"Put it off another day and you'll not be back at all," snapped Dr. Hansen. "Take it or leave it!"
"How do I pay?"
"We'll take it out of your hide," said Hansen. "You're under the same rules as the rest of us. You do your day's work, and you receive the same medical blessing. Do you want to hoe the garden or will you wash my car?"
"I'll wash the car."
"That's what you say. Get over here in an hour—and bring Linna with you."
"What for?"
"Someone's got to drive—and it shouldn't be you!"
"That an order?"
"Nothing else but. Official order from the medical council. You'll play or else we'll have an interne take out that appendix."
Keg realized the sageness of the doctor's order by the time he reached the hospital. He was doubled over with pain and they did not permit him to walk from the car to the front door, but came out and got him on a stretcher. He was whisked inside, leaving Linna to straighten out the details at the Incoming desk.