Part 15 (2/2)
”Another male male his age. He's very lonely. I caught that.” his age. He's very lonely. I caught that.”
”He is? I thought he was having the time of his life, doing what he's wanted most! Building a colony s.h.i.+p.”
Rhyssa swung round from her dressing table mirror. ”I couldn't let him go on a colony s.h.i.+p.”
”Did I say he wanted to go on one? But sometimes, my telepathic darling, you don't notice the obvious.”
Rhyssa blinked her eyes, then had to blot the cream out of them.
”He feels out of place,” Dave explained. ”He hasn't formed any friends.h.i.+ps with the Station personnel.”
”Even now he's doing EVA?”
”Dorotea noticed it. Amariyah didn't.”
”How would you know that?” she asked.
”She'd've been on it like a shark. She doesn't miss much about Pete, you know.”
”Oh, dear.” Rhyssa paused in wiping off her cleansing cream. ”We don't have another Tirla-Sascha item, do we?”
Dave shrugged. ”That wouldn't be all bad, would it? What does Dorotea say?”
”It's true that Maree adores him. Almost-”Rhyssa paused to chuckle. ”-as much as she does gardening.”
”There're gardens on Padrugoi and at First Base. And I suspect they'll be even more important on that proposed Mars Base.”
”If,” and again Rhyssa paused a beat, ”the s.p.a.ce Authority ever makes its mind up on the project.”
”They have Pete now.”
Rhyssa finished removing the cleanser. ”Yes, they do, but do they know what they have in him?”
”I doubt it. Hey, come to bed, love.”
On his nineteenth birthday, Peter opted to take his special friends to dinner in a well-recommended uptown ziggurat restaurant. Rhyssa, Dave, Johnny Greene, Lance Baden, Tirla, Sascha, Dorotea, and Amariyah were his guests. It was Amariyah's first adult outing and Tirla had taken her shopping. Amariyah Bantam had inherited her parents' estate, including their insurances, and they had been prudent managers, so she had independent means. Although the interest from the total-which was carefully invested by the Center's Financial Office-was more often spent in acquiring horticultural rarities, she could afford to dress herself stylishly. Peter had reserved a first balcony table, which had not only the hanging baskets of exotic flowers that fascinated Amariyah but an impressive, downtown view of Jerhattan. Theirs was a more sedate party than the one on the balcony above, which got louder and louder as the evening progressed.
Rhyssa, watch out! Amalda Vaden's telepathed warning distracted her from accepting her slice of birthday cake. It took Rhyssa a moment to wonder what Mallie was warning her against and then it was almost too late. She had little time to react because events had already been set in motion. The party above them had erupted into angry shouts and curses. She had time to Amalda Vaden's telepathed warning distracted her from accepting her slice of birthday cake. It took Rhyssa a moment to wonder what Mallie was warning her against and then it was almost too late. She had little time to react because events had already been set in motion. The party above them had erupted into angry shouts and curses. She had time to try try to get a s.h.i.+eld out over Peter's guests. The next moment two bodies hurtled over the balcony railing and dropped, striking Peter flat against the table, knocking both Rhyssa and Amariyah, seated next to him, off their chairs. to get a s.h.i.+eld out over Peter's guests. The next moment two bodies hurtled over the balcony railing and dropped, striking Peter flat against the table, knocking both Rhyssa and Amariyah, seated next to him, off their chairs.
Johnny and Lance ”lifted” the pair off, dumping them unceremoniously to the floor to continue flailing at each other. Dave helped Rhyssa to her feet, Sascha went to Amariyah, who had been dazed by a blow to her head. Dorotea was bending over the unconscious Peter, feeling for a neck pulse. Amariyah surged to her feet, covered with cake, and lunged for Peter with an inarticulate cry. Tirla, being nearest, caught her. The child struggled, moaning with anguish.
He didn't have his s.h.i.+elds up! Dorotea cried in consternation. Dorotea cried in consternation.
Why would he? At his birthday party and in a respectable restaurant, Rhyssa replied, caustic with fear and anger as Dave steadied her. Rhyssa replied, caustic with fear and anger as Dave steadied her. I tried to help. Is Peter all right? I tried to help. Is Peter all right? She pulled Dave with her as she joined Dorotea examining him. She pulled Dave with her as she joined Dorotea examining him. How is Amariyah? How is Amariyah?
She's got cake all over her, Tirla said in disgust, and reached for napkins and a water gla.s.s. Tirla said in disgust, and reached for napkins and a water gla.s.s.
Secure those two, Rhyssa said needlessly because Johnny and Lance had already exerted force on the drunken pair and they were locked motionless, face to face on the floor, arms outstretched as each was aiming blows at the other. Gargling sounds came from their throats but they couldn't move. Rhyssa said needlessly because Johnny and Lance had already exerted force on the drunken pair and they were locked motionless, face to face on the floor, arms outstretched as each was aiming blows at the other. Gargling sounds came from their throats but they couldn't move. I want a medical team here instantly, Sirikit, I want a medical team here instantly, Sirikit, she 'pathed to the Duty Office at the Center. she 'pathed to the Duty Office at the Center. Johnny and Lance can 'port them. Just tell me who! Johnny and Lance can 'port them. Just tell me who!
All conversation had ceased in the restaurant at the sound of the crash. Now curious guests were trying to see what had happened. Those on the upper floor were leaning over, their queries slurred by the drink they had taken. Two waiters came forward, one of them beckoning urgently to the maitre d' who hurried up the short flight of steps, undoubtedly forming apologies and stopping short as he took in the damage, and the inert body.
The lights of the restaurant dimmed as Johnny and Lance used that source of power to effect the arrival of the medicopter. Instantly the emergency trio homed in on Peter.
He's got broken bones, Dorotea said, anxiously wringing her hands. Peter had not yet developed osteoporosis but brittle bones were a.s.sociated with long-term paralysis. His exercises on the Reeve Board and frequent ma.s.sage were supposed to slow the onset. Dorotea said, anxiously wringing her hands. Peter had not yet developed osteoporosis but brittle bones were a.s.sociated with long-term paralysis. His exercises on the Reeve Board and frequent ma.s.sage were supposed to slow the onset.
Dave had an arm about Rhyssa's shoulders, trying to console her. Sascha gave them a short nod, indicating that he had reported the incident to LEO headquarters.
Boris is coming. Johnny, Lance, bring him in, Sascha added and suddenly there was a LEO copter hovering sideways outside the windows. Boris Roznine peered into the restaurant and then gave crisp orders. The copter swept away to the helipad on the next level. In moments, uniformed officers were rounding up those in the disruptive party. Boris arrived on the first balcony with two more officers. He halted when he saw Peter. Sascha added and suddenly there was a LEO copter hovering sideways outside the windows. Boris Roznine peered into the restaurant and then gave crisp orders. The copter swept away to the helipad on the next level. In moments, uniformed officers were rounding up those in the disruptive party. Boris arrived on the first balcony with two more officers. He halted when he saw Peter.
Is he all right? he asked Sascha. he asked Sascha.
We're checking. Those are the ones responsible. Bury them deep in the LEO cells, will you, bro?
As deep as the law allows me, was Boris's response and he signaled for a.s.sistance. was Boris's response and he signaled for a.s.sistance.
”Fractures to the right arm, leg, and rib cage,” the emergency medic was reporting to Rhyssa. ”I don't think his neck, or his back, are injured. His pelvis might be. A portable scanner's on its way in.”
Rhyssa came as near to fainting as she ever had, leaning into Dave's supporting body. Dorotea started to weep. Lance, who was nearest, a.s.sisted her to a chair and ordered a brandy. Cursing and uttering dire threats in a variety of languages, Tirla was attempting to clean cake off Amariyah's pretty dress. Amariyah, tears streaming down her face, kept her eyes on Peter. Then Tirla grabbed the arm of one of the medics, and pointed to Amariyah.
”She's in shock,” she said, and the woman swung round to check the dazed child.
I'm terribly, terribly sorry, Rhyssa, Mallie said. Mallie said. It all blew up so suddenly. One moment it was all right and then I felt the precog. How badly is Peter hurt? It all blew up so suddenly. One moment it was all right and then I felt the precog. How badly is Peter hurt?
We don't know yet. I saw the falling bodies and tried to s.h.i.+eld him. The portable scanner just got here. He's alive. Tell me something good will come of this, Mallie. There's got to be something good out of it.
A long pause. He isn't going to die. He can't hurt, you know. He'll heal. I see nothing else. He isn't going to die. He can't hurt, you know. He'll heal. I see nothing else.
Thanks.
Wish I'd been just that little bit faster, Mallie's repentant voice dwindled into silence. Mallie's repentant voice dwindled into silence.
”He will be all right, Rhyssa,” Dave said. ”He survived the wall. He'll survive this. He is is a survivor!” a survivor!”
The portable MRI scanner was in place, clicking as it was slowly pa.s.sed over the unconscious victim. Rhyssa leaned close enough to see the monitor that Bob Gerace, the emergency medic, was intently watching.
”Yup, buckle fracture of the humerus, three, no four, broken ribs, a hairline fracture of the right pelvic bone, a break in the femur, fortunately just past the joint so he'll,” Gerace hesitated on ”walk again” and then continued briskly, ”well, nothing that won't mend. No internal injuries that are visible on the portable. It could have been worse, Rhyssa.”
”It's quite bad enough as it is, Bob,” she said tartly, and felt Dave's hands on her elbows, calming her. ”No further damage to his spine?” she asked because she had to know.
”He had enough to begin with, Rhyssa,” Gerace said with a grimace. ”It was obviously a glancing blow, all the injuries are on the right side. Okay, people, let's immobilize him.” He visibly winced at his choice of words, apologizing for his gaffe even as he placed a protective sh.e.l.l over Peter's upper arm.
With skill and speed, the breaks were given first aid. Johnny and Lance kinetically turned him over and laid him very, very carefully on the litter.
”D'you know Henry Hudson Hospital?” Gerace asked of no one in particular. ”It's nearest.”
”I do,” Rhyssa said, turning to Johnny and Lance. Take the placement from my mind. Take the placement from my mind. She let them see the accident and emergency facility at the uptown hospital. She let them see the accident and emergency facility at the uptown hospital.
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