nutrient, but when it resumed speaking its voice had lost some of its former
clinical calm.
“The most serious problem for the Hudlar geriatric patient,” it said, “is that
the brain, which requires a relatively small proportion of the available energy,
remains organically unimpaired by the degenerative process until a few moments
after its double heart has ceased to function. Therein lies the real tragedy.
Rare indeed is the Hudlar mind that can remain stable inside a body
whichC.B.E.—-5is disintegrating painfully all around it. You can understand
why this ward, which has been recently extended for the Conway Project, is the
closest that the hospital comes to providing treatment for psychologically
disturbed patients.
“At least,” it added, forcing a lighter tone as they moved to the next patient,
“that was so until you started analyzing your AUGL-One Sixteen.”
“Please don’t remind me of that,” Cha Thrat said.
There was another thick, cylindrical muffler encasing the next patient’s
speaking membrane, but either the sounds the Hudlar was making were too loud for
it or the equipment was faulty. Much of what it was saying, which was clearly
the product of advanced dementia and great pain, was picked up by her
translator.
“I have questions,” Cha Thrat said suddenly. “By implication they may be
offensive to you, and perhaps critical of Hudlar philosophical values and
professional ethics. On Sommaradva the situation within the medical profession
may be different. I do not wish to risk insulting you.”
“Ask,” the other nurse said. “I shall accept your apology, if required, in
advance.”
“Earlier I asked if these patients could be cured,” she said carefully, “and you
have not yet replied. Are they incurable? And if so, why were they not advised
to self-terminate before their condition reached this stage?”
For several minutes the Hudlar continued to sponge stale nutrient from the
second patient’s back without speaking, then it said, “You surprise but do not
offend me, Nurse. I cannot myself criticize Sommaradvan medical practice
because, until we joined the Federation a few generations ago, curative medicine
and surgery were unknown on my world. But do I understand correctly that you
urge your incurable patients to self-terminate?”
“Not exactly,” Cha Thrat replied. “If a servile-healer • or warrior-surgeon or a
wizard will not take personal responsibility for curing a patient, the patient
will not be cured. It is given all the facts of the situation, simply,
accurately, and without the kindly but misguided lying and false encouragement
that seem to be so prevalent among the nursing staff here. There is no attempt
to exert influence in either direction; the decision is left entirely to the
patient.”
While she was speaking the other had stopped working. It said, “Nurse, you must
never discuss a patient’s case with it in this fashion, regardless of your
feelings about our medical white lies. You would be in very serious trouble if
you did.”
“I won’t,” Cha Thrat said. “At least not until, or unless, the hospital once
again gives me the position and responsibilities of a surgeon.”
“Not even then,” the Hudlar said worriedly. “I don’t understand,” she said. “If
I accept total responsibility for a patient’s cure—”
“So you were a surgeon back home,” the other nurse broke in, obviously wanting
to avoid an argument. “I, too, am hoping to take home a surgical qualification.”
Cha Thrat did not want an argument, either. She said, “How many years will that
take?”
“Two, if I’m lucky,” the Hudlar replied. “I don’t intend going for the full
other-species surgical qualification, just basic nursing and the FROB surgical
course, taken concurrently. I joined the new Conway Project, so I’ll be needed
at home as soon as I can possibly make it. “And to answer your earlier
question,” it added. “Believe it or not, Nurse, the condition of the majority of
these patients will be alleviated if not cured. They will be able to lead long
and useful lives that will be pain-free, mentally and, within limits, physically
active.”
“I’m impressed,” Cha Thrat said, trying to keep the incredulity she felt from
showing in her voice. “What is the Conway Project?”
“Rather than listen to my incomplete and inaccurate description,” the Hudlar
replied, “it would be better for you to learn about the project from Conway