stunned silence for a
beat and then the chair abruptly dismissed her.

"I was shocked," Sarah said, earnestly. Tears, long held back now
slowly slid down her face, marking the planes and valleys with ripples
that winked on and off reflecting the room lights "And I didn't want to
even say it was mine. But I did, because it was."

Diana left the hearing room shortly after Sarah to ask Helen, her last
witness, to come in. The whole group was in the hallway gathered
around Sarah as she came out of the hearing room door.

"What did they do to her in there," demanded Roz, angrily.

"They were pretty nasty. They fired questions at her so fast that she
didn't understand what they were asking half the time. They all but
called her a liar, poor kid," answered Diana.

Helen came over. "You tell them I'll be in just as soon as Sarah is
calmed down. Sadistic bastards!"

Chapter 22

Diana returned to the hearing room alone and sat down. Addressing the
panel, she said firmly, "My next witness will be in shortly. She is
helping Sarah because you upset her so much."

Anuse and Henry looked pleased. The women were anxious and concerned
except for Esther who appeared puzzled.

Shortly thereafter, Helen Schauer marched into the room and took the
witness chair as if she owned it. Her Teutonic ancestors would have
been proud. Helen, at age thirty, considered herself a responsible
adult. She owned property and was very serious about her abilities and
her nursing studies.

She had begged Diana to let her come as a witness. A little taller
than average, she was a strong looking woman. Blonde hair framed a
face that, while not beautiful, reflected a healthy radiance that
enhanced her image of strength. Now, sitting there, exuding
confidence, she gave her name and was sworn. Her testimony should have
been important, but Diana wasn't too certain that the panel would
listen. It backed up what Roz had to say about the feelings of the
medical students concerning the radiology course.

The most Diana hoped to accomplish from this testimony was to have the
committee order NERD to make available the course and instructor
evaluation for the previous year. That was the year that Lyle had
claimed the students loved the course and the instructors. That was
the year Diana did not teach in it.

"Are you acquainted with any medical students who took the radiology
course this last year?" questioned Diana.

Helen