Descending Road - NOT COMING OUT by Dana W. Paxson

NOT COMING OUT

0 NC, Day Minus 161

The ship was spun up in normal orbital mode again. Taking time for her own bruises, Miriam limped back to the ship’s skeletal clinic for painkillers and regen salves, and there she found her friend Elena, alive and pumping another crewman’s stomach.

Gladness warmed her. “Elena! I thought you’d…"

Elena waved an aide to take over the intubation. “Make sure he doesn’t get any more of those Tranqmils, no matter what he says.” She swung to Miriam. “I heard about Allan. I’m sorry. But why haven’t you been here with us? We need you.”

Miriam looked at the name tag on Elena‘s patient: Xiang Juo, the Hau Ren trainer she and Allan had met at Quito. She stiffened. “Don’t talk about it. I need my arm and leg fixed.”

“The duty rotation’s a mess,” Elena said, her usually-soft voice sharpening again. “You were supposed to be up here days ago. Most of the drugs are deteriorated, worthless! And the pharm engines still haven’t been fixed.”

Miriam flopped onto a steel bench bolted to the wall. “I’ll fill a slot in ten hours, okay?”

Elena was nodding at her aide, distracted. “Fine.”

One by one, others emerged from the Sleep, but more did not. Most of them, their vascular systems petrified, were dead.

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	NOT COMING OUT 0 NC, Day Minus 161 The ship was spun up in normal orbital mode again. Taking time for her own bruises, Miriam limped back to the ship’s skeletal clinic for painkillers and regen salves, and there she found her friend Elena, alive and pumping another crewman’s stomach. Gladness warmed her. “Elena! I thought you’d…" Elena waved an aide to take over the intubation. “Make sure he doesn’t get any more of those Tranqmils, no matter what he says.” She swung to Miriam. “I heard about Allan. I’m sorry. But why haven’t you been here with us? We need you.” Miriam looked at the name tag on Elena‘s patient: Xiang Juo, the Hau Ren trainer she and Allan had met at Quito. She stiffened. “Don’t talk about it. I need my arm and leg fixed.” “The duty rotation’s a mess,” Elena said, her usually-soft voice sharpening again. “You were supposed to be up here days ago. Most of the drugs are deteriorated, worthless! And the pharm engines still haven’t been fixed.” Miriam flopped onto a steel bench bolted to the wall. “I’ll fill a slot in ten hours, okay?” Elena was nodding at her aide, distracted. “Fine.” One by one, others emerged from the Sleep, but more did not. Most of them, their vascular systems petrified, were dead.