The FOKT facility was completed and thoroughly tested, first by Naydrad and then, on the orders of Major Fletcher, by Rhabwar^ engineer officer, Lieutenant Chen. That, apart from brief meetings on the way to or from the combination dining area and recreationdeck, was her only direct contact with any of the ship'sofficers.
It was not that they tried to discourage such contact between the officer-ruler level and a being of the lowest technical rank, or that they deliberately tried to make her feel inferior. They did neither. But all Monitor Corps personnel who passed the very high technical and academic requirements for service on interstellar ships were automatically considered, at least to the status-conscious mind of a Sommaradvan, to be as close to ruler status as made no difference. Without meaning to give offense they kept slipping into a highly technical and esoteric , language of their own, and they made her feel very uncomfortable.
In any case she felt more at home with the civilian medics than with the beings who, apart from a few small but significant badges on their collars, wore the same uniform as she did. As well, it was impossible to be in the same company as Prilicla without feeling very comfortable indeed. So she made herself as inconspicuous as her physiology would permit, reminded herself constantly that she now belonged to the maintenance rather than the medical fraternity, and tried very hard not to join in while the others were discussing the mission.
Goglesk had been a borderline case so far as the Cultural Contact people were concerned. Full contact with a technologically backward culture could be dangerous because, when the Monitor Corps ships dropped out of their skies, they could never be sure whether they were giving the natives evidence of a future technological goal at which they could aim or a destructive inferiority complex. But the Gogleskans, in spite of their backwardness in the physical sciences and the devastating racial psychosis that forced them to remain so, were psychologi-cally stable, at least as individuals, and their planet had not known war for many thousands of years.
The easiest course would have been for the Corps to withdraw and leave the Gogleskan culture to continue as it had been doing since the dawn of its history, and write their problem off as insoluble. Instead they had made one of their very few compromises by setting up a small base for the purposes of observation, investigation, and limited contact.
Progress for any intelligent species depended on increasing levels of cooperation among its individuals and family or tribal groups. On Goglesk, however, any attempt at close cooperation brought drastically reduced intelligence, a mindless urge to destruction, and serious physical injury in its wake, so that the Gogleskans had been forced into becoming a race of individualists who had close physical contact only during the brief reproductive period or while caring for the very young.
The problem had come about as the result of a solution forced on them in presapient times. They had been a food source for every predator infesting their oceans, but they, too, had evolved natural weapons of offense and defense—stings that paralyzed or killed the smaller life-forms and long cranial tendrils that gave them the faculty of telepathy by contact. When threatened by large predators they had linked bodies and minds together to the size required to neutralize any attacker with their combined stings.
There was fossil evidence on Goglesk of a titanic struggle for survival between them and a gigantic and particularly ferocius species of ocean predator, a battle that had raged for many, many thousands of years. The FOKTs had won in the end, and had evolved into intelligent land-dwellers, but they had paid a terrible price.
In order to sting to death one of those giant predators,physical and telepathic link-ups ot hundreds of individual FOKTs had been required. A great many of them had perished, been torn apart or eaten during every such encounter, and the consequent and oft-repeated death agonies of the slain had been shared telepathically by every single member of the groups. In an attempt to reduce their suffering, the effects of the group telepathy had been diluted by the generation of a mindless urge to destroy indiscriminately everything within reach. But even so, the mental scars inflicted during their prehistory had not healed.
Once heard, the audible signal emitted by Gogleskans in distress that triggered the process could not be ignored ' at either the conscious or unconscious levels, because that call to join represented only one thing—the threat of ultimate danger. And even in present times, when such threats were imaginary or insignificant, it made no difference. A joining led inevitably to the mindless destruction of everything in their immediate vicinity—housing, vehicles, mechanisms, books, or art objects—that they had been able to build or accomplish as individuals.
That was why the present-day Gogleskans would not allow, except on very rare occasions, anyone to touch or come close to them or even address them in anything but the most impersonal terms, while they fought helplessly and, until Conway's recent visit to the planet, hopelessly against the conditioning imposed on them by evolution.
It was plain to Cha Thrat that the only subjects that the medical team wanted to discuss were the Gogleskan problems in general and Khone in particular, and they talked about them endlessly and without arriving anywhere except back to where they had started. Several times she had wanted to make suggestions or ask questions, but found that if she kept quiet and waited patiently, a form of behavior that had always been foreignto her nature, the ideas and the questions were suggested! and answered by one of the others.
Usually it was Naydrad who asked such questions, although much less politely than Cha Thrat would have j done.
Conway should be here, the Kelgian said, fur ruffling in disapproval. It made a promise to the patient J There should be no excuses.”
The yellow-pink face of Pathologist Murchison deepened in color. On the ceiling Prilicia's iridescent wings were quivering in response to the emotional radiation being generated below, but neither the empath nor the female Earth-human spoke.
It is my understanding, Danalta said suddenly, moving the eye it had extruded to regard the Kelgian, that Conway was successful in breaching the conditioning of just one Gogleskan, by an accidental, dangerous, and unprecedented joining of minds. For this reason the Diagnostician is the only other-species being who has any chance of approaching the patient closely, much less of touching it before or during the birth. Even though the call came much earlier than expected, there must be many others in the hospital who are capable and willing to take over the Diagnostician's workload for the few days necessary for the trip.
I, too, think that Conway should have come with us, the shape-changer ended. Khone is its friend, and it promised to do so.”
While Danalta was speaking, Murchison's face had retained the deep-pink coloration except for patches of whiteness around its lips, and it was obvious from Prilicla's trembling that the Pathologist's emotional radiation was anything but pleasant for an empath.
I agree with you, Murchison said in a tone that suggested otherwise, ''that nobody, not even the Diagnosti-cian-in-Charge of Surgery, is indispensable. And rm not defending him simply because he happens to be my life-mate. He can call for assistance from quite a few of the Senior Physicians who are capable of performing the work. But not quickly, not while surgery is actually in progress. And the briefings for his operating schedule would have taken time, two hours at least. The Goglesk call had the Most Urgent prefix. We had to leave at once, without him.”
Danalta did not reply, but Naydrad's fur made discontented waves as the Kelgian said, Is this the only excuse Conway gave you for breaking its promise to the patient? If so, it is unsatisfactory. We have all had expe-'rience with emergencies arising that necessitated people doing other people's work, without notice or detailed briefings. There is a lack of consideration being shownfor its patient—”
Which one? Murchison asked angrily. Khone or the being presently under his knife? And an emergency, in case you've forgotten, occurs spontaneously or because a situation is out of control. It should not be caused deliberately simply because someone feels hon-orbound to be somewhere else.
In any case, it went on, he was in surgery and did not have time to say more than a few words, which were that we should leave at once without him, and not worryabout it.”
Then it is you who is making excuses for your life-niate's misbehavior... Naydrad began when Prilicla, speaking for the first time, interrupted it.
Please, it said gently, I feel our friend Cha Thrat wanting to say something.”
As a Senior Physician and leader of Rhabwar's medical team it would have been quite in order for Prilicla to tell them that their continued bickering was causing itdiscomfort, and that they should shut their speaking ori- 11 fices forthwith. But she also knew that the little empath 11 Would never dream of doing any such thing, because the resultant feelings of embarrassment and guilt over the pain they had caused their inoffensive, well-loved, and emotion-sensitive team leader would have rendered it even more uncomfortable.
It was therefore in Prilicla's own selfish interests to give orders indirectly so as to minimize trie generation of unpleasant feelings around it. If it felt her wanting to speak, it was probable that it could also feel that she, too, was wanting to reduce the current unpleasantness.
They were all staring at her, and Priiicla had ceased trembling. Plainly the emotion of curiosity was much less distressing than that which had gone before.
I, too, Cha Thrat said, have studied the Goglesk tape, and in particular the material on Khone__”
Surely this is no concern of yours, Danalta broke in. You are a maintenance person.”
A most inquisitive maintenance person, Naydrad said. Let it speak.”
A maintenance person, she replied angrily, should be inquisitive about the being for whose accommodation she is responsible! Then she saw Priiicla begin to tremble again, and controlled her feelings as she went on. It seems to me that you may be concerning yourselves needlessly. Diagnostician Conway did not speak to Pathologist Murchison as if it felt unduly concerned. What exactly did the message from Goglesk say about the condition of the patient?”
Nothing, Murchison said. We know nothing of the clinical picture. It isn't possible to send a lengthy message from a small, low-powered base like Goglesk. A lot of energy is needed to punch a signal through hyperspace so that—”
Thank you, Cha Thrat said politely. The technical problems were covered in one of my maintenance lectures. What did the message say?”
Murchison's face had deepened in color again as it said, The exact wording was 'Attention, Conway, Sector General. Most Urgent. Khone requires ambulance ship soonest possible. Wainright, Goglesk Base.'“
For a moment Cha Thrat was silent, ordering her thoughts, then she said, I am assuming that Healer Khone and its other-species friend have been keeping themselves informed regarding each other's progress. Probably they have been exchanging lengthier, more detailed and perhaps personal messages carried aboard the Monitor Corps courier vessels operating in this sector, which would avoid the obvious disadvantages of information transmitted through hyperspace.”
Naydrad's fur was indicating that it was about to interrupt. She went on quickly. From my study of the Gogleskan material, I am also assuming that Khone is, within the limits imposed by its conditioning, an unusually thoughtful and considerate being who would be unwilling to inconvenience its friends unnecessarily. Even if Conway had not mentioned the subject directly, Khone would already have learned from its sharing of the Earth-human's mind the full extent of the duties, responsibilities, and workload carried by a Diagnostician. And Conway, naturally, would be equally well informed about Khone's mind and its probable reaction to that knowledge.
As the being who wished to be responsible for this patient, she continued, the hyperspace signal was for Conway's attention. But it urgently requested an ambulance ship, not the presence of the Diagnostician.
Conway knew why this was so, Cha Thrat went on, because it also knew as much about Gogleskan preg-nancies as Khone itself did, so it might be that the literal wording of the signal released Conway from the promise. Knowing that its patient required nothing more than fasl transport to the hospital, the Diagnostician was no| overly concerned, and it told you not to be concerned, either, by its absence.
It may well be, she ended, that the recent criticism of Diagnostician Conway's seemingly unethical behavior' was without basis.”
Naydrad turned toward Murchison and made the closest thing to an apology that a Kelgian could make as it said, Cha Thrat is probably right, and I am stupid.”
Undoubtedly right, Danaita joined in. I'm sorry, Pathologist. If I was in Earth-human form right now, my face would be red.”
Murchison did not reply but continued to stare at Cha Thrat. The Pathologist's face had returned to its normal coloration, but otherwise displayed no expression that she could read. Prilicla drifted toward her until she could feel the slight, regular down-draft from its wings.
Cha Thrat, the Cinrusskin said quietly, I have a strong feeling that you have made a new friend...”
It broke off as the casualty deck's speaker came to life with the overamplified voice of Fletcher.
Senior Physician, Control here. it said. Hyper-space Jump complete and we are estimating the Goglesk orbiting maneuver in three hours, two minutes. The lander is powered up and ready to go, so you c transfer your medical gear as soon as convenient.
We are in normal-space radio contact with Lieutenant Wainright, it went on, who wants to talk to you about your patient, Khone.”
Thank you, Captain, Prilicla replied. We want to talk about Khone as well. Please relay friend Wainright'smessage to the casualty deck here and to the lander bay when we move out. We can work as we talk.”
Will do, Fletcher said. Relay complete. You are through to Senior Physician Prilicla, Lieutenant. Goahead.”
In spite of the distortion caused by the translation into Sommaradvan, Cha Thrat could detect the deep anxiety in Wainright's voice. She listened carefully with only part of her mind on the job of helping Naydrad load medical equipment onto the litter.
I'm sorry, Doctor, it said, the original arrangements for the pickup on our landing area will have to be scrapped. Khone isn't able to travel, and sending transport manned by off-planet people to collect it from its town will be tricky. At a time like this the natives are particularly, well, twitchy, and the arrival of visually horrifying alien monsters to carry it and its unborn child away could cause a joining and—”
Friend Wainright, Prilicla interrupted gently, what is the condition of the patient?”
I don't know, Doctor, the Lieutenant replied. When we met three days ago it told me that Junior would arrive very soon and would I please send for the ambulance ship. It also said that it had to make arrangements to have its patients cared for, and that it would come to the base shortly before the lander was due. Then a few hours ago a message was relayed verbally to the base saying that it could not move from its house, but the bearer of the message could not tell me whether the cause was illness or injury. Also, it asked if you had another power pack for the scanner Conway left with it. Khone has been impressing its patients with that particular marvel of Federation medical science and the energy cell is flat, which would explain why Khone was unableto give us any clinical information on its own present j condition.”
I'm sure you are right, friend Wainright, Prilicla I said. However, the patient's sudden loss of mobility in- 1 dicates a possibly serious condition that may be deter- 1 iorating. Can you suggest a method of getting it into the ! lander, quickly and with minimum risk to itself and its j friends?”
Frankly, no, Doctor, Wainright said. This is going to be a maximum-risk job from the word go. If it was a member of any other species we know of, I could load it onto my flyer and bring it to you within a few minutes. But no Gogleskan, not even Healer Khone, could sit that close to an off-planet creature without emitting a distress call, and you know what would happen then.”
We do, Prilicla said, trembling at the thought of the widespread, self-inflicted property damage to the town and the mental anguish of the inhabitants that would ensue.
The Lieutenant went on. Your best bet would be to ignore the base and land as close as possible to Rhone's house, in a small clearing between it and the shore of an inland lake. I'll circle the area in a flyer and guide you down. Maybe we can devise something on the spot. You'll need some special remote handling devices to move it out, but I can help you with the external dimensions of Rhone's house and doorways...”
While Cha Thrat helped the rest of the medical team move equipment into the lander, Wainright and the empath continued to wrestle with the problem. But it was obvious that they had no clear answers and were, instead, trying to provide for all eventualities.
Cha Thrat, Prilicla said, breaking off its conversation with the base commander. As a nonmember of the crew I cannot give you orders, but we'll need as manyextra hands down there as we can assemble. You areparticularly well equipped with manipulatory appendages, as well as an understanding of the devices used to move and temporarily accommodate the patient, and I feel in you a willingness to accompany us.”
Your feeling is correct, Cha Thrat said, knowing that the intensity of excitement and gratitude the other's words had generated made verbal thanks unnecessary.
If we load any more gadgetry into the lander, Nay-drad said, there won't be enough space for the patient, much less a hulking great Sommaradvan.”
But there was enough space inside the lander to take all of them, especially when those not wearing gravity compensators, which was everyone but Prilicla, were further compressed by the lander's savage deceleration. Lieutenant Dodds, Rhabwar's astrogation officer and the lander's pilot, had been told that speed had priority over a comfortable ride, and it obeyed that particular order with enthusiasm. So fast and uncomfortable was the descent that Cha Thrat saw nothing of Goglesk until she stepped onto its surface.
For a few moments she thought that she was back on Somrnaradva, standing in a grassy clearing beside the shore of a great inland lake and with the tree-shrouded outlines of a small, servile township in the middle distance. But the ground beneath her feet was not that of her home planet, and the grass, wildflowers, and all the vegetation around her were subtly different in color, odor, and leaf structure from their counterparts on Som-maradva. Even the distant trees, although looking incredibly similar to some of the lowland varieties at home, were the products of a completely different evolutionary background.
Sector General had seemed strange and shocking toher at first, but it had been a fabrication of metal, a gigantic artificial house. This was a different world!
Is your species afflicted with sudden and inexplicable bouts of paralysis? Naydrad asked. Stop wasting time and bring out the litter.”
She was guiding the powered litter down the unloading ramp when Wainright's flyer landed and rolled to a stop close beside them. The five Earth-humans who manned the Goglesk base jumped out. Four of them scattered quickly and began running toward the town, testing their translation and public address equipment as they went, while the Lieutenant came toward the lander.
If you have anything to do that involves two or more of you working closely together, it said quickly, do it now while the flyer is hiding you from view of the town. And when you move out, remain at least five meters apart. If these people see you moving closer together than that, or making actual bodily contact by touching limbs, it won't precipitate a joining, but it will cause them to feel deeply shocked and intensely uncomfortable. You must also—”
Thank you, friend Wainright, Prilicla said gently. We cannot be reminded too often to be careful.”
The Lieutenant's features deepened in color, and it did not speak again until, walking i a well-separated line abreast, they were approaching the outskirts of the town.
It doesn't look like much to us, Wainright said softly, the feelings behind its words making Prilicla tremble, but they had to fight very hard every day of their lives to achieve it, and I think they're losing.”
The town occupied a wide crescent of grass and stony outcroppings enclosing a small, natural harbor. There were several jetties projecting into deep water, and most of the craft tied up alongside had thin, high funnels andpaddle wheels as well as sails. One of the boats, clearly the legacy of a past joining, was smoke-blackened and sunk at its moorings. Hugging the water's edge was a widely separated line of three- and four-story buildings, made of wood, stone, and dried clay. Ascending ramps running around all four walls gave access to the upper levels, so that from certain angles the buildings resembled thin pyramids.
These, according to the Goglesk tape, were the town's manufacturing and food-processing facilities, and she thought that the smell of Gogleskan raw fish was just as unpleasant as that of their Sommaradvan counterparts. Perhaps that was the reason why the private ' dwellings, whose roofs and main structural supports were provided by the trees around the edge of the clearing, were so far away from the harbor.
As they moved over the top of a small hill, Wainright pointed out a low, partially roofed structure with a stream running under it. From their elevated position they could see into the maze of corridors and tiny rooms that was the town's hospital and Rhone's adjoiningdwelling.
The Lieutenant began speaking quietly into its suit mike, and she could hear the words of warning and reassurance being relayed at full volume from the speakers carried by the four Earth-humans who had precededthem.
Please do not be afraid, it was saying. Despite the strange and frightening appearance of the beings you are seeing, they will not harm you. We are here to collect Healer Khone, at its own request, for treatment in our hospital. While we are transferring Khone to our vehicle we may have to come very close to the healer, and this may accidentally cause a call for joining to go out. A joining must not be allowed to happen, and so we urgeeveryone to move away from your homes, deep into th forest or far from the shore, so that a distress signal will not reach you. As an additional safeguard, we will place! around the healer's home devices that will make a loud, and continuous sound. This sound will be as unpleasant to you as it is to us, but it will merge with and change the sound of any nearby distress signal so that it will no longer be a call for joining.”
Wainright looked toward Prilicla and when the empath signaled its approval, it changed to the personal suit frequency and went on. Record and rerun that, please, until I either amend the message or tell you to stop.”
Will they believe all that? Naydrad called suddenly from its position along the line. Do they really trust us off-planet monsters?”
The Lieutenant moved several paces down the hill before replying. They trust the Monitor Corps because we have been able to help them in various ways. Khone trusts Conway for obvious reasons and as their trusted healer, it has been able to convince the townspeople that Conway's horrifying friends are also worthy of trust. The trouble is, Gogleskans are a race of loners who don't always do as they're told.
Some of them, it went on, could have good reasons for not wanting to leave their homes. Illness or infirmity, young children to be cared for, or for reasons that seem good only to a Gogleskan. That's why we have to use the sound distorters.”
Naydrad seemed satisfied but Cha Thrat was not. Out of consideration for Prilicla, who would suffer everyone else's feelings of anxiety as well as her own, she remained silent.
Like everyone else in Maintenance, she knew about those distorters. Suggested and designed by Ees-Tawn, the department's head of Unique Technology, in re-sponse to one of Conway's long-term Gogleskan requirements, the devices were still in the prototype stage. If successful they would go into mass production until they were in every Gogleskan home, factory, and seagoing vessel. It was not expected that the devices would eliminate joinings entirely, but with sensitive audio detectors coupled to automatic actuators, it was hoped that the link-ups that did occur would be limited to a few persons. That would mean that a joining's destructive potential would be negligible, shorter in duration, and psychologically less damaging to the beings concerned.
Under laboratory conditions the distorters were effective against several FOKT distress call recordings pro-* vided by Conway, but the device had yet to be tested onGoglesk itself.
The stink of fish worsened, and the sound of the monitors broadcasting the Lieutenant's message grew louder as they neared the hospital. Apart from a few glimpses she had of the Earth-humans moving between the houses at the edge of the clearing, there were no signs of life inthe town.
Stop sending now, Wainright briskly said. Anyone who hasn't acted on the message by now doesn't intend to. Harmon, take up the flyer and give me an aerial view of this area. The rest of you place the distorters around the hospital, then stand by. Cha Thrat, Naydrad, ready with the litter?”
Quickly, Cha Thrat positioned the vehicle close to the entrance of Khone's dwelling, ran out the rear ramp, and opened the canopy in readiness to receive the patient. They could not risk touching Khone within sight of other Gogleskans and were hoping that the little healer would come out and board the vehicle itself. In case it did not, Naydrad would send in its remote-controlled probe to find out why.
Because they would make conversation difficult— and so far nothing had happened that could cause any Gogleskan to emit a distress call—the distorters remained silent.
Friend Khone, Prilicla said, and the waves of sympathy, reassurance, and friendship emanating from it were almost palpable. We have come to help you. Please come out.”
They waited for what seemed like a very long time, but there was neither sight nor sound of Khone.
Naydrad... Wainright began.
I'm doing it, the Kelgian snapped.
The tiny vehicle, bristling with sound, vision, and biosensors as well as a comprehensive array of handling devices, rolled across the uneven surface and into Rhone's front entrance, pushing aside the curtain of woven vegetable fibers that hung there. The view all around it was projected onto the litter's repeater screen.
Cha Thrat thought that the probe itself, to someone who did not know its purpose, was a frightening object. Then she reminded herself that Diagnostician Conway, and through it Khone, knew all about such mechanisms.
The probe revealed nothing but a deserted house.
Perhaps friend Khone required special medication from the hospital and went to get it, Prilicla said worriedly. But I cannot feel its emotional radiation, which means that it is either far from here or unconscious. If the latter, then it may require urgent attention, so we cannot afford to waste time by searching every room and passageway in the hospital with the probe. It will be quicker if I search for it myself.”
Its. iridescent wings were beating slowly, already moving it forward when it went on. Move well back, please, so that your conscious feelings will not obscure the fainter, unconscious radiation of the patient.”
Wait! the Lieutenant said urgently. If you nna u, and it awakens suddenly to see you hovering aboveit...”
You are correct, friend Wainright, Prilicla said. Itmight be frightened into sending out a distress call. Use your distorters.”
Cha Thrat quickly moved back with the medical team beyond the range of maximum sensitivity for the Cinrusskin's empathic faculty, and they adjusted their headsets to deaden external sounds while enabling them to communicate with each other. As a screaming, moaning, whistling cacophony erupted from the distorter posi-, tions around the hospital, Cha Thrat wondered about the depth of unconsciousness of their patient. The noise was enough to wake the dead.
It was more than enough to rouse Khone.
I feel it! Prilicla called, excitement causing its hovering flight to become wildly unstable. Friend Naydrad, send in the probe. The patient is directly beneath me, but I don't want to risk frightening it by a sudden, close approach. Quickly, it is very weak and in pain.”
Now that it had an accurate fix on Khone's position, Naydrad quickly guided the probe to the room occupied by the Gogleskan. Priiicla rejoined the others around thelitter's repeater screen where the sensor data was already being displayed.
The pictures showed the interior of one of the hospital's tiny examination rooms with the figure of Rhone lying against the low wall that separated the healer and patient during treatment. A small table contained a variety of very long-handled, highly polished wooden implements that appeared to be probes, dilators, and spatulas for the nonsurgical investigation of body orifices, some jars of local medication, and, incongruously, the lifeless x-ray scanner left by Conway. A few of the instruments had fallen to the floor, and it seemed likely that Rhone had been examining a patient on the other side of the wall when the healer had collapsed. It was also probable that the patient concerned had originated the last message received by Wainright.
1 am Prilicla, friend Rhone, the empath said via the probe's communicator. Do not be afraid...”
Wainright made an untranslatable sound to remind Prilicla that, apart from the initial words of identification, Gogleskans did not address each other as persons and became mentally distressed if anyone tried to do so.
This device will not cause pain or harm, Prilicla continued more impersonally. Its purpose is to lift the patient, very gently, and convey it to a position where expert attention is available. It is beginning to do so now.”
On the repeater screen Cha Thrat saw the probe extend two wide, flat plates and slide them between the floor and Rhone's recumbent body.
Stop!”
The two voices, Rhone's through the communicator and Prilicla's in response to the Gogleskan's blast of emotional radiation, sounded as one. The empath's fragile body was shaking as if caught in a high wind.
'Tm sorry, friend Rhone... it began, then remembering, went on. Sincere apologies are tendered for the severe discomfort caused to the patient. Even greater gentleness will be striven for in future. But is the patient-healer able to furnish information on the exact position of, and possible reasons for, the pain?”
Yes and no, Rhone said weakly. Its pain had diminished because Prilicla was no longer trembling. It went on. The pain is located in the area of the birth canal. There is loss of function and diminished sensation in the lower limbs, and the upper limbs and the medial area are similarly but less markedly affected. The cardiac action is accelerated and respiration is difficult. It is thought * that the birth process had begun and was interrupted, but the reason is unknown because the scanner has not worked for some time and it is doubted if the patient's digits retain sufficient dexterity to change the powercell.”
The probe mounts its own scanner, Prilicla said reassuringly, and its visual and clinical findings will be transmitted to the healers out here. It will also change the power cell in the other scanner so that the patient will be able to aid the healers outside with its own Gog-leskan observations and experience.”
The empath began trembling again, but Cha Thrat had the feeling that the shaking was due to its personal concern for Rhone rather than a return of the other's pain.
The scanner is being deployed now, Prilicla went on. It will approach closely but will not touch the patient.”
Thanks are expressed, Rhone said.
As she watched the increasingly detailed scan of Rhone's pelvic area, Cha Thrat grew more and more angry over her ignorance of Gogleskan physiology. And it made little difference that the degree of ignorance ofPrilicla, Murchison, and Naydrad was only slightly less than her own. The one person with the ability to help Rhone now was many light-years away in Sector General, and there was a strong probability that even the presence of the Diagnostician Conway would not have resolved this problem.
The healer-patient can see for itself, Prilicla said gently, that the fetus is large and is improperly presented to the birth canal. It is also pressing against the major nerve bundles and impeding the blood supply to the muscles in the area, making it impossible for the fetus to be expelled in its present position.
Would the healer-patient agree, the empath went on, that the birth cannot proceed without immediate surgical intervention?”
No! Rhone said vehemently, forgetting to be impersonal. You must not touch me!”
But we're your... Prilicla began. It hesitated for an instant, then went on. Only friends wishing to help the patient are here. The psychological difficulties are understood. If necessary the probe can be instructed to administer sedative medication so that the patient will be unconscious and unaware of being touched while the operation is in progress.”
No, Rhone said again. 'The patient must be conscious during and for a short period following the birth. There are things that the parent must do for the newborn. Can your mechanism be instructed to perform the operation? The patient would be less frightened by the touch of a machine than that of an off-world monster.”
Prilicla trembled again with the emotional effort needed to make a negative reply. It said, Regrettably not. The remote-controlled manipulators are not sufficiently accurate or responsive for such a delicate procedure. If an observation might be made, the patient is in a1severely weakened state and may shortly become unconscious without the assistance of medication.”
Rhone was silent for a moment, then with a note of desperation in its voice the Gogleskan said, It is consciously realized that the off-world healers feel friendship and deep concern for the patient. But subconsciously, on the darker, unthinking levels of the mind, the close approach of one of these visually horrifying creatures would represent an immediate and deadly threat to the life of the patient, which would inevitably lead to a call for joining.”
The call would not be heard, Prilicla said, and explained the purpose of the sound distorters. But Rhone's reply set the empath trembling again.
A call for joining, it said, presupposes a condition of extreme mental distress that is followed by a massive and uncontrolled expenditure of physical energy. The effect on the patient and fetus could lead to termination.”
Quickly Prilicla said, Time is short and the clinical condition is deteriorating rapidly. Risks must be taken. The probe mechanism can be made to provide two-way vision, and pictures of the off-world friends will be sent. Will the patient choose from among them the least frightening being, who will then try to assist it?”
While the litter's vision pickup swung to cover each of them in turn, Rhone was saying The Earth-humans are familiar and trusted, as are the Cinrusskin and Kelgian seen during the earlier visit to Goglesk, but all of them would arouse blind, instinctive terror if they approached closely. The other two beings are unfamiliar, both to the recollection of the patient or in the memories of the Earth-human Conway. Are they healers?”
There was a note of relief in the empath's voice as it replied, Both are recent arrivals at the hospital and were unknown to Conway at the time of its first visit.
The small, globular being is Danalta, an entity capable of taking any required physical form including, if desirable, that of a Gogleskan, or of extruding any limbs or sensory organs necessary for the repair or alleviation of an organic malfunction. It will work under the Senior Physician's direction and is an ideal choice for—”
A shape-changer! Rhone broke it. Apologies are tendered to this entity, whose nonphysical qualities are doubtless admirable, but the thought of such a being is terrifying, and its close approach in the guise of one of my people would be unbearably repugnant. No!
The tall creature, it added, would be much less disturbing.”
The tall being, said Prilicla apologetically, is a hospital maintenance-technician.”
' And previously, Cha Thrat added quietly, a warrior-surgeon of Sommaradva, with other-species experience.”
The empath was trembling again, and this time because of the storm of mixed feelings being generated by the other members of the medical team.
Apologies are tendered, Prilicla said hastily. A short delay is necessary. This matter requires discussion.”
For clinical reasons, Khone replied, the patient-healer hopes that the delay will be very short.”
It was Pathologist Murchison who spoke first. It said, Your other-species experience is limited to an Earth-human DBDG and a Hudlar FROB, both involving simple, external surgery to a limb. Neither of them or, for that matter, your own DCNF classification, bears any resemblance to a Gogleskan FOKT. After that Hudlar limb-for-a-limb business, I'm surprised you want to take the responsibility.”
If this goes wrong, Naydrad joined in, its furtwitching with concern, if the patient or newborn terminate, I don't know what piece of medical melodrama you will pull in atonement. Better keep out of this.”
I don't know why, Danalta said, in a tone that suggested that its feelings were hurt, it prefers an ungainly, stiff-boned life-form like Cha Thrat to me.”
The reason, Khone said, making them realize that they had forgotten to switch off the probe's communicator, is degrading and probably insulting to the being concerned, but it should be mentioned in case the Som-maradvan finds it necessary to withdraw its offer.”
Khone went on. There are physical, psychological, and perhaps ridiculous reasons why this being might closely approach, but not touch except with long-handled instruments, the patient.”
There were few visual similarities between the FOKT and DCNF classifications, Khone explained, except in the eyes of very young Gogleskans who tried to make models of their parents. But the mass of hair covering the ovoid body, the four short, splayed-out legs, the digital clusters, and the four long, cranial stings, were beyond their sculptoring skill. Instead they produced lumpy, conical shapes made from mud and grass, into which they stuck twigs that were not always straight or of uniform thickness. The results, on a much smaller scale, had a distinct resemblance to the body configuration of a Sommaradvan.
These crudely fashioned models were fabricated during the years preceding the change from childhood to maturity, when the young adult's stings became a threat to its parent's life, and they were kept and treasured by both parent and offspring as reminders of the only times in their lives when they could feel in safety the warmth and closeness of extended contact with another of their kind.
It was a memory that, in their later and incredibly lonely adult lives, helped keep them sane.
Murchison was the first to react after Khone finished speaking. The Pathologist looked at Cha Thrat and said incredulously, 1 think it is telling us that you look like an oversized Gogleskan equivalent of an Earth teddy bear!”
Wainright gave a nervous laugh, and the others did not react. Probably they were as ignorant about teddy bears as Cha Thrat was. However, if the creature resembled her in many ways, it could not be entirely unbeauti-ful.
The Sommaradvan is willing to assist, Cha Thrat said, and offense has not'been taken.”
And neither, Prilicla said, turning its eyes toward her, will responsibility be taken.”
The musical trills and clickings that were the Cinruss-kin's native speech changed in pitch, and for the first time in Cha Thrat's experience the little empath's translated words carried the firmness and authority of a ruler as it went on. Unless the Sommaradvan can give an unqualified assurance that there is no possibility of a recurrence of the Hudlar amputation, the'Sommaradvan will not be allowed to assist.
The healer-maintenance technician is being used for one reason only, it continued, because the close proximity of the more experienced healers is contraindicated for this patient. It will consider itself simply as an organic probe whose mind, sensors, and digits are under the direction of the Senior Physician, who accepts sole responsibility for treatment and subsequent fate of the patient. Is this clearly understood?”
The idea of sharing or, in this instance, completely relegating responsibility for her actions to another person was repugnant to a warrior-surgeon, even thoughshe could understand the reasons ror n. rmi than her feeling of shame was the sudden, warm upsurge of gratitude and pride at once again being called to work as a healer.
It is understood, she said.
Silently the empath indicated that it was changing from the probe frequency, so as not to be verbally hampered by having to use the listening Gogleskan's impersonal mode of speech.
Thank you, Cha Thrat, it said quickly. Use my Cinrusskin instruments, they are best suited to your upper digits and I would feel more comfortable directing you in their use. Fit the protective devices before trying to do anything else; you could not help the patient if you were to be paralyzed by its stings. When you are with Khone, make no sudden movements that might frighten it without first explaining the reason for them. I shall be monitoring friend Rhone's emotional radiation from here, and will warn you if any action causes a sudden increase of fear. But you are well aware of the situation, Cha Thrat. Please hurry.”
Naydrad had her carrier pack already filled and waiting. She added the replacement power cell for Rhone's scanner and began climbing from the top of the litter on to the hospital roof.
Good luck, Murchison said. Naydrad ruffled its fur and the others made untranslatable noises.
The roof sagged alarmingly under Cha Thrat's weight, and one of her forefeet went right through the flimsy structure, but it was a much quicker route than crawling through a maze of low-ceilinged corridors. She dropped into the uncovered passageway leading to Rhone's room, crouched awkwardly onto two knees and three of her medial limbs, and, with Prilicla warning the patient of her arrival, moved only her head and shouldersthrough the entrance. For the first time she was able to study a Gogleskan FOKT at close quarters.
The intention, Cha Thrat said carefully, is not to touch the patient directly.”
Gratitude is expressed, Khone replied in a voice that was barely audible above the sound of the distorters.
The mass of unruly hair and spikes that covered the erect, ovoid body were less irregular in color and position than the probe pictures had suggested. The body hair had mobility, although not to the extent as that possessed by the Kelgians, and lying motionless amid the multicolored cranial fur were a number of long, pale tendrils that were used only during a joining to link the member minds of the group. Four small, vertical orifices, two for breathing and speaking and two for food ingestion, encircled its waist.
The spikes covering the body were highly flexible, grouped together into digital clusters, and were capable of fine manipulation, and the lower body was encircled by a thick apron of muscle, under which the four short legs could be withdrawn when the being wished to rest.
Now it lay on its side, a position from which even a fully fit and active Gogleskan would have difficulty in recovering.
Quietly Cha Thrat said, Instruct the probe to bring the scanner here. When the power cell has been replaced, return it to within easy reach of the patient, then move the machine aside.”
To Khone she went on. Unlike the visiting healers, the patient has been unaware of its own condition and an immediate self-examination is requested. Since the patient is also a healer with extensive knowledge of its own life processes, any comments or suggestions it cares to make would be helped to the off-planet colleagues.”
Prilicla's voice came from her earpiece but not the probe's speaker, which meant that the empath wanted to talk to her alone. It said, That was well spoken, Cha Thrat. No patient, no matter how ill or injured, wants to feel completely useless and dependent. Otherwise well-intentioned healers sometimes forget that.”
That was one of the first lessons she had learned at the medical school on Sommaradva. Another, which had obviously been learned by Prilicla, was that junior medics facing a new and difficult job benefited from encouragement.”
The patient, Khone said suddenly, is unable toguide the scanner.”
There was nothing in the Cinrusskin's instrument pack long enough to reach Khone from Cha Thrat's present position. Impersonally she asked, Is it permitted to use the Gogleskan instruments? Of course, Khone said.
On the side table there was a set of long, expanding tongs, made from highly polished wood and with hinges of a soft, reddish metal, used for bringing instruments or dressings to bear on the otherwise untouchable Gogleskan patients. Lying beside them was a thin, conical object that had been fashioned crudely from dried clay, with short twigs and straw stuck all over it. She had mistaken it at first for a piece of decorative or aromatic vegetation. Now that she knew what it was, Cha Thrat thought that its resemblance to the aesthetically pleasing Sommaradvan body shape was close only in the eyes of a very sick Gogleskan.
Awkwardly at first, she used the tongs to lift the scanner from the limp grasp of Khone's digits and moved it over the abdominal area. While the patient was concentrating on the screen, she edged further into the room and closer to the patient. The unnatural position of herbent forelegs and spine, and the fact that virtually her entire body weight was being supported on medial limbs normally used only for manipulation, was threatening to send the associated muscles into spasm. To ease them she rocked very slowly from side to side, moving a little closer each time.
The Sommaradvan healer is larger than was expected, Khone said suddenly, looking up from the scanner. It did not take Prilicla to tell her that the Gogleskan was very frightened.
Cha Thrat held herself motionless for a moment, then said, The Sommaradvan healer, despite its size, will no more harm the patient than the sculptured likeness lying on the floor. The patient must surely know this.”
The patient knows this, Khone agreed, with a distinct trace of anger in its voice. But has the Sommaradvan healer ever suffered nightmares, in which it is haunted, and hunted, by dark and fearful creatures of the undermind intent on its destruction? And instead of fleeing in unreasoning fear, has it ever tried to stop in the midst of such a nightmare, and think through or around its terror, and turned to face these dreadful phantasms, and tried to look upon them as friends?”
Ashamed, Cha Thrat said, Apologies are tendered, and admiration for the patient-healer who is trying to do, who is doing, that which the stupid and insensitive Sommaradvan healer would find impossible.”
Prilicla's voice sounded in her earpiece. You have irritated friend Khone, Cha Thrat, but its fear has receded a little.”
She took the opportunity of moving closer and said, It is realized that the patient-healer's intentions toward the Sommaradvan are friendly, and any harm that might befall it would be the result of a purely instinctive reac-tion or accident. Both the eventualities canbe avoided by rendering the stings harmless”
Khone's emotional reaction to that suggestion had both Prilicla and Cha Thrat badly worried, but time was running out for this patient and, if anything was going to be done for it, there was no real alternative to capping those stings. The little Gogleskan knew that as well as they did. It was being asked to surrender its only re-maining weapon.
Cha Thrat dared not move a muscle other than her larynx, and that onewas being seriously overworked as she tried to convince Khone's unconscious as well as its already half-convinced conscious mind that, in a truly civilized society, weapons were unnecessary. She told it that she, too, was a female, although she had yet to produce an offspring. She then spoke of her most personal feelings, many of them petty rather than praiseworthy, about her past life and career on Sommaradva and in Sector General, and of the things she had done wrong in bothplaces.
The team member waiting impatiently by the litter must be wondering if she had contracted a ruler's disease and had lost contact with the reality of the situation, butthere was no time to stop and explain- Somehow she had to get through to the Gogleskan's dark undermind and convince it that psychologically she was leaving herself as open and defenseless by what she was telling it as Khone was by relinquishing its only natural weapons.
She could hear Naydrad's voice, which was being picked up by the Cinrusskin's headset, demanding to know whether Khone was a psychiatrist as well as a healer, and if so, the stupid Sommaradvan had picked the wrong time to lie,on its couch! Prilicla did not speak and she went on talking unhurriedly to the patient whose voice, like the rest of it, seemed to be paralyzed by fear.
Suddenly there was a response.
The Sommaradvan has problems, Khone said. But if intelligent beings did not occasionally do stupid things, there would be no progress at all.”
Cha Thrat was unsure whether the Gogleskan's words represented some deep, philosophical truth or were merely the product of a mind clouded by pain and confusion. She said, The problems of the healer-patient are much more urgent.”
There is agreement, Khone said. Very well, the stings may be covered. But the patient must be touched only by the machine.”
Cha Thrat sighed. It had been too much to hope that a few highly personal revelations would demolish the conditioning of millennia. Without mbving any closer, she held the scanner in position with the long tongs and used the rear medial limb to open her pack so that the probe's manipulators, which were being guided with great precision by Naydrad, could extract the sting covers.
Those covers had been designed to contain the needle-pointed stings and absorb their venom. Once in position, they released an adhesive that would ensure that they remained so until Khone reached Sector General. This property of the covers had not been mentioned to the patient. But with the distorters making it impossible for any call for joining to be heard by the other townspeople and its stings rendered impotent, the Gogleskan would be unable to avoid direct physical contact with one of the frightful off-worlders.
Considering the rapidly worsening clinical picture, the sooner that happened the better.
But Khone was not stupid and probably it had already realized what was to happen, which would explain its growing agitation as two, then three of the four sting covers were placed in position. Now it was moving itshead weakly from side to side, deliberately avoiding me last cover. Quickly Cha Thrat tried to give it something else to think about.
As can be clearly observed in the scanner and biosensor displays, she said impersonally, the fetus is being presented laterally to the birth canal and is immobilized in this position. It has exerted pressure on important blood vessels and nerve connections to the parent's mid- and lower body, which has resulted in loss of muscle function and sensation and, unless relieved, will lead to necrosis in the areas concerned. The umbilical is also being increasingly compressed as the involuntary mus-, cles continue trying to expel the fetus. The fetal heartbeat is weak, rapid, and irregular, and the vital signs of the parent are not good, either. Has the patient-healer any suggestion or comments on this case? Khone did not reply.
Only Prilicla would know how much Cha Thrat's coldly impersonal tone belied her true feelings toward the incredibly brave little creature who lay like a tumbled haystack so close to her, but still too far away in the non material distances of the mind for her to be able to help it. Yet they were alike in so many ways, she thought. Both had taken risks that no other members of their species were willing to take—she had treated an off-world life-form she had never seen before, and Khone had volunteered itself for treatment by off-worlders. But of the two, Khone was the braver and its risks the greater.
Is this condition rare or common among gravid females, she asked quietly, and what is the normal procedure in such cases?”
The other's voice was so weak that the reply was barely audible as it said, The condition is not rare. Normal procedure in such cases is to administer massivedoses of medication that enables the patient and fetus to terminate with minimum discomfort.”
Cha Thrat could think of nothing to say or do.
In the stillness of Rhone's room she became increas- I ingly aware of the external noises: the constant whistling and hissing of the distorters; and coming to her through the empath's communicator, the voice of Naydrad complaining about the difficulty of capping the stings of a patient who would not cooperate; and more quietly, Murchison, Danalta, and Prilicla itself as they suggested and quickly discarded a number of wildly differing procedures.
The medical team's voices are unclear, Cha Thrat said anxiously. Has anything been decided? What are the immediate instructions?”
Suddenly the voices became loud and very clear indeed, because they were coming from the probe's speaker as well as her own earpiece. Naydrad, its attention concentrated on the probe's remote-controlled manipulators as it tried to fit the last sting cover, must have decided that she wanted more volume and reacted to her statement without thinking.
The conversation was completely unguarded.
Prilicla was speaking, quietly and reassuringly, and clearly unaware that its words were reaching Khone as well as herself, Cha Thrat realized. The intense and conflicting emotional radiation emanating from the other team members grouped so closely around it was keeping the empath from detecting her own sudden burst of surprise and fear.
Cha Thrat, it said, there has been some argument, which has since been resolved in your favor, regarding who should perform the operation. Friend Rhone's need is urgent, its condition has deteriorated to the stagewhere the risk of moving it out tor surgery is able, and your only option is to—”
No! she said urgently. Please stop talking?' Do not be distressed, Cha Thrat, the empath continued, mistaking the reason for the objection. Your professional competence is not in doubt, and Pathologist Murchison and myself have studied Conway's notes on the FORT life-form, as have you, and we will guide you at every stage of the procedure and take complete responsibility throughout.
Immediate surgical intervention is required to relievethis condition, it went on. As soon as the last sting iscapped, you will use a Number Eight scalpel to enlarge' the birth opening with an incision from the pelvis up tothe— What is happening?”
There was no need to tell it what was happening because in the time taken to ask the question it already knew the answer. Rhone, faced with the imminent prospect of a major surgical attack, had reacted instinctively by emitting the call for joining and was trying to sting to death the only strange, and therefore threatening, being within reach. With its legs virtually paralyzed, Rhone was twisting violently from side to side and using its digital clusters to pull itself toward Cha Thrat.
The remaining uncapped sting, long, yellow, and with tiny drops of venom already oozing from its point, was swaying and jerking closer. Frantically Cha Thrat pushed backward with the forefeet and medial limbs, launching herself toward the Gogieskan and grasping the base of the sting with three of her upper hands.
Stop it! she shouted above the noise of the call.
Forgetting to be impersonal, she went on. Stop movingor you'll injure yourself and the young one. I'm a friend,I want to help you. Naydrad, cap it! Cap it quickly!”
Hold it still, then, the Relgian snapped back,C.B.E.—9swinging the probe's manipulator arm above Rhone's jerking head. Hold it very still.”
But that was not easy to do. Her upper, neck-level arms and digits had been evolved for more precise and delicate operations and lacked the heavy musculature of the medial limbs, and using them meant that Rhone's head and her own were almost touching. She strained desperately to tighten her ridiculously weak grip on the sting, sending waves of pain into her neck and upper thorax. She knew that if those fingers slipped the sting would immediately be plunged into the top of her head.
The medical team would probably get to her quickly enough to save her life, but not those of Rhone and the fetus, which was their only reason for being here. She was wondering how Murchison, the Diagnostician's life-mate; and Prilicla, its long-term friend; and Cha Thrat herself would face Con way with the news of Rhone's death when Naydrad shouted, Got it!”
The last sting was covered. She could relax for a moment. But not Rhone, who was still jerking and writhing on the floor and stabbing ineffectually at her with all four of its capped stings. Close up, the sound of its distress call was like a gale whistling and howling through a ruined building.
At least the distorters are working, Wainright said, and added warningly, but hurry it up, they won't last much longer.”
She ignored the Earth-human and grasped tufts of the Gogleskan's hair in her upper and medial hands, trying vainly to hold it motionless. Pleadingly she said, Stop moving. You're wasting what little strength you've got. You'll die and the baby will die. Please stop moving. I'm not an enemy, I'm yourfriendl”
The call for joining was still howling out with un-diminished volume, making her wonder how such asmall creature could make so great a noise, but its physical movements were becoming noticeably less violent. Was it a symptom of sheer physical weakness, or was she getting through to the Gogleskan? Then she saw that the long, pale tendrils on its head were uncurling from the concealing hair and were standing out straight. Two of them fell slowly to lie along the top of her own head; and suddenly Cha Thrat wanted to scream.
Being Rhone's friend was much, much worse than being its enemy.
There was fear as she had never known it before—the sudden, overriding, and senseless fear of everything and everyone that was not joined tightly to her for the group defense; and a terrible, blind fury that diminished the fear; and the memories and expectation of pains past, present, and to come. And with those fearful memories there came a dreadful and confused nightmare of all the frightful and painful things that had ever happened to her—on Sommaradva and Goglesk and in Sector General. Many elements of the nightmare were utterly strange to her; the feeling of terror at the sight of Prilicla, which was ridiculous, and the sense of loss at the departure of the male Gogleskan who had fathered the child within her. But now there was no fear of theoutsized, off-world animated doll who was trying to help her.
Even with the confusion of fear, pain, and alien experiences dulling her capacity to think, the conclusion was inescapable. Khone had invaded her mind.
Now she knew what it was like to be a Gogleskan; at a time like this the choice was simple. Friends joined and enemies—everyone and everything that was not part of the group—were attacked and destroyed. She wanted to break everything in the room, the furniture, instruments, decorations, and then tear down the flimsy walls, and she wanted to drag Khone around with her to help her do it. Desperately she tried to control the blind and utterly alien fury that was building up in her.
Amid the storm of Gogleskan impressions a tiny part of her own mind surfaced for a moment, observing that the tight grip she retained on Khone's fur must have fooled its subconscious into believing that she had joined with it, and was therefore a friend worthy of mind-sharing.
/ am Cha Thrat, she told herself fiercely, once a Som-maradvan warrior-surgeon and now a trainee maintenance technician of Sector General. I am not Khone of Goglesk and / am not here to join and destroy...
But this was a joining, and memories of a larger, more destructive joining came crowding into her mind.
She seemed to be standing on top of a land vehicle stopped on high ground overlooking the town, watching the joining as it happened. The Earth-human Wainright was beside her, warning her that the Gogleskans were dangerously close, that they should leave, that there was nothing she could do and, for some strange reason, while it was saying these things it sometimes called Doctor but more often sir. She felt very bad because she knew that the joining had been her fault, that it had happenedbecause she had tried to help, and had touched, an industrial accident casualty. Below her she could clearly see Khone attaching itself to the other Gogleskans without being able to understand the reason, and at the same time she was Khone and knew the reason.
With individual Gogleskans hurrying to join it from nearby buildings, moored ships, and surrounding tree dwellings, the group-entity became a great, mobile, stinging carpet that crawled around large buildings and engulfed small ones as if it did not know or care what it was doing. In its wake it left a trail of smashed equipment, vehicles, dead animals, and a capsized ship. The group-entity moved inland to continue its self-destructive defense against an enemy out of prehistory.
In spite of the terrible fear of that nonexistent enemy in Khone's mind, which was now her mind, Cha Thrat tried to make herself think logically about what had happened to her. She thought of the wizard O'Mara and how it had said that Educator tapes would never be for her, and remembered the reasons it had given. Now she knew what it was like to have a completely alien entity occupying her mind, and she wondered if her sanity would be affected. Perhaps the fact that Khone, like herself, was a female might make a difference.
But there was a growing realization that it was not only Khone's mind and memories that she had to contend with. The memory and viewpoint from the top of the land vehicle was not from the Gogleskan's mind, nor her own. There were memories of the ambulance ship and the exploits of its medical team that were definitely not her own, and some vivid and—to her—fearful and wonderful recollections of events in Sector General that were totally outside her experience. Had O'Mara been right? Were factual recollections and insane fantasies intermingling, and she was no longer sane?But she did not think she was insane. Madness was supposed to be an escape from a too-painful reality to a condition that was more bearable. There was too much pain here and the memories or fantasies were too painfully sharp. And one of them was of Lieutenant] Wainright standing beside her, its head on a level with! hers, and calling her sir.”
With a sudden shiver of fear and wonder she realized what was happening. She was sharing' Rhone's mind,' and Khone had earlier shared it with someone else.
Conway!
For some time Cha Thrat had been aware of Prilicla's! voice in her earpiece, but the words were just sounds without meaning to her already overloaded mind. Then she felt its warmth and sympathy and reassurance all around her, and the pain and confusion receded a little so that the meaning came through.
Cha Thrat, my friend, the empath was saying, please respond. You have been holding onto the patient's fur for the past few minutes, not doing anything and not answering us. I am on the roof directly above you, and your emotional radiation distresses me. Please, what is wrong? Have you been stung?”
N-no, she replied shakily, there is no physical damage. I feel badly confused and frightened, and the patient is—”
I can read your feelings, Cha Thrat, Prilicla said gently, but not the reason for them. There is nothing to be ashamed of, you've already done more than could be reasonably expected of you, and it was unfair of us to let you volunteer for this operation in the first place. We are in danger of losing the patient. Please withdraw and let me perform the surgery—”
No, Cha Thrat said, feeling Rhone's body twitch in her hands. The long, silvery tendrils that were the or-ganic conductors tor metelepathy-by-wire were still lying across her head, and anything Cha Thrat felt or heard or thought was immediately available to Khone, who did not like the idea of an alien monster operating on it, for reasons that were both personal and medical. Cha Thrat added, Please give me a moment. I'm beginning to regain control of my mind. You are, Prilicla said, but hurry. Incredibly, it was her mind-partner who was doing most to aid the process. In common with the rest of its long-suffering and nightmare-ridden species, it had learned how to control and compartmentalize its thinking, feelings, and natural urges so that the enforced loneliness necessary to avoid a joining was not only bearable but, at times, happy. And now the Conway-memories of Sector General and some of its monstrous patients were surging into the forefront of her mind.
Be selective, Khone was telling her. Use only what isuseful.
All the memories and experience of a Sommaradvan warrior-surgeon, a Gogleskan healer, and half an Earth-human lifetime spent in Sector General were hers, and with that vast quantity of other-species medical and physiological expertise available she could not believe that, even at this late stage, the Khone case was hopeless. Then from somewhere in that vast and incredibly varied store of knowledge, the glimmerings of an idea began to take shape.
I no longer feel that surgical intervention is the answer, she said firmly, even as a last resort. It is unlikely that the patient would survive.”
Who the blazes does it think it is? Murchison said angrily. Who's in charge of this op, anyway? Prilicla,pin its ears back!”
Cha Thrat could have answered both questions, butdid not. She knew that her words and tone had been wrong for someone in her lowly position—she sounded much too self-assured and authoritative. But there was no time for either long explanations or pretensions of humility, and it would be better if the true explanation was never given. With any luck Pathologist Murchison would believe, and go on believing, that Cha Thrat was a self-opinionated maintenance technician and one-time trainee nurse with delusions of grandeur and, for the time being at least, the team leader was leaving her ears unpinned.
Explain, Prilicla said.
Quickly Cha Thrat reviewed the current clinical picture, gravely worsened now by the extreme debilitation that, even in a healthy Gogleskan, followed a joining. When she said that Rhone lacked the strength and physical resources to withstand major surgery—it would have to be a cesarean procedure rather than a simple enlargement of the birth opening—she spoke with absolute certainty because she had the patient-healer's viewpoint of the case as well as her own. But she did not mention that, saying instead that Rhone's emotional radiation would confirm her observations.
It does, the empath said.
She went on quickly. The FOKT classification is one of the few life-forms capable of resting in the upright position, although they can also lie down. Since their ancestors emerged from the oceans, their bodies and internal organs have been acted on by vertical G forces, as are those of the Hudlars and Tralthans and Rhenithi. I am reminded of a case in Tralthan Maternity a few years ago that was broadly similar to this one and required—”
You didn't learn that from Cresk-Sar, Murchison broke in suddenly. Trainee nurses aren't told about the near-failures, at least not in first year.”
I liked to study odd cases outside me syuauus, ^u * Thrat lied smoothly, and I still do, when I'm not engrossed in a maintenance manual.”
Her emotional radiation would tell the Cinrusskin that she was lying, but it could only guess at what she was lying about. All it said was Describe your procedure.”
Before I do, she went on quickly, please remove the canopy from the litter and reposition the gravity grids to act laterally in opposite directions. Set the body restraints to the size and weight of the patient under anything up to an alternating plus and minus three Gs. Move the probe into the passageway, so I can step from it onto the roof. Hurry, please. I'm bringing out the patient now and will explain on the way...”
Cradling the barely conscious Khone in two medial arms and with all of her free hands gripping its fur tightly to make it feel that it was still joined to a friend, she climbed awkwardly onto the roof and sidled back the way she had come. Prilicla hovered anxiously above her all the way, Naydrad complained bitterly that its litter would never be the same again, and Murchison reminded it that they had a maintenance technician, or something,with them.
She continued to grip the Gogleskan's fur while Naydrad expertly fitted the restraints and Murchison attached an oxygen supply to all breathing orifices. With her head touching Rhone's and the long, silvery tendrils still making contact, she checked that the other had a clear view of the scanner display, which she in her present awkward position did not, then braced herself and gave the signal to begin.
Cha Thrat felt her head and upper limbs being pulled sideways as Naydrad fed power to the gravity grid positioned above the patient's head. It was difficult to keep her balance because her lower body and legs were out-side the influence of the artificial gravity field. But so far I as Khone was concerned, it was tied upside-down to the litter under double, increasing to treble and Gogleskan standard gravity pull.
Heart rate irregular, Prilicla reported quietly. Blood pressure increasing in the upper body and head, respiration labored, minor displacement of thoracic organs, but the fetus hasn't moved.”
Shall I increase the pull to four Gs? Naydrad asked, looking at Prilicla. But it was Cha Thrat who replied.
No, she said. Give it two Gs alternating as rapidly as possible between normal and reverse pull. You've got to try to shake Junior loose,”
Now she was being knocked from side to side, as if by the soft, invisible paws of some great beast, while the patient was suffering the same maltreatment in the vertical plane. She managed to keep her head and the hands gripping Khone's fur steady, but she was feeling a growing nausea that reminded her of childhood bouts of travel sickness.
Friend Cha Thrat, are you all right? Prilicla asked. Do you wish to stop?”
Can we spare the time?”
No, the empath replied, then: The fetus is moving! It is—”
Reverse, two Gs steady, Cha Thrat said quickly, effectively standing Khone on its head again.
—now pressing against the upper womb, Prilicla continued. The umbilical is no longer being compressed, and pressure on the blood vessels and nerve linkages in the area has been relieved. The muscles are beginning rapid, involuntary contractions...”
Enough to expel the fetus? she broke in.
No, it replied. They are too weak to complete thebirth process. In any case the fetus is sun noi in me optimum position.”
Cha Thrat used a swear word that was definitely not Sommaradvan, and said, Can we reposition and refocus the gravity grids so as to pull the fetus into the proper position for—”
I would need time to— Naydrad began.
There isn't any time, said Prilicla. I'm surprised friend Khone is still with us.”
This was not going nearly as well as the remembered case in the Tralthan maternity ward had gone, and there was no consolation in telling herself that, in this instance, the life-form was strange and the operating facilities virtually non-existent. Khone's mind was no longer sending or receiving impressions, so that she could not even make the Last Apology to it for her failure.
Please do not distress yourself, friend Cha, the Cinrusskin went on, beginning to tremble violently. No blame can be attached to you for attempting a task that, because of the peculiar circumstances, none of us were able to do. Your present emotional radiation is worrying me. Remember, you aren't even a member of the medical team, you have no authority, and the responsibility for allowing you to try this procedure is not yours... You have just thought of something?”
We both know, Cha Thrat said, so quietly that her voice reached only Prilicla, that I have made it my responsibility. And yes, I've thought of something.”
In a louder voice she went on quickly. Naydrad, we need a rapid one-G push-pull this time, just enough to keep the fetus moving. Danalta, the muscle wall around the womb is thin, and relaxed due to the patient's unconsciousness. Will you produce some suitable limbs and hands? Prilicla will tell you the size and shape needed, and use the scanner to direct your movements of thefetus into the proper position. Murchison, will you stand by to help withdraw it, if or when it is born?”
Apologetically she added, I cannot assist you. For the time being it would be better if I retained the closest possible physical contact with the patient. My feeling is that, unconscious or not, it will derive a greater measure of emotional comfort from my doing so.”
Your feeling is correct, Prilicla said. But time is short, friends. Let's do it.”
While Naydrad kept the fetus twitching slowly within the womb, and Danalta, using appendages whose shape and movements would give Cha Thrat bad dreams for many nights to come, tried to press and turn it into optimum position, she tried desperately to get through to her deeply unconscious mind-partner.
You will be all right. Your child will be all right. Hang on, please don't die on me!
It was like thinking into a black and bottomless pit. For an instant she thought there was a flicker of awareness, but it was probably that the feeling had come because she wanted it to be so. She turned her head slightly, so as not to break contact with the long, silvery tendrils, and wished that she was in a position to see the scanner display.
It's in optimum position now, Prilicla said suddenly. Danalta, move your hands lower. Be ready to press when I tell you if the fetus starts turning again. Naydrad, two Gs steady, down!”
For a moment there was silence except for the whistling of the distorters, which now seemed to be wavering in intensity as they labored like the patient, on reduced power, to perform their function. Time was running out for both of them. Everyone's attention was on Khone,and even Prilicla was watching the scanner display too intently to describe what it was seeing.
I see the head! Murchison said suddenly. The top of the head only. But the contractions are too weak, they aren't helping very much. The legs are at maximum spread, but the fetal head is moving down, then back again, by a fraction of an inch with each contraction. Shall I try surgical enlargement of the—”
No surgery, Cha Thrat said firmly. Even if the patient survived it, she had shared Rhone's mind and knew that serious psychological damage would result from the inflicting of a surgical wound—not to mention the aftermath when close physical contact would be necessary to provide treatment and change dressings—on one whose species was virtually untouchable. The brief physical and mental contact with Conway and Cha Thrat had knocked a large hole in Rhone's Gogleskan conditioning, but psychologically it was still a strong and very rigidstructure.
But there was no time to explain her feeling or argue her point of view. Murchison had straightened up and was looking questioningly at Prilicla, who shook in the emotional winds blowing from all sides but said nothing. It would be better if we tried to assist the natural process, Cha Thrat went on. Naydrad, I want alternating positive and reverse gravity again, this time between zero and three Gs down, initially for the next five contractions. And watch out for major displacement of other organs. This species has never been subjected to increased G forces—”
I see the whole head now! Murchison broke in excitedly. And shoulders. Dammit, I've got the wee bugger!”
Naydrad, Cha Thrat said quickly, maintain threeGs down for a moment until the afterbirth is out, then return to normal gravity conditions. Murchison, place the newborn between the digital clusters just to the left of my head. My feeling is that Rhone will derive greater reassurance from holding on to its little one than from me holding on to its parent.”
She watched as Rhone's digits curled instinctively around the tiny form, which looked to the Sommaradvan part of her mind like a slimy, twitching little horror and which the Gogleskan portion insisted was a thing of indescribable beauty. Reluctantly she lifted her head from Rhone's and released her grip on its fur.
Your feeling is accurate, Cha Thrat, Prilicla said, The patient, although still unconscious, is already emoting more strongly.”
But wait, Murchison said worriedly. We were told that it must be conscious if it was to take care of the newborn properly. We've no idea what...”
She broke off because Cha Thrat, who now knew everything that the Gogleskan healer had known, was busily doing all that was necessary. It was contrary to her Sommaradvan upbringing to tell a deliberate lie, but the situation was fraught with ah1 sorts of interpersonal difficulties and was too complicated for her to take the time needed to tell the truth.
Instead, Cha Thrat waited until the umbilical had been neatly severed and sealed off and the patient's lower limbs disposed more comfortably, then said smoothly, There are a number of physiological similarities between the FORT life-form and my own and, in any case, we females have certain instincts in these matters.”
The Earth-human shook its head doubtfully and said, Your female instincts are a lot stronger,and more preccisely directed, than mine.”
Friend Murchison, Prilicla said, its voice sounding loud because all but two of the distorters had ceased their whistling, let us discuss female instincts at a more convenient time. Friend Naydrad, replace the litter canopy, turn up the internal heating three points, and maintain a pure oxygen atmosphere and watch out for signs of delayed shock. The emotional radiation indicates a condition of grave debility, but it is stable, there is no immediate danger, and circulation and mobility are returning to the lower limbs. We will all feel better, and especially the patient, when it has the ship's intensive-care equipment looking after it. Please move quickly.
All except Cha Thrat, it added gently. With you, my Sommaradvan friend, I would like private words.”
Driven by Naydrad and with Danalta and Wainright flanking it, the litter was already moving off. But Pathologist Murchison was hanging back, its face deep pink and wearing an expression that Cha Thrat could now read and understand.
Don't be too hard on it, Prilicla, Murchison said. 1 think it did a very good job, even if it is inclined to forget who's in charge at times. I mean, well, let's just say that with Cha Thrat, Maintenance Department's gain was the medical staff's loss.”
As Murchison turned abruptly to hurry after the litter, Cha Thrat watched it from three different and confusing viewpoints and with three sets of very mixed feelings. To her Sommaradvan mind it was a small, flabby, and unlovely DBDG female. To the Gogleskan mind it was just another off-planet monster, friendly but frightening. But from her Earth-human viewpoint it was an altogether different entity, one that for many years she had knownto be highly intelligent, second only to Thornnastor in its professional standing, friendly, sympathetic, fair-minded, beautiful, and sexually desirable. Some of these aspects of its personality had just been demonstrated, but the sudden physical attraction Cha Thrat felt toward it, and the associated mind-pictures of horrible alien grapplings and intimacies, frightened her so badly that the Gogleskan part of her mind wanted to call for a joining.
Murchison was a female Earth-human and Cha Thrat was a female Sommaradvan. She had to stop feeling this stupid attraction toward a member of another species who was not even male, because in that direction lay certain madness. She remembered the discussion about Educator tapes with the wizard, O'Mara, and her own experience of sharing her mind with those of Kelgians, Tralthans, Melfans among others.
But that was not her experience, she reminded herself firmly. She was and would remain Cha Thrat. The Gogleskan and Earth-human who seemed to be occupying her mind were guests, one of them a particularly troublesome guest where thoughts of the entity Murchison were concerned, but they should not be allowed to influence her personal feelings. It was ridiculous to think, or feel, otherwise.
When the disturbing figure of Murchison had disappeared into the middle distance and Cha Thrat was feeling more like herself than two other people, she said, And now, I suppose, comes the pinning back of the ears of a big-headed and grossly insubordinate technician with delusions of medical grandeur?”
Prilicla had alighted on the roof above Khone's doorway so that its eyes would be on a level with Cha Thrat's. It said gently, Your emotional control is excel-lent, friend Cha. I compliment you on you But your supposition is wrong. However, your obvious understanding of the Earth-human terms you have just used, and your earlier behavior during a very tricky clinical situation, leads me to speculate about what might possibly have happened toyou.
I am merely thinking aloud, you understand, it went on. You are not required, in fact you are expressly forbidden to say whether my speculations are accurate or not. In this matter I would prefer to remain officiallyignorant.”
It was evident from the first few words that the empath knew exactly what had happened to Cha Thrat, even though its certainties were mentioned as suspicions. It suspected that Cha Thrat had shared minds with Rhone, that the Gogleskan's mind had previously been shared with that of Conway, and it was the Diagnostician's medical expertise and initiative that had surfaced before and during the birth of Khone's child. For this reason the Cinrusskin was not offended by the incident —a Senior Physician was far outranked by a Diagnostician, even one who was temporarily in residence within the mind of a subordinate'. And neither would the other team members feel offended if they were to suspect thetruth.
But they must not suspect, at least until Cha Thrat was safely lost in the maintenance tunnels of Sector General.
From your recent emotional radiation, Prilicla went on, I suspect that you had strong if confused feelings of a sexual nature toward friend Murchison that were not pleasant for your Sommaradvan self. But consider the intensity of Murchison's embarrassment if it suspected that you, an entity of a completely different physiologi-cal classification forced by circumstances to work in close proximity with it, were regarding it with the eyes and the same strength of feeling as that of its life-mate. And if the others were to suspect as well, the emotional radiation from the team would be extremely painful and distressing to me.”
I understand, Cha Thrat said.
Pathologist Murchison is highly intelligent, the Cinrusskin continued, and in time she will realize what has happened, if she doesn't learn it from Khone first. That is why 1 would like you to explain this delicate situation to friend Khone at the first opportunity, and ask for its silence in this matter.
Friend Khone, Prilicla added gently, has the memories and feelings of Cha Thrat as well as Con way.”
For a moment Cha Thrat could not speak as the Gog-leskan healer's mind threatened to engulf her own with its peculiar mixture of fear, curiosity, and parental concern. Finally she said, Will Khone be able to speak?”
I have the feeling, not a suspicion, that both our Gogleskans are doing well, Prilicla replied, shaking out its wings in readiness for flight. But now, if we don't end this conversation soon, the others will wonder what I am doing to you, and will be expecting you to arrive back bruised and bleeding.”
The idea of Prilicla inflicting any kind of injury on anyone was so ridiculous that even a Gogleskan as well as a Sommaradvan and Earth-human considered it funny. Cha Thrat laughed out loud as, with the down-draft from the empath's wings stirring her hair, they followed the others back to the lander.
You realize, friend Cha, the empath said, its trembling limbs a visible apology for the words that would diminish her pleasure, that O'Mara will have to be told.”