ereign, of course.

Tarlac grinned, reasonably sure what the youngster was thinking. "We
do take advice, suggestions, and sometimes orders, from anyone who
knows more about a given situation than we do, or who's in a position
to handle it better. Right now, that's you--and you had the initiative
and resourcefulness to pull me out of the middle of a rebel camp; I'm
satisfied to have you go on with the job."

"The kids at school will never believe this," Dave said, as much to
himself as to the Ranger. "But okay, if that's what you want. Uh . . .
I can ask you for advice, can't I?"

"Sure, but you'll have to decide if it's worth taking or not."

"I promise." Dave shook his head, still not quite believing what he'd
gotten himself into. He knelt beside his patient, spreading out more
blankets and grateful that he'd been able to find so many. "If you'll
roll over, then, I should check your back."

"Okay." It took effort--he was weak from the combination of pain,
shock, and loss of blood--but he made it.

Dave cut away the rest of the Ranger's uniform shirt, then checked the
water he'd put on the lamp. It was warm enough now, so he used it to
clean the caked blood away from the whip-inflicted wounds. He didn't
want to believe what he saw as he worked--you didn't use stingweed for
any reason!--but the yellowish edges of the wounds were proof that
couldn't be denied, and he used a swear-word he'd seen embarrass his
mother once.

Tarlac wasn't sure whether he should get worried or laugh at the boy's
virulent language, but on the whole it didn't sound promising. "What's
wrong, Dave?"

"The blankers soaked the whip in stingweed sap," Dave told him, trying
to control his anger. "It can't have taken full effect yet, or not
even quidine could kill the pain--and it carries something like a cross
between a fungus and a bacterium that nothing in a standard medikit
will touch. How long till your rescue party arrives?"

Tarlac frowned; this sounded serious. "Is this Tuesday, or was I
unconscious longer than I think?"

Dave checked his chrono, then nodded. "2243, Tuesday night."

"They should be landing in about two and a half days, then; Colonel
Korda had orders to give me three days, then come looking for me."

"But we're not at the camp any more, and I don't dare use anything much
more obvious than the fusion lamp, or the rebels will find us first."
Dave brightened. "Unless they blew up the car I used, when