Ambulance Ship James White

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Conway looked over at the image of O Mara. Sir, I agree that there is the
most fearful danger of letting loose a virulent infection that could bring about
the collapse of the Federation and cause the technology of many of its
individual worlds to slide back into their particular dark ages. But before we
react we must first know something about the threat we are reacting against. We
must stop and think. Right now we are overreacting and not thinking at all.
Could you speak to the Colonel sensibly, sir, and point out to him that a panic
reaction frequently does more harm than-
Your colleagues are already doing that, the Chief Psychologist replied
dryly, much more forcibly and persuasively than I could, so far without
success. But if you feel that we are all guilty of a panic reaction, Doctor,
perhaps you will demonstrate the kind of calm, logical reasoning that you think
this problem demands?
Why, you sarcastic.. . Conway raged silently. But before he could speak
there was an interruption. Thornnastor s analyzer was displaying bright,
incomprehensible symbols on its screen and vocalizing its findings through the
translator link.
Analysis of samples one through fifty-three taken in Observation Ward One,
A UGL Level, it began tonelessly. General observations: All atmosphere samples
contain oxygen, nitrogen and the usual trace elements in the normal proportions,
also small quantities of carbon dioxide, water vapor and chlorine associated
with the acceptable levels of leakage from the TLTU life-support system and the
Illensan protective suit, and from the expired breaths of the DBDG, DBLF, ELNT,
FGLI and FROB physiological types, as well as perspiration from the first,
second and third of these types. Also present are the phenomes associated with
the body odors of the species present who are not wearing overall body
protection envelopes, including a hitherto unlisted set, which, by elimination,
belongs to the DBPK patient. There are very small quantities of dusts, flakings
and fibers abraded from walls, working surfaces and instruments. Some of this
material cannot be analyzed without a larger sampling, but it is biochemically
inert and harmless. There are also present follicles of Earth-human hair,
Kelgian and DBPK fur, flakes of discarded Hudlar nutrient paint, and scales from
Tralthan and Melfan tegument.
Conclusion: None of the gases, dusts, colloidal suspensions, bacteria or
viruses found in these samples are harmful to any oxygen-breathing life-form.
Without realizing it Conway had been holding his breath, and the inside of
his visor misted over briefly as he released it in a short, heavy sigh of
disappointment. Nothing. The analyzer could not find anything harmful in the
ward.
I m waiting, Doctor, said O Mara.
Conway looked slowly around the ward, at Thornnastor still undergoing
artificial respiration, at the Kelgian theater nurse and the spread-eagled
Melfan, at the silent Gilvesh and the TLTU hissing quietly in a corner, at the
crowded pressure litter and at the beings of several different classifications
attached to breathing masks-and found them all looking at him. He thought
desperately: Something is loose in here. Something that did not show up in the
samples or that the analyzer had classified as harmless anyway. Something that
had been harmless, on board the Rhabwar...
Aloud, he said, On the trip back to the hospital we examined and
dissected several DBPK cadavers, and thoroughly examined and gave preliminary
treatment to the survivor, without body protection and without suffering any ill
effects. It is possible that the beings, Earth-human and otherwise, on the
Rhabwar all had natural immunity, but that, to my mind, is stretching
coincidence beyond its elastic limits. When the survivor was brought into the
hospital, protection became necessary because four different physiological types
practically dropped in their tracks. We have to ask ourselves, In what way were
the circumstances aboard the ambulance ship and in the hospital different?
We should also ask ourselves, Conway went on, the question Pathologist
Murchison asked after completing her first DBPK dissection, which was, How did a
weak, timid and obviously non-aggressive life-form like this one climb to the
top of its planet s evolutionary ladder and stay there long enough to develop a
civilization capable of interstellar travel? The being is a herbivore. It does
not even have the fingernails that are the evolutionary legacy of claws, and it
appears to be completely defenseless.
How about concealed natural weapons? O Mara asked. But before Conway
could reply, Murchison answered for him.
No evidence of any, sir, she said. I paid particular attention to the
furless, brownish area of skin at the base of the spine, since this was the only
feature of the being s physiology that we did not understand. Both male and
female cadavers possessed them. They are small mounds or swellings, four to five
inches in diameter and composed of dry, porous tissue. They do not secrete
anything and give the appearance of a gland or organ that is inactive or has
atrophied. The patches were a uniform pale brown color on the adults. The
survivor, who is a female adolescent or preadolescent, as far as we can judge,
had a pale pink mound, which had been painted to match the coloration of the
adult patches.
Did you analyze the paint? asked O Mara.
Yes, sir, said Murchison. Some of it had already cracked and flaked
off, probably at the time the survivor received its injuries, and we removed the
rest of it while we were giving the patient a preoperative cleanup before moving [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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