74.
his hand in time to see a doctor rush in the door.
"He's awake!" the man cried, and came over to North's side. Morn and the ship's commander were immediately on their feet.
"Blink your eyes if you hear me," the doctor said, "but don't try to speak."
North blinked and the other men looked relieved.
"You're going to be alright," the doctor said. "We had to borrow alot of skin from your ship-mates, and some blood, too. And in the name of the Lord, the next time you get sprayed with scalding water, close your mouth and don't inhale!"
North thought this was funny and would like to have laughed, but found he couldn't. The ship's commander left to spread the word that North would live, while Morn stayed and told North all that had happened.
"The Holy Spirit was with you, North," Morn told him. "The ship's doctor did all he oculd, but he didn't think you had a chance. Especially when he found out some of the steam got in your lungs. But he pulled you through, and we got you here, and the doctors are growing skin to replace the temporary stuff that's all over you. It's going to take a couple of months, but you should look alright by graduation."
This once Morn was wrong. Though they returned in time for their Final Tests, North still had bandages on his hands and face, which were uncomfortable for three grueling days of Simulator runs and hours before desks answering Test questions. But finally it was over, and, as always, the cadets waited for their results. Now, there were only three-hundred-and-two of them. Not a bad class at all! This time they watched a display screen in the main lecture hall. The Commandant stood off to one side, as anxious as any cadet in the hall.
The readings would not be in alphabetical order, but in order of grades. The first name to appear was Morning Star, and when the grades flashed on the screen, every cadet jumped to his feet, clapping and cheering. In bright red numbers the screen flashed....
100%! A perfect grade, only the third in their history! The cadets went wild for several minutes. The Commandant came down and shook Morn's hand, slapping him vigerously on the back. "Well done, man!" he cried, "Well done!"
To North's surprise, the next name was his.
99.99!
North nearly fainted. He couldn't believe it! An almost perfect score! The cheering and clapping started again, and the Commandant shifted over to North with his congratulations. There were two more exceptiionally high grades, and the rest were all passing. The Commandant went up on the stage and shouted to everyone.
"Well done, gentlemen! Tomorrow's the official graduation. Your relatives will be arriving this afternoonl. I'm sure some of them left their homes several months ago to get here by tomorrow, so Group