Page 58 of Homebound
“The docks do hire people,” Gemma maintained. “It’s a large operation.”
“Not these kinds of people,” Drexel wanted to make a sweeping gesture with his arm forgetting about its condition and barked a curse. Recovered, he continued, “Country folk, they haven’t even seen a spacecraft up close, much less know how it’s built. They are from the agricultural sector. Farmers. At best they know how to fix a tractor. The docks need skilled men who can disassemble an aerial fighter or an orbiter in their sleep and put it back together with his eyes closed.” He clearly referred to himself. “We don’t need no sodbusters.”
“That’s right, father,” Lenna bobbed her head in agreement.
The clinic was slammed as per usual. The waiting room run out of space and people were forced to stand on the street. Drexel, much more alert and talkative than he had been on their previous trip here, bemoaned the wait time in no uncertain terms. After a while, the vacuum formed around the McKinleys after the people next to them had quietly scattered to avoid becoming the default audience for his many grievances. Even Leena was giving him a hairy eyeball.
“Your father is a lot more animated this time around,” Gemma confided in Leena privately. “I think it’s a positive sign.”
“I hope so,” the girl replied with much doubt.
A nurse finally invited Uncle Drexel to come inside and Gemma hurriedly pushed him in the doors. Leena followed, gawking at the busy surroundings and in awe of the nurses who bustled around and bossed whiny patients with the air on no-nonsense authority.
Uncle Drexel was wheeled into the familiar examination room and told to unwrap his arm for Dr. Delano’s inspection. While Gemma helped Uncle Drexel undress, Leena walked around the room and glanced at the pictures lining the walls.
“Eww. These creatures are so weird. Like, really weird,” was her verdict.
She turned her back on the artful illustration and didn’t give them a second look, neither the subjects nor the skillful artistry of the drawings of the slightest interest to her. When the nurse walked in with a chart and medical tools, Leena sidled closer to observe.
Gemma, on the other hand, had little interest in the medical proceedings. After helping Uncle Drexel onto the table where he now sat like a nesting goose, she faded to the background. She couldn't wait to look again at the strapping Rix with his tawny skin and proud, sculpted cheekbones.
Dr. Delano walked in and spotted Gemma, greeting her first.
“Hello, Gemma. Nice to see you again.”
Surprised that he remembered her name, she greeted him back.
“How’s your uncle been doing? Fever? Pain?”
“He has no fever now but the pain is persistent.” Gemma awkwardly indicated the examination table, implying that the questions could go directly to the patient.
Dr. Delano greeted Uncle Drexel in a more reserved manner.
“You use the ointment as prescribed?” he asked his patient.
“Yes, I do. Twice a day, with a warm water rinse in between the applications.”
“And still no scabbing?”
“Not that I could see. Seeping blood and some puss.”
“I’ll perform another flush and we’ll have to inject more of the special antibiotic. They got you but good. Slobbered all over your wounds. Go ahead and numb, here and here,” he ordered one of his nurses.
Gemma half-listened to their conversation as she examined the Rix. The short hair was startling in that it completely changed the appearance from what she was by now intimately familiar with.
He was beautiful and startlingly different from humans. This Rix appeared fairly slim, not bulging with muscles like strong men or heavily-built Tarai. Still, clearly defined sinew ran up and down his limbs indicating toughness, stamina, and quick response time. His proportions were so perfectly balanced.
“You seem to find particular enjoyment in this illustration,” Dr. Delano’s voice addressed Gemma from across the room.
She smiled, turning. “I like them all. But yes, I’m curious about this alien.”
Dr. Delano chuckled, his gloved hands never stopping their careful exploration of mangled tissues in Uncle Drexel’s arm. “Rix are a spectacular breed. We know so little about them.”
“They never visit Earth?”
“Not really. They have nothing to gain here.”
“Perhaps people from Meeus can establish contact with Rix. Through trading or cultural exchange,” Gemma suggested.
