuddered. His muscles were all bunched together and warm was becoming hot. Groaning, he straightened his legs. Sighed as they felt better, as a small furred shape snuggled near his chest, just right. Sighed again as the heat behind him lessened as a ma.s.s moved away.

Covers settled around him. He was on a bedsponge. Head made it to the clinic. Head need to wake soon to check on Dinni, but for now head take a little sleep. He could do that, set an alarm in his brain to wake him in a few septhours. Dinni was in good hands.

Doom hovered, and he knew when he woke he would face rending teeth, but darkness tugged at him, offering sweet relief, and he let it suck him into sleep.

Artemisia crawled from Garrettas bed, bent to pick up her clothes. She let her hair fall over her face until she could control her seething anger so it wouldnat show in her expression. Her fingers trembled as she dressed. She knew why FirstLevel Healer Heather had brought the med-tech. To care for Garrett instead of Artemisia.

There had been talk of Flair-tech mechanical servers to replace Healer a.s.sistants and low-level Healers. No doubt the FirstLevel Healer thought she might combine two experiments in one, make more efficient use of funds.

A soulless consideration that might have had terrible consequences.

Self-preservation and confrontation avoidance warred with fury that the Healer would take such a risk at this time.

aIa”a she began, but her throat was so clogged with ire that she barely heard herself. She pulled in a large breath and marshaled her wits.

aIave silenced the med-tech. Report on the patient, Turquoise House,a Heather said.

aHe is breathing well again,a TQ said.

aWhat! Head stopped?a the older Healer demanded.

aYes.a Artemisiaas face was hot and tight, but expressionless, she hoped. Keeping her voice equally impa.s.sive, she continued, aPerhaps this isnat the right project with which to test a med-tech.a aI agree,a TQ said austerely. aAfter I followed your insistent instructions to cool the room, GentleSir Primross stopped breathing. Since I have mitigated the chill in the room, GentleSir Primrossas heartbeat is no longer slow and erratic, and his body temperature is acceptable.a Artemisia sucked in another cleansing breath. Her anger had made her alert. But what was done was done, and she was sure that the FirstLevel Healer wouldnat press the matter further. Nothing to be gained by pointing out her error.

aThatas good to hear, TQ.a Artemisia kept her tone mild. She looked at the med-tech machine. Its arms and antenna were down, its light off. Poor, stupid piece of junk.

aTQ, do you think that the decontamination and forcefields skewed the med-techas readings?a she asked.

aI think the med-tech machine is not as close to completion as many believe. It is obviously a thing without true intellect. I was not informed that it might be used during this project and do not approve. Nor will I accept any further instructions based upon its recommendations. Not enough study has been done for the thing to be used in real-life trials,a TQ said. aEspecially one as delicate as this.a Ura Heatheras roundish face flushed and she banged a fist on the machine. aDefective thing.a She narrowed her eyes as if in warning when she met Artemisiaas gaze. aI will leave you to your regular duties and teleport back to Primary HealingHall. I donat think this small incident needs to be reported to anyone else, does it, SecondLevel Healer?a Garrett kicked aside the covers, stretched, and rolled over. His color was healthy; Artemisia sensed he was in an almost natural sleep. The fever would return, but for now they had a respite. aNo, FirstLevel Healer.a aI also expect you to be discreet, Turquoise House.a Heather and the machine disappeared before TQ could respond.

aIam sorry, Artemisia,a TQ whispered. aI was interested in the med-tech machine. I should not have listened to it or obeyed the FirstLevel Healeras instructions.a Artemisia let her weak knees fold her onto the bedsponge. aNo lasting harm done, TQ?a aI will do a full scan.a Artemisia nodded and rearranged the covers again, then glanced at the timer and saw it was NoonBell. Three cats slept on the windowsill of the bedroom, and beyond in the gra.s.syard lounged the rest of Garrettas ragtag band.

aNo, Artemisia, no lasting harm was done to Garrett.a aThatas good.a aFrom my studies of the Iasc sickness, it seems this might have been the main crisis for Garrett and the sickness will progress more smoothly?a aPerhaps, but there could very well be more than one crisis.a aI will watch him very closely.a aIam sure you will. So will we all.a She stretched. aWhat you need to recall, TQ, is . . .a aYes?a aYou donat mind me giving you advice?a aPlease do, Artemisia.a aMany n.o.bles arenat accustomed to personal failure, so sometimes they ignore risks,a she ended softly. She was all too aware that bad things could happen, that personal failure could be inflicted from outside forces.

aI will remember that, Artemisia.a aOur main goal is to keep Garrett Primross safe, our secondary goal is to observe him and study his blood to help find a cure for the Iasc sickness. Anything else is of minor importance.a aI will not allow anything to threaten him again,a TQ said.

aGood.a aAnd I will not allow anything to threaten you, either.a Artemisia managed to curve her lips, but shrugged. That wasnat in TQas power. She did know that shead have to step carefully with regard to Ura Heather.

Again the fragrance of hidden forests teased his nostrils. He was aware of floating free. Shouldnat he be doing something? Driving?

No, head made it to the clinic. Dinni was in good Healersa hands. This was a dream and he could go where he pleased.

With that thought he found himself liberated from the endless trip and struggle. No longer spring, it was full, hot summer and he was walking toward rusty iron gates that framed a secret garden. A cool turquoise pool beckoned, since he was beginning to get hot again.

Maybe if he reached it, the fever would not come.