?What’s going on here, Mr. Clemens??

?Yeah, right sir,?Aaron chipped in, a verbal as well as physical echo of his boss. ?What’s going on, Mr. Clemens??

?First, Lieutenant Ripley is feeling much better, I’m happy to say. As you can see, physically she’s doing quite well.?Andrews didn’t rise to the bait. Mildly disappointed, Clemens continued. ?Second, in the interests of public health and security, I’m conducting an autopsy on the deceased child.? 44

?Without my authority??The superintendent all but growled.

The tech replied matter-of-factly, not at all intimidated. ?There didn’t seem to be time.?

Andrews’s brows lifted slightly. ?Don’t give me that, Clemens. That’s one thing we have in surplus on Fiorina.?

?What I mean is that the lieutenant was concerned about the possible presence in the body of a mutated infectious organism.?

The superintendent glanced questioningly at the silent Ripley. ?Is that true??

She nodded, offering no further explanation.

?It’s turned out all right,?Clemens interjected. ?The body is perfectly normal and shows no signs of contagion. I was certain,?he finished dryly, ?that you’d want me to follow up on this as promptly as possible. Hence my desire to begin immediately.?

You could almost see the thoughts dancing in Andrews’s brain, Ripley thought. Fermenting.

?All right,?he said finally, ?but it might be helpful if Lieutenant Ripley didn’t parade around in front of the prisoners, as I am told she did in the last hour. Semimonastic vows notwithstanding. Nothing personal, you understand, Lieutenant. The suggestion is made as much for your protection as for my peace of mind.?

?I quite understand,?she murmured, half smiling.

?I’m sure that you do.?He turned back to the med tech. ?It might also be helpful if you kept me informed as to any change in her physical status. I’m expected to keep the official log updated on this sort of thing. Or would that be asking too much??

Ripley took a step forward. ?We have to cremate the bodies.? 45

45

Andrews frowned at her. ?Nonsense. We’ll keep the bodies on ice until a rescue team arrives. There are forms that will need to be filled out. I don’t have that kind of jurisdictional leeway.?

?Cremate… that’s a good one, sir,?Aaron sniggered, always eager to please.

?Look, I’m not making an arbitrary request here,?Ripley told him, ?and it has nothing to do with… personal feelings. There is a public health issue at stake.?She eyed Clemens expectantly.

What on earth is troubling her so? he found himself wondering. Aloud he said, ?Lieutenant Ripley feels that the possibility of a communicable infection still exists.?

The superintendent’s gaze narrowed suspiciously. ?I thought you said there was no sign of disease.?