Change Horizons: Three Novellas Read Free Page A

and me at the clinic. Sergeant, position the rest of them where you deem necessary, as long as it’s far enough away from the patients.”
    “Aye, Commander. Doctor.” The sergeant looked displeased, but he relented and divided his team into three groups, pointing out on a handheld computer where they needed to go.
    “Guess we can make our escape now,” Ciel said. Gemma would probably explode if she was delayed further. She grabbed her own bag and began walking across the dusty road toward the newly built medical unit. It would become increasingly hotter throughout the day until the temperature peaked around midafternoon.
    Frowning at how mindlessly the builders had destroyed far too much vegetation near the structures, she did her best to harness her outrage at the sight of the withered remnants of edible and medicinal plants. Such waste.
    “What’s up?” Gemma muttered.
    “What do you mean, Commander?” Ciel tried to feign disinterest, not about to start arguing with Gemma in the middle of the road.
    “You’re radiating discontent. It’s pretty obvious.” Gemma glanced at her again. “And now you’re even more displeased since I noticed.”
    Was she that transparent? Ciel took a breath. She wouldn’t let this woman just walk all over her and read her mind. It would only mean trouble. “It’s just…just the plants, Commander. Look.” She pointed at a pile of singuisa bushes. “They’re a powerful antibacterial remedy if you make tea from them.”
    “Ah. Yes. Shame. But we’re bringing that type of medication with us. The soldiers will deliver it later.”
    “That’s not the point.” Gemma didn’t understand. How could she? “We wouldn’t need the synthesized SC medication if my fellow Gantharians knew how to recognize and harvest these plants. The singuisa bush is just as potent.”
    Gemma shook her head. “It’s also a matter of things being cost-effective and practical. Harvesting from bushes takes too long, and retraining people to do that—”
    “Isn’t much harder, and it doesn’t take longer or cost more than this circus!” Ciel gestured at Gemma and the two soldiers. “There’d be no need for bodyguards, fancy SC equipment, or—” She stopped herself before she said too much.
    “Or SC physicians who try to tell you what to do?” Gemma asked sweetly, the brown in her eyes suddenly very cold and opaque.
    “Your words, not mine.” Ciel tried to reel her temper in.
    “Sure sounded like that’s what you meant to say.”
    “If that’s what you think, I can’t prove otherwise.” Starting to feel utterly childish, Ciel took another deep breath. What was it about Gemma that made her act so very out of character? She drew yet another breath and used a mind-cleansing mantra to regain her inner balance. When her equilibrium was centered once again, she exhaled and managed a smile. “I apologize for allowing this to escalate,” she said, and meant every word. She was here to guide and assist Gemma, not make her job impossible. Something about the tension around Gemma’s eyes, and the way she squared her shoulders until she looked like she’d break at the slightest touch, implied that this woman felt the universe depended on her efforts.
    “No matter. I agree with you. If a plant is useful, no matter how, people should take extra care to preserve it, if possible.” Gemma gripped the shoulder strap of her bag harder and leaned forward as they walked up a steep hill. The bag looked far too heavy for her slight frame, but Ciel knew better than to offer to carry it. Gemma most likely was a lot tougher than she looked.
    It didn’t take Ciel long to realize that something unusual was happening at the clinic. As far as she could see on the grounds around the structure, people were sitting or lying, some tended to by the ones around them. She tried to do a rough head count, but it was impossible as there were probably others on the other side of the building.
    Inside, patients