shop talk makes me want to go back to the practice of medicine.’
Theodore cleared his throat, sounding just like Father. ‘Mrrrph. Dr Johnson -‘
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‘Yes, Doctor?’
‘I think my superior knowledge of therapy – correction: my knowledge of superior
therapy – bothers you in part because you think of me as being younger than you are.
But, as I explained, I simply look young. In fact I am older than you are.’
‘How old?’
‘I declined to answer that question when Mrs Smith asked it -‘
‘Theodore! My name is Maureen.’ (That exasperating man!)
‘Little pitchers with big ears, Maureen,’ Theodore said quietly. ‘Dr Johnson, the
therapy of my time is not harder to learn than is therapy today; it is easier,
because less of it is empirical and more of it – most of it – is based on minutely
developed and thoroughly tested theory. With correct and logical theory as a
framework you could catch up on what new has been learned in jig time, then go
quickly into clinical work under a preceptor: You would not find it difficult.’
‘Damn it, sir, I’ll never have the chance!’
‘But, Doctor, that’s what I’m trying to offer you. My sisters will pick me up at an
agreed rendezvous in Arizona on 2 August 1926, eight years from now. If you wish, I
will be delighted to take you with me to my time and my planet, where, if you wish,
you can study therapy – I am chairman of the board of a medical school there; no
problem. Then you can either stay on Tertius, or return to Earth – to the exact spot
and instant that you left, if that is your wish, but with your medical education
updated and you yourself rejuvenated… and with renewed zest for life, that being
merely a side effect but a fine bonus of rejuvenation.’
Father looked strange, haunted. I heard him murmur, ‘”- unto an exceeding high
mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world -“‘
Sergeant Theodore answered, ‘”- and the glory of them”. Matthew, four, verse eight.
But, Doctor, I am not the. Devil and I am not offering you treasure or power –
simply the hospitality of my home as I have enjoyed the hospitality of this home…
plus an opportunity for a refresher course if you want it. But you don’t have to
make up your mind tonight; you have more than eight years for that. You can postpone
your decision right up to the last minute. Dora – that’s my ship – has ample room.’
I turned and put my hand on Father’s arm. ‘Father, do you remember what we did in
1893?’ I looked across at Ted. ‘Father read medicine under a preceptor who never
believed in germs. So, after Father had been in practice for many years, he went
back to school at Northwestern University in 1893 to learn the latest knowledge
about germ theory and asepsis and such things. Father, this is the same thing – and
an incredible opportunity! Father accepts, Theodore – he’s just slow to admit what
he wants, sometimes.’
‘Mind your own business, Maureen. Ted said I could take eight years to answer.’
‘Carol would not take eight years to answer. And neither would I! If Brian
permitted. If Theodore can bring me back to the same hour and day -‘
‘I can:
‘Would I meet Tamara?’
‘Of course.’
‘Oh, my! Brian? Just a visit and I come back the same day -‘
Theodore put in, ‘Brian, you can come with her. A few days or a few months vacation,
and back the same day.’
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‘Uh… Oh, Heavens! Sergeant, you and I have a war to win first. Can we table this
till we come back from France?’
‘Certainly, Captain:
I don’t recall how the talk got around to economics. First, I was sworn to silence
about the periodic nature of female fertility… and took the oath with my fingers
crossed. Fiddlesticks. Both doctors, Papa and Theodore, pointed out that my mucous
membranes had never been invaded by bugs – gonococci and spirochete treponema