When her professor had gotten Emme coherent enough to explain what she had done, he immediately called all the journals and the convention. Together they gathered twenty women who were willing to undergo the experiment. All of the cancerous lumps were injected with Vitamin C. Within two to two and a half weeks, the lumps were down to half their original mass. After a month, only one tenth of the original lump was present. They tested the cure on other types of cancer and found that it worked just as well. A break through had just been made by a medical student.

And now that medical student was on a plane with three other cancer specialists, three of the best in the world. Her head was still spinning. Dr. Judith Henning sat across from her. She reminded Emme of a hawk, with a hooked nose and slate gray eyes that seemed to never blink. Dr. Henning had been trying to find a cure for cancer for fifty years or more and was more than a little prickled that someone who could have been her granddaughter had succeeded where she had failed. Emme couldn’t see how this woman ever became a doctor, she just couldn’t see this lady working with scared and nervous patients.

Next to Emme sat Dr. Eserit Lain, a South American doctor. He had tried to decode the mystery of cancer with his knowledge of herbs that were native to the Southern continent. He was just out of school but in two years he had already been able to considerably slow down the growth of cancer. It was through his work that Emme had based her study. She looked up to him and in more ways than one. Dr. Lain was an astounding six-five with the characteristic olive skin and almond eyes from his heritage. His smile was ready and his eyes twinkled with supressed jokes. He was as excited as Emme was about her discovery, and not just because he was part of it. His energetic happiness was contagious and as soon as Emme had sat beside him, she was laughing.

The last passenger was an ancient mountain of a man named Dr. John Malken. Physically he was not large. Quite to the contrary, he barely reached Emme’s chin. And Emme was not even five-four. Yet, there was something about his presence that made him seem a giant. A friendly giant. His face was an intricate map of wrinkles, capped with a mane of shocking silver hair. His drooping eyebrows shadowed gentle eyes that hid his unimagined knowledge. Dr. Malken was, by far, Emme’s favorite. He treated her like a colleague and yet like a father. When he spoke, his rich voice carried easily and its tone sent shivers down the student’s spine. This man expressed a pride in Emme that seemed unfounded to her. Though, considering that he was her teacher, he might see that as justified cause.

"So what do you think of our hawk-like friend over there?" whispered Dr. Lain into Emme’s ear. Emme flicked a glance at the man beside her and then smothered a smile as she looked at Dr. Henning. Judith was looking at the two younglings, as she called them, through narrowed eyes, as if expecting them to misbehave like spoiled children. She sat stiffly and her feet were crossed primly at the ankle.

Emme turned her head slightly toward her seat mate, thankful that the engines were as loud as they were. "Do you feel like being bad? I think that that’s what she expects. You’d never guess that we were both adults. How did she ever get the idea to become a doctor, working with people and all? She scares me and I’m not in a room alone with her."

A light touch on her shoulder startled her. She twisted around to face Dr. Malken. "She’s not as bad as she looks, you know. When she puts her mind to it, she can actually be quite pleasant. Her face looks soft when she smiles, but she seems to think that, as a doctor, she has this stiff image and reputation to uphold." The old man chuckled dryly and now that narrowed glare included him. Emme was shocked at the doctor’s hearing. Only his outward appearance showed his true age, for in everything else he was like any first year student. Except for his unending knowledge.

"Whisper among yourselves if you like. I know you must think that I’m just worrisome and suspicious, but I still think that something is wrong here." Even Judith’s voice was prim and stiff and cold.

"That, too, changes for her patients," John whispered over Emme’s shoulder.

"I heard that, old man." Then an abrupt change came over that doctor. Her eyes softened and her face became friendly. When she spoke her voice was soothing. "I’m not always this old grouch, but you must understand," she flicked a glance at Emme, "what it feels like to be surpassed by a mere student. Please don’t think that I’m insulting you, for I mean no such thing, but at my age you need something to reach for and now that’s been taken from me." Her unspoken apology for her actions was accepted with an astounded nod from Emme.

"Why aren’t you always like this? You’re so different from the person that was sitting in front of me a few seconds ago. And much more pleasant," Emme added as an after thought.

"Well, would you take me seriously if my grandmotherly attitude showed through? Any way, I still don’t think that this flight is right. The pilot that was supposed to fly us always checks on his passengers. We don’t even know if there’s anyone in the cockpit. Besides, it just doesn’t feel right. . ."

"You’re just upset because we don’t have any complimentary peanuts," Eserit joked, though it was more strained than before. "If you would excuse me-" Eserit bowed elaborately and made his way to the back of the cabin. Every one jumped when a startled yelp floated out to them. Emme nimbly hopped to her feet and sprinted towards the yell. The other doctors weren’t far behind her. When she reached the young doctor, his face was ghost-like and he was looking into a small closet, his body blocking the door way so that Emme couldn’t see past.

"Rit, what is it? You look scared to death." Emme pushed her way passed her statue still friend and gasped at the sight in front of her.

"Well, what is it girl? Don’t stand there like you’re dumb!" John growled at Emme and she quickly backed out of the door way.

"Ummm, I hate to say it but that’s not our pilot in the cockpit."

"What makes you say that?" asked Judith sharply.

"Well, that can’t be our pilot because that’s our pilot." With her last word she pointed into the closet revealing the crumpled body on the floor. The man was barely alive, his chest slowly rising, his breath shallow and his face pale.

Dr. Malken deftly lifted the limp body and carried him into the cabin. He laid the unconscious man on a couch and began to check him over.

"This man is very lucky. Had the blow that knocked him out been a fraction harder or an inch to the right, he would not have made it in that closet for as long as he did. As it is, he might not make it through the night." The elder doctor put a pillow beneath the pilot’s head and sent Rit to dampen his handkerchief with warm water. When the young man returned, John bathed the shallow cut and rinsed the man’s face off. "That’s all we can do for him now. When he comes to, we will dribble as much water down his throat as he can hold." His face became thoughtful. "Now, I’m curious to know who is up there and why he would kidnap four medically inclined, but otherwise normal people?" He turned as if to go to the cockpit, but Rit thrust his arm in front of the old man and barred his way.

"That’s okay. I’ll do it. You can afford to lose me."

"Don’t be a fool. If anything were to happen, who would be most likely to survive, especially with your history with herbs? Besides, if he had wanted to kill us, don’t you think that he would have done it already. No, I think that he has something planned for us and I think that I will confront him." With no hint of age, John firmly brushed the young man’s arm aside and briskly walked to the head of the plane. A door opened and Emme heard excited voices. Then John’s bass broke through the clamor and there was silence. Five minutes later, John came back with a satisfied little grin on his face and a packet of papers in his hands.

"Well, they agreed not to kill us, and I managed to get a little information on the side." The doctor handed the file of papers to Judith, who quickly scanned the materials. As she read, anger, sadness, shock, and something that was almost determination flashed across her face. When she looked up at the three anxiously waiting companions, she was definitely determined.

She cleared her throat and began. "It seems that we have been kidnapped because of our reputations. I’m afraid that you’ll have to wait for your chance in the lime light till a later date," she said apologetically to Emme. The young student shrugged and indicated for Judith to continue her narration. "As I was saying, we were purposefully taken. There is a remote city that has a population of no more than three thousand and very primitive. They are ruled by a king, and from this," she shook the packet, "he is extremely ill. One of the nephews lived in New York and heard of our young protégé there. He figured that we were just the thing that his uncle needed and kidnapped us. Now the problem is that we will be missed. So do we put up a fight or do we help?" From the way that she said it, Emme had no idea which she preferred.

"I can’t speak for all of you, especially not you, Emme, since you have not taken the Oath, but as doctors, it is our responsibility to help this man. They had no other choice. Would you have jumped on a plane to go to this God-forsaken civilization if they had come right out and asked?" At John and Judith’s reluctant shakes of the head, Rit looked extremely satisfied with himself. "I didn’t think so. Now that we are here, don’t you think that we have the moral obligation to help?’ This time the two other doctors firmly nodded their heads in agreement and approval. Emme hopped up and squeezed Rit tightly.

John looked decided. "Okay, all that we can do now is wait, and hope that we weren’t kidnapped too late." He sat down and that seemed to be the signal for everyone else to do the same. Emme caught Rit’s hand when they sat down and squeezed it lightly three times. He smiled brilliantly at her and did the same. "Just wait."

Well, now I know what I’m doing here! If this is what it’s like to be a doctor, I like it already!

She turned to look at the lightly sleeping ‘patient’ and sighed easily. His breathing had deepened and his color had returned. Then she was jolted as the plane began to descend. Emme released Rit’s hand and gripped the arm of her chair. The small plane shook for what seemed an eternity and then eased down like a feather. The four passengers sat like tightly coiled springs until they were sure that it was over and then they slowly stood up and walked to the door. It opened to a touch of a button and they walked out.

Emme grabbed Rit’s hand again, taking reassurance from the contact. When they stepped out of the hatch, they were greeted by hundreds of worried yet hopeful faces. A man stood somewhat separated from the rest and Emme focused on him. When no one said anything she took the initiative.

"Where is the King? We must see him to help him." She smiled warmly at the man and he smiled back.

"I’m sorry to have met this way, but we felt that we had no choice. We will try to make your stay as comfortable as possible, and there is some fairly modern equipment that I was able to smuggle in. Please try to remember that these people have not seen outsiders for many hundreds of years." He sighed apologetically and Emme already wanted to help these people as much as she possibly could.

"Our original pilot was wounded; if you could just carry him in so that he can recover we would much appreciate it." Emme indicated the cabin and the King’s nephew sung a few foreign words. Sung because the language was beautiful and seemed to be sung. Three men rushed into the plane and soon came out again, carrying the invalid.

Emme looked at her three companions and seemed to take a silent consensus. She turned back to face the multitude of people that were relying on her.

"Lead the way. We can’t help your King while we’re out here, now, can we?" She softened her rebuke with a dimpled smile and stepped after the nephew as he turned toward the village. As she passed through the people, they patted her bright red hair and oohed and aahed at the new visitors. Emme remembered what the nephew had said.

Yes, now I know why I’m here. And now I know where my oath will take me.

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