Constellations Read Online Free Page A

the girl’s arm and pale blood running liberally from the wound. Jendra reached for a nearby clay pitcher with her free hand and began to pour water over the blood-covered wound. The girl screamed as the water hit her olive skin.
    â€œLooks like a vein was hit,” Jendra said before whispering something McCoy could not hear to the still-squirming child. Looking at the mother, she asked, “What happened?”
    â€œWe were working in the fields near our home,” the woman replied. “Litari was clearing brush when she slipped in the mud and fell on the blade.” Holding a hand to her mouth, she trembled for a moment. “Can you help her?”
    Rather than answering the question, Jendra said, “Leonard, bring me the tray on the middle shelf.” She nodded toward a set of wooden shelves to her right.
    Glancing toward Kirk and Spock before doing as instructed, McCoy moved the tray near Jendra’s left hand. “What can I do?” he asked.
    â€œThe dish with the green paste,” Jendra replied. “Take some and rub it on her upper lip, just under her nose.” As she continued to work at cleaning the struggling girl’s wound, she added, “Don’t inhale it yourself.”
    â€œBones,” McCoy heard Kirk say, the captain’s tone one of caution, but he ignored it. Instead, he reached for what appeared to be nothing more than an earthen petri dish and—without thinking or even checking to see that his hands were clean—dipped his right forefinger into the viscous, emerald-colored substance it contained. Leaning forward, he applied the paste beneath the girl’s nostrils even as Jendra kept working.
    Almost immediately, the child’s movements grew weaker and she began to relax. Less than ten seconds after he had applied the ointment, the girl’s breathing slowed and she went limp on the examination table.
    â€œI’ll be damned,” McCoy breathed.
    Reaching for what he saw was a rudimentary version of a hemostat, Jendra looked up from her work. “It would be better if the mother waited outside.” Her gaze locked with his for an instant before she glanced in the direction of her ever-present satchel, the meaning behind her words now quite plain.
    She needs her equipment, and doesn’t want to use it in front of the mother.
    â€œWe should all make room for the… beloren, ” Spock said, taking the initiative and stepping toward the girl’s mother.
    When the woman did not budge from where she stood, Jendra looked to her and offered an encouraging smile. “Don’t worry, Walirta. She’s going to be fine.”
    Walirta allowed Spock to escort her from the examination room, with Kirk following after them. McCoy reached for the door, intending to give Jendra and her patient some privacy, and before exiting the room nodded encouragement to his friend.
    â€œI’ll be outside if you need me,” he offered, and in that instant saw the determination in her eyes. Jendra’s calling as a healer of body and spirit had led her to this place and to these people, and no person or regulation was going to hold sway over her.
    But what are you trying to prove here? What do you think you can change?
    Closing the door, he turned to find Kirk waiting for him, his jaw set in an expression of determination that the doctor knew too well.
    â€œShe’s committed herself to this place, Jim,” he said, “and to these people. I don’t think I can convince her to leave, at least not until I know more.” Frowning, he added, “Assuming I can get it out of her.”
    Looking over his shoulder as though to ensure Spock had taken the Grennai woman out of earshot, Kirk said, “Bones, she’s appointed herself their caretaker. She’s using her advanced medical knowledge and equipment to treat them in clear violation of the Prime Directive. It’s not that I don’t sympathize with her