（外文电子版资料）TITAN-JohnVarley_ch16-ch2.docVIP

CHAPTER SIXTEEN It was six days after the angel attack, the sixty-fmt day of their emergence in Gaea. Cirocco was prone on a low table with her feet in improvised stirrups. Calvin was down there somewhere, but she refused to watch him. Lullaby, the white-haired Titanije healer, watched and sang as the operation progressed. Her songs were soothing, but nothing helped a great deal. The cervix is dilated, Calvin said. Id just as soon not hear about it. Sorry. He straightened briefly, and sirocco saw his eyes and forehead above the surgical mask. He was sweating profusely. Lullaby wiped it away and his eyes showed his gratitude. Can you move that lamp closer? Gaby positioned the flickering lamp. it threw huge shadows of her legs onto the walls. Cirocco heard the metallic click of instruments taken from the sterilizing bath, then felt the curette rattle through the speculum. Calvin had wanted stainless steel instruments, but the Tita nides could not make them. He and Lullaby had worked with the best artisans until he had brass tools he felt he could use. It hurts, Cirocco gritted. Youre hurting her, Gaby explained, as if Calvin could not understand English. Gaby, youll,either be quiet or I’ll find someone else to hold the lamp. Cirocco had never heard Calvin speak so harshly. He paused, wiped his brow on his sleeve. The pain was not intense, but persistent and hard to place, like an ache of the inner car. She could hear and feel the scraping, and it set her teeth on edge. Ive got it, Calvin said, softly. Got what? You can see it? Yeah. Youre further along than I thought. Its a good thing you insisted we get it done. He resumed his scraping, pausing from time to time to clean the curette. Gaby turned away to examine something in the palm of her hand. Its got four legs, she whispered, and started to come to Circoccos side. I dont want to see it. Get it away from me. May this one look? Lullaby sang. No! She was fighting nausea, and could not sing the answer