JANA AND LACEY sat among dozens of people in the waiting room - others could not find seats so they left their names at reception and waited out in the hall. All these people have lung cancer? Lacey looked around to gauge the state of health of those surrounding her. None looked as if they were at death's door, which she found reassuring.

"Are you sure you want me to come in with you?" asked Jana.

"Yes, please, dear. I'm afraid I might not remember everything the doctor says."

A nurse opened a door and called "Edmonds".

"Here we go," said Jana. She followed Lacey into the examining room.

"Hi, I'm Carol, and I'll be your nurse for your treatment period. If you have any questions you can page me at 9421. I'll call you back quickly. Now we'll check your weight and you can get into a gown. Tie it at the back." Lacey stepped onto the scale. "Forty seven point seven three kilograms. That's one hundred and five pounds. Most people want to know that.

Okay. Any questions now?"

"No." said Lacey. She was quiet and subdued. She put on the gown and sat on a chair. Jana settled beside her. Almost immediately the door opened and a doctor entered.

WHEN SCOTT saw the two women he hesitated, nonplussed. In all the hundreds of times I've opened this door and looked at new patients, I've never seen any like this. Lacey and Jana, sitting side-by-side, looked up at him, each with their heads at the same slight tilt. Their resemblance was startling, from the smooth black hair framing their oval faces, to the luminous pale skin, and the dark, wideset eyes, pleasing noses and full lips. Extraordinarily beautiful, he thought. He took a breath to recover his aplomb.