"John E. Stith - Redshift Rendezvous" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stith John E)

"What happened to you?" he asked.He blinked a couple of times; probably he'd been asleep when he
was called.

For an instant I didn't know what he was talking about,but his gaze at my cheek reminded me how sharp
Jenni's fingernails were."I'm fine," I said."The resident here is the one who needs help."

I explained briefly what had happened in the cargo bay.Rory nodded a couple of times,glancing past me
once to look at Jenni Sonders lying on the bed.

Rory was either a good acquaintance or what some people might call a casual friend.When no tension
was present,his good humor was always ready; when rapid action and the right decision were required,
he was cool without being distant.

When I finished explaining,I said,"I'm not sure what you can do for her,but I thought your bedside
manner would be better than mine."

"I certainly don't doubt that." Rory nudged me from time to time about what he and others considered
my standoffishness,but he knew I liked him.He moved past me toward Jenni,and I went to the bathroom
to complete my search.

In front of the mirror,I realized the scratches on my cheek looked nastier than they felt.I used Jenni's sink
to clean off the dried blood.

As I had expected,nothing in her cabin seemed to be usable as a weapon,unless she chose to strangle
herself with her clothes.If she wanted that badly to die,I wouldn't stand in her way.

Rory was sitting on the bed next to her,talking softly, when I joined them.Jenni's gaze moved from
Rory's face,over his shoulder,and into my eyes.Her eyes didn't seem to be focusing very well,and she
looked puzzled.

"Whatever he's saying is bound to be right," I told her."The doc knows all about this kind of thing."

Rory reached into his case and retrieved a puffer of what I guessed to be a tranquillizer.He said
something to Jenni that I couldn't hear,and she looked back at him.She moved her arm closer to him,and
he puffed the medication into the skin near the crook of her elbow.

She still looked puzzled as she gazed back up at me.She didn't look away until the drug destroyed her
ability to keep her eyes open.After another moment,the faint lines on her face vanished.

Rory removed the cover from a small vial.He brushed Jenni's hair aside and swabbed medication near
her ear.Once finished,he looked up at me."Some night,huh,Jason?"

"Women will just die to get near me."

Rory nodded as though that was the type of comment he expected.He rummaged in his case for a
moment and handed me a small tube."Put some of this on your cheek twice a day.Three times a day if
you spend a lot of time on level seven.It will heal faster." "What have you got for her?" talk to her when
she's had a chance to rest.I don't know if she's a chronic or if this is her first time. Ikeep a close check on
her." His eyebrows rose and he looked at me questioningly."Unless you'd rather do that.She might hate
you for interfering,or she might actually be grateful if this was more to get attention than to finish her life."