Invasion by Robin Cook Read Free Book Online

the side of the valuables box, but it didn’t slow. With a muted hissing sound and a few sparks it traveled through the metal, leaving a tiny, perfectly symmetrical hole behind it.
    Once free of the confined space, the point of light traveled directly to Beau, causing Beau’s luminosity to intensify. It approached Beau’s right eye and then hovered a few millimeters away. Slowly the intensity of the point of light decreased until it assumed its normal flat black color.
    A few pulses of visible light traveled from the tiny object and impinged on Beau’s eyelid. Instantly the eye opened while the other stayed shut. The exposed pupil was maximally dilated with just a bare band of iris visible.
    Pulses of electromagnetic radiation were then dispatched into Beau’s open eye, mostly in the visible light wavelength. It was one computer downloading to another, and it went on for almost an hour.
    “HOW’S OUR FAVORITE PATIENT?” CASSY ASKED PITT WHEN she came through the ER door. Pitt hadn’t seen her untilshe’d spoken. The ER had been busy and he’d had his hands full.
    “Fine as far as I know,” Pitt said. “I looked in on him a couple of times, as did the nurse. Every time he was sleeping like a baby. I don’t think he moved. He must have been exhausted.”
    “Did his blood work come back?” Cassy asked.
    “Yup, and it was pretty normal,” Pitt said. “His white count was up slightly but only his mononuclear lymphocytes.”
    “Hey, remember you’re talking to a layperson,” Cassy said.
    “Sorry,” Pitt said. “The bottom line is that he can go home. Then it’s the usual. You know: fluids, aspirin, rest, and some TLC.”
    “What do I have to do to get him released?” Cassy asked.
    “Nothing,” Pitt said. “I already did all the paperwork. We just have to get him out into the car. Come on, I’ll give you a hand.”
    Pitt got leave from the head nurse to take a break. He found a wheelchair and started down the hall toward the student overnight ward.
    “You think a wheelchair is necessary?” Cassy asked with concern.
    “We might as well have it just in case,” Pitt said. “His legs were pretty wobbly when you brought him in.”
    They got to the door, and Pitt knocked quietly. When there was no answer he cracked the door and peered inside.
    “Just as I thought,” Pitt said. He opened the door wideto push in the wheelchair. “Sleeping Beauty still hasn’t moved.”
    Pitt parked the wheelchair and followed Cassy to the bed. Each went to a separate side.
    “What did I tell you?” Pitt said. “The picture of tranquility. Why don’t you kiss him and see if he turns into a frog.”
    “Should we wake him?” Cassy asked, ignoring Pitt’s attempt at humor.
    “It’s going to be hard getting him home if we don’t,” Pitt said.
    “He looks so peaceful,” Cassy said. “He also looks a hell of a lot better than he did earlier. In fact, his color looks normal.”
    “I suppose,” Pitt said.
    Cassy reached out and gently shook Beau’s arm while calling his name softly. When he didn’t respond, she shook him harder.
    Beau’s eyes blinked open. He looked back and forth between his two friends. “Hey, how ya doing?” he asked.
    “I think the question is how you are doing,” Cassy said.
    “Me, I’m fine,” Beau said. Then his eyes made a rapid sweep around the room. “Where am I?”
    “At the med center,” Cassy said.
    “What am I doing here?” Beau questioned.
    “You don’t remember?” Cassy asked with concern.
    Beau shook his head. He yanked back the covers and threw his feet over the side.
    “You don’t remember getting sick in class?” Cassy asked. “You don’t remember my bringing you here?”
    “Oh, yeah,” Beau said. “It’s coming back. Yeah, I remember. I felt terrible.” He looked at Pitt. “Jeez, what did you guys give me? I feel like a new man.”
    “Seems that you just needed some serious shuteye,” Pitt said. “Except for a little hydration, we really