A Call to Darkness - Michael Jan Friedman [64]
It made him feel dirty-repugnant even to himself.
Geordi looked around. He could see that some of the other workers were discomfited by the sight of the prisoners. But not to the extent that he was. Maybe they’d seen this sort of thing before; maybe they were getting used to it.
As he pondered the question, he saw that the lead wagon had found a slope it could negotiate, and was stopping in an area of high ground. Its drivers got out to stretch their limbs as the next wagon pulled up alongside them.
Geordi peered up at the sky, noted the placement of the sun in it. It would be dark soon. And the terrain that lay ahead of the wagons might be even less accommodating than what they’d seen here.
When the third wagon came to rest beside the first two, with its living cargo, it became obvious that the drivers had decided to camp in this vicinity. To spend the night.
Geordi stayed on the bridge for some time, until the last of the wagons had made its way up the hill. He took pains to note the configuration created by the vehicles, especially the positioning of the ones that carried the prisoners-though at this point, he still wasn’t sure what he would do with the knowledge.
“Mutated?” echoed Riker, gazing at Fredi and Vanderventer through the transparent quarantine barrier.
“That’s right,” said Burtin. “At some point, the organism spawned a strain that our antibiotic can’t touch. And this strain, unlike the original bacterium, is contagious-as you can see for yourself.”
The first officer grunted. “How contagious?”
Burtin sighed. “That’s a good question. So far, only Vanderventer’s managed to catch it. And he’s been in close contact with Fredi for quite some time now. But that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Casual contact could be all that’s needed-in which case anyone Vanderventer’s seen over the last several days is a candidate to get the disease. Also, anyone they came in contact with.”
Riker looked at him. “So what you’re telling me,” he said, “is that just about anybody on the ship could get it. In fact, could have it already.”
“Exactly,” said Burtin. “That’s why I needed to talk to you in person-rather than over the intercom.” He tapped on the barrier with a fingernail. “I can handle a dozen cases of this disease-maybe a couple more than that-without too much difficulty. As long as I continue to purge their blood, they’ll at least survive. But if this thing really spreads before I can find a cure, I’m going to have problems. There are only so many blood-purification units on board-only so much space in sickbay that can be fit to quarantine standards.”
He could see the muscles in Riker’s jaw working beneath the surface of his beard. “I think I see what you’re getting at,” said the first officer. He frowned. “You’re requesting that we proceed to the nearest starbase-where they have full-blown research facilities. And a larger supply of blood purifiers. Right?”
“Yes,” said Burtin. “Even if we couldn’t beam our patients down, for fear of infecting the starbase population, we could still draw on their resources.”
Riker pondered that. “And yet, if I do what you’re asking-if I leave our present positionI’ll be abandoning Captain Picard and the away team. Not to mention the people we set out to rescue in the first place.” His nostrils flared. “You understand that?”
“I do,” said the doctor. “Believe me, I do. Remember, Kate Pulaski is one of the missing. But I’ve got a duty to the population of this ship-the thousand or so people who are still with us. And in line with that duty, I’m making a formal request. Take us out of here, Commander. Before this thing gets too far out of hand.”
Riker looked him in the eye. “You’re not making matters easy for me,” he said.
“I’m doing my job,” returned Burtin. “That’s what I’m here for.”
Riker nodded. “Of course you are. But so far, there’s no solid evidence that this could turn into an epidemic. You yourself suggested that prolonged contact may be necessary-in order for the bacterium to be communicated.” His eyes narrowed as he mulled it all over.