"Donald Malcolm - The Unknown Shore" - читать интересную книгу автора (Malcom Donald)

He handed a copy to Rangone who scrutinized it. He was about to
comment when Major Essenden said: "The military personnel will have to
be excluded, of course, sir."

Brandt stood to his full height of six feet, two inches, dwarfing the
burlier, but shorter, junior officer.

"You forget yourself, Major. I make the decisions here. You dispute
them at your peril."

Essenden's face went gray, like faded parchment, and he wilted under
Brandt's contempt. The cowardice story could be true. Essenden fell into
silence.

Brandt turned back to the surgeon. "If there's anyone on the list you feel
can help you, please let me know now."

The communicator buzzed and Brandt answered it, while Rangone
checked the list again. When Brandt was finished talking, Rangone
informed him that he needed no one on it.

"Templeton has everything ready at the ship. I'll be here if you want to
discuss anything important. Anything you want done will get top priority."

Rangone saluted and, as he left, he heard Brandt giving the two officers
their instructions. The whole installation would have to be destroyed.
Nothing was to be left for the Enemy. He smiled grimly as he walked along
the corridors. For all anyone knew, the place might be of no use to the
Enemy. No one had ever seen them. They might be 20 feetтАФor 20 inches
tall.

When he reached his office, he put out a call for Barbara, then went
into the operating theater. Briefly he told Donlevy what was to be done,
and the assistant soon had everything under way. Within minutes, the
first patient was on the table. The anesthetic was given and it acted
quickly. The chart indicated that the man's injuries weren't serious. In any
case, laser surgery was so highly developed that it had no side effects. It
healed as it cut.

He set to work. As he made his skillful incisions, another patient was
wheeled in, and Donlevy took over the first patient when Rangone had
finished his work. Laura had thoughtfully pulled a divider down the center
of the large room, blocking off the operating area. Orderlies waited
unobtrusively in the background, ready first to put the living limbless
trunks into sterilized bags already in position on the conveyor and then to
dispose of the severed limbs.
 The first man was finished. Rangone was sweating. Unbidden, a nurse
came forward to wipe his brow. Barbara entered as another patient was
brought in and apologized for the delay in answering his call. He outlined
the situation, and she left to join Templeton at the ship. He wished that he