She could not be sure about the time required for her post-op recuperation, only that there had been lengthy periods of unconsciousness and a great many visits from Chief Psychologist O'Mara and Diagnosticians Thornnastor and Conway. The DBLF nurse assigned to her made caustic comments about the special attention she was receiving from the hospital's hierarchy, the quantity of food she was moving for a supposedly sick patient, and about a newly arrived Nidian trainee whose furry little head had been turned by Cresk-Sar of all people. But when she tried to discuss her own case it was obvious from the Kelgian nurse's agitated fur that that was a forbidden subject.
It did not matter because, by accident or design, the medication she was receiving had the effect of making her feel as if her mind was some kind of dirigible airship, moving at her direction but detached and floating free of all mundane problems. It was, she realized, a very comfortable but suggestible state.
During one of its later visits, O'Mara had suggested that, regardless of her reasons for acting as she had, she had discharged her particularly strict professional obligations, so that no further action was required on her part. The limb had been completely severed and removed from the torso. The fact that Conway and Thornnastor had together performed some very fancy microsurgery to reattach it, with no loss of function or feeling, was a piece of good fortune that she should accept gratefully and without guilt.
It had taken a long time to convince the wizard that she had already arrived at the same conclusion, and that she was grateful, not only for her good fortune, but to Diagnosticians Conway and Thornnastor for giving her back the limb. The only part of the incident that continued to puzzle her, she had told O'Mara, was the adverse reaction of everyone to the noble and praiseworthy thingshe had done.
O'Mara had seemed to relax then, and it had proceeded with a long, devious spell that involved subjects which Cha Thrat had considered too personal and sensitive to be discussed with a fellow Sommaradvan, much less a stranger. Perhaps it was the medication that reduced her feelings of shock and outrage, and made the suggestions of the wizard seem worthy of consideration rather than outright rejection.
One of its suggestions had been that, when viewed nonsubjectively, the action she had taken had been neither noble nor praiseworthy, but a little bit silly. By the end of that visit she almost agreed with it, and suddenly she was allowed visitors.
Tarsedth and the Hudlar trainee were the first callers. The Kelgian came bustling forward to ask how she was feeling and to examine her scars, while the FROB remained standing in silence just inside the entrance. ChaThrat wondered if there was anything bothering it, forgetting for the moment that her medication frequently caused her to vocalize her thoughts.
Nothing, said Tarsedth. Just ignore the big softie. When I arrived it was outside the door, don't know for how long, afraid that the mere sight of another Hudlar would give you some kind of emotional relapse. In spite of all that muscle, Hudlars are sensitive souls. According to what O'Mara told Cresk-Sar, you are unlikely to do anything sudden or melodramatic. You are neither mentally unbalanced nor emotionally disturbed. Its exact words were that you were normally crazy but not certifi-ably mad, which is the condition of quite a few people who work in this place.”
It turned suddenly to regard the FROB, then went on. Come closer! It is in bed, with a limb and most of its body immobilized, it has been blasted into low orbit with tranquilizers, and it isn't likely to bite you!”
The Hudlar came forward and said shyly, We all, everyone who was there, wish you well. That includes Patient Eleven Thirty-two, who is pain-free now and making good progress. And Charge Nurse Segroth whose good wishes were, ah, more perfunctory. Will you recover the full use of the limb?”
Don't be stupid, Tarsedth broke in. With two Diagnosticians on the case it doesn't dare not make a complete recovery. To Cha Thrat it went on. But so much has been happening to you recently that I can't keep up. Is it true that you ticked off the Chief Psychologist in front of everybody in the Chalder ward, called it some kind of witch-doctor, and reminded it of its professional duty toward Patient AUGL-One Sixteen? According to the stories going around—”
It wasn't quite as bad as that, Cha Thrat said.
It never is, the DBLF said, its fur subsiding in dis-appointment. But the business during the FROB demonstration, now. You can't deny or diminish what happened there.”
Perhaps, the Hudlar quietly said, it would rather not talk about that.”
Why not? Tarsedth asked. Everyone else is talking about it.”
Cha Thrat was silent for a moment as she looked up at the head and shoulders of the Kelgian projecting like a silver-furred cone over one side of her bed and the enormous body of the Hudlar looming over the other. She tried to make her unnaturally fuzzy mind concentrate on what she wanted to say.
I would prefer to talk about all the lectures I've missed, she said finally. Was there anything especially interesting or important? And would you ask Cresk-Sar if I could have a remote control for the viewscreen, so I can tune in to the teaching channels? Tell it that I have nothing to do here and I would like to continue with my studies as soon as possible.”
Friend, Tarsedth said, its fur rising into angry spikes, I think you would be wasting your time.”
For the first time she wished that her Kelgian classmate was capable of something less than complete honesty. She had been expecting to hear something like this, but the bad news could have been broken more gently.
What our forthright friend should have told you, the Hudlar said, is that we inquired about your exact status from Senior Physician Cresk-Sar, who would not give us a firm answer. It said that you were guilty not so much of contravening hospital rules but of breaking rules that nobody had dreamed of writing. The decision on what to do with you has been referred up, it said, and you could expect a visit from O'Mara quite soon.
When asked if we could bring you lecture material, it ended apologetically, Cresk-Sar said no.”
It did not make any difference how it was broken, she thought after they had gone, the news was equally bad. But the sudden, raucous sound of her bedside communicator kept her from dwelling for too long on her troubles.
It was Patient AUGL-One Sixteen who, with Charge Nurse Hredlichi's cooperation, was shouting into one of the Nurses' Station communicators from the entrance to the Chalder ward. It began by apologizing for the physiological and environmental problems that kept it from visiting her in person, then told her how much it was missing her visits—the Earth-human wizard O'Mara, it said, lacked her sympathetic manner and charm—and it hoped she was recovering with no physical or mental distress.
Everything is fine, she lied. It was not a good thing to burden a patient with its medic's troubles, even when the medic was temporarily a patient. How are you?”
Very well, thank you, the Chalder replied, sounding enthusiastic in spite of the fact that its words were reaching her through two communicators, a translator, and a considerable quantity of water. O'Mara says that I can leave and rejoin my family very soon, and can start contacting the space administration on Chalder about my old job. I'm still young for a Chalder, you know, and I do really feel well.”
I'm very happy for you, One Sixteen, Cha Thrat said, deliberately omitting its name because others might be listening who were not entitled to use it. She was surprised by the strength of her feelings toward the creature.
I've heard the nurses talking, the Chalder went on, and it seems like you are in serious trouble. I hope all goes well for you, but if not, and you have to leave thehospital... Well, you are so far from Sommaradva out here that if you felt like seeing another world on your way home, my people would be pleased to have you for as long as you liked to stay. We're pretty well advanced on Chalderescol and your food synthesis and life-support would be no problem.
It's a beautiful world, it added, much, much nicer than the Chalder ward...”
When the Chalder eventually broke contact, she settled back into the pillows, feeling tired but not depressed or unhappy, thinking about the ocean world of Chalderescol. Before joining the AUGL ward she had studied the library tape on that world with the idea of being able to talk about home to the patients, so she was not completely unfamiliar with the planet. The thought of living there was exciting, and she knew that, as an off-planet person entitled to call Muromeshomon by name, its family and friends would make her welcome however long or short her stay. But thoughts like that were uncomfortable because they presupposed that she would be leaving the hospital.
Instead she wondered how the normally shy and gentle Chalder had been able to prevail upon the acid-tongued Hredlichli to use the Nurses' Station communicator as it had done. Could it have forced cooperation by threatening to wreck the place again? Or, more likely, had the Chalder's call to her been supported, perhaps even suggested, by O'Mara?That, too, was an uncomfortable thought, but it did not keep her awake. The continuing spell of the Earth-human wizard or the medication it had prescribed, or both, were still having their insidious effect.
During the days that followed she was visited singly and, where physiological considerations permitted, in small groups by her classmates. Cresk-Sar came twicebut, like all the other visitors, the tutor would not talk about medical matters at all. Then one day O'Mara and Diagnostician Conway arrived together and would discuss nothing else.
Good morning, Cha Thrat, how are you feeling? the Diagnostician began, as she knew it would.
Very well, thank you, she replied, as it knew she would. After that she was subjected to the most meticulously thorough physical examination she had ever experienced.
You've probably realized by now that all of this wasn't strictly necessary, Conway said as it replaced the sheet that had been covering her body. However, it was my first opportunity to have a really close look at the DCNF physiological classification as a whole, as opposed to one of the limbs. Thank you, it was interesting and most instructive.
But now that you are completely recovered, it went on, with a quick glance toward O'Mara, and will require only a course of exercises before you would be fit for duty, what are we going to do with you?”
She suspected that it was a rhetorical question, but she badly wanted to reply to it. Anxiously she said, There have been mistakes, misunderstandings. They will not occur again. I would like to remain in the hospital and continue my training.”
No! Conway said sharply. In a quieter voice it went on. You are a fine surgeon, Cha Thrat—potentially a great one. Losing you would be a shameful waste of talent. But keeping you on the medical staff, with your peculiar ideas of what constitutes ethical behavior, is out of the question. There isn't a ward in the hospital that would accept you for practical training now. Segroth took you only because O'Mara and I requested it.
I like to make my surgery lectures as interesting andexciting as possible for the trainees, Conway added, but there are limits, dammit!”
Before either of them could say the words that would send her from the hospital, Cha Thrat said quickly, What if something could be done that would guarantee my future good behavior? One of my early lectures was on the Educator tape system of teaching alien physiology and medicine that, in effect, gives the recipient an other-species viewpoint. If I could be given such a tape, one with a more acceptable, to you, code of professional behavior, then I would be sure to stay out of trouble.”
She waited anxiously, but the two Earth-humans were looking at each other in silence, ignoring her.
Without the Educator or physiology tape system, she had learned, a multispecies hospital like Sector General could not have existed. No single brain, regardless of species, could hold the enormous quantity of physiological knowledge required to successfully treat the variety of patients the hospital received. But complete physiological data on any patient's species was available by means of an Educator tape, which was simply the brain record of some great medical mind belonging to the same or a similar species as the patient to be treated.
A being taking such a tape had to share its mind with a completely alien personality. Subjectively, that was exactly how it felt; all of the memories and experiences and personality traits of the being who had donated the tape were impressed on the receiving mind, not just selected pieces of medical data. An Educator tape could not be edited and the degree of confusion, emotional disorienta-tion, and personality dislocation caused to a recipient could not be adequately described even by the Senior Physicians and Diagnosticians who experienced it.
The Diagnosticians were the hospital's highest medical rulers, beings whose minds were both adaptable andC.B.E.----6stable enough to retain permanently up to ten physiology tapes at one time. To their data-crammed minds was given the job of original research into xenological medicine and the treatment of new diseases in newly discovered life-forms.
But Cha Thrat was not interested in subjecting herself voluntarily, as had the Diagnosticians, to a multiplicity of alien ideas and influences. She had heard it said among the staff that any person sane enough to'be a Diagnostician had to be mad, and she could well believe it. Her idea represented a much less drastic solution to the problem.
If I had an Earth-human, a Kelgian, even a Nidian personality sharing my mind, she persisted, I would understand why the things I sometimes do are considered wrong, and would be able to avoid doing them. The other-species material would be used for interpersonal behavioral guidance only. As a trainee I would not try to use its medical or surgical knowledge on my patients without permission.”
The Diagnostician was suddenly overcome by an attack of coughing. When it recovered it said, Thank you, Cha Thrat. I'm sure the patients would thank you, too. But it's impossible to... O'Mara, this is your field. You answer it.”
The Chief Psychologist moved close to the bedside and looked down at her. It said, Hospital regulations do not allow me to do as you ask, nor would I do so if I could. Even though you are an unusually strong and stubborn personality, you would find it very difficult to control the other occupant of your mind. It isn't an alien entity fighting for control, but because the type of leading medical specialist who donates the tapes is frequently a very strong-minded and aggressive person used to getting its own way, it would feel as if it is takingcontrol. The ensuing purely subjective conflict could give rise to episodes of pain, skin eruptions, and more troublesome organic malfunctionings. All have a psychosomatic basis, of course, but they will hurt you just as much as the real thing. The risk of permanent mental damage is great and, until a trainee has learned to understand the external personalities of the beings around it, it would not receive one of their Educator tapes.
In your case there is an additional reason, O'Mara added. You are a female.”
Sommaradvan prejudices, she thought furiously, evenhere in Sector General! and made a sound that at homewould have resulted in an immediate and probably vio-* lent breakdown in communication. Fortunately, thesound did not translate.
The conclusion you have just jumped to is wrong, O'Mara went on. It is simply that the females of all the two-sexed species yet discovered have evolved with certain peculiarities, as opposed to abnormalities, of mind. One of them is a deeply rooted, sex-based fastidiousness and aversion toward anything or anyone entering or trying to possess their minds. The only exception is in the situation when life-mating has taken place, where, in many species, the processes of physical and mental sharing and the feelings of possession complement each other. But I can't imagine you falling in love with an other-species mind impression.”
Do male entities, Cha Thrat asked, both satisfied and intrigued by the explanation, receive mind recordings from other-species females, then? Could / be given a female tape?”
There is only one'recorded instance of that... O'Mara began.
Let's not go into that, Conway broke in, its face becoming a darker shade of pink. I'm sorry, Cha Thrat,you cannot be given an Educator tape, now or ever. O'Mara has explained why, just as he has explained the political circumstances of your arrival here and the delicate state of the cultural contact on Sommaradva that would be jeopardized if we simply dismissed you from the hospital. Wouldn't it be better for all concerned if you left of your own free will?”
Cha Thrat was silent for a moment, her eyes turned toward the limb that she had thought would be lost forever, trying to find the right words. Then she said, You don't owe me anything for my work on ship ruler Chiang. I have already explained, during my first meeting with the Chief Psychologist, that the delay in attending to its injuries was caused by my not wanting to lose a limb because if, as a result of my decision to perform the operation it lost a limb, then so would I. As a warrior-surgeon I cannot escape a responsibility willingly accepted.
And now, she went on, if I were to leave the hospital as you suggest, it would not be of my own free will. I cannot do, or leave undone, something that I know to be wrong.”
The Diagnostician was also looking at the replaced limb. I believe you, it said.
O'Mara exhaled slowly and half turned to leave. It said, I'm very sorry I didn't pick up on that 'losing a limb' remark you made at our first meeting; it would have saved us all a lot of trouble. Against my better judgment I relented after the AUGL-One Sixteen business, but the bloody drama during the FROB demonstration was too much. The remainder of your stay here will not be very pleasant because, in spite of the earlier recommendations you've had from Diagnostician Conwayand myself, nobody wants you anywhere near their patients.
Let's face it, Cha Thrat, it ended as both Earth-humans moved toward the door, you're in the doghouse.”
She heard them talking with a third person in the corridor, but the words were too muffled for translation. Then the door opened and another Earth-human entered. It was wearing the dark-green uniform of the Monitor Corps and looked familiar.
Cheerfully it said, I've been waiting outside in case they couldn't talk you into leaving, and O'Mara was pretty sure they wouldn't. I'm Timmins, in case you don't remember me. We have to have a long talk.
And before you ask, it went on, the doghouse, so far as you're concerned, is the Maintenance Department.”
It was obvious from the beginning that Lieutenant Timmins did not consider its job to be either servile or menial, and it was not long before the Lieutenant had her beginning to feel the same way. It wasn't just the Earth-human's quiet enthusiasm for its job, there was also the portable viewer and set of study tapes it had left at her bedside that convinced her that this was work forIwarriors—although not, of course, for warrior-surgeons. The wide-ranging and complex problems of providing technical and environmental support for the sixty-odd— some of them very odd indeed—life-forms comprising the hospital's patients and staff made her earlier medical and physiological studies seem easy by comparison.
Her last formal contact with the training program was when Cresk-Sar arrived, carried out a brief but thorough examination, and, subject to the findings of the eye specialist, Doctor Yeppha, who would be visiting her shortly, pronounced her physically fit to begin the new duties. She asked if there would be any objection to her continuing to view the medical teaching channels in her free time, and the Senior Physician told her that she could watch whatever she pleased in her spare time, but it was unlikely that she would ever be able to put any of the medical knowledge gained into practice.
It ended by saying that while it was relieved that she was no longer the Training Department's responsibility, it was sorry to lose her and that it joined her erstwhile colleagues in wishing her success and personal satisfaction in the new work she had chosen.
Doctor Yeppha was a new life-form to her experience, a small, tripedal, fragile being that she classified as DRVJ. From the furry dome of its head there sprouted, singly and in small clusters, at least twenty eyes. She wondered whether the overabundance of visual sensors had any bearing on its choice of specialty, but thought it better not to ask.
Good morning, Cha Thrat, it said, taking a tape from the pouch at its waist and pushing it into the viewer. This is a visual acuity test designed primarily to check for color blindness. We don't care if you have muscles like a Hudlar or a Cinrusskin, there are ma-cniiies lu uu me icaiiy ncavy worn., oui you nave 10 oe able to see. Not only that, you must be able to clearly identify colors and the subtle shades and dilution of color brought about by changes in the intensity of the ambient lighting. What do you see there?”
A circle made up of red spots, Cha Thrat replied, enclosing a star of green and blue spots.”
Good, Yeppha said. I am making this sound much simpler than it really is, but you will learn the complexities in time. The service bays and interconnecting tunnels are filled with cable looms and plumbing all of which is color coded. This enables the maintenance people to tell at a glance which are power cables and which the , less dangerous communication lines, or which pipes carry oxygen, chlorine, methane, or organic effluvia. The danger of contamination of wards by other-species atmospheres is always present, and such an environmental catastrophe should not be allowed to occur because some partially sighted nincompoop has connected up the wrong set of pipes. What do you see now?”
And so it went on, with Yeppha putting designs in subtly graduated colors on the screen and Cha Thrat telling it what she saw or did not see. Finally the DRVJ turned off the viewer and replaced the tape in its pouch.
You don't have as many eyes as I do, it said, but they all work. There is no bar, therefore, to you joining the Maintenance Department. My sincere commiserations. Good luck!”
The first three days were to be devoted exclusively to unsupervised lessons in internal navigation. Timmins explained that whenever or wherever an emergency occurred, or even if a minor fault was reported, the maintenance people were expected to be at the site of the trouble with minimum delay. Because they wouldnormally be carrying tools or replacement parts with them on a self-powered trolley, they were forbidden the use of the main hospital corridors, except in the direst of emergencies—staff and patient traffic there was congested enough as it was without risking a vehicular thrombosis. She was therefore expected to find her way from A to B, with diversions through H, P, and W, without leaving the service bays and tunnels or asking directions of anyone she might meet.
Neither was she allowed to make an illegal check on her position by emerging into the main corridor system to go to lunch.
Wearing the lightweight protective envelope will probably be unnecessary, Timmins said as he lifted the grating in the floor just outside her room, but maintenance people always wear them in case they have to pass through an area where there may be a nonurgent seepage of own-species toxic gas. You have sensors to warn you of the presence of all toxic contaminants, including radiation, a lamp in case one of the tunnels has a lighting failure, a map with your route clearly shown, a distress beacon in case you become hopelessly lost or some other personal emergency occurs, and, if I may say so, more than enough food to keep you alive for a week much less a day!
Don't worry and don't try to hurry, Cha ThraC' it went on. Look on this as a long, leisurely walk through unexplored territory, with frequent breaks for a picnic. I'll see you outside Access Hatch Twelve in Corridor Seven on Level One Twenty in fifteen hours, or less.”
It laughed suddenly and added, Or possibly more.”
The service tunnels were very well lit, but low and narrow—at least so far as the Sommaradvan life-form was concerned—with alcoves set at frequent intervalsalong their length. The alcoves were puzzling in that they were empty of cable runs, pipes, or any form of mechanisms, but she discovered their purpose when a Kelgian driving a powered trolley came charging along the tunnel toward her and yelled, Move aside, stupid!”
Apart from that encounter she seemed to have the tunnel to herself, and she was able to move much more easily than she had ever been able to do in the main corridor whose floor was now above her head. Through the ventilator grilles she could clearly hear the sounds of thumping and tapping and slithering of other-species ambulatory appendages overhead, and the indescribable babbie of growling, hissing, gobbling, and cheeping conversation that accompanied it.
She moved forward steadily, careful not to be surprised by another fast-moving vehicle as she consulted her map, and occasionally stopped to dictate notes describing the size, diameter, and color codings on the protective casings of the mechanisms and connecting pipes and cable runs that covered the tunnel walls and roof. The notes, Timmins had told her, would enable it to check her progress during the test, as well as give her an important check on her general location.
The power and communication lines would look the same anywhere in the hospital, but most of the plumbing here bore the color codings for water and the atmospheric mixture favored by the warm-blooded, oxygen-breathing life-forms that made up more than half of the Federation's member species. Under the levels where they breathed chlorine, methane, or super-heated steam the colors would be much different and so would be her protective clothing.
A mechanism that did not appear to be working caught her attention. Through its transparent cover shecould see a group of unlit indicators and a serial number that probably meant something to the entities who had built the thing, but to nobody else who was not familiar with their written language. She located and pressed the plate of the audible label and switched on her translator.
I am a standby pump on the drinking water supply line to the DBLF ward Eighty-three diet kitchen, it announced. Functioning is automatic when required, currently inoperative. The hinged inspection panel is opened by inserting your general-purpose key into the slot marked with a red circle and turning right through ninety degrees. For component repair or replacement consult Maintenance Instructions Tape Three, Section One Twenty. Don't forget to close the panel again before you leave.
I am a standby pump... it was beginning again when she took her hand away, silencing it.
At first she had been worried by the thought of traveling continuously along the low, narrow service tunnels, even though O'Mara had assured Timmins that her psych profile was free of any tendency toward claustrophobia. All of the tunnels were brightly lit and, she had been told, they remained so even if they were unoccupied for long periods. On Sommaradva this would have been considered a criminal waste of power. But in Sector General the additional demand on the main reactor for continuous lighting was negligible, and was more than outweighed by the maintenance problem that would have been posed if fallible on-off switches had been installed at every tunnel intersection.
Gradually her route took her away from the corridors and the alien cacophony of the people using them, and she felt more completely and utterly alone than she had believed it possible to feel.
The absence of outside sounds made the subduedhumming and clicking of the power and pumping systems around her appear to grow louder and more threatening, and she took to pressing the audible labels at random, just to hear another voice—even though it was simply a machine identifying itself and its often mystifying purpose.
Occasionally she found herself thanking the machine for the information.
The color codings had begun to change from the oxygen-nitrogen and water markings to those for chlorine and the corrosive liquid that the Illensan PVSJ metabolism used as a working fluid, and the corridors were shorter with many more twists and turns. Before her confusion could grow into panic, she decided to make herself as comfortable as possible in an alcove, substantially reduce the quantity of food she was carrying, and think.
According to her map she was passing from the PVSJ section downward through one of the synthesizer facilities that produced the food required by the chlorine-breathers and into the section devoted to the supply of the AUGL water-breathers. That explained the seemingly contradictory markings and the square-sectioned conduits that made hissing, rumbling noises as the solid, prepackaged PVSJ food was being moved pneumatically along them. However, a large corner of the AUGL section had been converted to a PVSJ operating room and post-op observation ward, and this was joined to the main chlorine section by an ascending spiral corridor containing moving ramps for the rapid transfer of staff and patients, since the PVSJs were not physiologically suited to the use of stairs. The twists and turns of the service tunnel were necessary to get around these topo-logically complex obstructions. But if she got safely past this complicated interpenetration of the water- andchlorine-breathing sections, the journey should be much simpler.
There was no shortage of vocal company. Warning labels, which spoke whether she pressed them or not, advised her to check constantly for cross-species contamination.
Provision had been made to take food without unsealing her protective suit, but her sensors showed the area clear of toxic material in dangerous quantities, so she opened her visor. The smell was an indescribable combination of every sharp, acrid, heavy, unpleasant, and even pleasant smell that she had ever encountered but, fortunately, only in trace quantities. She ate her food, quickly closed the visor, and moved on with increased confidence.
Three long, straight sections of corridor later she realized that her confidence had been misplaced.
According to her estimates of the distances and directions she had traveled, Cha Thrat should be somewhere between the Hudlar and Tralthan levels. The tunnel walls should have been carrying the thick, heavily insulated power cables for the FROBs' artificial gravity grids and at least one distinctively marked pipe to supply their nutrient sprayers, as well as the air, water, and return waste conduits required by the warm-blooded, oxygen-breathing FGLIs. But the cable runs bore color combinations that should not have been there, and the only atmosphere line visible was the small-diameterpipe supplying air to the tunnel itself. Irritated with herself, she pressed the nearest audible label.
I am an automatic self-monitoring control unit for synthesizer process One Twelve B, it said importantly. Press blue stud and access panel will move aside. Warning. Only the container and audible label are reus-able. If faulty, components must be replaced and not repaired. Not to be opened by MSVK, LSVO, or other species with low radiation tolerance unless special protective measures are taken.”
She had no desire to open the cabinet, even though her radiation monitor was indicating that the area was safe for her particular life-form. At the next alcove she had another look at her map and list of color codings.
Somehow she had wandered into one of the sections that were inhabited only by automatic machinery. The map indicated fifteen such areas within the main hospital complex, and none of them was anywhere near her , planned route. Plainly she had taken a wrong turning, perhaps a series of wrong turnings, soon after leaving the spiral tunnel connecting the PVSJ ward with its new operating room.
She moved on again, watching the tunnel walls and roof in the hope that the next change in the color codings would give her a clue to where she might be. She also cursed her own stupidity aloud and touched every label she passed, but soon decided that both activities were nonproductive. It was a wise decision because, at the next tunnel intersection, she heard distant voices.
Timmins had told her not to speak to anyone or to enter any of the public corridors. But, she reasoned, if she was already hopelessly off-course then there was nothing to stop her taking the side tunnel and moving toward the sound. Perhaps by listening at one of the corridor ventilating grilles she might overhear a conversation that would give her a clue to her present whereabouts.
The thought made Cha Thrat feel ashamed but, compared with some of the things she had been forced tothink about recently, it was a small, personal dishonor that she thought she could live with.
There were lengthy breaks in the conversation. At first the voices were too quiet and distant for her translator to catch what was being said, and when she came closer the people concerned were indulging in one of their lengthy silences. The result was that when she came to the next intersection, she saw them before there was another chance to overhear them.
They were a Kelgian DBLF and an Earth-human DBDG, dressed in Maintenance coveralls with the additional insignia of Monitor Corps rank. There were tools and dismantled sections of piping on the floor between them and, after glancing up at her briefly, they went on talking to each other.
I wondered what was coming at us along the corridor, the Kelgian said, and making more noise than a drunken Tralthan. It must be the new DCNF we were told about, on its first day underground. We mustn't talk to it, not that I'd want to, anyway. Strange-looking creature, isn't it?”
I wouldn't dream of talking to it, or vice versa, the DBDG replied. Pass me the Number Eleven gripper and hold your end steady. Do you think it knows where it's going?”
The Kelgian's conical head turned briefly in the direction Cha Thrat was headed, and it said, Not unless it was feeling that the tunnel walls were closing in on itv and it wanted to treat threatened claustrophobia with a* jolt of agoraphobia by walking on the outer hull. This, is no job for a Corps senior non-com shortly, if what the Major says is true, to be promoted Lieutenant.”
This is no job for anybody, so don't worry about it, the Earth-human said. It turned to look pointedly along,the corridor to the left. On the other hand, it could be contemplating a visit to the VTXM section. Stupid in a lightweight suit, of course, but maintenance trainees have to be stupid or they'd try for some other job.”
The Kelgian made an angry sound that did not translate, then said, Why is it that nowhere in the vast immensity of explored space have we discovered yet a single life-form whose body wastes smell nice?”
My furry friend, the Earth-human said, I think you may have touched upon one of the great philosophical truths. And on the subject of inexplicable phenomena, how could a Melfan Size Three dilator get into their waste-disposal system and travel through four levels before it gummed up the works down here?”
She could see the Kelgian's fur rippling under its coveralls as it said, Do you think that DCNF is stupid? Is it going to stand there watching us all day? Is it intending to follow us home?”
From what I've heard about Sommaradvans, the DBDG replied, still not looking directly at her, I'd say it wasn't so much stupid as a bit slow-witted.”
Definitely slow-witted, the Keigian agreed.
But Cha Thrat had already realized that, cloaked though they were by statements that were derogatory and personally insulting, the overheard conversation had contained three accurate points of reference which would easily enable her to establish her position and return to the planned route. She regarded the two maintenance people for a moment, sorry that she was forbidden to speak to them as they were to her. Quickly she made the formal sign of thanks between equals, then turned away to move in the only direction the two beings had nor discussed.
I think, the Kelgian said, it made a rude gesture with its forward medial limb,”
In its place, the Earth-human replied, I'd have done the same.”
During the remainder of that interminable journey she double-checked every change of direction and kept watch for any unexpected alterations in color codings on the way to Level One Twenty, and paused only once to make another large dent in her food store. When she opened Access Hatch Twelve and climbed into Corridor Seven, Timmins was already there.
Well done, Cha Thrat, you made it, the Earth-human said, showing its teeth. Next time I'd better make the trip a little longer, and a lot more complicated. After that I'll let you help out with a few simple jobs. You may as well start earning your keep.”
Feeling pleased and a little confused, she said, I thought I arrived early. Have I kept you waiting long?”
Timmins shook its head. Your distress beacon was for your own personal reassurance in case yoir felt lost or frightened. It was part of the test. But we keep permanent tracers on our people at all times, so I was aware of every move you made. Devious, aren't I? But you passed very close to a maintenance team at one stage. I hope you didn't ask them for directions. You know the rule.”
Cha Thrat wondered if there was any rule in Sector General so inflexible that it could not be bent out of shape, and she hoped that the outer signs of her embarrassment could not be read by a member of another species.
No, she replied truthfully, we didn't speak to eachother”
In the event, she was not given a job until Timmins had shown her the full range and complexity of the work that, one day, she might be capable of taking on. It was obvious that the Earth-human was quietly but intensely proud of its Maintenance Department and, with good reason, was showing off while trying to instill a little of its own pride in her. True, much of the work was servile, but there were aspects of it that called for the qualities of a warrior or even a minor ruler. Unlike the rigid stratification of labor practiced on Sommaradva, however, in the Maintenance Department advancement toward the higher levels was encouraged.
Timmins was doing an awful lot of encouraging, and seemed to be spending an unusually large proportion of its time showing her around.
With respect, she said after one particularly interesting tour of the low-temperature methane levels, your rank and obvious ability suggest that you have more important uses for your time than spending it with me, your most recent and, I suspect, most technically ignorant maintenance trainee. Why am I given this special treatment?”
Timmins laughed quietly and said, You mustn't think that I'm neglecting more important work to be with you, Cha Thrat. If I'm needed I can be contacted without delay. But that is unlikely to happen because my subordinates try very hard to make me feel redundant.
You should find the next section particularly interesting, it went on. It is the VTXM ward, which, strange as it may seem, forms part of the main reactor. You know from your medical lectures that the Telfi are a gestalt life-form who live by the direct absorption of hard radiation, so that all patient examination and treatment is by remote-controlled sensors and manipulators. To be assigned to maintenance in this area you would need special training in—”
Special training, Cha Thrat broke in, beginning to lose her patience, means special treatment. I have already asked this question. Am I being given special treatment?”
Yes, the Earth-human said sharply. It waited while a refrigerated vehicle containing one of the frigid-blooded SNLU methane-breathers rolled past, then went on. Of course you are being given special treatment.”
Why?”
Timmins did not reply.
Why do you not answer this simple question? she persisted.
Because, the Earth-human said, its face deepening in color, your question does not have a simple answer, and I'm not sure if I am the right person to give it to you, since I might also give offense, cause you mental pain, insult you, or make you angry.”
Cha Thrat walked in silence for a moment, then said, I think that your consideration for my feelings makes you the right person. And a subordinate who has acted wrongly may indeed feel mental pain or anger or intense self-dislike but surely, if the superior speaks justly, no offense can be taken nor insult given.”
The Earth-human shook its head in a gesture, she had learned, that could mean either negation or puzzlement. It said, There are times, Cha Thrat, when you make me feel like the subordinate. But what the hell, I'll try to answer. You are being accorded special treatment because of the wrong we did to you and the mental discomfort we have caused, and there are several important people who feel obligated to do something about it.”
But surely, she said incredulously, I am the one who has behaved wrongly.”
That you have, Timmins said, but as a direct result of us wronging you first. The Monitor Corps are responsible for allowing, no, encouraging you to come here in the first place, and waiving the entry requirements. The wrongdoing that followed this combination of misguided gratitude for saving Chiang's life and sheer political opportunism was the inevitable result.”
But I wanted to come, Cha Thrat protested, and I still want to stay.”
To punish yourself for recent misdeeds? Timmins asked quietly. I've been trying to convince you that we are originally to blame for those.”
I am not mentally or morally warped, she replied, trying to control her anger at what, on her home world, would have been a grave insult. I accept just punishment, but I would not seek to inflict it on myself. There are some very disquieting and unpleasant aspects to life here, but in no level of Sommaradvan society could I be subject to such a variety and intensity of experience. That is why I would like to stay.”
The Earth-human was silent for a moment, then it said, Conway, O'Mara, and Cresk-Sar among others, even Hredlichli, were sure that your reasons for wanting to stay here were positive rather than negative and thatthere was little chance of my getting you to agree to a return home...”
It broke off as Cha Thrat stopped dead in the corridor. Angrily she said, Have you been discussing with all these people my deeds and misdeeds, my competence or incompetence, perhaps my future prospects, without inviting me to be present?”
Move, you're causing a traffic problem, Timmins said. And there is no reason for anger. Since that business during the Hudlar demo there isn't a single being in the hospital who has not talked about your deeds, misdeeds, competence, or lack thereof, and your highly questionable future prospects in the hospital. Having you present at ail those discussions was not possible. But if you want to know what was said about you in great and interminable detail—the serious discussions, that is, as opposed to mere hospital gossip—I believe O'Mara has added the recordings to your psych file and might play them back to you on request. Or again, he might not.
Alternatively, it went on when they were moving again, you may wish me to give you a brief summary of these discussions, inaccurate in that the excess verbiage and the more impolite and colorful phraseology will be deleted.”
That, Cha Thrat said, is what I wish. Very well, it replied. Let me begin by saying that the Monitor Corps personnel and all of the senior medical staff members involved are responsible for this situation. During the initial interview with O'Mara you mentioned that the lengthy delay in your decision to treat Chiang was that you did not want to lose a limb. O'Mara assumed, wrongly, that you were referring only to Chiang's limb, and he thinks that in an other-species interview he should have been more alert to the exactmeaning of the words spoken, and that he is primarily responsible for your self-amputation.
Conway feels responsible, it went on, because he ordered you to perform the Hudlar limb removal without knowing anything about your very strict code of professional ethics. Cresk-Sar thinks it should have questioned you more closely on the same subject. Both of them believe that you would make a fine other-species surgeon if you could be deconditioned and reeducated. And Hred-lichli blames itself for ignoring the special friendship that developed between you and AUGL-One Sixteen. And, of course, the Monitor Corps, which is originally responsible for the problem, suggested a solution that would give the minimum displeasure to everyone.”
By transferring me to Maintenance, she finished for it.
That was never a serious suggestion, the Earth-human said, because we couldn't believe that you would accept it. No, we wanted to send you home.”
A small part of her mind was moving her body forward and around the heavier or more senior staff members, while the rest of it felt angry and bitterly disappointed in the life-form beside her that she had begun to think of as a friend.
Naturally, Timmins went on, we tried to take your feelings into account. You were interested in meeting and working with off-planet life-forms, so we would give you a cultural liaison position, as an advisor on Sommar-advan affairs, on our base there. Or on Descartes, our largest specialized other-species contact vessel, which will be orbiting your world until another new intelligent species is discovered somewhere. Your position would be one of considerable responsibility, and could not be influenced in any way by the people who dislike you on Sommaradva.
Naturally, nothing could be guaranteed at this stage, it continued. But subject to your satisfactory performance with us you would be allowed to choose between a permanent position with the Corps' Sommar-adva establishment as an interspecies cultural advisor or as a member of the contact team on Descartes. We tried to do what we thought was best for you, friend, and everyone else.”
You did, Cha Thrat said, feeling her anger and disappointment melting away. Thank you.”
We thought it was a reasonable compromise, Tim-mins said. But O'Mara said no. He insisted that you be given a maintenance job here in the hospital and have the Corps induction procedures attended to as quickly as possible.”
Why?”
I don't know why, it replied. Who knows how a Chief Psychologist's mind works?”
Why, she repeated, must I join your Monitor Corps?”
Oh, that, Timmins said. Purely for administrative convenience. The supply and maintenance of Sector General is our responsibility, and anyone who is not a patient or on the medical staff is automatically a member of the Monitor Corps. The personnel computer has to know your name, rank, and number so as to be able to pay your salary and so we can tell you what to do.
Theoretically, it added.
I have never disobeyed the lawful order of a superior. .. Cha Thrat began, when it held up its hand again.
A Corps joke, don't worry about it, Timmins said. The point I'm trying to make is that our Chief Psychologist bears the administrative rank of major, but it is difficult to define the limits of his authority in this place., because he orders full Colonels and Diagnosticiansaround, and not always politely. Your own rank of junior technician, Environmental Maintenance, Grade Two, which became effective as soon as we received O'Mara's instructions, will not give you as much leeway.”
Please, she said urgently, this is a serious matter. It is my understanding that the Monitor Corps is an organization of warriors. It has been many generations on Sommaradva since our warrior-level citizens fought together in battle. Peace and present-day technology offer danger enough. As a warrior-surgeon I am required to heal wounds, not inflict them.”
Seriously, the Earth-human said, I think your information on the Corps came chiefly from the entertainment channels. Space battles and hand-to-hand combat are an extremely rare occurrence, and the library tapes will give you a much truer, and more boring, description of what we do and why we do it. Study the material. You'll find that there will be no conflict of loyalty between your duties to the Corps, your home world, or your ethical standards.
We've arrived, it added briskly, pointing at the sign on the heavy door before them. From here on we'll need heavy radiation armor. Oh, you've another question?”
It's about my salary, she said hesitantly.
Timmins laughed and said, I do so hate these altruistic types who consider money unimportant. The pay at your present rank isn't large. Personnel will be able to tell you the equivalent in Sommaradvan currency, but then there isn't much to spend it on here. You can always save it and your leave allowance and travel. Perhaps visit your AUGL friend on Chalderescol sometime, or go to—”
There would be enough money for an interstellar trip like that? she broke in.
The Earth-human went into a paroxym of coughing, recovered, then said, There would not be enough money to pay for an interstellar trip. However, because of the isolated position of Sector General, free Corps transport is available for physiologically suitable hospital personnel to travel to their home planets or, with a bit of fiddling, to the planet of your choice. The money could be spent there, enjoying yourself. Now will you please get into that armor?”
Cha Thrat did not move and the Earth-human watched her without speaking.
Finally she said, I am being given special treatment, shown areas where I am not qualified to work and mechanisms that I can't hope to use for a very long time. No doubt this is being done as an incentive, to show me what is possible for me to achieve in the future. I understand and appreciate the thinking behind this, but I would much prefer to stop sightseeing and do some simple, and useful, work.”
Well, good for you! Timmins said, showing its teeth approvingly. We can't look directly at the Telfi anyway, so we aren't missing much. Suppose you begin by learning to drive a delivery sled. A small one, at first, so that an accident will damage you more than the hospital structure. And you'll have to really master your internal geography, and be able to navigate accurately and at speed through the service tunnel network. It seems to be a law of nature that when a ward or diet kitchen has to be resupplied, the requisition is always urgent and usually arrives late.
We'll head for the internal transport hangar now, it ended, unless you have another question?”
She had, but thought it better to wait until they were moving again before asking it.
What about the damage to the AUGL ward for whichI was indirectly responsible? she said. Will the cost be deducted from my salary?”
Timmins showed its teeth again and said, I'd say that it would take about three years to pay for the damage caused by your AUGL friend. But when the damage was done you were one of the medical trainee crazies, not a serious and responsible member of the Maintenance Department, so don't worry about it.”
She did not worry about it because, for the rest of the day, there were far more important things to worry about—principally the control and guidance of the uncontrollable and misguided, multiply accursed heap of machinery called an antigravity sled.
In operation the vehicle rode a repulsion cushion so that there was no contact with the deck, and changes in direction were effected by lowering friction pads, angling the thrusters, or, for fine control, leaning sideways. If emergency braking was necessary, the power was switched off. This caused the vehicle to drop to the deck and grind noisily to a halt. But this maneuver was discouraged because it made the driver very unpopular with the service crew who had to realign the repulsor grids.
By the end of the day her vehicle had slipped and spun all over the transport hangar floor, hit every collapsible marker that she was supposed to steer around, and generally displayed a high level of noncooperation. Timmins gave her a packet of study tapes, told her to look over them before next morning, and said that her driving was pretty good for a beginner.
Three days later she began to believe it.
I drove a sled with a trailer attached, both fully loaded, from Level Eighteen to Thirty-three, she told Tarsedth, when her one-time classmate visited her for the customary evening gossip. I did it Using only theservice tunnels, and without hitting anything or anybody.”
Should I be impressed? the Kelgian asked.
A little, Cha Thrat said, feeling more than a little deflated. What's been happening to you?”
Cresk-Sar transferred to me LSVO Surgical, Tar-sedth said, its fur rippling in an unreadable mixture of emotions. It said I was ready to broaden my other-species nursing experience, and working with a light-gravity life-form would improve my delicacy of touch. And anyway, it said, Charge Nurse Lentilatsar, the rotten, chlorine-breathing slimy slob, was not entirely happy with the way I exercised my initiative. What tape is that? It looks massively uninteresting.”
To the contrary, Cha Thrat said, touching the pause stud. The screen showed a picture of a group of Monitor Corps officers meeting the great Earth-human MacEwan and the equally legendary Orligian Grawlya-Ki, the true founders, it was said, of Sector General hospital. It's the history, organization, and present activities of the Monitor Corps. I find it very interesting, but ethically confusing. For example, why must a peace-keeping force be so heavily armed?”
Because, stupid, it couldn't if it wasn't, Tarsedth said. It went on quickly. But on the subject of the Monitor Corps I'm an expert. A lot of Kelgians join these days, and I was going to try for a position as Surgeon-Lieutenant, a ship's medic, that is, and might still do it if 1 don't qualify here.
Of course, it went on enthusiastically, there are other, nonmilitary, openings...”
As the Galactic Federation's executive and law-enforcement arm, the Monitor Corps was essentially a police force on an interstellar scale, but during the first century since it had come into existence it had becomemuch more. Originally, when the Federation naa comprised a rather unstable alliance of only four inhabited systems—Nidia, Orligia, Traltha, and Earth—its personnel had been exclusively Earth-human. But those Earth-humans were responsible for discovering other inhabited systems, and more and more intelligent life-forms, and for establishing friendly contact with them.
The result was that the Federation now numbered among its citizens close on seventy different species— the figure was constantly being revised upward—and the peace-keeping function had taken second place to that of the Survey, Exploration, and Other-species Communications activities. The people with the heavy weaponry did not mind because a police force, unlike an army, feels at its most effective when there is nothing for it to do but keep in training by carving up the odd mineral-rich asteroid for the mining people, or clearing and leveling large tracts of virgin land on a newly discovered world in preparation for the landing of colonists.
The last time a Monitor Corps police action had been indistinguishable from an act of war had been nearly two decades ago, when they had defended Sector General itself from the badly misguided Etlans, who had since become law-abiding citizens of the Federation. A few of them had even joined the Corps.
Nowadays membership is open to any species, Tarsedth continued, although for physiological reasons, life-support and accommodation problems on board the smaller ships, most of the space-going personnel are warm-blooded oxygen-breathers.
Like I said, the Kelgian went on, undulating forward and restarting the tape, there are lots of interesting openings for restless, adventurous, home-hating types like us. You could do worse than join.”
I have joined, Cha Thrat said. But driving a gravity sled isn't exactly adventurous.”
Tarsedth's fur spiked in surprise, then settled down again as it said, Of course you have. Stupid of me, I'd forgotten that all nonmedical staff are automatically coopted into the Monitor Corps. And I've seen how you people drive. Adventurous verging on the suicidal best describes it. But you made a good decision. Congratulations.”
The decision had been made for her, Cha Thrat thought wryly, but that did not mean that it was necessarily a wrong decision. They had settled back to watch the remainder of the Monitor Corps history tape when Tarsedth's fur became agitated again.
I'm worried about you and the Corps people, Cha Thrat, the Kelgian said suddenly. They can be a bit stuffy about some things, easy-going about others. Just study and work hard. And think carefully before you do anything that will get you kicked out.”
Time slipped past and Cha Thrat felt that she was making no progress at all, until one day she realized that she was performing as routine tasks that only a little earlier would have been impossible. Much of the work was servile but, strangely, she was becoming increasingly interested in it and felt proud when she did it well.
Sometimes the morning assignments contained unpleasant surprises.
Today you will begin moving power cells and other consumables to the ambulance ship Rhabwar, Timmins said, consulting its worksheet. But there is a small job I want you to do first—new vegetable decoration for the AUGL ward. Study the attachment instructions before you go so that the medics will think you know what you're doing... Is there a problem, Cha Thrat?”
There were other and more senior technicians in her section—three Kelgians, an Ian, and an Orligian—waiting for the day's assignments. She doubted her ability to take over one of their jobs, and hers was probably too elementary for the Lieutenant to consider swapping assignments, but she had to try.
Perhaps the Earth-human would accord her some of the earlier special treatment that, for some reason, had been completely absent since she had been put to work.
'There is a problem, Cha Thrat said quietly. The note of pleading in her voice was probably lost in the process of translation, she thought as she went on. As you know, I am not well liked by Charge Nurse Hred-. lichli, and my presence in the AUGL ward is likely tjb cause, at very least, verbal unpleasantness. The bad fe/al-ing for which I am largely responsible may fade in tim e, but right now I think that it would be better to seiud someone else.”
Timmins regarded her silently for a moment, then it smiled and said, Right now, Cha Thrat, I wouldn't want to send anyone else to the AUGL ward. Don't worry about it.
Krachlan, it went on briskly. You are for Level Eighty-three, another fault reported in the power converter at Station Fourteen B. We may have to replace the unit...”
All the way to the Chalder level, Cha Thrat seethed quietly as she wondered how such a stupid, insensitive, cross-species miscegenation as Timmins had risen to its high rank and responsibilities without sustaining mortal injury at the hands, claws, or tentacles of a subordinate. By the time she reached the AUGL ward and entered inconspicuously by the service tunnel lock, she had calmed sufficiently to remember a few, a very few, of Timmins's good qualities.
She was relieved when nobody came near her as she went to work. All of the patients and nursing staff seemed to be congregated at the other end of the ward and dimly, through the clouded green water, she could see the distinctive coveralls of a transfer team member. Plainly something of great interest was happening back there, which meant that with luck she would be able to complete her work undisturbed and unnoticed.
Seemingly it was not to be her lucky day.
It's you again, said the familiar, acid-tongued voice of Hredlichli, who had approached silently from behind her. How long will it take for you to finish hanging that vile stuff?”
J Most of the morning, Charge Nurse, Cha Thrat re-•plifed politely.
t She did not want to get into an argument with the chilorine-breather, and it seemed as if one were about to stiirt. She wondered if it was possible to forestall it by doing all the talking herself on a subject that Hredlichii could not argue about, the improved comfort of its patients.
The reason for it taking so long to install, Charge Nurse, she said quickly, is that this vegetation isn't the usual plastic reproduction. I've been told that it has just arrived from Chalderescol, that it is a native underwater plant-form, very hardy and requiring the minimum of at-tention, and that it releases a pleasant, waterborne aroma that is said to be psychologically beneficial to the recuperating patient.
Maintenance will periodically check its growth and genera! health, she went on before the chlorine-breather could respond, and supply the nutrient material. But the patients could be given the job of caring for it, as something interesting to do to relieve their b 5redom, and to leave the nurses free to attend—”
Cha Thrat, Hredlichli broke in sharply, are you telling me how I should run my ward?”
No, she replied, wishing not for the first time that her mouth did not run so far ahead of her mind. I apologize, Charge Nurse. I no longer have responsibility for any aspect of patient care, and I did not wish to imply that I did. While I am here I shall not even talk to a patient.”
Hredlichli made an untranslatable sound, then said, You'll talk to one patient, at least. That is why I asked Timmins to send you here today. Your friend, AUGL-One Sixteen, is going home, and I thought you might want to wish it well—everybody else in the ward seems to be doing so. Leave that disgusting mess you're working on and finish it later.”
Cha Thrat could not speak for a moment. Since the transfer to Maintenance she had lost contact with her Chalder friend, and knew only that it was still on the hospital's list of patients under treatment. The most she had hoped for today, and it had been a pretty forlorn hope, was that Hredlichli would allow her a few words with the patient while she was working. But this was completely unexpected.
Thank you, Charge Nurse, she said finally. This is most considerate of you.”
The chlorine-breather made another untranslatablenoise. It said, Since I was appointed Charge Nurse here I've been agitating to have this antiquated underwater dungeon redecorated, reequipped, and converted into something resembling a proper ward. Thanks to you that is now being done, and once I recovered from the initial trauma of having my ward wrecked, I decided that I owed you one.
Even so, it added, I shall not suffer terminal mental anguish if I don't see you again after today.”
AUGL-One Sixteen had already been inserted into its transfer tank and only the hatch above its head remained to be sealed, after which it would be moved through the lock in the outer hull and across to the waiting Chalder ship. A group comprised of well-wishing nurses, visibly impatient transfer team members, and the Earth-human O'Mara hung around the opening like a shoal of ungainly fish, but the loud, bubbling sounds from the tank's water-purifying equipment made it difficult to hear what was being said. As she approached, the Chief Psychologist waved the others back.
Keep it short, Cha Thrat, the team is behind schedule, O'Mara said, turning away and leaving her alone with the ex-patient.
For what seemed a long time she looked at the one enormous eye and the great teeth in the part of its head visible through the open seal, and the words she wanted to speak would not come. Finally she said, That looks like a very small tank, are you comfortable in there?”
Quite comfortable, Cha Thrat, the Chalder replied. Actually, it isn't much smaller than my accommodation on the ship. But that constriction will be temporary, soon I'll have a planetary ocean to swim in.
And before you ask, the AUGL went on, I am feeling fine, really well, in fact, so you don't have to gopoking about in this pain-free and disgustingly heaitny body checking my vital signs.”
I don't ask questions like that anymore, Cha Thrat said, wishing suddenly that she could laugh like Earth-humans to hide the fact that she did not feel like laughing. I'm in Maintenance now, so my instruments are much larger and would be very much more uncomfortable.”
O'Mara told me about that, the Chalder said. Is the work interesting?”
Neither of them, Cha Thrat felt sure, were saying the things they wanted to say.
Very interesting, she replied. I'm learning a lot about the inner workings of this place, and the Monitor Corps pays me, not very much, for doing it. When I've saved enough to take some leave on Chalderescol, I'll go and see how everything is with you.”
If you visited me, Cha Thrat, the AUGL broke in, you would not be allowed to spend any of your hard-earned Monitor currency on Chalderescol. As you are a name-user and off-world member of my family, they would be deeply insulted, and would probably have you for lunch, if you tried.”
In that case, Cha Thrat said happily, I shall probably visit you quite soon.”
If you don't swim clear, Technician, said an Earth-human in Transfer Team coveralls who had appeared beside her, we'll seal you in the tank now, and you can damn well travel there with your friend!”
Muromeshomon, she said quietly as the seal was closing, may you fare well.”
When she turned to go back to the unplanted vegetation, Cha Thrat's mind was concentrated on her Chalder friend to such an extent that she did not think of the impropriety of what she, a mere second-grade techni-cian, said to the Earth-human Monitor Corps Major as she passed it.
My congratulations, Chief Psychologist, she said gratefully, on a most successful! spell.”
O'Mara responded by opening its mouth, but not even an untranslatable sound came out.
The three days that followed were spent on the Rhab-war resupply job, bringing crew consumables and time-expired equipment to the largely Earth-human maintenance people charged with bringing the ambulance ship to peak operating efficiency, and occasionally assisting with the installation of some of the simpler items. On its next trip Rhabwar would be carrying Diagnostician Conway, a former leader of its medical team, and the present crew did not want it to find any cause for complaint.
On the fourth day, Timmins asked Cha Thrat to wait while the other assignments were given out.
You seem to be very interested in our special ambulance ship, the Lieutenant said when they were alone. I'm told that you've been climbing all over and through it, and mostly when it's empty and you are supposed to be off-duty. Is this so?”
Yes, sir, Cha Thrat said enthusiastically. It is a complex and beautifully functional vessel, judging by what I've heard and seen, and it is almost a miniature version of the hospital itself. The casualty treatment and other-species environmental arrangements are especially. .. She broke off, to add warily, I would not try to test or use any of this equipment without permission.”
I should hope not! the Lieutenant said. All right, then. I have another job for you, on Rhabwar, if you think you can do it. Come with me.”
It was a small compartment that had been convertedfrom a post-op recovery room, ana it suit reiameu us direct access to the ELNT Operating Theater. The ceiling had been lowered, which indicated that the occupant-to-be either crawled or did not stand very tall, and the plumbing and power supply lines, revealed by the incomplete wall paneling, bore the color codings for a warm-blooded oxygen-breather with normal gravity and atmospheric pressure requirements.
The wall panels that were in place had been finished to resemble rough planking with a strangely textured grain which resembled a mineral rather than wood. There was an untidy heap of decorative vegetation on the floor waiting to be hung, and beside it a large picture of a landscape that could have been taken in any forested lakeland on Sommaradva, if it had not been for subtle differences in the tree formations.
The framework and padding of a small, low-level bed was placed against the wall facing the entrance. But the most noticeable feature of the room, after she had blundered painfully against it, was the transparent wall that divided it in two. At one end of the wall there was a large door, outlined in red for visibility, and a smaller, central opening that contained remote handling and examination equipment capable of reaching across to the bed.
This room is being prepared for a very special patient, Timmins said. It is a Gogleskan, physiological classification FOKT, who is a personal friend of Diagnostician Conway. The patient, indeed its whole species, has serious problems about which you can brief yourself when you have more time. It is a gravid female nearing full term. There are psychological factors that require that it receives constant reassurance, and Conway is clearing his present workload during the next few weeks so that he will be free to travel to Goglesk, pick up thepatient, and return with it to Sector General in plenty of time before the event takes place.”
I understand, Cha Thrat said.
What I want you to do, Timmins went on, is to set up a smaller and simpler version of this accommodation on Rhabwar's casualty deck. You will draw the components from Stores and be given full assembly instructions. The work is slightly above your present technical level, but there is ample time for someone else to complete the job if you can't do it. Do you want to try?”
Oh, yes, she said.
Good, the Earth-human said. Look closely at this place. Pay special attention to the attachment fittings of the transparent wall. Don't worry too much about the remote-controlled manipulators because the ship has its own. The patient restraints will have to be tested, but only under the supervision of one of the medical team who will be visiting you from time to time.
Unlike this compartment, it went on, your casualty deck facility will be in use only during the trip from Goglesk to the hospital, so the wall covering will be a plastic film, painted to represent the wood paneling here and applied to the ship's inner plating and bulkheads. This saves on installation time and, anyway, Captain Fletcher would not approve of us boring unnecessary holes in his ship. When you think you understand what you will be doing, collect the material from Stores and take it to the ship. I'll see you there before you go off-duty. ..”
Why the transparent wall and remote handling equipment? Cha Thrat asked quickly, as the Lieutenant turned to go. An FOKT classification doesn't sound like a particularly large or dangerous life-form.”
... To answer any questions not covered by your information tape, it ended firmly. Enjoy yourself. •The days that followed were not particularly enjoyable except in retrospect. The tri-di drawings and assembly instructions gave her a permanent headache during the first day and night but, from then on, Timmins's visits to check on progress became less and less frequent. There were three visits from Charge Nurse Nay-drad, the Kelgian member of the medical team who, Tarsedth informed her, was an expert in heavy rescue techniques.
Cha Thrat was polite without being subservient and Naydrad, in the manner of all Kelgians, was consistently rude. But it did not find fault with her work, and it an-, swered any questions that it did not consider either irrelevant or stupid.
I do not fully understand the reason for the transparent division in this compartment, she said during one of its visits. The Lieutenant tells me it is for psychological reasons, so that the patient will feel protected. But surely it would feel more protected by an opaque wall and a small window. Is the FOKT in need of a wizard as well as an obstetrician?”
A wizard? said the Kelgian in surprise, then it went on. Of course, you must be the ex-medical trainee they're all talking about who thinks O'Mara is a witchdoctor. Personally, I think you're right. But it isn't just the patient, Khone, who needs a wizard, it's the whole planetary population of Goglesk. Khone is a volunteer, a test case and a very brave or stupid FOKT.”
I still don't understand, Cha Thrat said. Could you explain, please?”
No, Naydrad replied. I don't have the time to explain all the ramifications of the case, especially to a maintenance technician who has a morbid curiosity but no direct concern, or who feels lonely and wants to talkinstead of work. Be glad you have no responsibility, this is a very tricky one.
Anyway, it went on, pointing toward the viewer and reference shelves at the other side of the compartment, our copy of the case-history tape runs for over two hours, if you're that interested. Just don't take it off the ship.”
She continued working, in spite of a constant temptation to break off for a quick look at the FOKT tape, until the maintenance engineer who had been checking Control poked its Earth-human head into the casualty deck.
Time for lunch, it said. I'm going to the dining hall. Coming?”
No, thank you, she. replied. There's something 1 have to do here.”
This is the second time in three days you've missed lunch, the Earth-human said. Do Sommaradvans have some kind of crazy work ethic? Aren't you hungry, or is it just an understandable aversion to hospital food?”
No, yes very, and sometimes, Cha Thrat said.
I've a pack of sandwiches, it said. Guaranteed nutritious, nontoxic to all oxy-breathers and if you don't look too' closely at what's inside, you should be able to make them stay down. Interested?”
Very much, Cha Thrat replied gratefully, thinking that now she would be able to satisfy her complaining stomach and spend the whole lunch period watching the FOKT tape.
The muted but insistent sound of the emergency siren brought her mind back from Goglesk and its peculiar problems to the realization that she had spent much longer than the stipulated lunch period watchjng the tape, and that the empty ship was rapidly filling with people.
She saw three Earth-humans in Monitor Corps greengo past the casualty deck entrance, heading toward Control, and a few minutes later the lumpy green ball that was Danalta rolled onto the casualty deck. It was closely followed by an Earth-human, wearing whites with Pathology Department insignia, who had to be the DBDG female, Murchison; then Naydrad and Prilicla entered, the Kelgian undulating rapidly along the deck and the insectile Cinrusskin empath using the ceiling. The Charge Nurse went straight to the viewer, which was still running the FOKT tape, and switched it off as two more Earth-humans came in.
One of them was Timmins and the other, judging by the uniform insignia and its air of authority, was the ship's ruler, Major Fletcher. It was the Lieutenant who spoke first.
How long will it take you to finish here? it said.
The rest of today, Cha Thrat replied promptly, and most of the night.”
Fletcher shook its head.
I could bring in more people, sir, Timmins said. They would have to be briefed on the job, which would waste some time. But I'm sure I could shorten that to four, perhaps three hours.”
The ship ruler shook its head again.
There is only one alternative, the Lieutenant said.
For the first time Fletcher looked directly at Cha Thrat. It said, The Lieutenant tells me that you are capable of completing and testing this facility yourself. Are you?”
Yes, Cha Thrat said.
Have you any objections to doing so during a three-day trip to Goglesk?”
No, she said firmly.
The Earth-human looked up at Prilicla, the leader of the ship's medical team, not needing to speak.
I fee! no strong objections from my colleagues to this being accompanying us, friend Fletcher, the empath said, since this is an emergency.”
In that case, Fletcher said as it turned to go, we leave in fifteen minutes.”
Timmins looked as if it wanted to say something, a word of caution, perhaps, or advice, or reassurance. Instead it held up a loosely clenched fist with the oppos-able thumb projecting vertically from it in a gesture she had not seen it make before, and then it, too, was gone. Cha Thrat heard the sound of its feet on the metal floor of the ship's boarding tube and, in spite of the four widely different life-forms closely surrounding her, suddenly she felt ail alone.
Don't worry, Cha Thrat, Prilicla said, the musical triils and clicks of its native speech backing the translated words. You are among friends.”
There's a problem, Naydrad said. No acceleration furniture to suit that stupid shape of yours. Lie down on a casualty litter and I'll strap you in.”