concentric waves from head totail. “Don’t worry about it. If we had more than
oneSommaradvan, I couldn’t tell the difference either.”
Suddenly the Hudlar stopped and, looking past itsspeaking membrane, she saw why.
The whole group ofl trainees had halted and Cresk-Sar was beckoning to af Melfan
and the other two Kelgians.
“This is a Tralthan post-op recovery ward,” it said.l You two will report here
after lectures every day until] instructed otherwise. You don’t need protective
suits,; the air is breathable, and trace quantities of Tralthan) body odor
should be ignored. Go in, you’re expected.”
When the party was on its way again she noticed aJ few of the trainees detaching
themselves without being told, and assumed that they had joined the class
earlier and had already been assigned wards. One of them was her Hudlar crowd
controller. Very soon the group had shrunk until there was only the DBLF and
herself left, and Cresk-Sar was pointing at the Kelgian.
“This is a PVSJ medical ward,” it said briskly. “You will be met inside the lock
antechamber and instructed in the use of your protective envelope before going
through. You will then—”
“But they’re chlorine-breathers in there!” the Kelgian protested, its fur
standing out in spikes. “Can’t you give me a ward where I can at least breathe
the air? Do you try to make it as difficult as possible for the new people? What
happens if I accidentally rupture my suit?”
“To answer your questions in turn,” the Senior Physician replied, “No. You’ve
discovered that. And the nearby patients would have their existing injuries
complicated by oxygen contamination.”
“What about me, stupid?”
“You,” Cresk-Sar said, “would suffer chlorine poisoning. And what the Charge
Nurse would do to you if you recovered doesn’t bear thinking about.”
She had to concentrate so hard on keeping pace with the Senior Physician as they
descended three levels, and traversed seemingly endless and overpopulated
corri-dors, that there was no chance to ask what she would be expected to do.
But then Cresk-Sar stopped at an enormous lock entrance that was visually
identified in the Galactic Federation’s principal written languages—but which
did not, of course, include Sommaradvan—and answered the unasked question.
“This is the hospital’s AUGL ward,” it said. “You will find that the patients,
all natives of the ocean work! of Chalderescol, are among the most visually
fearsome beings you are ever likely to encounter. But they are harmless so long
as you—”
“The A prefix^” Cha Thrat broke in urgently, “denotes water-breathers.”
“Correct,” the Nidian said. “What’s wrong? Is there a problem O’Mara didn’t tell
me about? Are you uncomfortable or afraid in water?”
“No,” Cha Thrat said. “1 enjoy swimming, on the surface. The problem is my lack
of a protective garment.”
Cresk-Sar barked and said, “There is no problem. The more complex protective
equipment for heavy-gravity, high-pressure, and elevated temperature work needs
time to produce, but a simple, water-impermeable, contoured envelope with air
and communication systems is an easy job for the fabricator. Your suit is
waiting for youinside.”
This time the Senior Physician went with her, explaining that, as she was a new
life-form to the hospital, it had to ensure that her equipment functioned
properly and comfortably. But in the event, it was the being waiting for them in
the lock antechamber who immediately took charge and did all the talking.
“Cha Thrat,” it said briskly, “I am Charge Nurse Hredlichli, a PVSJ. Your
protective envelope is in two pieces. Climb into the lower half, pulling on one
leg at a time, in whichever order you find most convenient,using the heavier
arms encircling your waist. Use the same four arms to pull on the top half,
inserting the head; and four shoulder-mounted arms first. You will think that
the limb end-sections are small, but this is to ensure a tight fit and maximum
sensitivity for the digits. Don’t seal the waist joint until you know that your
air supply is working. When you are sealed in, I’D show you the systems checks
that must be performed at every dressing. Then you will remove the envelope and
put it on again, repeating the process until we are both happy with your