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down. Mine s practically the same as my mother s, yet we went to school and
grew up in totally different places.
I ve heard other people say the same thing too.
Hm. I really don t know. . . . Can t think of any obvious reason why it
should be.
Neither can I. That s why I was curious.
That s something we should have asked Leo. It sounds like his department.
Kieran picked up his coffee mug and sat back. He looked at June, his eyes
twinkling mirthfully. Speaking of which, I
wonder how much sense they re managing to get out of Sarda-the-First back at
the firm. June would be going in to Quantonix that morning. The news from the
day before was that the incoherence of the
Sarda who had been collected from Balmer s office, and his evident memory loss
of practically everything that had happened since the experiment, were causing
consternation. Everyone there naturally believed he was the one thought to
have been transported through the process successfully, since none other was
supposed to exist. It was generally assumed, therefore, that some calamitous
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flaw was revealing itself, and an air of gloom had settled over the project.
Kieran hoped that his anonymous donation to the solvency fund would help make
the gloom not quite as deep as it might otherwise have been.
The last I heard, he was being thoroughly obnoxious and uncooperative, he
said. It s uncanny how different sides of him seem to have polarized into two
different individuals. I wonder if A
tone from Kieran s comset announced an incoming call. He reached across to
lift the unit off the breakfast bar and drew out the handpiece.
Hello. Knightlife Enterprises.
Er, Dr. Thane?
This is he.
Walter Trevany.
Ah, Walter! Good morning, indeed!
The woman you sent me the picture of: Elaine. I ve remembered something else.
She was some kind of nurse. It s not a lot, but I said I d let you know if
anything more occurred to me.
And I appreciate it. But actually, Walter, we ve traced her. And a big part
was thanks to you. I
told you that what you said was more useful than you realized.
Oh I m glad to hear it. So how is Leo now? Has his memory improved at all?
Well, a lot of people are currently working to help him in that direction,
Kieran said truthfully.
Elaine was even more helpful than I d hoped. We ll see what happens. So how
is the expedition to
Tharsis shaping up? You must be getting close to leaving.
A sigh came over the phone. Oh . . . there s a mechanical problem with the
Juggernaut. We re
Juggernaut?
That s what we ve christened the mobile lab. We re having trouble getting a
part. Something always gets you at the last minute. I m new here. Do you
happen to know any good places to try?
Do you have Alazahad Machine on your list?
Yes, but I haven t tried that one yet. Are they good?
It s the place I rented the car from when I came out to see you. Mahom
Alazahad, the owner, is an old friend of mine. He s also a magician. If anyone
in Lowell has your part, it ll be him. Otherwise he ll conjure you one out of
thin air.
Thanks for the tip. We ll give it a shot.
Mention my name. And good luck.
Kieran expected Trevany to clear down, but a short pause followed. Then
Trevany said, There was something else I wanted to ask. Our expedition s
medic has had to drop out. His main work is in biological research. He thought
he d have some spare time, but it turned out that some work he s involved with
in Lowell is at a crucial point. What kind of doctor are you? I wondered if it
was something you d be able to help out with at short notice. We could offer
pretty good remuneration . . . if you were interested.
Kieran smiled. It s nice of you to think of me. But to be frank, my calling
to the curative arts is not of the physicians kind. I suppose it would be
better described as remedying wrongs that ought to be put right. June caught
his eye with a questioning look.
Oh . . . okay, Trevany said. Maybe this Elaine might know someone, if she s
a nurse.
Possibly, Kieran said. But I m afraid she left Mars yesterday. She s going
to be gone for a long time. But I know other people too, Walter. Let me ask
around. If I come up with someone who might be able to take it on, I ll have
them get in touch.
Well, if it wouldn t be a lot of trouble . . .
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Not at all. It s my turn to do the favor. Leave it to me.
Thanks a lot. I ll be hoping to hear from someone then.
Bye for now, Walter.
So what was that about? June asked after Kieran had cleared down. I presume
the Walter was
Walter Trevany.
Yes. He had another detail about Elaine that he d remembered. Also, they re
having trouble finding a part to fix something on the Juggernaut that s what
they ve called their mobile lab.
Hm. I kind of like it.
Anyway, I put him on to Mahom.
So what was the bit about curative arts and physicians? June asked. I take
it he still thinks you re a doctor.
Kieran explained the situation. I ll try calling Donna for a start. She might
be able to put me on to some ships doctors who are laying over between trips
right now. A jaunt out across the surface might be appealing. It sounds as if
they could find themselves involved in some quite interesting things, too.
June looked at him thoughtfully while he drank from his cup and then began
folding the paper with the forged signatures into an origami form. Then why
don t you? she said finally.
What?
June leaned forward to the table, intent on making her point. Perhaps you
ought to disappear for a while. I m probably going to be tied up for some time
in whatever repercussions develop at
Quantonix. But more importantly, it s very likely that there are people still
here in Lowell who might recognize you with very awkward consequences. Making
yourself scarce might be a good idea.
The movements of Kieran s hands slowed as he considered what she was saying.
He looked up. There was, of course, one small detail that she couldn t have
overlooked: he wasn t a doctor. As if reading his mind, she went on, Didn t
you have some training in that line when you were with the military?
If what Walter needs is someone on hand for accidents, emergencies and that
kind of thing, you might be able to fit the bill as a kind of corpsman. And
backup is never far away these days. I think you should think about it.
Kieran sat back, rubbing his chin. The look on his face already said there was
nothing to argue or disagree with. It also said he was becoming more taken
with the thought by the moment. I d probably have to leave Guinness with
you, he said at last. Walter was a bit stodgy about having dogs around when
I was out there. In any case, Guinness would have to be shut up inside all the
time if he went. . . . I wonder if they ll ever make dog suits.
That s not a problem. Patti and Grace could have him some of the time. They d
love it.
Kieran let the proposition shuffle through his head one last time. Then he
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