The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [12]
Will do, sir, came Gardenhires response. Ill let you know as soon as I find something.
Thanks, said Tarasco. Captain out. He turned to Coquillette. It shouldnt be long before we know something.
Coquillette glanced at Agnarsson again. The man hadnt stirred yet from his drug-induced stupor.
Great, she said. The sooner we know something about our friend there, the sooner we can help him.
Tarasco wished he could be as optimistic as the medic was.
Jack Gorvoy had treated any number of crew members in his sickbay since the day the Valiant left Earth.
However, he himself hadnt previously spent any time in one of his beds. And now that he had spent some time there, he didnt like itespecially after he heard what Tarasco had to tell him.
The file was lost? the doctor echoed, his voice still a little weak.
It looks that way, said the captain. And under the circumstances, I have to entertain the possibility that it wasnt a mechanical failure.
Gorvoy looked at him. Agnarsson.
Why not? If he can take over the helm, its childs play to wipe out a little computer data.
But why? asked the medical officer. He knew Id be able to tell you about it as soon as I regained consciousness.
Tarasco smiled a sickly smile. Maybe he didnt believe you were going to do that.
It wasnt a comforting thought. Maybe, said Gorvoy.
Or maybe he was just acting out of anger, the captain suggested, throwing some kind of tantrum. Fortunately, it doesnt matter one way or the other. You have regained consciousness.
The doctor could still feel a dull ache where he had hit his head. If you can call it that.
So what did you come up with? the other man asked.
Gorvoy frowned. Extrasensory perception.
Tarasco looked at him. Thats it?
Thats it. Mind you, not all of our seven casualties were tested for it, but three wereAgnarsson, Davidoff, and Kolodny, Davidoff and Kolodny scored pretty high but Agnarsson? He was off the charts.
The captain shook his head. You know what? It makes sense.
That someone with a predisposition toward mental abilities would develop Agnarssons brand of powers? Id have to agree, said the doctor. I just wish I had thought of the connection sooner.
What about the rest of the crew? asked Tarasco. Are we going to have any delayed cases?
I dont think so, Gorvoy told him. Of the thirty-eight whose records show they were tested, none showed any particular talent for ESP.
Thank heavens for that, at least.
You can say that again, said the medical officer. He searched the captains eyes. So what happens now?
That depends, Tarasco replied.
On what?
Now that we know about Agnarssons ESP, is there a chance that we can use that knowledge to change him back?
Honestly? said Gorvoy. I dont think so.
Then you dont want to know what happens now.
Gorvoy was a physician. He had taken an oath not to hurt anyone. And yet, he couldnt argue with the captains position.
Hollandsworth was wrong, he found himself saying. We werent just lashing out at Agnarsson. He really is a monster.
Tarasco didnt say anything in response. Obviously, he wasnt especially comfortable with the task ahead of him. But who could be?
Get some rest, he told the doctor.
Ill try, said Gorvoy. But with what he had to think about, he didnt believe he would be very successful at it.
Security Chief Pelletier saw the engineer stir on the other side of the barrier. Glancing at his watch, he made note of the elapsed time.
An hour and eighteen minutes.
According to Rudolph, the drug he administered would have kept a normal man unconscious for seven or eight hours. Of course, Pelletier reflected bleakly, Agnarsson was anything but a normal man.
He glanced over his shoulder at Marciulonis. Contact the captain, he said. Let him know that Agnarssons coming to.
Aye, sir, Marciulonis replied, and tapped the bulkhead pad that activated the intercom system.
Pelletier turned back to the prisoner and saw that his eyes were open. Whats more, they were staring in the security chiefs direction.
Youre a fool if you think you can hold me, said Agnarsson.
Then Im a fool,