Stardoc #02 - Beyond Varallan by S. L. Viehl

Author:S. L. Viehl [Viehl, S. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Adventure, Science Fiction, Fiction, General, Space Opera, Life on Other Planets, Science Fiction; American, Women Physicians, Torin; Cherijo (Fictitious Character)
ISBN: 9780451457936
Google: IyyMNaLzG4QC
Amazon: 0451457935
Publisher: Roc
Published: 2000-07-09T22:00:00+00:00

“A change in diet beats dying,” I said.

The Patriarch indicated through Reever that I should proceed. My right hand slipped on the lascalpel as I lifted it. I couldn’t feel it anymore.

“Damn.” I flexed my left fingers, they weren’t much better. I had been trained to operate ambidextrously, but that wasn't going to help. I looked at Reever. “We have a bit of a problem, Duncan.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t have enough sensation in my hands to perform this procedure.”

Everyone within the sterile field stopped what they were doing for a full five seconds.

“Calm down,” I said to the room at large, “We’ll find a way.”

Reever looked at the team. “What about one of them?

Can they take your place?”

Tonetka, Squilyp, and I constituted the full staff of surgeons for the Sunlace. A few of the more experienced residents were doing some simple procedures, but none had graduated to the level of cutting required for this kind of work.

On the other hand, if we didn’t do this now, the Furinac would die. I turned my face toward the display panel just beyond the sterile field.

“Squilyp, can you hear me?”

His reply was low but audible beyond the field static.

“Yes, Doctor.”

“If you have any bright ideas, now’s the time.” I thought for a moment. “If I guide you with my voice, could you do the procedure by touch?”

“An interesting proposition,” the Omorr said. “I have a better one.”

“Don’t be shy.”

“You made a comment about borrowing someone’s hands. Could Linguist Reever lend you his while you share a cortical coupling?”

A radical idea. A great one, too. I looked at Reever.

“Can we do that? Operate on the Patriarch using my mind and your hands?”

Reever’s eyes went from me to the open thorax and exposed organs, then to his own hands. He swallowed hard before he said, “Yes.”

Why, he’s squeamish, I thought. How cute.

“Just think of it as helping the handicapped.” I turned my head toward the console. “Squilyp, I’m giving you a raise in compensation. Major credits. You can have the desk, too.”

I explained what we were doing to my team members while Reever translated my proposed solution to the Patriarch. I had no idea how he explained that the Furinac’s surgeon couldn't use her own hands, but somehow he got the message through. The Patriarch agreed. Reever turned to me. His eyes were dull green above the edge of his mask.

“Whenever you’re ready, Doctor.”

“Remember to let me do my job while we’re linked. I need full control of your hands.” I crinkled my eyes in a surgical-room smile. “Relax, Duncan. I know what I'm—you're—doing.”

We linked. I raced into Reever’s thoughts impatiently.

He was feeling nauseous, which made me nauseous.

Cut it out. Now is not the time to decide you don’t like touching squishy things. I reached out with my mental hands, and felt him guide me to his. Through my eyes, I watched as I lifted Duncan’s hand to the lascalpel. His fingers shook a little. Get a grip. Can’t do that when you're in someone's abdomen, you'll cut out something important.

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