being used. Now, would either of you agree that the observed emotional radiation
and apparent lack of physical injury could be the result of it being in a
hibernation anesthesia condition?”
Before either of them could reply, Conway added, “Since there is no evidence of
the presence of the power-hungry,
complex refrigeration systems which we associate with suspended animation
techniques, just three sets of tubing entering its body, would you also agree
that the life-form is a natural hibernator?”
There was a short silence, then Murchison said, “We are familiar with the idea
of long-term suspended animation being associated with star travel—that used to
be the only way to do it, after all, and the cold-sleeping travelers would
require neither air nor food during their trips. In the case of a life-form with
the ability to go periodically into a state of hibernation for planetary
environmental reasons, a minimal supply of food and air would be required. It is
quite possible that the natural process of hibernation could be artificially
initiated, extended, and counteracted by specific medication and the food
supplied intravenously, as seems to be the case with our friend here.”
“Friend Conway,” Prilicla said, “the survivor’s emotional radiation pattern
agrees in every particular with the hypothesis of hibernation anesthesia.” •
Captain Fletcher was not slow on the uptake. He said, “Very well, Doctor. The
survivor has been in this condition for a very long time, so there is no great
urgency about moving it or the other survivors we might find to the hospital.
But what are your immediate intentions?”
Conway was aware of a multiple, purely subjective silence as the party on the
alien’s hull and the communications officers who were listening in on Rhabwar
and Tyrell held their collective breath. He cleared his throat and said, “We
will examine this section of space station, if that is what it is, as closely as
possible without entering it, and simultaneously make as detailed a visual
examination of the survivor as we can using the Eye, and then we will all try to
think.”
He had the feeling, very strong and not at all pleasant to judge by the
trembling of Prilicla’s spidery limbs, that this was not going to be an easy
rescue.
For a little over three hours, the duration remaining to their lightweight
suits, they did nothing but think as they examined the exterior of the wreck and
what little they could see of its occupant, slowly adding data which might or
might not be important. But they thought as individuals, increasingly baffled
individuals, so that it was not until they met on Rhabwar’s Messdeck and
recreation level that they were able to think as an equally baffled group.
Tyrett was represented by its Captain, Major Nelson, .and Surgeon-Lieutenant
Krach-Yul, while Major Fletcher and the astrogation officer, Lieutenant Dodds,
furnished the required military balance for Rhabwar. Murchison, Prilicla,
Naydrad, and Conway—who were, after all, mere civilians—filled the remainder of
the deck space with the exception of the empath, who was clinging to the safety
of the ceiling.
It was Prilicla, knowing that nobody else felt ready to contribute any useful
ideas, who spoke first.
“I feel that we are all agreed,” it said in the musical trills and clicks of the
Cinrusskin tongue, which emanated from their translator packs as faultless if
somewhat toneless speech in the languages of Kelgia, Orligia, and Earth, “that
the being is in a state of suspended animation, that there is a high probability
that it is not a patient but a survivor who should be returned to its home world
as soon as convenient if this planet can be found, and that the need to move it
is not an urgent one.”
Lieutenant Dodds looked at Fletcher for permission to speak, then said, “It
depends on what you mean by urgent, Doctor. I ran a vectors and velocities check
on this and the other pieces of wreckage within detector range. These bits of
alien vessel or space station occupied roughly the same volume of space
approximately eighty-seven years ago, which is when the disaster must have
occurred. If it was a ship I don’t think it was heading for the nearby sun since