chemistry
myself. He demonstrated a full understanding of the topic and even tried to
engage me in a discussion of nanotechnology and electro optic materials to
which I have only a very limited knowledge.”
“Wow,” I said and pondered that. “Maybe
the Rehnorians really are more advanced than the Rozarians.”
“I doubt that,” Donak replied drily.
“No,” Kenak responded. “Rehnorians, the
Karupta especially are less advanced than us. He must be as exceptional in his
intelligence as he is in other ways.”
“I wish I knew more about those unique
proteins in his plasma,” Donak sighed. “I wonder if they are the source of all
these powers and abilities. Of course, I can’t draw any blood on him.” Donak
looked pointedly at me. “How proteins would make him a genius though, I cannot
fathom.” He stood up again and crossed the office to look at the window at the
dull red landscape.
“What's going to become of him then?” I
was now more worried than ever. If the Saintists found out about him, if they
felt threatened, they might revoke his citizenship and kick him off this
planet. “Can he still go to school here?
“Yes,” Kenak replied. “He is very
interested in medicine. He wants to become a doctor.”
“Really?”
Donak cleared his throat and turned around.
A slight smile played on his lips. “Surgery, neurology, brain function.
Apparently he doesn’t know everything there is to know about these subjects as
of yet.”
“He said he wants to heal people,” Kenak
added.
“A blind brain surgeon?” I laughed. “I
think I’d be a little nervous about letting him cut into my head. What if he
cuts out the wrong part?”
“He sees more with those sensory lenses
than you or I could ever imagine,” Donak replied. “He can spot things with
those that a normal eye simply cannot. I believe he will make a fine surgeon
and an excellent diagnostician.”
“Why do you think the Rehnorians gave him
up?” I asked. “Do you think they didn't understand what he is?”
“I don't know about that.” Kenak shook
his head and went to stand by the window with his friend. “But whether they
understood or not, it is undoubtedly to our benefit that they did.”
A year and a few months later, Senya, was
now known as Dr. Ron by the staff of the medical centre, a nickname given to
him by a group of nurses. He had Rozarian citizenship. He had completed all
coursework from the medical school at a record pace and was currently working
through his internship at the hospital. He still lived in the dorms but was on
probation for entertaining too many young ladies in his room. The girls
flocked around him which surprised Kenak and Donak but was patently obvious to
me. I didn’t see him very much anymore. Occasionally, I caught a glimpse of
him walking across campus and disappearing inside one or another building
before I could catch up to say hello. All the research and information about
Rehnor and the Karuptas that we had hoped to garner from him had fallen by the
wayside.
From the beginning Senya refused to answer
our questions and to this day politely or impolitely ignored Kenak. It didn’t
bother me any. I could see he was running away from something and didn’t want
to remember it. Poor Kenak was saddened though. He thought he had found the
capstone for all his years of research and study only to have it slip through
his fingers. Senya, for all his brilliance, mutant chromosomes and magic, was
just a young man at heart and this I needed to keep reminding my Rozarian
friends.
The door opened and a man stepped in. He
was older, about Tim’s age and huge, easily three hundred pounds. The man had
a lion's head of white hair and very pale white skin with eyes that were a very
pale blue, almost color-less. He was wearing a handsome suit of obviously fine
fabric although the style was a little odd and he was clutching a
Larry Smith, Rachel Fershleiser