Dr. Hoyt wanted to continue the discussion, but Dr. Lowell was already on his way to inspect another part of the hospital. Grumbling, the young man helped chart the optical nerves that had to be replaced and measure the new curve of the retinas ordered by Social Control. But he fought just as strenuously over other cases, especially a retired freight-jet pilot who had to have his reflexes slowed down so he could become a contented meteorologist. Whenever there was a loud disagreement of this sort, Dr. Lowell was there to mediate calmly. * * * * * At the end of the day, Dr. Kalmar was emotionally exhausted. He said as he and Dr. Lowell were washing up, "The kid's hopeless. I thought you could straighten him out--God knows I couldn't--but he'll never see why we have to work the way we do." "What do you suggest?" Dr. Lowell asked through a towel. "Send him back to Earth. Get an intern who's more malleable." Dr. Lowell tossed the towel into the sterilizer. "Can't be done. We're expanding so fast all over the Galaxy that Earth can't train and ship out enough doctors for the new colonies. If we sent him back, I don't know when we'd get another." Dr. Kalmar swallowed. "You mean it's him or nobody?" "Afraid so." "But he'll never fit in on Deneb!" "You did," Dr. Lowell said. Dr. Kalmar tried to smile modestly. "I realized immediately how little I knew and how much more experience you had. I was willing to learn. Why, I used to listen to you and watch you work and try to see your reasons for doing things--" "You think so?" asked Dr. Lowell. Dr. Kalmar glanced at him in astonishment. "You know I did. I still do, for that matter." "When you landed on Deneb," said Dr. Lowell, "you were the most stubborn, opinionated young ass I'd ever met." Dr. Kalmar's smile became an appreciative grin. "Damn, I wish I had that light touch of yours!" "You were so dogmatic and argumentative that Dr. Hoyt is a suggestible schoolboy in comparison." "Well, you don't have to go that far," Dr. Kalmar said. "I get what you're driving at--every intern needs orientation and I should be more patient and understanding." "Then you don't follow me at all," stated Dr. Lowell. "Invite Dr. Hoyt, Miss Dupont and me to your house for dinner tonight and maybe you'll get a better idea of what I mean." "Anything for a free meal, eh?" "And to keep a doctor here on Deneb that we'd lose otherwise." "Implying that I can't do it." "Isn't that the decision you'd come to?" "Yes, I guess it is," Dr. Kalmar confessed. "All right, how about dinner at my house tonight? I'll round up the other two and call Harriet so she'll expect us." "Delighted to come," said Dr. Lowell. "Nice of you to ask me." Miss Dupont was elated at the invitation and Dr. Hoyt said he had nothing else to do anyway. On the videophone Mrs. Kalmar was dismayed for a moment, until Dr. Lowell told her to put through an emergency order to Central Commissary and he'd verify it.