"Sure of that?"
"Of course I'm sure. This counter doesn't lie!" The medical officer was
indignant.
So was Nedra. The violet eyes shot sparks of anger at the colonel. Zen
was unimpressed. Deep inside, he was tremendously relieved. She had
come down alive! She was unharmed! This was enough to make him feel
good all over. He also knew what she was. No ordinary mortal could have
remained in the hot zone for the length of time she had been there and
emerged unharmed. He did not mind her anger. Instead he turned to West.
"You're next!"
He did not know what response to expect from the craggy man. It might
be anything. To his surprise, West smiled.
"Glad to, colonel. I was hoping I would get tested, so I would know
where I stood."
Without hesitation, West stepped in front of the scope. "While I am
certain I did not receive enough exposure to do any damage, still it
is best to follow your example and make certain." The deep voice was
suave, with tiny overtones of amusement in it somewhere.
Again the lieutenant studied his meters and again he looked up. Real
perplexity was on his face. "Three okays in a row. I didn't have a
single okay up until now." His gaze went up the slope in the direction
where the bomb had exploded.
"Does that mean I'm all right?" West asked.
"Yes. Definitely all right," the lieutenant answered. "And I don't
pretend to understand it."
"I was in a hole, too," West said. He seemed to be amused at some joke
known only to him.