Чужак в чужой стране

           "I’msureyoudid–theManfromMars?"

           "Yes.Ben?BenCaxtonsaidyouweretheonetocometo."

           "BenCaxton,eh?Iappreciatetheconfid–hush!"Harshawemphasizedthedemandforsilencewithahandupheldwhilehecontinuedtofrownandlisten.Helookedpuzzled,thensurpriseburstoverhisface."Heartaction!I’llbeababblingbaboon.Dorcas–upstairs,theclinic–thirddrawerdowninthelockedpartofthecooler;thecodeis‘sweetdreams.’Bringthewholedrawerandpickupa1cc.hypofromthesterilizer."

           "Rightaway!"

           "Doctor,nostimulants!"

           HarshawturnedtoJill."Eh?"

           "I’msorry,sir.I’mjustanurse?butthiscaseisdifferent.Iknow."

           "Mmm?he’smypatientnow,nurse.ButaboutfortyyearsagoIfoundoutIwasn’tGod,andabouttenyearsthereafterIdiscoveredIwasn’tevenAesculapius.Whatdoyouwanttotry?"

           "Ijustwanttotrytowakehimup.Ifyoudoanythingtohim,hejustgoesdeeperintoit."

           "Hmm?goahead.Justaslongasyoudon’tuseanax.Thenwe’lltrymymethods."

           "Yes,sir."Jillkneltbesidehim,Startedgentlytryingtostraightenouthislimbs.Harshaw’seyebrowswentupwhenhesawthatshehadsucceeded.JilltookSmith’sheadinherlapandcradleditgentlyinherhands."Pleasewakeup,"shesaidsoftly."ThisisJill?yourwaterbrother."

           Thebodystirred.Veryslowlythechestlifted.ThenSmithletoutalongbubblingsighandhiseyesopened.HelookedupatJillandsmiledhisbabysmile.Jillsmiledback.