Eric Flint - TITLE - Grantville Gazette.Volume XVIII

Hugo had heard of some of these men. Copernicus and Galileo were among his favorites, but the one who fascinated him most was Isaac Newton. He wouldn't even be born for ten more years, but the books said Newton would to revolutionize the world. He would invent many things including a new type of telescope. There were illustrations of his design and fantastically realistic photographs that showed the stars and planets as he'd never seen them. He was awestruck.

Hugo didn't remember a time when he wasn't fascinated with the sky. He idly copied the illustration of the Newtonian reflector into his notebook. When he finished he turned back to the text and read about a man named William Herschel. He stopped only to eat a snack and drink a glass of water.

Allie bounced into the room and Hugo smiled and sighed inwardly. She was so very pretty. But she was rich and above his station, although she'd always been kind to him. She even smelled intoxicating.

"Hugo, would you like to go to the prom with me?"

He couldn't believe his ears. She was a high school student soon to graduate and with a future. He was an orphan, abandoned from day one, and poor as a church mouse.

"Hugo? Are you okay? How is your blood sugar?"

"It is not that. I never expected… surely someone in your school has asked you."

"I'm asking you, Hugo."

"Of course." Hugo blinked back tears. "I just wasn't sure you liked me."

"I like you, Hugo."

"No," he blushed. "I mean like that."

"I do like you like that, Hugo." She leaned forward a little bit further and kissed him.

February 14, 1634

Allie stopped and leaned over panting, her hands on her thighs. "Hugo, I'm tired."

"Just a little farther, Allie. I promise."

"But you can hardly see the stars. There's a full moon out."

"Please," he smiled immensely. "Indulge me." Dim light lit his face.

She didn't reply, but held out her hand again and let him pull her along. He led her into a copse of trees and stopped at a fallen log. He kicked over the log, and luminescent fragments of wood sprayed across the ground.

"You brought me out here to show me foxfire?"

"No. Not quite." He spoke softly but tugged her arm. They continued for another several yards. The thick undergrowth of the glen gave way to a clearing. He watched as Allie walked into the clearing, looking at the glowing debris set out along the ground. She stared at it momentarily, confusion evident on her face. Then she backed up a little, moved around the perimeter of the clearing until she'd lined up the figure that Hugo had spent all morning drawing. "Hugo," she gasped. "That's so sweet."

She stood at the foot of the giant heart picked out in foxfire. The words " Be Mine " were spelled out in English, but in a Gothic font. He'd spent some considerable time making this. "Happy Valentine's day, my sweet."

"You've given me the stars." He could barely see the light from the foxfire illuminating her tears. She squeezed his hand. "You couldn't show me the stars in the sky so you brought them down here for me." She seemed deeply touched, but paused as if working something out.

"But how did you know?" Confusion was evident in her voice.

"Your friend Michael. He told me." He stooped and picked up a bunch of wildflowers, cut and bound with a ribbon. He offered them to Allie. "For you."

"Flowers! At this time of year?"

"Hothouse." He stepped closer again.

"But that's so expensive." He gave a noncommittal shrug.

They were now standing face to face, with only the flowers she held tightly in both hands between them.

He leaned forward so that his face was just inches from hers. "I like you."

When they kissed, she dropped the flowers.

"How's it going, sport?" Ernest looked up from the tiny lenses he was polishing. "You need a snack?"

"I'm fine." Hugo answered amiably. "I'm almost done. The mount works well, but I'm going to have to find a way to make fine adjustments."

"What about a worm gear?"

"Please?"

"A worm gear," Ernest repeated. "It's like a long screw that turns a gear; very useful for small adjustments. Here," he said, showing him the action of a crescent wrench. "It works like this."

After a moment, Ernest muttered, "I sure could use a cold beer right now." He said the words cold-beer, as if it were one word, then added, "It's a sad thing to have a German son who can't drink beer." He switched back to his normal voice. "Do you want some water, Hugo?"

" Ja, bitte."Hugo went back to the hand-copied references and discovered that another way to make the necessary adjustments was something called a friction brake. He had no idea what one was, but wrote the words in his notebook in case one of the up-timers at the library could tell him. They were getting used to seeing him by now. He'd spent many hours there, copying text and illustrations and asking endless questions.

He was astonished with how much work was necessary to grind the glass blank just to make it spherical. He had yet to make the circle into a parabola, but that could wait. The only thing left to do now was silver the mirror.

"Soon," he said aloud, "it will be done soon."

"What's happening to me?" Allie demanded of Doctor Adams.

"At first, we thought it was inconsistent batching, but other patients would have had a problem as well. Zijbert thinks it might be

MODY."

"Motie?" Allie asked. "Like the novel?"

Doctor Adams didn't react to the reference. "MODY," he repeated, somehow, against all logic, pronouncing it in all caps. "Mature Onset Diabetes in the Young. Sometimes a patient presents as a type one but in reality is another type altogether. Typically, MODY patients require less insulin. We may even be able to treat you with other drugs. The up side is that your prognosis looks much better than a type one."

"What about Hugo?"

"Now, Allie, you know I can't discuss another patient with you."

"But he's my boyfriend."

"I'm sorry, Allie, but I really can't say. It's too early in any case, but I have to tell you, you both look much better than you did. How are you feeling?"

"Fine." Her answer was flat and somewhat cold.

He patted her on the back of the hand. "I'm sorry, Allie, we all are. I know it's not fair but there is not much we can do…" His voice trailed off weakly.

She stood mute, staring at him for several minutes. The silence continued until Nurse Baldwin came into the examination room.

"Hey, sweetie," she said, looking at Allie and smiling. "Congratulations."

Allie gave her a look. "For?"

"Graduating high school, hon. It's one of the most important things you can do in life. Besides, it keeps your mind busy. You gotta plan your future; when you beat this thing…" She stopped when Allie stiffened. "Hey, and you'll be eighteen soon. You'll be an adult."

"Yes," Allie paused. "I will. Which brings us back to the point." She turned to Doctor Adams and gave him a serious look. "If you can take me off insulin, it will mean more available for Hugo. I think he could use more. I will quit taking the injections if you think I should."

"I think we should try it." He wrote his recommendation in her chart. "But don't worry about Hugo. The insulin is working well enough for him. You've surely noticed how much he's filled out in the last six months."

"Yes," Allie said. Indeed I have.

May 22, 1634

"Happy birthday." Allie's mother handed her a small package wrapped in brown paper. "It's not much," she apologized, "the insulin is so expensive."

"Oh, Momma," Allie was overwhelmed. The reminder that they had been paying for her and Hugo's insulin made her feel deeply obliged. "You didn't have to."