classification should not be allowed to give them feelings of inferiority,
because the degree of physical evolution is controlled by environmental factors
and bears little relation to the degree of intelligence…”
Species with the prefix A, B, or C, it went on to explain, were water-breathers.
On most worlds, life had originated in the sea, and these beings had developed
intelligence without having to leave it. D through F were warm-blooded
oxygen-breathers, into which group most of the intelligent races of the
Federation fell, and the G and K types were also oxygen breathing, but
insectile. The Ls and Ms were light-gravity, winged beings.
Chlorine-breathing life-forms were contained in the O and P groups, and after
these came the more exotic, the more highly evolved physically, and the
downright weird types. Into these categories fell the radiation-eaters, the
ultra-cold-blooded or crystalline beings, and entities ca-pable of modifying
their physical structure at will. However, those beings possessing extrasensory
powers, telekinesis, or teleportation sufficiently well developed to make
ambulatory or manipulatory appendages unnecessary were given the prefix V
regardless of their size, shape, or environmental background.
‘There are anomalies in the system,” the Senior Physician continued, “and these
must be bjamed on the lack of imagination and foresight of the originator. The
AACP life-form, for example, has a vegetable metabolism. Normally the A prefix
denotes a water-breather, there being nothing lower on our evolutionary coding
scale than the piscatorial life-forms. But the double-A prefix, the AACPs, are
mobile, intelligent vegetables, and plant life evolved before the fish.
“And now,” it said, looking at the chronometer again, “you will meet some of
these weird and wonderful and perhaps horrifying creatures. It is the hospital’s
policy to give you the earliest possible opportunity of getting to know and work
with the patients and staff members. Regardless of your position or seniority in
your home-planet hospitals, your rank here will be that of Junior or Trainee
Nurse—until, that is, you can convince me that your professional competence
warrants a higher rating.
“I am not easy to convince,” Cresk-Sar added as it began moving toward the exit.
“Follow me, please.”
It was not easy to follow the Senior Physician because it moved fast for such a
small being, and Cha Thrat had the feeling that the other trainees were more
experienced in navigating the hospital corridors than she was. But then she
noticed that the Hudlar—the FROB—was falling behind as well.
“For obvious reasons,” the FROB said as they drew level, “the people here give
me plenty of room. If youwere to stay directly behind me, together we might
significantly increase our speed.”
She had a sudden and shocking feeling of unreality, as if she had been plunged
into a nightmare world that was both terrifying and wonderful, a world in which
courtesy was being shown by a horrendous beast that was capable of tearing her
apart without straining a muscle on one of its six tentacles. But even if this
were a dream, the proper response had to be made.
“You are most considerate,” she said. “Thank you.” The being’s membrane vibrated
but the sound did not translate. Then it said, “About the nutrient paint you
noticed earlier, to complete your information and to show how close your
deductions were to the actuality, the paint is not necessary at home. There the
atmosphere is so dense and thickly packed with edible, floating organisms that
it resembles a semiliquid soup, a food source that, because of our high
metabolic rate, is absorbed continuously. As you can see, the last paint
application has almost disappeared and is due for renewal.”
Before she could reply, one of the Kelgian DBLFs fell back and said, “I was
nearly walked on by a Tralthan just now. This looks like a good idea. There’s
room for one more.”
It moved closer to Cha Thrat so that they were both protected by the Hudlar’s
massive body. Choosing her words carefully, she said, “I do not wish to give
offense, but I cannot tell the difference between one Kelgian and another. Are
you the DBLF whose fur I was admiring during the lecture?”
“Admiring, you used the right word!” the Kelgiansaid, its fur running in