eyes to see her bending over him； grabbing the snakes in great handfuls； throwing them down the hatch into the water。 Snakes writhed in her hands； twisted around her wrists； but she shook them off； tossed them aside。 Some of the snakes didn't land in the water and coiled on the deck。 But most of the snakes were off his body now。
One more crawling up his leg； toward his groin。 He felt it moving quickly backward…she was pulling it out by the tail！
〃Jesus； careful…〃
The snake was out； flung over her shoulder。
〃You can get up； Norman；〃 she said。
He jumped to his feet； and promptly vomited。
0700 HOURS
He had a murderous； pounding headache。 It made the habitat lights seem unpleasantly bright。 And he was cold。 Beth had wrapped him in blankets and had moved him next to the big space heaters in D Cyl； so close that the hum of the electrical elements was very loud in his ears； but he was still cold。 He looked down at her now； as she bandaged his cut knee。
〃How is it？〃 he said。
〃Not good；〃 she said。 〃It's right down to the bone。 But you'll be all right。 It's only a few more hours now。〃
〃Yes； I…ouch！〃
〃Sorry。 Almost done。〃 Beth was following first…aid directions from the puter。 To distract his mind from the pain； he read the screen。
MINOR MEDICAL （NON…LETHAL） PLICATIONS
7。113 Trauma
7。115 Microsleep
7。118 Helium Tremor
7。119 Otitis
7。121 Toxic Contaminants
7。143 Synovial Pain
Choose one：
〃That's what I need；〃 he said。 〃Some microsleep。 Or better yet； some serious macrosleep。〃
〃Yes； we all do。〃
A thought occurred to him。 〃Beth； remember when you were pulling the snakes off me？ What was all that you were saying about the time of da