Star Trek: The Original Series: Seasons of Light and Darkness Read Online Free PDF

the boy said. “You have awakened from the sleep of death. This proves your worthiness.”
    â€œWorthiness?” McCoy asked. “Worthiness for what ?”
    The boy tilted his head, as though he’d just heard one of the stupidest questions imaginable. “Survival, of course.”
    McCoy found that pronouncement ominous.
    He looked up at both of his uniformed visitors. “Is somebody going to introduce me to our new friend?”
    â€œHis name is Naheer,” the security chief said. “Judging from what I’ve seen of this place so far, he’ll get a lot bigger when he gets older.”
    â€œYou might call him a warrior-in-training,” Wieland said. “In fact, he was part of the hunting party that brought us here.”
    Focusing past his headache, McCoy directed a grateful smile at Naheer. “Then I owe you a very big ‘thank you.’ ”
    Naheer beamed. The recognition made him appear to stand even taller. McCoy guessed his height to be at least one hundred and eighty centimeters.
    â€œOne day I will lead my House into battle, Mak-Koy,” the boy said. “And I will visit the camps of each one of the Ten Tribes, and tell our tales there.”
    â€œI don’t doubt that for a minute, Naheer,” McCoy said, mirroring the lad’s easy smile.
    McCoy tried to rise, but Wieland laid his hand gently on his shoulder, stopping him. “I don’t want you getting out of bed before you’re ready, but . . .”
    â€œBut?”
    â€œThe local chieftain is very interested in speaking with you. It’ll help make our case.”
    â€œOur case?”
    â€œThe leader of this camp has been very hospitable to us, and that gives us the perfect opportunity to accomplish our mission here by returning the favor.”
    McCoy understood immediately. “By offering him the wonders of modern medicine.”
    â€œExactly,” Wieland said. “Unfortunately, he hasn’t been terribly receptive so far. These people evidently believe that only the strong should survive. They’re not acquainted with the idea of actively nursing the sick or injured back to health.”
    â€œSo you’re saying we’re liable to face a very long four months here,” McCoy said.
    Wieland shrugged. “Not necessarily. Maybe he’s persuadable. For one thing, one of his men was injured during the hunt.”
    â€œHe speaks of my uncle, Efeer,” Naheer said in a matter-of-fact tone.
    â€œHow bad is it?” McCoy asked.
    Wieland displayed a grave expression. “Bad enough to require treatment that’s substantially better than the local standard of care. And it had better happen soon, before the question becomes moot.”
    â€œSeems to me that a bad injury to one of the leader’s own people should have persuaded him already,” McCoy said.
    â€œMaybe he just needs to see the results from a different case first.”
    â€œYou’re talking about me,” McCoy said.
    Wieland nodded. “I made sure he saw the shape you were in when the hunting party carried you here.”
    â€œJudging by how I feel now, I must have looked pretty bad.” McCoy was reasonably certain he was in no danger of winning any beauty contests, even after having spent the past two days under his medical mentor’s expert care.
    â€œNone of the locals expected you to make it through the first night, Leonard. But if the Grand Panjandrum gets another look at you now . . .” Wieland trailed off, his meaning plain.
    Slowly and tentatively, McCoy rose to a standing position, ignoring the insistent pounding in his head. The hard ground beneath his feet seemed to tilt slightly but quickly righted itself and stayed that way.
    â€œWell,” he said, spying his neatly folded uniform tunic in one of the tent’s corners. “Let’s not keep our host waiting.” He looked at Naheer. “Or your