Alan E. Nourse - The Bladerunner Read Online Free PDF Page B

had a bad day, is all. And it's too late to worry about it now. That's our cab coming in."
    Moments later the little heli-cab landed on the pad and discharged passengers. Doc, Billy, and the nurse climbed aboard. The rotor continued idling until Doc had address-coded their destination into the miniature computer console; there was a series of clicks as the computer searched all the legal heli-cab channels between the pad and the designated destination and locked in on a flight plan. Then the little cab lifted slowly into the air, circled twice awaiting electronic clearance for entering the traffic channels, and then began moving south and west, steadily gaining altitude.
    They were airborne for ten minutes before anyone spoke. Doc kept peering at the 360-degree radar scan pattern on the cab's console, double-checking that no one was following them. Billy sat hunched and tense, nervous as always when he was farther than jumping distance from solid ground. "Is the anesthetist going to meet us there?" he asked finally.
    "Nope, not tonight."
    "You mean Trautman refused to come?"
    "He wasn't asked," Doc said. "He's been drunk the last three times, and I decided that was enough. I can't afford to take that kind of risk."
    "Well, what are you going to do for anesthesia? I got the ether, like you asked."
    "Fine," Doc aid. "I think we'll let you give it, too."
    Billy stared at the surgeon. "Me give it! I don't know how to give anesthesia."
    "Then it's time you learned," Doc said. "You've certainly watched Trautman often enough. You know the reflexes to check, and I can coach you, just as long as I don't have to fool with the ether mask while I'm working."
    "Why not have Molly do it?"
    "She's got to be scrubbed in and helping me, right Molly?"
    The girl nodded. "But Billy, this is a great chance for you," she said. "If you could learn to replace Trautman, you could be a real part of the operating team—couldn't he, Doc? There aren't many bladerunners who even get to observe, much less help. And you're certainly smart enough to learn."
    Billy stirred uneasily and scratched his nose. "I don't know," he said finally. "Maybe for an extra hundred—"
    "No dice," Doc said. "No extra pay while you're learning. You need the experience."
    Billy looked at him. "Don't give me that, Doc. You need somebody to give anesthesia, that's the truth of it."
    "Oh, honestly!" Molly broke in. "It's more for your own good than anything, Billy. You get a chance like this and you sit and bicker about money! What's wrong with you, anyway?"
    "Well, I've got to make a living, too," Billy said unhappily.
    "You're making a handsome living just running packs, and you know it," Molly said. "Good lord! I don't get paid at all, and Doc barely breaks even on these cases as it is. You have to hang around until the instruments are ready to go back anyway. Why shouldn't you make yourself useful?"
    "But he pays Trautman three hundred—"
    "What's that got to do with it?" Doc said. "Trautman is an M.D. anesthetist, and you're just a bladerunner. Now you can take it or leave it: help out in return for learning, or don't help out and we'll pack up and go home. On my patients you learn on your own time."
    Billy was silent for a long moment, staring out at the city lights passing below. Then, slowly, he said, "Okay, I'll do it—tonight. But when are you going to pay me extra?"
    "About the time I pick you over Trautman by choice," Doc said sourly.
    "You're a real prince," Billy said. He settled into a sullen silence, staring out as the helicopter moved on through the night. Minutes passed, and Doc leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. Then Billy said, "Doc?"
    "Yes?"
    "When are you going to fix my foot, Doc?"
    "Oh, for God's sake," Doc said. "How many times do I have to tell you that I'm no bone surgeon?"
    "You're not a throat surgeon, either, but you're doing T&As."
    "Well, fixing a crippled foot is a different matter."
    "But Doc, you promised. Way back when I first started