"Brad Ferguson - To Tell The Troof" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ferguson Brad)

both, McAleer couldnтАЩt tell. Her eyes closed again; her body relaxed as she
drifted off.
 тАЬYouтАЩre driving, Zweebl,тАЭ McAleer said as he settled himself in the back.
He wet some more of the tissues with what was left in the canteen and
began wiping the womanтАЩs face again; she didnтАЩt stir at the touch of the
cool water, nor did the sound of Zweebl starting the turbines seem to
disturb her.
тАЬHey!тАЭ Klatho squealed above the roar. тАЬWhen I going to get canteen
back, huh?тАЭ
тАЬSoon,тАЭ McAleer answered calmly.
тАЬHell with that,тАЭ Klatho retorted. тАЬWant it back now.тАЭ
тАЬDrive, Zweebl,тАЭ McAleer said firmly, and they were off, with Klatho
squeaking odd, unheard curses behind them.
It was Sabbath night now. McAleer was spending it comfortably enough
in the visitorsтАЩ chair in his study; the pilot тАФ DANEY, EDITH MANUS,
according to her necktags тАФ was sleeping in his room. She had roused
several times, but only briefly, since McAleer and Zweebl had gotten her
back to the residence. A more careful scan by McAleer upon their return
had shown that Edith had suffered no concussion or other head injury; he
judged that she was simply exhausted.
McAleer and Zweebl had spent most of an evil hour getting the rest of
her spacesuit off, an hour during which Edith roused only once. McAleer
had taken on the job of taking out EdithтАЩs urinary catheter and dumping
the honey bag; he noticed some evidence of irritation and applied the
appropriate medication. With ZweeblтАЩs assistance, McAleer also gave
Edith a washrag bath, which she sorely needed; the priest estimated sheтАЩd
been in the suit for a week, perhaps longer. HeтАЩd also had to treat an
outbreak of severe dermatitis on EdithтАЩs back, buttocks and limbs. EdithтАЩs
suit, which stank abominably of sweat and waste, was airing out in the
mission courtyard.
McAleer was awakened by a sound from his bedroom door. The handle
rattled as it was opened. тАЬHello?тАЭ came a voice.
McAleer rose. тАЬHello there, Miss Daney. Please come in.тАЭ He waved the
study lights on.
Edith Daney entered the room, clad in a pair of McAleerтАЩs pajamas.
They fit poorly; Edith stood a foot shorter than McAleer and was
compactly built. Her face was still swollen with sleep; her close-cropped
black hair was sticking up in spikes randomly.
Nevertheless, when she smiled at McAleer, she glowed. тАЬI really donтАЩt
know where I am,тАЭ she said. тАЬOn Henderson, I hope.тАЭ
 McAleer smiled back. тАЬYes, you are. IтАЩm Mort McAleer. YouтАЩre at St.
PolycarpтАЩs mission. WeтАЩre on the outskirts of the town closest to the field.тАЭ
тАЬYou picked me up?тАЭ Edith asked. тАЬHowтАЩs my ship?тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩm afraid itтАЩs a dead loss.тАЭ
Edith sighed, frowning. тАЬPoor old girl. I hope she didnтАЩt hurt much. Um,
IтАЩm afraid I donтАЩt remember anything about the landing.тАЭ
тАЬIt was good enough. YouтАЩre here, after all.тАЭ
Edith smiled slightly. тАЬI guess it was. Thanks for taking care of me, Mr.
McAleer.тАЭ
тАЬNo thanks necessary. Glad to help. How are you feeling?тАЭ