`There’s been a lot of exchange on the scientific levels, Doctor, where it’s easier to find means of expressing constants. Sbl here has probably had some intensive sessions on medical practices,’ Thian said with just a little pride in his friends.
`Well, I’m pleased to have this. Tell him?’ Thian did so and there was another exchange of warm bows and nods.
Just then the remainder of the `Dini medical team arrived with their equipment.
MRG WILL NEED SPECIAL ATTENTION FOR ThIRTEeN HUMAN HOURS, Sbl told him. ITS system MUST BE FLUSHED OF THE POLLUTANTS AND ThOROUGHLY CLEANSED AND ANTIDOTES administered REGULARLY TO PREVENT RECURRENCE.
DPL MAY REMAIN FOR COMFORT. NO MORE EQUIPMENT WILL BE NEEDED.
EXTR MAY WATCH BUT NO OThER HUMANS ARE NEEDED. THIS ONE MUST return TO KLTL, (which Thian recognized as the name of the `Dini vessel) IF THAT CAN BE ARRANGED.
immediately, Thian replied.
WIThOUT SO MUCH HASTE, Sbl added, twitching its head in the manner Thian recognized as signalling good humour WITh GRACE AND DECORUM THIS TIME, Thian said, twitching his head in what he hoped wasn’t a breach of etiquette with so prestigious a personage as Sbl.
`What’s that all about?’ Exeter asked, his eyes darting from one to another.
Thian explained what treatment Mur would be getting and that Sbl preferred that only the doctor of the human staff attend the patient.
Then, because he felt it might do some listeners good, added Sbl’s request for a less dramatic return to the shuttle bay.
Exeter chuckled, nodding his head. `Can’t say as I blame him.
You don’t always pop in and Out of places, do you, Prime?’ `Only in great emergencies, I assure you,’ Thian said. `And I hope the captain is as good a sport about it as you’ve been.’ Exeter raised his eyebrows, his dark eyes twinkling. `Oh, our captain’ll doubtless have a few choice words to say but he’d be a lot less pleased if this had turned out fatal.’ His expression was fleetingly more dour than it had been during the worst of the emergency. `Don’t worry, lad. You acted with the speed required to save a life. Can’t fault that. Now, I am permitted to observe the treatment?’ `That’s the general idea. I’ll get back in touch with you at. ů` and Thian checked the clock, `0300 io6
when it will be completed. Or before if you need me for something.’ Then he turned to the nursing `Dinis.
THIS SMALL ONE NAMED THN. TELL EXTR NAME AND WILL CONTACT FOR QUESTIONS/PROBLEMS/NEEDS.
GRATEFUL. COMPLY, said the larger of the two nursing `Dinis without looking up from the apparatus it was setting up in Mur’s bath tank.
GO. ALL PROCEEDS WELL NOW, Dip added, fingering relief/approval/affection signs with its left appendage. GO MORE SLOWLY. AFFIRMATIVE?
Thian laughed, resting his fingers briefly on the slope from Dip’s head to body before he bowed again to Sbl, and gestured towards the corridor.
The two medics bowed once more to each other.
`Ah, Dr Exeter, can I have directions back to the shuttle bay?’ Thian asked as he realized he didn’t know the pedestrian route.
`Sally, you take `em, will you?’ A girl with short red hair stepped up and saluted.
`This way, sirs.’ And with a smart about-face, she led them down the passageway, a trip that gave Thian far more time to worry about how to mend public relations than he needed.
Thian courteously saw Sbl into the capsule when the corpswoman delivered them to the shuttle bay.
GOOD DREAMS LARGE SBLIPK, Thian said in polite farewell.
DREAMS WILL BE GENTLE was the astonishingly courteous rejoinder.
Even during the brief exchange, Thian sensed, with no great extension of empathy, that the crew were waiting to see what this civilian – the tone in which that title was couched was scathingly critical – would do next. He wondered how his father would have handled such a situation. Except that Afra would never get himself into such a situation.
There was a lot, Thian reluctantly admitted, to be said for the Capellan method of doing things.
At that, he didn’t wish to admit – by contacting his parents for guidance – that he’d come a cropper within minutes of arriving on the Vadim.