The New Hero Volume 2 by ed. Robin D. Laws

Author:ed. Robin D. Laws [Laws, ed. Robin D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stone Skin Press

* * *

The door to Ariam’s hospital room slides open as Gwoma enters wearing a heavy, ugly sweater and coveralls.

“Doctor Keown,” he says.

“Gwoma,” Ariam says, delighted. “Tell me you brought wine. With the amount of blood I’ve given, it won’t take much.”

“No.” He sits down next to her bed. “I have news for you, instead.”

“I heard that the Ryr is going to be all right.”

“His ships are inbound. Won’t be long now. The human pilot is going to be held by the quiruth authorities for the flight accident.”

Ariam nods.

“And station control,” Gwoma says, “has decided to suspend your invitation for another term at the hospital.”

Ariam smiles to herself. “I don’t think I was staying anyway.”

She and Gwoma sit in silence for a while. A nearby monitor shows a quiriuth nature show about microscopic life in Loyagrammer’s atmosphere. They pretend to watch it together.

“I was thinking about something you said,” Gwoma says.

“Yeah?”

“About your oath?”

“The Hippocratic?”

He nods.

“What about it?”

“‘Do no harm,’ you said.”

“Yeah,” she makes a face. “Here’s the thing. I never took the oath. I was never sworn in by any human institution. Human hospitals were in shambles when I was a kid. I prefer to think of my vow as ‘do net good.’”

“And you think that’s what you did?”

“I saved lives today and maybe helped to save a lot more.”

“You spread a fatal disease.”

“I turned the resources of a rich and powerful nation toward finding a cure.”

“A hostile nation.”

“Yeah, well. One thing at a time.”

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