She shoved back a sleeve. ?Don’t lecture me. I know when I’m pushing things. Just give me the stuff.?

The figure in the corner was mumbling aloud. ?I don’t know why people blame me for things. Weird, isn’t it? It’s not like I’m perfect or something but, sweet William, I don’t see where some people come off always blaming others for life’s little problems.?

Clemens smiled. ?That’s quite profound. Thank you, Golic.?He filled the injector, checking the level.

As she sat there waiting to receive the medication she happened to glance in Golic’s direction and was surprised to see him grinning back at her. His expression was inhuman, devoid of thought-a pure idiot’s delight. She looked away distastefully, her mind on matters of greater import. 127

127

?Are you married??the straightjacketed hulk asked unexpectedly.

Ripley started. ?Me??

?You should get married.?Golic was utterly serious. ?Have kids… pretty girl. I know lots of ‘em. Back home. They always like me. You’re gonna die too.?He began to whistle to himself.

?Are you??Clemens inquired.

?What??

?Married.?

?Why??

?Just curious.?

?No.?He came toward her, the injector hanging from his fingers. ?How about leveling with me??

He hesitated. ?Could you be a little more specific??

?When I asked you how you got assigned here you avoided the question. When I asked you about the prison ID tattoo on the back of your head you ducked me again.?

Clemens looked away. ?It’s a long sad story. A bit melodramatic, I’m afraid.?

?So entertain me.?She crossed her arms over her chest and settled back on the cot.

?Well, my problem was that I was smart. Very smart. I knew everything, you see. I was brilliant and therefore thought I could get away with anything. And for a while I did.

?I was right out of med school, during which time I had managed the extraordinary accomplishment of finishing in the top five percent of my class despite having acquired what I confidently believed to be a tolerable addiction to Midaphine. Do you know that particular pharmaceutical??Ripley shook her head slowly.

?Oh, it’s a lovely chain of peptides and such, it is.

128

Makes you feel like you’re invincible without compromising your judgment. It does demand that you maintain a certain level in your bloodstream, though. Clever fellow that I was, I had no trouble appropriating adequate supplies from whatever facility I happened to be working in at the time.

?I was considered most promising, a physician-to-be of exceptional gifts and stamina, insightful and caring. No one suspected that my primary patient was always myself.