Chapter 3

After studying all three samples under the microscope, Maureen exhaled a hopeful breath. "We might have something here. The blood and skin cells of the animal contain long, smooth cells that have many spores attached to them. Let me try one more thing."

Maureen added a drop of Penny's blood to the animal's sample. The spores from her sample immediately attached themselves to the long cells. "Yes! The long cells in the animal's blood act like a magnet for the spores. If I can isolate the clean long cells, I can inject them into Penny and John's blood… but then, how do I get those clumps out?"

"I have a theory, Mrs. Robinson. The hair samples contained bits of a large insect. It is possible that those insects feed on the blood that contains the magnet cells and spores."

"Like mosquitoes?"

"Negative, Mrs. Robinson. Rather like leeches."

"Leeches! Well, as horrible as that sounds, it's worth investigating."

Several hours later, Maureen had isolated the animal's cleansing cells and the Robot had collected live insects for their investigation. The Robot had been correct. The insects were indeed like vacuum cleaners, sucking the magnet cells from the animal's blood.

Maureen isolated enough of the strand-like magnet cells to add them to Penny and John's IV's. While she waited for the strands to attract the poison, she made a paste with baking soda and added the magnet cells, then spread it over the infected areas of her patients as a salve. She had no idea if this would be effective, but it was an easy remedy to try, and sometimes simple worked best.

She took fresh blood samples from Penny and John and noted that the spores had indeed been attracted to the magnet cells. After steeling herself for the next step, she placed the vacuum insects directly on their open wounds and prayed that they would be effective without causing further problems.

Maureen rejoined the Robot in the lab and sighed, "One more, and possibly the most difficult."

"Difficult, but possible, Mrs. Robinson. I would suggest that we put the magnet cells in water and use the vaporizer to release them into the air."

"So Don and Judy inhale the steam. The magnet cells do their work, and they can hopefully cough up the result."

"Affirmative, Mrs. Robinson."

"It will take a long time to fill the room with steam."

"It would be more efficient to make a tent over each infected patient and fill it with both the vaporized air and oxygen."

"We only have one vaporizer, so we'll have to do one at a time. I'll get everything together."

Before Maureen could leave to collect the needed equipment for Don and Judy, they heard a bellowing from Dr. Smith's room and Maureen smiled. "It would appear that at least one of our patients is on their way to recovery."

"Proceed with what you need to do, Mrs. Robinson. I will take care of Dr. Smith."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dr. Smith was indeed much recovered. "Finally, a response to my calls! Is there no one on this ship who is concerned about my well-being?"

"Dr. Smith, you do not know that you, the Robinson family and Major West have been gravely ill. Mrs. Robinson has been feverishly searching for remedies and you have been the first one to recover."

"Remedies? Remedies for what?"

"The fruit you so avidly ate was not suitable for human consumption. You have been the cause of the illnesses."

"Me? That is impossible, you bulbous bag of bolts."

"I will not argue with you, Dr. Smith. I must check on the progress of the other patients."

As Dr. Smith had recovered, so had Will. He was restless and anxious to leave his sickroom. "Come on, Robot, let me get up. I'm fine."

"Negative, Will Robinson. You may not leave your bed until your mother has examined you and declared you to be cured."

Dr. Smith appeared at Will's doorway, sans IV. "William, I will exam you to determine if you are well enough to leave your cabin."

"Dr. Smith," the Robot commanded, "Mrs. Robinson would not want you out of your bed."

"Have you forgotten that I am as much a doctor as Mrs. Robinson?"

Exasperated, the Robot replied, "Fine, Dr. Smith. I will inform Mrs. Robinson that you and Will Robinson have recovered."

The Robot found Maureen in Judy's room, moving across to examine Don. After several minutes, she looked up at the Robot in frustration. "They are both equally sick, Robot. Whom should we start with?" Both Don and Judy were awake enough to overhear her comment, and each whispered the others' name.

The Robot added his suggestion, "They must both be attended to at the same time. I suggest we place Judy Robinson in bed with Major West."

"Oh, Robot, I don't know."

A voice agreed with the Robot from the doorway. "He is quite correct, Madam. Your sense of decorum must be set aside if we are to save both of them."

"Dr. Smith! What are you doing out of bed?"

"I assure you that I have recovered quite well, as has William. Now we must make haste. Their breathing is quite labored indeed, and it may not be long before they take their final breath."

With Dr. Smith and the Robot's help, settling Judy into bed with Don was easier than Maureen had expected. She couldn't help but smile when she noticed Don's arm protectively encircle Judy's waist. Just being together seemed to ease their breathing the tiniest bit. She waited until the vaporized air and oxygen filled the tent over their heads, and then left to attend to her remaining patients.

Maureen found Will in Penny's room, thoroughly filling her in on all that had transpired since Penny had become ill. Although Penny was extremely tired, she was alert and smiled when her mother entered the room.

"Welcome back, Penny. You were asleep for quite a long time." Turning to Will, she felt his forehead and noted that the color had returned to his cheeks. "You seem to be totally recovered. Let me see your arms." She examined them and noted, "No rash. The salve worked!"

"Dr. Smith already examined me, Mom, and said I was fine."

"And so is he. Now do me a favor and go check on your father while I look after Penny."

Will knew that his father had been the last one infected and expected him to still be the most seriously ill. He was surprised to see him awake and in good spirits.

"Dad? How do you feel?"

"Better than last night. And you look fine! How is everyone else?"

"Well, Dr. Smith and I are okay. Penny is awake and Mom said that her fever was finally down. I think she's going to be okay. What happened to your face, Dad?"

"I ran into that beast. That's what made me sick. How about Judy and Don?"

"They're still really sick, Dad. Mom has them together in like a tent with the vaporizer going."

"Vaporizer?"

Maureen appeared at the door, exhausted, but still functioning. "I'll explain it all to you while I collect a blood sample. I want to be sure your blood is clean before I take those insects off your face."

"Insects?"

She chuckled and nodded, "Insects."