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and taking the preliminary recertification exams. Basic and advanced life
support, basic and advanced trauma first response, basic and advanced
contagious disease techniques . . . her head would have spun if it could.
In her brief time "off," she tried to catch up with current research in her
area, flicking through the computerized journal abstracts.
"What we really need is another team member for a trip to Diplo." Someone
groaned, in the back of the room, and someone else shushed the groaner.
"Come on," the speaker said, half-angrily. "It's only a short tour, thirty
days max."
"Because that's the medical limit," came a mutter.
"This comes up every year," the speaker said. "We have a contract pending; we
have an obligation;
whatever your personal views, the heavyworlders on Diplo have significant
medical problems which are still being researched."
"Not until you give us an allowance for G-damage."
Lunzie thought that was the same mutterer, someone a few seats to her left and
behind.
"Fay and allowances are adjusted for local conditions," the speaker went on,
staring fixedly at his notes.
"TTiis year's special topic is the effect of prolonged coldsleep on
heavyworlder biochemistry, particularly the accumulation of calcium affecting
cardiac function." He paused. Lunzie wondered when that topic had
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been assigned. Everyone would know, from her qualifications posted in the
files, that she had special knowledge relevant to the research. But it would
not do to show eagerness. The speaker went on.
"We've already got a molecular biologist, and a cardiac physiologist "
The names came up on the main room screen, along with their most recent
publications. Very impressive, Lunzie thought to herself. Both Bias, the
biologist, and Tailler, the cardiac physiologist, had published lead articles
in good journals.
GENERATION WARRIORS
33
"Rehab medicine?" asked someone in back.
The speaker nodded. "If your Boards include a subspecialty rating in
heavyworlder rehab, certainly.
Clearly relevant to this year's special problem."
Another name went up on the screen, presumably the rehab specialist who'd
spoken: Conigan, age 42, had published a textbook on heavyworlder
rehabilitation after prolonged work undersea. Lunzie decided she'd waited long
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enough. What if someone else qualified for "her" slot?
"I've got a background in prolonged coldsleep, and some heavyworlder
experience." Heads turned to look at her; Discipline kept her from flushing
under that scrutiny. The speaker peered at what she assumed was her file on
his podium screen. "Ah . . . Lunzie. Yes. I see you haven't yet taken your
Boards recertification exam?"
"It's scheduled for three days from now." It had been scheduled for six months
from now but Jerik had arranged for her to take the exam singly, ahead of
time. "All the prelims are on file."
"Yes, they are. It's amazing you've caught up so fast, and your skills are
well suited to this mission.
Contingent on your passing your Boards, you're accepted for this assignment."
He looked up, scanning the room for the next possible applicant.
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Tne woman next to Lunzie nudged her.
"Are you sure you want to go to Diplo? I heard your last coldsleep was because
heavyworlders went primitive."
Lunzie managed not to glare. She had not heard the rumors herself, but she'd
known they would be flying around the medical and scientific community.
"I can't talk about it," she said, not untruthfully. "Tlie case won't be tried
for months, and until then "
"Oh, I quite understand. I'm not prying, Doctor. It's just that if it was
heavyworlders, I'm surprised you're signing up for Diplo."
Lunzie chuckled. "Well, there's this glitch in my pay records "
The woman snorted. "There would be. Of course; I
34
McCaffrey and Moon
see. You'd think they could realize the last thing you need is worry about
money, but the Feds have acute formitis."
"A bad case," Lunzie agreed.
With the others, she craned her head to see the last responder, a dark man
whose specialty was
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heavyworlder genetics. From the heft of his shoulders, he might have
heavyworlder genes of his own, she thought.
So it proved when the whole team met for briefing. Jar! was the smaller (and
nonadapted) of twins born to a heavyworlder couple; he was fascinated by the
unusual inheritance patterns of adaptation, and by the equally unusual
inheritance patterns of tolerance or intolerance to coldsleep. Aside from his
heavyworlder genes, he seemed quite normal, and Lunzie felt no uneasiness
around him.
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Bias, the volatile molecular biologist, was for more upsetting; he seemed
ready to fly into pieces at any moment. Lunzie wondered how he would take the
heavy gravity; he didn't look particularly athletic.
Tailler, die cardiac physiologist, impressed Lunzie as a good team leader:
stable, steady, but energetic, he would be easy to work with. She already
knew, from a short bio at die foot of one of his papers, that he climbed
mountains for recreation: the physical effort should be within his ability.
Conigan, the rehab specialist, was a slender redheaded woman who reminded
Lunzie of an older (but no less enthusiastic)
Varian.
She was aware that she herself was the subject of just such curiosity and
scrutiny. They would know little about her besides her file info: she had no
friends or past associates they could question covertly.
She wondered what they saw in her face, what they expected or worried about or
hoped for. At least she had passed her Boards, and by a respectable margin, so
Jerik had told her. She wondered, but did not ask, how he had gotten the
actual raw scores, which supposedly no one ever saw.
And all the while, Bias outlined the project in excited phrases, pausing with
his pointer aloft to see if they'd understood the last point. Lunzie made
herself pay
GENERATION WARRIORS
35
attention. Whatever information she could get for Sassinak and the trial
aside, her team members deserved her best work.
By the time their ship came to the orbital station serving Diplo, they were
all working easily together.
Lunzie thought past the next few months, and Tanegli's trial, to hope that she
would find such professional comraderie again. There were things you could not [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]