distant, brightly lit twin that shone through the green dimness of,the ward. It
went on, “But don’t worry, the patient will know all about the operation of the
equipment and will prefer to help itself. Most of them dislike using the thing,
you’ll find that Chalders embarrass easily, and any who are not immobilized will
prefer to use the room marked with that symbol. It is a long, narrow compartment
barely large enough to contain one Chalder and is operated by the user.
Extraction and filtration of the wastes is automatic, and if anything goes wrong
it is a Maintenance problem.”
Hredlichli’s appendage rose again to point toward theconfusion of shapes at the
other end of the ward. “If you need help with a patient, ask Nurse Towan. Most
of its time is being spent with a seriously ill patient, so don’t distract it
unnecessarily. Later today I shall instruct you on the Chalder optimum pulse
rate, pressure, and body temperature, and how and where to obtain them. The
vital signs are taken and recorded at regular intervals, the frequency depending
on the condition of the patient. You will also be shown how to sterilize and
dress surgical wounds, which is not a simple job on a water-breather, and in a
few days you may be allowed to do it yourself. But first you must get to know
your patients.”
The appendage was pointing at a doorless opening into the main ward. A sudden
paralysis seemed to be affecting all twelve of Cha Thrat’s limbs, and she tried
desperately to delay any movement by asking questions. “Nurse Towan,” she said.
“What species is it?” “An AMSL,” the Charge Nurse replied. “A Creppel-lian
octopoid, and Sector General qualified, so you have nothing to worry about. The
patients know that we are being assigned a new-species trainee and are expecting
you. Your body configuration is well suited to the water medium, so I suggest
that you go in and begin by teaching yourself how to move about the ward.”
“Please, a further question,” Cha Thrat said desperately. “The AMSL is a
water-breather. Why aren’t all of the medical attendants here water-breathers?
Wouldn’t it be simpler if they were Chalders, the same species astheir
patients?”
“You haven’t even met a patient and already you’re trying to reorganize the
ward!” Hredlichli said, producing another appendage from somewhere and
gesticulating with them both. “There are two reasons why we don’t do as you
suggest. One is that very large patients can be effectively treated by small
medics, and SectorGeneral was designed with precisely that situation in mind.
The second is structural. Personnel accommodation and recreation space is at a
premium here, and can you imagine how much of it would be taken up by the
life-support requirements of, say, a basic medical and nursing staff of one
hundred water-breathing Chalders?”But enough of this,” the Charge Nurse said
impatiently. “Go into the ward and act as if you know what you’re doing. We’ll
talk later. If I don’t go for lunch this instant, they’ll find me in a corridor
dead from malnutrition …”
It seemed like a very long time before she was able to venture into the green
immensity of the ward, and then she swam only as far as a structural support
less than five body-lengths from the entrance. The harsh, angular contours of
the metal had been visually softened by irregular areas of paint and the
attachment of artificial foliage, Cha Thrat saw as she swam around it, no doubt
to make it resemble the vegetation of the home world.
Hredlichli had been right; she was able to adapt quickly to movement in water.
When she kicked out with her feet and simultaneously swept the four mid-arms
downward, she spurted forward and coasted for three body-lengths. When one or
two of the mid-arms were held steady and the hands angled, quite delicate
directional and positional control was possible. Previously she had never been
able to remain under water for more than a few moments, and she was beginning to
really enjoy the sensation. She continued to circle the structural member,
moving up and down its entire length and examining the artificial vegetation
even more closely. There were clusters of what could have been underwater fruit,