what he wanted done. When he finished, Fletcher looked grave.
“I’m aware of Prilicla’s condition, Doctor,” the Captain said. “Naydrad has been
in and out of the ship so often it is threatening to wear out the boarding tube,
and each time it returns we get an update on the empath’s progress, or rather
lack of it. And there is no need to belabor the point about our respective
responsibilities. Obviously you wish to use the ship for an unauthorized mission
and you are concealing the details so that any blame attached to me as a result
of a future inquiry will be minimal. You are cutting comers again, Doctor, but
in this instance I sympathize and will accept any instructions you care to
give.”
Fletcher broke off, and for the first time in Conway’s experience of the man
the Captain’s cold, impassive, almost disdainful expression softened and the
voice lost its irritatingly pedantic quality. “But it is my guess that you will
order me to take Rhabwar to Cinruss,” he went on, “so that our little friend can
die among its own kind.”
Before Conway could reply, Fletcher had switched him to Naydrad on the Casualty
Deck.
Half an hour later the Kelgian Charge Nurse and Conway were transferring
Prilicla, who was barely conscious and trembling only slightly by then, from
its supporting harness to a powered litter. In the corridor leading to Lock Nine
none of the medical staff questioned their action, and when any of them looked
as if they might, Conway tapped irritably at the casing of his translator pack
and pretended that it was malfunctioning. But when they were passing the
entrance to the EGCL’s room, Murchison was just leaving it. She stepped quickly
in front of the litter.
“Where are you taking Prilicla?” she demanded. She sounded desperately tired and
uncharacteristically angry, so much so that the empath began to twitch weakly.
“To Rhabwar” Conway said as calmly as he could. “How is the EGCL?”
W»*~~UVIfc—W VTI II
Murchison looked at the empath, then visibly tried to control her feelings as
she replied, “Very well, all things considered. Its condition is stable. There
is a senior nurse continually in attendance. Edanelt is resting next door, only
seconds away if I anything should go wrong, but we don’t expect any problems. In
fact, we are expecting it to recover consciousness fairly soon. And Thornnastor
has returned to Pathology to study the results of the tests we did on Prilicla.
That’s why you shouldn’t be moving Prilicla from — ”
“Thornnastor can’t cure Prilicla,” Conway said firmly. He looked from her to the
litter and went on, “I can use your help. I Do you think you can stay on your
feet for another couple of hours? Please, there isn’t much time.”
Within seconds of the litter’s arrival on Rhabwar’s Casualty Deck, Conway was on
the intercom to Fletcher. “Captain, take us out quickly, please. And ready the
planetary lander.”
“The planetary — ” Fletcher began, then went on, “We haven’t undocked yet, much
less reached Jump distance, and you’re worrying about landing on Cinruss! Are
you sure you know what — ”
“I’m not sure of anything, Captain,” Conway said. “Take us out but be prepared
to check velocity at short notice, and well within Jump distance.”
Fletcher broke the connection without replying, and a few seconds later the
direct vision port showed the vast metal flank of the hospital moving away.
Their velocity increased to the maximum allowed in the vicinity of the
establishment, until the nearest section of the gigantic structure was a
kilometer, then two kilometers away. But nobody was interested in the view just
then because all of Conway’s attention was on Prilicla, and Murchison and
Naydrad were watching him.
“Back there,” the pathologist said suddenly, “you said that even Thornnastor
could not cure Prilicla. Why did you say that?”
“Because there was nothing wrong with Prilicla,” Conway said. He ignored
Murchison’s unladylike gape of surprise and Naydrad’s wildly undulating fur and
spoke to the empath. “Isn’t that so, little friend?”
“I think so, friend Conway,” Prilicla said, speaking for the
StO IUM UtlNtMAL 63
first time since coming on board. “Certainly there is nothing wrong with me now.