The Mile Long Spaceship by Kate Wilhelm Read Free Book Online Page B

them. Not that I think any of them will try anything after what happened to Windlass," he added caustically.
    DeBarge floated effortlessly to his feet by Royle's side and together they guided the couch bearing Perez down the corridor, feeling their way along surely with a swimming motion.
    Royle felt his tiredness combine with the now numbing cold as they approached the air lock two hours later. "What is it now, Debby?"
    "Still 101."
    "Right. Either there weren't enough to affect it much or he's fighting off the stuff I gave him. I don't know. Let's go in to Custens."

    Later they stood looking out the screen in the engine room. Royle, Giroden, Kara, Windlass, all of them. They watched the speck disappear among the various hued stars and only after it had gone entirely did Royle turn the switch to off.
    "It's going to take a year," he said, and there was subdued excitement in his voice at the thought of it. A year! Possibly more! "I'll assign temporary duties for now and we'll find the best person for the job later. Kara, you will head up the infirmary. Giroden, go with DeBarge and follow his instructions. Rawlins, take Windlass..." His eyes slid past Windlass and narrowed. "Custens! I told you to stay in sick bay!"
    "Yes sir," Custens said and placed a tray beside his captain. "Your lunch, sir."
    Custens gave DeBarge a pointed look and grinned as he and Rawlins herded the docile passengers from the engine room leaving the captain and his man alone with the gleaming machinery. Custens was manipulating the controls of the charts' strips, showing sector after sector of the unexplored regions of the galaxy as DeBarge pulled the door closed. Royle was starting to eat absently, his eyes, bright with anticipation, fastened on the changing scenes of the unknown.

JENNY WITH WINGS

    "I am sorry, Miss," the nurse said, "But the doctor sees patients only by appointment. I explained that when you called."
    "You said be couldn't take me for three weeks," Jenny said. "I can't wait three weeks. This is an emergency."
    There was disapproval in the eyes of the haughty nurse as she examined Jenny with a woman's unabashed appraisal. Jenny knew her hair was too long for this year's style, and her too-long stand-away coat might have passed several years ago, but was now hopelessly outdated. Also her face was hot and red from wind burn. She met the nurse's eyes with impervious pride. The nurse's eyes flicked away first.
    "If you'll leave your name and number," she suggested, "I'll try to work you in sooner. Today is out of the question; it's past hours now."
    Jenny sniffed. "I aim to see the doctor now," she stated calmly.
    The intercom buzzed and when the nurse depressed a button to answer it, Jenny darted past her to the door beyond her desk. "Doctor Lindquist," Jenny shouted at the startled man seated behind a desk. "You have to stay ten more minutes! I have to see you!" At her first movement the nurse had risen to follow her, and now she was advancing ominously. The doctor rose, signalled the nurse to halt, and walked around his desk. Jenny ran forward to clutch at his arm.
    "I'm sorry, Doctor. I tried to stop her," the nurse said.
    Jenny clung to him. "I called first. Honest I did, but she put me off for three weeks, and I can't wait. Please..."
    "Young lady, I have an appointment in one hour..." He started to disengage her hand. "If you can be here at eleven in the morning..."
    Jenny glanced at the nurse, she drew herself to her tiptoes and whispered, "Doctor, I have wings!"
    The doctor became immobile; even his breathing seemingly stopped for a second while his eyes searched her face. Before she knew what he was doing he put one hand on her back and ran it up and down. It all happened in less time than it took for the nurse to cross the room and take Jenny's arm.
    "Never mind, never mind," the doctor said hastily. He half pushed the nurse out of his office, closing the door behind her. He turned to Jenny and reached for her coat, but she