`Anything I can do?’ the medical officer asked without taking his eyes from the big `Dini. `Biggest one I’ve ever seen,’ he added in a low tone to Thian.
`Me, too,’ Thian agreed, grabbing at whatever lightening he could find in this crisis.
Another blur of motion and the `Dini medic extracted instruments from the pack it had brought and then quickly shoved small objects in two orifices which Mur obediently opened.
The big `Dini sat back on its tail, crossing its forward appendages across its upper torso. Dip clicked softly and received an affirmative and, Thian was glad to hear, a reassuring clack.
He inhaled and leaned against the door jamb, abruptly feeling the let-down of recent exertions.
THIS ONE RESPONDS WELL, the `Dini said, pulling itself to its two feet.
`01
WHAT OCCURRED TO MAKE MRG UNWELL? Thian asked, echoing Dip’s more quickly spoken query.
NOT OFTEN BUT SOMETIMES SHOCK OF ADJUSTMENT TO NEW ENVIRONS. TOO DRY AN AIR IMPURE. CANNOT BE PREDICTED. THIS PARTICULAR COLOUR PRONE TO SUCH REACTIONS. DPL ADJUSTED AS REQUIRED OR WOULD HAVE REACTED ALSO. MEDICATION WILL PREVENT RECURRENCE. SPEEDY HUMAN REACTIONS PREVENTED TRAGEDY. GRATITUDE FROM ALL. IT IS GOOD HUMAN THN IS AHEAD WITH FLEET.
`Will the `Dini be all right?’ the medic asked.
Weak with relief, Thian nodded. `Seems Mur had environmental adjustment shock.’ `Oh?’ Thian wondered how he was going to avoid criticizing the ship’s air and water. `Dehydration,’ he said hurriedly. `From coming so far in a capsule.
It’ll be fine once the medication takes effect. You can see how much better its colour is already.’ `Ah, yes, it is. Ah, would you thank the medic for us — extend professional courtesies .
HOW IS LARGE ONE CALLED? Thian said, assuming the most courteous posture. THE HUMAN MEDICAL PERSON WISHES TO GIVE THANKS.
THANKS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY RAPID CARE AND OBVIOUS CONCERN. THIS ONE CALLED SBLIPK.
Sbl bowed politely towards the ship’s doctor who quickly bobbed back.
Thian took a deep breath and concentrated hard on pronouncing the `Dini’s name as correctly as he could. A name that long only reinforced the importance of this `Dini personage.
`He thanks you, Dr…’ `Exeter,’ themedic supplied.
`For rapid care and obvious concern,’ Thian said with a weak grin.
`His name is Sblipk.’ Thian managed it creditably and saw Dip flick a digit in approval.
`Exeter,’ the medic said, holding out his hand to the `Dini.
When Sbl took it without hesitation, Thian’s relief was compounded. This `Dini had been among humans long enough to be comfortable with that convention. The fleet might not know how lucky it was to have such a personage as the `Dini medical officer.
EXTR, the `Dini replied after pumping the doctor’s hand three times.
Exeter laughed and, when his expression suggested that he wasn’t sure if laughter would be understood, Thian reassured him.
EXTR, MRDINI TYPE NAME, Sbl said in reasonably understandable Basic.
Those listening in – and sickbay seemed well populated at the moment – murmured in surprise.
Thian, who had been holding himself tightly closed, opened up briefly, to sample reactions. There was pleased surprise and relief.
There was also some disbelief and incredulity about taking care of `Dini beasts – and the term had derogatory undertones to Thian’s sensitivities – in a human facility. Thian glanced about, trying to see which of the many people in the corridors were anti-‘Dini but without either using a broader empathy range or having a particular target, he could not isolate the antagonists in the group.
His parents had obliquely warned him that not all humans wanted to be partnered with Mrdini: that Thian might find unexpected bias against him because of his close association with `Dinis. He just hadn’t expected to come face to face with it quite so abruptly. Then Sbl touched his arm lightly.
WITH MRDINI COMING AND GOING IT IS WELL FOR EXTR TO KNOW NECESSARY REMEDY, Sbl said to Thian. Taking a writing implement from its belt, it swiftly sketched some letters on a pad which it then handed to Exeter.
`These are the remedies to be used if another `Dini has similar symptoms, Dr Exeter.
The man was staring at the pad. `Why, these are chemical formulae.’ His jaw dropped.