Chang?"

"Yes, Ranger Medart?"

"Scan records for healing as an aspect of ESP, report on verified
incidents."

"Insufficient data to verify any given incident," the ship-comp
reported after several seconds. "Most data are religious in origin,
rather than scientific. Not subject to positive verification."

"Thank you. No further information required." Medart looked at the
smaller Ranger. "Like telepathy was, until day before yesterday.
Stories, but none of what Greggson likes to call cast-iron facts."

Corina sneezed again, and Medart frowned. "Sounds to me like you're
coming down with something, Rina. Maybe you ought to go see Dr.
Sherman--you need to be in top shape when you go against Thark."

"That is true, and it is more than the sneezing; I woke with a slight
headache this morning, and I feel as if I have been exercising harder
than I should. Your ship is warmer than I truly like, and I have been
under some strain; I attributed those symptoms to that. It is
possible, however that I am becoming ill." She paused, thinking. "If
this aspect of your Talent is connected with health, perhaps you should
see what you can discover about my condition before I go to Dr.
Sherman."

"That sounds reasonable." Medart closed his eyes to concentrate better
on sensing her.

Corina closed hers as well, dropping her shield completely to allow him
unrestricted access to her feelings. His mental touch was gentle, even
soothing, and she felt aching start to ease. Then there was a touch on
her forehead that felt like both his hands, warmer than normal human
body temperature, and all her symptoms faded to nothing in perhaps half
a minute.

When she opened her eyes, it was to see Medart looking at her with an
expression of pleased surprise. "I feel considerably better, Jim, and
I thank you. It appears your deduction was correct."

"You're welcome," Medart said, still grinning. "And they said there'd
never be a cure for the common cold! You were right too, Rina; the
change in environment when you came aboard gave some viruses the chance
they needed. You were in the early stages of a nasty respiratory
infection."

"An unpleasantness that would have hampered me rather badly."

"That's the understatement of the year! Well, if you agree it won't be
too useful, maybe we'd better drop it and get on with the darlas and
shield training. I can always go into medicine later, when we aren't
pushed for time."

"I mu