“How on earth did a pediatrician get involved doing research on Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever?” Dr. Carpenter asked. “It sounds pretty esoteric. Let me see, I have the newspaper right here. ‘The Peabody Research Award goes to Dr. Marissa Blumenthal for the elucidation of the variables associated with the transmission of Ebola virus from primary to secondary contacts.’ Wow!”

“I spent a couple of years at the CDC in Atlanta,” Marissa explained. “I got assigned to a case where Ebola virus was being intentionally spread in HMOs.”

“Of course!” Dr. Carpenter said. “I remember reading about that. My God, was that you?”

“Afraid so,” Marissa said.

“As I recall, you almost got killed!” Dr. Carpenter said with obvious admiration.

“I was lucky,” Marissa said. “Very lucky.” She wondered what Dr. Carpenter would have said if she told him that during her biopsy his blue eyes had reminded her of the man who had tried to kill her.

“I’m impressed,” Dr. Carpenter admitted. “And I’m glad to have some good news for you. Usually my secretary makes these calls, but after reading about you this morning, I wanted to call myself. The biopsy specimens were all fine. It was merely a mild dysplasia. As I told you that day, the culdoscopy suggested as much, but it is nice to be a hundred percent certain. Why don’t you schedule a follow-up Pap smear in four to six months? After that, we can let you go for a year at least.”

“Great,” said Marissa. “I will. And thanks for the good news.”

“My pleasure,” Dr. Carpenter said.

Marissa shifted her feet. She was still embarrassed by her behavior at the biopsy. Gathering her courage, she apologized again.

“Hey, don’t give it another thought,” Dr. Carpenter said. “But after your experience I’ve decided I don’t like that ketamine stuff. I told anesthesia not to use it on any more of my cases. I know the drug has some good points, but I’ve had a couple of other patients with bad trips like yours. So please don’t apologize. But tell me, have you had any other problems since the biopsy?”

“Not really,” Marissa said. “The worst part of the whole experience was the drug-induced nightmare. I’ve even had the same dream a couple more times since the biopsy.”

“I’m the one who should be apologizing,” Dr. Carpenter said. “Anyway, next time we won’t give you ketamine. How’s that for a promise?”

“I think I’ll be steering clear of doctors for a while,” Marissa said.

“That’s a healthy attitude,” Dr. Carpenter said with a laugh. “But as I said before, let’s see you back in four months or so.”