26 North's stretcher rose skyward. The Medic
adjusted the anti-gravity on Morn's, and they quickly followed after.
It was only a few minutes before they reached the hospital and were
put in computerized medical units. Doctors and Nurses ran about,
working over them busily. Both boys felt strange floating nude in the
force fields.
27 Morn was taken out of the medical unit within half an hour and put
in a regular bed, but they worked on North for more than two hours and
he was finally taken to a room, med com and all. He was sleeping when
his father and mother came in. His mother's eyes were full of tears.
28 "I tell you he'll be fine," the Doctor assured, "the leg will
quickly mend on its own. We're growing new bones for his wing, which
will be ready in a week or so. We got all the splinters from the old
ones, and the temporary ones will prevent any damage."
29 "How long will he take to recover?" asked North's father.
30 "He'll be walking in a couple of months," explained the Doctor, "but
I'm afraid he'll be grounded for six or seven. These new bones have to
have time to set in good, and there's muscle damage as well. He won't
be in The Games this year, if that's what you're wondering, but he'll
have a medical waiver and they won't hold it against him as long as he
does well in the coming years. It's a miracle he's even alive! His
friend held him alone and took an awful beating doing it."
31 "Thank you Doctor," said General Star, "when will he be awake so we
can talk with him?"
32 "Not before morning," the Doctor replied, "we gave him something to
make him sleep. He needs it!"
33 "We'll come back in the morning, then," said North's father. "Right
now we have to go see someone."
34 They entered Morn's room and found him awake. "Thank you just
doesn't seem to be enough," praised North's father, "and I know there's
nothing I could give you."
35 "Your thanks is sufficient," Morn replied.