"Once, it was to aid in childbirth—my first adventure as a midwife," he said, remembering the event and his shame at his ignorance in the matter. He had had to take directions from the woman. "Once, a hunter had fallen in an animal trap, and broken both his legs," he continued. "And twice, it was for sickness."
"The same one as this Kylano?"
"I don't know. I couldn't hope to diagnose it, so I just shot them full of antibiotics, and prayed for a miracle."
"You should have prayed for brains instead. But all of your sick ones recovered?"
"Yes. I couldn't seem to do anything wrong, and it wasn't long before the natives were beginning to look on me as the personal representative of their Gods. It was embarrassing, the way they fawned over me."
"Tell me," said Cassidy. "You said you read the regs over. Why in the name of all that's holy didn't you have the sense to follow them?"
"I couldn't stand by and watch them die! I had to help them, Cassidy. Damn it, I had to!"
"Yeah, sure. But go on."
"Well, to shorten matters, the local priest finally got back from his pilgrimage, and took up his old duties. All went well for about a week, and then another alien became ill. The priest heard about it, naturally, and went to his aid. But it seems my percentage of recoveries was better than his at its very best. They wouldn't let him even near the sick one. Instead, they sent for me."
"You went?"