"Then he ought to!"
"That's his decision, isn't it? There's such a thing as ethics, you know."
"I've never seen anything more insane than the way you work," snapped Dr. Hoyt. "I can't wait to finish my stretch here and go home."
He stamped out, weaving slightly because of the sedative.
"Well, what do you think of our assistant?" asked Dr. Kalmar.
"He's cute," Miss Dupont said irrationally.
Dr. Kalmar glowered at her. He'd forgotten that she was due to have a mate assigned to her this year.
Routine at the hospital was anything but routine. Dr. Hoyt barely kept from yelping each time someone was treated, and his help was given so unwillingly that Dr. Kalmar, sweating under a double load and with Dr. Hoyt to argue with at the same time, was all for putting him on the ship and asking Earth for another intern. But Miss Dupont talked him out of it.
For no discernible reason other than loneliness, Dr. Hoyt was taking her out. She was pleased, even though he crabbed constantly about the shabby-looking clothes she wore, which were typical of Deneb, and the way they fitted her.