Page 76 of Throwing Fire

“Once we break up these adhesions, you should experience more normal muscle movement,” Doc Gray says. “There’s already been some regrowth of the serratus posterior inferior.”

Kez grins. She mouths at me, “Sounds dirty.”

I flick her on the ear. Share her chuckle.

“There’s also a spinning move that I’ve never been able to do because I can’t twist fast enough,” she says. “I’m hoping I’ll be able to do it soon.”

“Is this the fire performance art?” Doc Gray asks. “I heard you performed in Tiv. I am very sorry I missed it.”

Kez and I both glance at the fish-doc over her shoulder. Neither of us even thought to invite him. We say, “Sorry,” at almost the same moment.

“I don’t know when we’ll be out your way again, but we’ll be sure to let you know,” I say.

Doc Gray meets my eyes over Kez’s shoulder. Nods his crested head and goes back to work. He’s extremely hard to read because he looks so alien, but I think we hurt his feelings. He probably feels left out a lot. I make a mental note to include him in the future. I like the doc; I don’t want him to feel excluded just because we’re used to doing our own thing. And something tells me he probably feels excluded pretty often.

I makeanother round of tea while Doc Gray finishes off with Kez. Sip it while he inspects my head and back. He spreads a sticky cream over the newskin strips, which slough as I watch. Underneath is shiny pale skin that darkens to my deep bronze. I run my fingers down the back of my arm. The new skin feels very clean, very soft.

“What is that?” I ask. Usually you spray newskin on, wait a day or two for it to peel and then wait a few days longer for it to darken up and feel like normal skin.

Doc Gray hands me a bulb that’s labeledFraunacoatin Uni. “You can keep that, if you like,” he says. “It’s an additive. It toughens the artificial dermis and causes the protective collagen to peel. It’s a fairly good match for your skin tone. Do not apply it until the newskin has cured for at least six hours.”

I’m darker than most natives, so the commercial newskin I buy isn’t ever a great match. I bounce the bulb on my palm. This will make me look less like a harlequin as I heal. “Thanks, Doc.”

“My pleasure. Now, two more things. First, I brought you this.” He hands me another bulb, labeledTopix. “Before you use that, I’d like to examine the area just to make sure that it is merely irritation. Perhaps you’d like Miz Kerryon to leave for a moment?”

I chuckle. He’s talking about my dick. I’m already undressed, and Kez is more than passingly familiar with what the little monster looks like. I strip off my skivvies and lie down on the workbench. “Go ahead.”

Doc Gray handles the little monster with the same professionalism that he does everything else. His hands are too cool to stimulate me, for which I’m grateful, since Kez is watching with a huge grin, probably waiting for me to pop pseudowood. As he’s examining the underside of the little monster, Doc Gray reaches into his bag for another bulb, pulls back my foreskin and spreads a white gel all over my glans and down the underside of my shaft. Glad I’m limp.

“Miz Kerryon,” Doc Gray says as he works. “I will ask you to leave the room for a moment now.”

Kez raises an eyebrow at me. I shrug. She leaves and Doc Gray waits until we hear the snick of the porch window-wall.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, propping myself up on my elbows.

“Nothing’swrong,” the doc says. “However, I wish to discuss two matters with you, both of which are personal and one which I do not wish Miz Kerryon to hear.”

“Okay,” I say evenly, watching him and letting him continue in his own time.

“First, as you may already be aware from the discomfort, the skin of your corona has torn.” He nods his crested head at my dick. “I would not presume for force abstinence on you—” At my lifted eyebrow, he concedes, “Nor do I think you would heed such a restriction. But you are likely to develop an extremely uncomfortable infection if this is not allowed to heal. Apply the Topix twice a day and after any bathing or sexual activity.”

“No problem,” I say.

“I also wish to speak with you about Miz Kerryon.” Doc Gray takes a deep breath, in and out, before he continues. “I am hesitant to bring this up, but I know how protective you are of her well-being, and that your latest injuries were sustained in her defense. Further, I would not normally discuss one patient with another.”

“I understand,” I say, not liking where this is going.

“I am concerned about Miz Kerryon’s mental health. She’s showing signs of extreme stress.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Do you? The bio-readings I’ve taken this morning are alarming. I’m aware that she is no longer running as much as she used to, and I would have expected her weight to increase at least slightly with the reduction in activity. Instead, she’s lost a kilo since I last saw her. Her heart rate, respiration and blood pressure are all elevated. Miz Kerryon is a conditioned athlete. Her biometrics are extremely stable. These readings are so unusual that I’m considering sedating her.”

Remembering how gaunt I thought she looked last night, I nod. “If I thought it was safe, Doc, I’d let you put her under and take herback to Tiv with you. But they took a shot at us in public, right down the street from your place. Nowhere is safe. Not even here.” I tip my chin in the direction of the river, and its corpse. “The best thing I can do is keep her moving. And take down these fuckers before they get another shot at her.”

“I cannot condone killing, Mister Snow, not under any circumstances, but if that is the source of Miz Kerryon’s stress, and you can eliminate it, then I suggest you do so. With all haste.”

No pressure or anything. “Will do, Doc.”

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