The Colors of Space

"As much as any Mentorian." Bart found he could move his right arm, and

twitched the bandage away. Vorongil and the medic stood over him; in the

other infirmary bunk a form was lying, covered with a white sheet.

Sickly, Bart wondered if they had found Montano. Vorongil followed the

direction of his eyes.

"Yes," he said, and his voice held deep bitterness, "poor old Rugel is

dead. He didn't get much of the radiation, but his heart wouldn't stand

it, and gave out." He bowed his head. "He was bald in the service of the

ships when my crest was new-sprouted," he said in deep grief.

Bart felt the shock of that, even through his own fear. He looked down

at his left arm. It was strapped to a splint, and fluid was dripping

slowly into the vein there.

Vorongil nodded. "I expect you feel pretty sick. You got a good dose of

radiation yourself, but we've given you a couple of transfusions--one of

the Mentorians matched your blood type, fortunately. It was a close

call."

The medic was looking down in ill-disguised curiosity. "Fantastic," he

said. "I don't suppose you'd tell me who changed your looks. I admit I

wouldn't believe it until I had a look at your foot bones under the

fluoroscope."

Vorongil said quietly, "Bartol--I don't suppose that's your real

name--why did you do it?"

"I couldn't see you all die, sir," Bart said, not expecting them to

believe him. "No more than that."

The medic said roughly in Lhari, "It's a trick, sir, no more. A trick to

make us trust him!"

"Why would he risk his own life then?" Vorongil asked. "No, it's more

than that." He hesitated. "We checked the bunkers--in radiation

suits--before we took off. We found a man in one of them."

"Was he dead?" Bart whispered.

"No," Vorongil said quietly.

"Thank God!" It was a heartfelt explosion. Then, apprehensively, "Or did

you kill him?"

"What do you think we are?" Vorongil said incredulously. "Indeed no. His

own men have probably found him by now. I don't imagine he got half as

much radiation as you did."

Bart surveyed the needle in his arm. "Why are you taking all this

trouble if I'm going to be put out of the way?"

"You must have some funny ideas about us," Vorongil said shaking his

head. "That would be a fine way to reward you for saving all of our

lives. No, you're not going to be killed."