"Gordon R. Dickson - The Last Master" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

Ett walked out. Dr. Carwell went with him, stripping off the gown and dropping it in a laundry cart as
they walked, along with his mask and cap. They both headed down a short stretch of white corridor
toward the lobby of the clinic.
тАЬNot even those,тАЭ said Ett. He looked sideways at Carwell, who was fully as tall as he was and must
weigh over a hundred and thirty kilos. тАЬItтАЩs not taking?тАЭ

тАЬToo early to say that,тАЭ Carwell answered. тАЬItтАЩs only a large percentage, not all, of our patients who
show a reaction during the first few minutes after treatment. In fact, you must have been told by whoever
talked to you before I did that thereтАЩs no telling. Reaction can come any time, up to several weeks later,
gradually or suddenly, any way. It can even come in more than one increment.тАЬ

тАЬIt seems to me,тАЭ said Ett, тАЬI heard that strong positive reactions usually come suddenly, and soon.тАЭ

тАЬA majority of them, a majority of them,тАЭ said Dr. Carwell. They were approaching the admitting desk,
and the physician spoke to the receptionist on duty there. тАЬMr. HoтАЩs chart, please. IтАЩll sign him out.тАЭ

He turned to the white-clad male attendant standing by the desk.

тАЬLooks like we wonтАЩt need you, after all, Tom,тАЭ he said. тАЬMr. Ho has had a fine, uneventful response to
treatment. Wait. On second thought, youтАЩd better just walk with him to his vehicle, to make sure.тАЭ

He turned back to Ett and offered his hand.

тАЬWell, Mr. Ho,тАЭ he said, as they shook, тАЬyouтАЩd better take it easy physically for the next twenty-four
hours, just on general principles. Call us right away, of course, if you feel any unusual sensations, mental
or physical. And check back with me three days from now, at this time. Say one p.m., Thursday?тАЭ

Ett nodded, and turned.

тАЬYou really donтАЩt need to come out with me,тАЭ he said to Tom. тАЬI can find my way to an autocar by
myself.тАЭ

тАЬNo trouble,тАЭ said the attendant. тАЬAnd itтАЩs regulations. When you come back on Thursday, check in
with the lobby desk here and ask for meтАФTom Janus. IтАЩll come get you then, too.тАЭ

He led the way to the front of the lobby and the transparent glass doors there parted before them.

тАЬSee you Thursday, then,тАЭ Tom said.

тАЬYes, thanks,тАЭ answered Ett, and stepped out to the autocar rank. Settled in one of the vehicles, he told
it to take him to the Dancing Waters Hotel, and then sat back against the cushions as it pulled away from
the clinic. He would rather have returned to stay on board thePixie as he normally did, for reasons of his
own preferences as well as his finances; but the conditions under which RIV was given required he spend
the next three days in a nearby hotel where the rooms had been equipped to monitor his physical state at
all times, and this was one expense which the public grant that paid for the treatment did not cover.

The cost of the hotel was a relatively large expense in terms of EttтАЩs meager savings; but it could not be
helped. In any case, cost was beside the point now that he was committed. He stood leaning on the
railing of the little balcony attached to his minisuite, watching the sunlight slanting across the green island
landscape.