Change Horizons: Three Novellas Read Online Free PDF Page B

had set up their new camp. Since it was no longer practical to keep the hovercraft on the outskirts of the town, they, and the backup that kept arriving, had made camp on a field behind the clinic. “We need to get some sleep, don’t you agree?”
    Ciel wasn’t ready to leave but realized that nothing would be gained from wearing herself out. She had spent so many years working herself into a pulp; it was a way of life. No more of that, she decided. “Yes. I’ll just make sure this batch is poured into containers the right way. Why don’t you go ahead? If you want, you can heat some of the soup for us?”
    “Oh, sure. I like your soup,” Gemma said, smiling cautiously. “It actually is almost as rejuvenating as that brew you just made.”
    “Big words coming from you,” Ciel said, smiling to show she was partly teasing. “I’ll be there in a little bit.”
    Gemma nodded and began walking toward their hovercraft.
    Ciel made sure the soldiers and townspeople in charge of the brew knew how to store it, then began to make her way back to the hovercraft. Part of the path to the field wasn’t very well lit, and a sudden sound to her right made her stumble. She gasped as something sharp dug into her thigh. The searing pain made her swing her handheld light source around. At first, she saw nothing out of the ordinary to explain the unexpected sound, but as she moved her arm again, a tall bird rose from the bushes and took off. Ciel half laughed, half gasped, relieved it wasn’t something more sinister.
    But then her thigh began to burn with an all-too-familiar searing pain. She trembled as she carefully put one foot before the other, slowly walking while tears formed in her eyes. “Oh, wonderful,” she muttered. “Just great.” She was in so much trouble, but hopefully she could get close enough to camp to attract someone’s attention. If she fell here, out of sight of Gemma and her soldiers, and nobody found her in time, that would be the end of her.

Chapter Four
     
    Gemma had just begun to undress to hit the cleansing tube when someone pounded on the door.
    “Dr. Meyer, ma’am!” A young male voice sounded frantic. “You have to come!”
    Gemma pulled her jacket back on and hurried to the door. She grabbed her medical kit on her way. Opening it, she found a young private standing there, out of breath. “What’s going on?”
    “It’s Druid O’Diarda, ma’am. We found her on the path among the shrubbery.”
    “Ciel?” Gemma flinched and began running. “What…was she attacked?”
    “I don’t think so. She looks very ill.”
    Her heart pounding and experiencing a cold sense of dread, Gemma ran to where she saw several SC soldiers standing with their light sources directed to the ground. As she reached them, she saw someone on the ground. Ciel! She threw herself to her knees and tore open the kit to find the scanner. Running it over the motionless form that was her infuriating guide, she had her initial suspicions confirmed. Anaphylactic shock. Against what was anybody’s guess. As far as Gemma was concerned, this planet had enough allergens and poisonous plants and creatures to kill half the population.
    “I’m going to give her generic anti-allergenic medication, as I have no way of knowing what she’s reacting to.” She didn’t wait for anyone to respond, but pressed the imbulizer and administered a double dosage of her most potent version of the drug. Ciel’s throat could swell shut any moment, and Gemma would rather not have to intubate her in the field if she could avoid it.
    She heard running footfalls and looked up for a second. One of the Gantharian physicians came up the path, gasping for breath. Grateful to have one more set of hands and eyes, she kept her scanner running across Ciel’s chest. “I’m monitoring her circulation and breathing,” she said curtly. “I need O2 saturation levels.”
    “On it.” The man busied himself with his equipment. “Eighty-four