Hale put surprise into his voice. "The Caduceus? Good heavens! Why, you were wiped off the slate ten years ago!"
"We—we know." The voice was choked with emotion. "Just a minute, Lieutenant Hale; Captain Doctor Latimer Wills wants to talk to you." Another silence.
"Lieutenant Hale," said a different voice from the speaker, "this is Captain Wills."
"A pleasure, sir. I've heard a great deal about you. I—I hardly know what to say. Imagine—meeting a man who has practically become a legend in the IHC."
Leland Hale had never heard of Wills before; he didn't know if the man had ever done anything in his life. But it's a good bet that a man doesn't become the commander of an IHC hospital ship without doing something noteworthy—or at least something that he, himself, thinks is noteworthy.
"Lieutenant," said the captain doctor, in a tone that was strangely husky, "we have been marooned on this planet for twelve years, fighting for our very existence. It is you, not I, who are a hero."
Leland Hale had said nothing about heroism, but he let it pass. "May I come into the ship, sir? I have something important to talk to you about."
"Well—ah—" This time, the silence was strained. "Ah—Lieutenant Hale—ah—do you know anything about the Plague?"
"The Plague? I don't understand, sir."