"Robert A. Heinlein - Stranger in a Strange Land" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

to his feet, and hurried into SmithтАЩs room with Meechum at his heels.
The patient floated in the flexible skin of the hydraulic bed. He appeared to
be dead. Thaddeus swore briefly and snapped, тАЮGet Doctor Nelson!тАЬ
Meechum said, тАЮYessir!тАЬ and added, тАЮHow about the shock gear, Doc?
HeтАЩs far gone.тАЬ
тАЮGet Doctor Nelson!тАЬ
The nurse rushed out. The interne examined the patient as closely as
possible but refrained from touching him. He was still doing so when an older
doctor came in, walking with the labored awkwardness of a man long in
space and not yet adjusted to high gravity. тАЮWell, Doctor?тАЬ
тАЮPatientтАЩs respiration, temperature, and pulse dropped suddenly, uh, about
two minutes ago, sir.тАЬ
тАЮWhat have you done for him, or to him?тАЬ
тАЮNothing, sir. Your instructions-тАЮ
тАЮGood.тАЬ Nelson looked Smith over briefly, then studied the instruments back
of the bed, twins of those in the watch room. тАЮLet me know if there is any
change.тАЬ He started to leave.
Thaddeus looked startled. тАЮBut, Doctor-тАЮ He broke off.
Nelson said grimly, тАЮGo ahead, Doctor. What is your diagnosis?тАЬ
тАЮUh, I donтАЩt wish to sound off about your patient, sir.тАЬ
тАЮNever mind. I asked for your diagnosis.тАЬ
тАЮVery well, sir. Shock-atypical, perhaps,тАЬ he hedged, тАЮbut shock,
leading to termination.тАЬ
Nelson nodded. тАЮReasonable enough. But this isnтАЩt a reasonable case.
Relax, son. IтАЩve seen this patient in this condition half a dozen times during
the trip back. It doesnтАЩt mean a thing. Watch.тАЬ Nelson lifted the patientтАЩs right
arm, let it go. It stayed where he had left it.
тАЮCatalepsy?тАЬ asked Thaddeus.
тАЮCall it that if you like. Calling a tail a leg doesnтАЩt make it one. DonтАЩt worry
about it, Doctor. There is nothing typical about this case. Just keep him from
being bothered and call me if there is any change.тАЬ He replaced SmithтАЩs arm.
When Nelson had left, Thaddeus took one more look at the patient, shook his
head and joined Meechum in the watch room. Meechum picked up his cards
and said, тАЮCrib?тАЬ
тАЮNo.тАЬ
Meechuin waited, then added, тАЮDoc, if you ask me, that one in there is a case
for the basket before morning.тАЬ
тАЮNo one asked you.тАЬ
тАЮMy mistake.тАЬ
тАЮGo out and have a cigarette with the guards. I want to think.тАЬ
Meechum shrugged and left. Thaddeus opened a bottom drawer, took out a
bottle and poured himself a dose intended to help his thinking. Meechum
joined the guards in the corridor; they straightened up, then saw who it was
and relaxed. The taller marine said, тАЮHowdy, pal. What was the excitement
just now?тАЬ
тАЮNothing much. The patient just had quintuplets and we were arguing about
what to name them. Which one of you monkeys has got a butt? And a light?тАЬ
The other marine dug a pack of cigarettes out of a pocket. тАЮHowтАЩre you fixed
for Suction?тАЬ he asked bleakly.
тАЮJust middlinтАЩ. Thanks.тАЬ Meechum stuck the cigarette in his face and talked