"Nevertheless, sir, I feel that it's my responsibility," Hale said nobly. "And I think I see a way out."
"What? What? A way out? How?" Wills didn't dare let himself hope again.
"Well, sir, the Plague seems to have broken out again on the mainland. There are more than fifty down with it in the village now, and it seems to be spreading."
"What? Ridiculous!" The captain doctor was almost sputtering. "Lieutenant, I assure you that they're immune! The population of Cardigan's Green can't have an epidemic of the Plague! Oh, I'll admit that an individual might be conceived now and then without the immunity gene intact, but the foetus would never come to term! An epidemic is impossible!"
"Nevertheless, sir," said Hale complacently, "we have a major epidemic on our hands." He knew he was treading on thin ice at that point, so he turned and called loudly to the boat in the local dialect. "Tell Captain Doctor Wills why we are here!" Then, to Wills: "Will your directional pickup reach that man, sir?"
"I think so. Yes."
The first officer of the fishing smack was shouting: "The Plague is here, good sir! Please help us! Give us the medicine!"
Hale snarled under his breath. He wasn't ready to say anything about the medicine yet. Oh, well—water over the dam, spilt milk and all that.
"I'm afraid I don't understand, Lieutenant Hale," said the captain doctor. "How will this help us get off Cardigan's Green? And what's all this about medicine? We don't have any medicine that will cure the Plague."
"Let me ask you a question, sir. What size frequency crystal do you need for your sub-radio?"