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lack of imagination by its originators. One of the species present in the
observation gallery was a case in point-the AACP type with its vegetable
metabolism. Normally the A prefix denoted a water breather, there being
nothing lower in the system than the piscatorial life forms. But the AACPs
were vegetables and plants had come before fish.
... Great stress is laid on the importance of a rapid and accurate
classification of incoming patients, who very often are in no condition to
furnish this information themselves," Conway went on. "Ideally, you should
reach a stage of proficiency which will enable you to rattle off a
classification after a three-second glimpse of an e-t foot or section of
tegument.
"But look there," he said, pointing.
Over the control desk three screens were alight, and adjacent indicators added
detail to the information contained in the pictures. The first showed the
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
interior of Lock Three, which contained two Earth-human orderlies and a large
stretcher-carrier. The orderlies wore heavy duty suits and anti-gravity belts,
which didn't surprise Conway at all because Lock Three and its associated
levels were' maintained at five Gs with pressure to match. Another screen
showed the exterior of the lock with its transfer servo-mechanisms and the
ship about to make contact, and the third picture was being relayed from
inside the ship and showed the patient. Conway said, "You can see that it is a
heavy, squat life-
form possessing six appendages which serve both as arms and legs. Its skin is
thick, very tough and pitted all over, and is also encrusted in places with a
dry, brownish substance which sometimes flakes off when the patient moves. Pay
particular attention to this brown substance, and to features which seem to be
missing from the body. The tell-tales show a warm-blooded, oxygen-breathing
metabolism adapted to a gravity pull of four Gs. Would one of you like to
classify it for me?"
There was a long silence, then the Creppelian AMSL twitched a tentacle and
said, "FROL, sir."
"Very close," said Conway approvingly. "However, I happen to know that this
being's atmosphere is a dense, nearly opaque soup, the resemblance to soup
being increased by the fact that its lower reaches are alive with small
airborne organisms which it feeds upon. You missed the fact that it has no
eating mouth but absorbs food directly via the pitting in its skin. When
traveling in space, however, the food has to be sprayed on, hence the brownish
encrustation-"
"FROB," said the Creppelian quickly.
"Correct."
Conway wondered whether this AMSL was a little brighter than the others or
just less shy. He made a mental note to keep an eye on this particular batch
of trainees. He could use a bright assistant in his own wards.
Waving goodbye to the furry receptionist, Conway gathered his flock about him
again and headed them toward the FGLJ ward five levels below. After that came
other wards until Conway decided to introduce them to the complex, far flung
department of the Hospital without whose constant and efficient working the
tremendous establishment of Sector General could not have functioned and the
vast multitude of its patients, staff and maintenance personnel could not have
lived.
Conway was feeling hungry, and it was time he showed them where they all ate.
AACPs did not eat in the normal manner but planted themselves during their
sleep period in specially prepared soil and absorbed nutriment in that way.
After seeing them settled he deposited the PVSJ in the dim, noisome depths of
the hail where the chlorine-breathers ate, and this left him with the two
DBLFs and the AMSL to dispose of.
The largest dining hail in the hospital, the one devoted to oxygen breathers,
was close by. Conway saw the two Kelgians placed with a group of their own
species, then with a look of hungry yearning toward the Senior's enclosure he
hurried out again to take care of the Creppelian.
To reach the section catering for the water-breathers necessitated a fifteen
minute walk along some of the busiest corridors of the hospital. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]