Eternity Row (52 page)

I got up and went back to the blood analyzer.

“Hawk and Dhreen should both have iydrothpin and trioiydrothyrnine in their bloodstreams.” I checked lab stats on both prior to the transfusion. “What? That can’t be right.” I ran the blood series again

Dhreen came over to the analyzer. “What’s wrong?”

“Before you swapped blood with Hawk, you didn’t have any iydrothpin in your system.” I waited for the scan to finish, then reread the results. “And he didn’t have any trioiydrothyrnine.”

“What does it mean?”

“Wait for it.” I went over to Hawk, and performed a systemic sweep. Sure enough, the mysterious signs of deterioration in his organs had halted, and in some cases, had reversed. Then I scanned Dhreen, and found a tiny decrease in his organ output.

The only thing left to do was run an immersion simulation on the mineral-based compound, and the two hormones. The analyzer did that in a few seconds, and produced the same results: In Hawk’s blood, it destroyed the trioiydrothyrnine. In Dhreen’s, it wiped out the iydrothpin.

Then I sat down and cradled my head in my hands until Ilona touched my shoulder.

“Patcher?”

“It’s okay.” I was scaring them, but then, I’d just scared myself. “I know why the Oenrallians have become immortal and the Taercal are dying young.” I showed them the results on the analyzer. “The mineral-based compound in the water on both worlds has gradually destroyed hormonal production. Because it attacks different sides of the hormonal combination, it has opposite effects-the Taercal experience accelerated cell deterioration, while the Oenrallians experience none.”

“But why doesn’t it attack the same hormone?”

“Before the compound got into your water tables and your bodies, the genetic degradation of the iydroth gland was already in progress. The compound only accelerated the natural process. Because of the separation, you’ve evolved into different races, but each developed the genetic flaw.

“A temporary solution would be to augment glandular production in both peoples with synthetic hormones to replace the ones that are missing,” I said thoughtfully. “But in the genetic long term, the Taercal and the Oenrallians will have to get back together.”

Dhreen’s orange brows rose. “Interbreed? With them?”

“If both races want to survive, yeah, that’s what you’re going to have to do.”

“But we’re sterile.”

I shook my head. ‘The sterility is a by-product. Once the hormone is reintroduced, your people will be as fertile as bunny rabbits again.“ I was betting psychosis was a by-product of Hawk’s deficiency, too.

He nodded slowly. “Doc, can you synthesize this stuff now?”

I knew why he asked that, and looked around at the equipment. “Yeah. I can.”

“Will you do what has to be done?”

“I’ll need help getting out of here, and cover while I’m gone.” I sized up Ilona. “You’re taller, but if you stay parked at the console I don’t think the Bartermen will notice. Just don’t leave Hawk alone, not in his condition.” I told her how to keep close monitor on him, then turned to Dhreen. “I need you to get back there, and do this right.”

Pale-faced, he nodded.

Ilona went behind a stack of portable terminals with me, and traded garments. Then I synthesized enough hormone to do the job.

“I’ll be back soon.” I pulled on Ilona’s cloak, and covered my head, then slipped out of the complex behind Dhreen.

The trip took only a few minutes, but I would have been happy to stay on the road forever.

“I’ve hated death all my life,” I said, watching Dhreen drive. “Fought it, like it was some kind of private demon. And now I’m going to work for it.”

“If there was another way, I’d offer it to you.”

“Just help me get through this.”

We left the glidecar Dhreen had stolen a few yards from the gap in the wall. I took off the cloak and opened the case of vials as soon as we were behind the main security panel. “Administering it intravenously will take days. I need access to that hygiene pump you showed me before.”

“You’re going to spray them with it?”

“They’ll absorb it through their skin. We have to add it to the water supply, too. That’s all I can do for this city. You’ll have to synthesize more and distribute it around the globe.”

Dhreen led me to the abandoned maintenance section and valved off a supply line before prying open an access port. After adding the synthetic hormone, I muttered a silent prayer under my breath, then stepped away from the water line.

“Seal it and start the pump.”

I left him to monitor the unit while I went out to make my final rounds of Eternity Row. I’d seen thousands of people die; now I was going to kill thousands.

When the overhead hygiene sprayers sputtered into life, I went from bed to bed, making sure the patients had enough derma left unsealed to absorb the hormone-laden moisture. I watched the first patient’s eyes glaze over, then flutter closed. A shallow, sighed breath left the burned man’s scorched lungs, then his chest never rose again.

Rest in peace.

I continued my rounds, becoming soaked myself as I opened specimen containers and watched dismembered limbs cease their century-long twitching. The worst part, or so I thought, was seeing the decapitated heads die. I wasn’t sure if it was water rolling down their cheeks, or tears.

Knowing I couldn’t walk the length of Eternity Row, I made my last stop at Gerala’s bedside. She wasn’t alone.

Mtulla held the dead child in her strong arms. She lifted her amber eyes to me, then kissed the little girl on the brow.

“She was my daughter,” the Rajanukal said as she carefully lowered the body to the bed, then arranged Gerala’s hair around her peaceful face. “I sold you to the Bartermen to get enough credits for her daily dose of Sensblok. I would have done anything to keep her from feeling pain.”

I put my hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Rajanukal.”

“Do you know, I came every day. I never missed a day. Not in seventy-three years.” The big woman pulled the linens up over the still body. “She once told me that knowing I’d be here every day was all that kept her from screaming and crying like the others. She never wanted me to find her like that. She didn’t want me to be ashamed of her.” She passed a hand over her eyes, and her shoulders shook. “I never cried in front of her because I didn’t want her to be ashamed of me.”

Everything I wanted to say seemed useless. “She was a very brave little girl. Brave like her mother.”

Mtulla covered her face with her big hands, and wept for a long time. I put an arm around her shoulders and listened to the tears and sobs she had never allowed Gerala to suffer. Somehow, that seemed right.

After she composed herself, the Rajanukal insisted on helping me finish my work. Other handlers came and in a few hours, Eternity Row was completely silent.

Mtulla joined me on the last ward, and looked down the rows of beds. “Now we can put dearest ones to the rest they deserve. Thank you for that, Doctor. Whatever I can get for you, it is yours.”

The Rajanukal kept her word. She not only helped arrange for Hawk to be transported back to the
Sunlace
, but she bootlegged one of the medical consoles to transmit my own findings to Squilyp. I emphasized the need for discretion and urgency while administering the synthetic hormone to the Taercal.

Oddly, it was that illicit signal that the Bartermen used to trace my location. They burst into Mtulla’s house on Handler Row, and demanded I be turned over to them at once.

“We will not let them take you,” the furious Rajanukal said. Then she shouted at the Bartermen, “Don’t you know what this woman has done for us? She’s freed us of the Sensblok! You will get nothing more from our people!”

“Easy, Mtulla. There’s been enough death for one day.” I stepped up to the Bartermen. “Just what did you have in mind, boys?”

“Bartermen want the promised experimental data.”

“No, I’m not going to give you that.” I crossed my arms. “Next request?”

The Barterman who spoke for the group looked aghast. “You agreed to trade.”

“I know. I lied.”

“Bartermen will not wait for the Hsktskt and League to arrive,” I was told as a couple of mercenaries flanked me. “Bartermen have too much trouble with Cherijo Torin. Bartermen sell you to the Akkabarran slaver.”

I didn’t fight them, though I had to repeatedly tell Mtulla to back off.

“Right now, there are two Jorenian ships headed this way,” I reminded her. “As soon as they get here, the Bartermen are going to have to hand me over, or face all those claws.”

Mtulla shoved one of the mercenaries aside so she could clasp my arm. “If you ever need anything, you signal me and I will bring it to wherever you are.”

I felt fairly confident of being rescued, until I was led outside and one of the Bartermen produced a jolt-stick.

“I’m being cooperative,” I said, eyeing the weapon. “You don’t need that, now-

He zapped me, and I slid into unconsciousness.

When I woke up, it was in the oddest of circumstances. I was crammed into a very small space, with my legs tucked in and my shoulders pressing against what felt like a tiny console. I opened my eyes and found two small, slimy faces close to mine. “Who are you?”

“Rilken.” One of the diminutive aliens reached out and prodded me with a sticky finger. “You Terran?”

“Uh-huh.” I tried to sit up, found I couldn’t, and swiveled onto my stomach instead. I was inside what had to be the smallest vessel I’d ever seen. A lavatory on the
Sunlace
was ten times bigger. “Why am I here?”

“We purchase you from Bartermen.” One of the little guys went to an equally tiny helm and initiated some engines. “Prepare for launch.”

“Wait a minute.” I managed to hunch over and sit up, and immediately felt like Gulliver. I filled up half the passenger compartment, which had been designed for beings less than half a meter in height. “Where are we going?”

“We are leaving Oenrall,” the other pipsqueak said. “We are mercenaries. You will be returned to the Hsktskt for blood-bounty.”

Midget mercenaries. Well, why not? “You’re friends with the lizards?”

He shrugged his tiny shoulders. “The Hsktskt offer more credits for you.”

The tiny vessel lifted off and entered the upper atmosphere. Before the mercenaries could initiate their flightshield, something struck us.

“What is it?” The one guarding me ran up to the helm.

“A Jorenian ship, firing on us.” Fear ran through the Rilken’s voice. “They have disabled our stardrive.”

Considering the size of the ship, Xonea must have used a peashooter. I crawled up behind both of them, and felt for the syrinpress I’d been carrying in my tunic pocket. It was gone, so I’d have to use more creative measures.

“Nighty-night, boys.” I knocked their skulls together once, then watched them slide to the floor. I looked around me. “That’s it? I don’t get shot, stabbed, poisoned, whipped, burned, or anything else?”

The Rilken didn’t make a response.

Clunking them was certainly easier than using their communications array. I had to use one of my fingernails to operate the control panel. At last I raised the
CloudWalk
to let them know I was in control and all right.

“It is good to see you, Council representative,” the Jado ClanLeader said, and smiled. “There are two others here who wish to relay their happiness, as well.”

He stepped aside, and the welcome sight of my husband and daughter appeared on the vid screen.

“Cherijo.” My husband looked very relieved. “You escaped the Bartermen by yourself?”

“Mtulla helped. By the way, if you ever want to get kidnapped, pick Rilkens. Very easy species to overpower. Marel could do it.” I thought of the peace talks. “Have I ruined everything for Captain Teulon?”

“No, it appears the negotiations are a success. The Torins retrieved Alunthri from Jxinok, and it has convinced the Taercal that your cure is a divine intervention, and that their god refuses to allow them to suffer, as was prophesied.”