Mur clicked in weak protest.
ALL THERE is, Thian said firmly and proffered the liquid. This time the hiccups completely subsided.
Dip had wrung out the towel and was now laying it against Mur’s upper torso. Mur sagged into the supports, but its pelt colour was not returning to a normal hue, and the two lids were still covering the poll eye. BETTER AIR NEEDED? Thian asked.
WISE, was Dip’s reply but it added a questioning suffix.
DOUBLE WISE, Thian said, feeling a soreness develop in the back of his throat which he knew had to be from the air though what was in the cabin was not as contaminated as the air in the shuttle bay.
How the navy could operate in this atmosphere was beyond him. He swung round now to the compact room terminal, wriggling his fingers as he held them above the keyboard indecisively.
Sickbay! That’s what he needed.
There was a hesitant tap on the door.
`Yes,’ and he reached out to throw the latch.
The young lieutenant stood there, a rating behind him, holding Thian’s belongings and the two `Dini pouches.
THANKS, Dip said in a guttural approximation and both seamen stared down at it in utter astonishment.
`I didn’t know they could speak Basic,’ AusterKiely said in an awed whisper.
`These `Dinis can, though their responses are limited to the words they can get their vocal equipment to sound,’ Thian said. `But look, Mur here is not pulling round as it should.’ `He … it … even looks sick, AusterKiely replied, his eyes goggling.
`You don’t have a `Dini medic on board here, do you?’ `On the Vadim?’ The question startled the lieutenant.
`There is a `Dini ship in this squadron, though, isn’t there?’ `Two!’ `How do I contact one? Mur needs more help than I can provide,’ and indeed the gasps coming from the `Dini were causing Dip great consternation to judge by the alteration of its own pelt colour. It proffered another glass of water to Mur.
`No wonder it’s sick if you’re giving him washing water,’ cried AusterKiely, pointing agitatedly at the basin and then at the small cylinder above it: plainly marked `drinking water’.
Thian groaned, scrubbing at his face and wondering how he could have been so stupid. AusterKiely pushed past him now and began tapping keys.
`Sir, medical emergency in Mr Lyon’s quarters. A Mrdini illness.
Urgently request contact with `Dini vessel and their medic.’ `Thanks, Kiely,’ Thian said, leaning weakly against the wall. And he thought himself so responsible yet the first thing he does on his assignment is to poison a `Dini with unpotable water!
`What’s this about a `Dini emergency?’ AusterKiely came to a rigged attention stance, his eyes once more protruding. `Yes, sir, there is, sir.
With an apologetic look, Thian shoved the lieutenant to one side so he was visible to the hoarse-voiced questioner.
`Prime Lyon here,’ Thian said. `My `Dini companion is experiencing difficulties with breathing. I made the mistake of giving it basin water. . `Damned fool “. weren’t you briefed? Why didn’t that young squirt do what he was told to. Thian could have wished any other circumstances had brought him to the captain’s notice so soon but the background noise of Mur’s gasps required immediate action.
`Get some oxygen in here, Kiely,’ he said to the lieutenant.
`Your pardon, sir, this is an extreme emergency. I need to talk to a `Dini medic like right now!’ `I was told, Lyon, that you were fully capable of caring for your. .
`I am, Captain Ashiant, which is what I’m doing, if you will kindly put me through to your communications officer. Explanations must wait.’ To Thian’s increasing anxiety, Captain Ashiant hesitated.
Thian sensed a dislike/distaste/reluctance to communicate with either of the `Dini ships. `Now, Captain, before Mur dies!’ That stern threat prompted action.
`Lieutenant Brikowski, sir,’ a new voice said and the screen cleared to a new face, a gaunt, hatchetface topped off by a cap of short dark hair. `I’m opening a channel but I only have basic `Dini, Mr Lyon —` `Just open the channel.’ AusterKiely had come racing back with a breathing unit – albeit a human one – and didn’t know what to do with it. Snatching the unit from the man, Thian turned the cock on the bottle and passed the mask to Dip.