Valley Of Shadow #3

touched the doctor's voice. "You can't stay, Spack, and I can't go. You've got to 1eave me here. II "But, Doctor " "Oh, God, Spock! Don't go humanon me now!" The interruption was a sob of exasperation and pain. He felt as if McCoyhad slapped him. For once the doctor's logic was infallible...and inescapable. McCoy,better than anyone, should know howclose to death he was. Staring down at his hands, Spack reached deep within himself for control. He was Vulcan. He must follow let logic guide his course. the Vulcan way Quietly he replied, liVery well, Doctor." Whenthere was no answer his eyes rose to find McCoyin the grip of agony, his body shaking with pain. There was something he could do about that if the doctor would agree. His ha~easily found the point betweenneck and shoulder. "Wi11 you permit this?" At first there was confuston, but a slight pressure of Spock's thumb brought a look of gratitude and a nod.

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"Luck, Spock. II

Fingers tightened over the tense muscle and McCoyslipped into unconsciousn~$s. Inwardly Spock felt a stab of pain. The doctor had wished him "1uck." That single word had once caused bitterness between them and had never been spoken since...until now. It was late; he had to leave. Spock rose with determination and stepped into the stream, planning his route of escape. Upstream to hard ground, across to the boulders at the base of the mountain, then up into the mountains and one of the caves he had seen earlier. He glanced down into the running water. The stream had a rocky bed and would not leave tracks. A small fish darted by, then another. The" water was alive with the tiny rainbow-colored creatures. He stood and watched, recalling a voice. 'Look at something because it's beautiful." Something tightened within him and his eyes sought the still form lying beside the water. Again McCoy's voice echoed in his thoughts. 'As long as there's life, I've got to try to preserve it.' There was' still

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life.

Moving to the doctor's side, Spock knelt downand gently lifted McCoyinto his arms. A faint heartbeat throbbed under his fingertips and he looked down into a face released from pain. Not even logic could persuade him to leave McCoyto die alone. The climb' was more difficult than he anticipated, yet the limp burden was treated with care. It was dark and the mountains echoed with the calls of the night birds, but he could not stop. The few caves he had found were either too close to the valley floor or too open for protection. Perhaps this one would be different. Setting McCoydown near the entrance, he investigated. At first it appeared small and shallow, but that was a deception. The back of the cave extended at a right angle into a large cavern that would suit their needs. Moving the doctor to shelter, he positioned boulders around him and heated them with his phaser. The glowing rocks gave off an eerie red light similar to the rirepot he had installed in his quarters. McCoyhad chided him about the light and heat in his cabin. 'Good grief, Spock, you must be homesick for hell.' ..

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Spock laid the doctor's shirt on one of the rocks to dry. Strange howthe fabric could be soaked through, but would not burn. He was avoiding it; the meld must be done soon. Only once had he touched McCoy's mind, but it had been-inough to tell him howmuch the doctor hated and feared such an intrusion. The alternate Spock had torn through the unprotected thoughts wihhout concern for the human's wellbeing and the scars of that encounter remained. Fortunately, contact with McCoy's thoughts would not be necessary since the healing center' was in the autonomic area ot the brain. But if he missed, if McCoy sensed his presence, he might be barred from the physician's mind completely. He reached for McCoywith cold deliberation. Fingers spreaq and hovered a second before contact was made. Slowly, he lowered his shields. Darkness surrounded him. It was like stepping into a void. Only in deep meditation had he experienced such pain. Nothing intrudedno thoughts, no emotions, only stillness~ Here body functions were monitored and controlled without conscious thoUght. Impulses f1ashed

around him; al though he could neither se~nor hear them, Spock knew

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they were there. He relaxed and let himself be carried along to that., area of the brain that few humans knewexiSted and none could control. The healing center was trying to cope with the injuries, but it

was not selective.

Every stimulus requesting aid was answeredwithout

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priority or organization. It was strange to be there, actually feeling the electricity generated by the nervous system. Spock could sense the firing of the synapses, each relaying a message for help. Taking over was easy. He became receptive to signals from the circulatpry system, ignoring all others. The blood vessels had to be constricted; M~Coy was bleeding to death. The hemorrhaging was nQt localized, 8$ he had hoped; but spread throughout the abdominal c~vity. There was so much damage. As the impulses arrived, he rerouted the blood supply and methodically closed off the ruptured blee~ers. Keeping the damaged vessels free of blood would allow them to collapse so when he withdrew the bleeding would not resume. It seemed to take forever; so many flowed unchecked, their delicate walls destroyed. Whenit was finally finished, he allowed the circulation to return to normal and there was no seepa~e. The immediate danger was ovef~ but there was much left to do. The respiratory system would be more difficult; shock and blood loss had made the doctor's breathing labored and strained. Consciously, he set the intake pattern back to normal, hoping it would remain within acceptable limits. A part of Spock stayed, pacing the breathing, while the rest of him sought to stay the shock. The perspiration was stopped" and later he would make the cave much warmer. But shock victims needed reassurance and that was out of the question. McCoymust not know he was here. Spock willed McCoy's temperature to rise using every method he knew, but the effort was tiring and fatigue clouded his mind. He was hot, much too hot. Concentrate. But it was not working; he could not regulate both McCoy's temperature and his own. He retreated quickly. Spock appraised his own body functions and found them clos~ to normal. Humannormal, not Vulcan. To continue with this would be dangerous, yet he would go on if there was anything more he could do. He needed an overall picture of McCoy's condition, and tracing the pain impulses back to their origin would be the quickest way. Momentslater he was back in the void, a'lone,with his thoughts. The doctor's spleen 25.

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