James White SG 10 The Final Diagnosis

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Remembering
Patient Hossantir's sleeping arrangements in Ward Seven, he recognized the
double-sized, padded sleeping pit in one corner as the bedroom area. In
contrast to the emptiness of the floor space, the walls were almost hidden by
book and tape racks, pictures and woven hangings whose subjects were unclear,
and narrow, cone-shaped containers of aromatic vegetation
While he was trying to think of something complimentary to say about the
place, Prilicla apologized for the inconvenience of having an ambulance ship
land with no advance warning beside their charming home
"Apologies are unnecessary, Dr. Prilicla," said Crajarron, with a dismissive
wave of one tentacle. "You are the first Cinrusskin we have met and we are
grateful for this very pleasant break in our routine. Can we offer
hospitality, solid or liquid sustenance, perhaps? Our food synthesizer has
many other-species' programs.
"Regrettably, no," said Prilicla, "we have already eaten.
Murchison, Stillman, and Hewlitt looked at the empath, knowing that it could
feel their hunger. It had not told a lie, but neither had it said how long ago
they had eaten
"We came to apologize for the intrusion of our ship," it went on, "which is
engaged on an investigation into an incident that occurred when friend Hewlitt
was a child living here with its parents. While we were here it wished to
visit its file:///F|/rah/James%20White/Final%20Diagnosis.htm (147 of 266)
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Final Diagnosis.htm old home and, bearing in mind its sudden departure
following the flyer accident, to ask if you knew what had happened to an
entity to which it was emotionally attached at that time.
Hewlitt stared at the others in turn. Stillman looked as puzzled as he himself
felt, but Murchison did not look surprised at all. His cat must have died of
illness, accident, or old age years ago. Why was Prilicla asking questions
about it now?
Crajarron turned two of its eyes in Hewlitt's direction and said, "Do you mean
the small, furry Earth-being of limited intelligence called Snarfe? It was
adopted by another Earth-human household, but it refused to stay there and
kept returning to its old home. When we came to live here we found it
wandering about the house and garden. Later we learned that some members of
its species form attachments for persons and others for places. It had a
friendly disposition and, once we learned its dietary requirements and how not
to step on it when it tried to attract our attention by climbing our legs, it
remained with us as a house pet." ' Hewlitt blinked, remembering that
well-loved cat when it had been little more than a kitten, and feeling
surprised by his sudden feelings of sorrow and loss. But
Crajarron was making a strange, irregular hissing sound that did not
translate. He realized that it was a Tralthan's attempt at making the
push-wushing sound Earth-
people made when trying to attract the attention of a cat only when Fudge
appeared in the entrance and stalked slowly toward him
Nobody spoke as the cat stopped, looked up at him, then began to circle his
feet, butting his ankles and gently lashing his lower legs with the thick,
furry tail. It was a form of nonverbal communication that had no need of
translation. He stooped, picked it up with both hands, and held it against his
chest and shoulder. When he ran his fingers gently from its forehead along its
back, the tail stiffened and it began to purr
"Fudge," he said, "I certainly didn't expect to see you again. How are you?
Prilicla flew closer and said, "Its .emotional radiation is characteristic of
a very old and contented entity who is without physical or mental distress and
is presently enjoying the stroking of its fur. If it could speak it would tell
you that it is well, file:///F|/rah/James%20White/Final%20Diagnosis.htm (148
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Final Diagnosis.htm and to please continue what you are doing. Friend
Murchison, you know what to do.
"Yes indeed," the pathologist replied, producing her scanner. ''Crajarron,
Surriltor, may I?" To Hewlitt she added, "This won't hurt at all, just hold it
steady for a moment while I scan. I'm recording for later study, if
necessary.
Fudge must have thought that she was playing a new game, because it took a
double swipe at the scanner with claws sheathed, then returned to the
enjoyment of the petting while she completed the examination
"Do you wish to reclaim your property, Earth-person Hewlitt?" said Crajarron.
Both Tralthans were directing all of their eyes at him, and he did not need an
empathic faculty or the sight of Prilicla trembling to know that the
inter-species social relations were cooling fast
"Thank you, no," he said, returning Fudge to the floor. "Plainly the cat likes
it here and would be unhappy elsewhere, but I am grateful for this opportunity
to renew an old friendship.
The atmosphere thawed at once, Prilicla regained flight stability, and Fudge
transferred its affections to Surriltor by jumping onto one of the Tralthan's
massive feet. A few minutes later their polite exchange of farewells was
interrupted by the house communicator's double chime, signaling an incoming
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call
It was Dr. Hamilton
"Sorry I won't be able to answer your questions in person, Dr. Prilicla," he
said.
"Stillman will have told you that I'm visiting the Vespara establishment on
Yunnet right now. One of the joys of being an other-species peripetetic
dentist on this world. How can I help you?
While Prilicla was explaining what it wanted, the two Tralthans, not wanting
to eavesdrop on what might be a private conversation, moved to a corner of the
room and raised their hush field. Hewlitt stared hard at the screen, trying to
remember file:///F|/rah/James%20White/Final%20Diagnosis.htm (149 of 266)
[7/1/03 1:38:07 AM]
Final Diagnosis.htm the other's face and voice, but the only memory that came
was of shining instruments and hands projecting from white cuffs. Perhaps he [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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