sutures, and assisting the patient’s breathing by applying positive pressure
ventilation to the remaining undamaged lung, there had been very little that
they could do. Certainly there was no way of treating the brain damage aboard
Rhabwar, and their efforts at charting the extent of that damage had resulted in
conflicting indications from the biosensors and Doctor Prilicla’s empathic
faculty. The sensor indications were that cerebral activity had virtually
ceased, while the little empath insisted, insofar as the timid, shy,
self-effacing Prilicla could insist, otherwise.
“No physical movement and no change in the clinical picture since you left,”
Murchison said quietly, anticipating his question. She added, “I’m not at all
happy about this.”
“And I am far from happy, Doctor,” the Charge Nurse joined in its fur twitching
and rippling as if it was standing in a strong wind. “In my opinion the being is
dead and we are simply insuring that Thornnastor receives a fresher than usual
specimen to take apart.
“Doctor Prilicla,” the Kelgian went on, “is often guilty of saying things which
are not completely accurate just so long as they make the people around it
happy, and the predominant radiation it detected from the patient was of pain.
The feeling was so intense, you will remember, that Prilicla asked to be excused
as soon as the operation was completed. In my opinion. Doctor, this patient is
no longer capable of cerebration but it is, judging by Prilicla’s response,
suffering intense pain. Surely your course is clear?”
“Naydrad!” Conway began angrily, then stopped. Murchi-son and the Charge Nurse
had expressed exactly the same sentiments. The difference was that the Kelgian,
in common with the rest of its species, was incapable of using tact.
Conway stared for a moment at the two-meters-long, caterpillar like life-form
whose coat of silvery fur was in constant, rippling motion. This motion was
completely involuntary among Kelgians, triggered by their reactions to external
and internal stimuli, and the emotionally expressive fur complemented the vocal
apparatus which lacked flexibility of tone. But the patterns of movement in the
fur made it plain to any Kelgian what another felt about the subject under
discussion, so that they always said exactly what they meant. The concepts of
diplomacy, tact, and lying were therefore completely alien to them. Conway
sighed.
He tried to conceal his own doubts about the case by saying firmly, “Thomnastor
much prefers putting together a live spec-iment than taking apart a dead one.
As. well, on a number of occasions Prilicla’s empathy has proved more
trustworthy than medical instrumentation, so we cannot be absolutely sure that
this case is hopeless. In any event, until we reach the hospital its treatment
is my responsibility.
“Let’s not become too emotionally involved with this patient,” he added. “It is
unprofessional and not like either of you.”
Naydrad, its fur twitching angrily, made a sound which did not register on
Conway’s translator, and Murchison said, “You’re right, of course. We’ve seen
much worse cases and I don’t know why I feel so badly about this one. Maybe I’m
just growing old.”
“The onset of senility could be one explanation for such uncharacteristic
behavior,” the Kelgian said, “although this is not so in my case.”
Murchison’s face reddened. “The Charge Nurse is allowed
to say things like that but you, Doctor, had better not agree with it,” she said
crossly.
Conway laughed suddenly. “Relax. I wouldn’t dream of agreeing with such a
blatantly obvious misstatement,” he said. “And now, if you have everything you
think Thorny will need on our friend here, both of you get some rest. Emergence
is in six hours. If you can’t sleep, please try not to worry too much about the
casualty or it will bother Prilicla.”
Murchison nodded and followed Naydrad from the Casualty Deck. Conway, still
feeling more like a not very well patient than a medic in charge, set the
audible warning which would signal any change in the EGCL’s condition, lay down
on a nearby litter, and closed his eyes.
Neither the Earth-human DBDG or the Kelgian DBLF classifications were noted for
their ability to exercise full control over their mentation, and it was soon
obvious that Murchison and Naydrad had been worrying and, in the process,