Monday, July 30, 2012

Driving Lesson Chapter 5 Page 4

"This isn't something I should improvise a replacement," George decided, "You'll have to order a new part."

"Nights are going to be trouble without that," Dr Havillund grumbled.

"I'll just remove the broken piston," George said, "The generator should still work, just not as efficiently."

"That's something at least."

"I'll note down the part number." George looked through the manual for the required number, then dragged the detail to create a note on his wristcom.

Dr Havillund took out his own wristcom. "Sure, send it to me."

Once the data was transmitted, Tricia spoke up, "We should get going."

"Can't stay any longer?" Dr Havillund asked.

"No, we've other tasks to finish," Tricia told him.

After George had packed his tools, he remembered the small packet Iona had given him. Dr Havillund must be the person the tribeswoman called 'Old Man Have Ill'. George reached into the pocket behind his breastplate and took out the packet. "Iona wanted me to pass this to you." He said as he extended the item to the other man.

"That tribeswoman!? What does she want?" Dr Havillund accepted the packet and opened it. He took out an oval object and held it up to the light for a look. "It looks like the bulb of a Lilium mutalidae. Why would she give me this?"

There was a pause. "Oh susbuckets," Dr Havillund swore quietly.

"What's wrong?" Tricia asked.

"The bulb's been soaked in some paralytic agent." Dr Havillund sank slowly to the floor.

Tricia quickly moved to hold him up.

"Curse that tribeswoman," Dr Havillund said weakly.

Iona must have applied something to the bulb. The poison must have been special too since the man was wearing work gloves when he examined the object.

"You can't move?" Tricia asked as she rubbed her nose.

"Yeah. Could you take me to my bed? I just need to sleep it off."

Tricia helped the man up the stairs. "Anything else?"

George followed them up. He felt a little bad to be a part of Iona's prank.

"Well, if you could make the antidote, it'll be helpful," Dr Havillund mumbled as he was carried, "Well, I'd have to identify the paralytic agent first. I don't think a general antidote will work with this one."

Tricia appeared to know where to go as she brought them out to the corridor and into another behind one of the other doors.

The scientist sighed. "It's easier to lie down. I need the sleep anyway."

"Why aren't we affected?" George asked as he followed behind the Vixen.

"Must be that awful drink Io gave us earlier," Tricia replied without turning around, "Could that have been the antidote?"

"You don't happen to have some of that with you, do you?" Dr Havillund asked.

"Sorry, no."

The scientist groaned disappointedly.

The living quarters of the facility were a pair of apartments. Each apartment had separate rooms for individuals. In addition to that, each apartment had shared living spaces, kitchen and bathroom. Since Dr Havillund was the only resident in the facility, he occupied only one room of one of the apartments.

Tricia carefully laid Dr Havillund onto his bed in his room. Strangely, the bedroom was cleaner than the rest of the facility. The bedsheets were crumbled but otherwise clean. The desk and end table had a little dust on them. The floor was clear.

The scientist sighed. "Do me a favor and set the defenses to auto before you leave."

"Okay," Tricia said, "Sleep tight." She adjusted the shutters on the windows to dim the room before she left with George.

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