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

could have kept her at his side, but that wasn't possible.

He glanced at the wall clock. The satellite had a 13-hour day, but an
arbitrary 24-hour time unit had been adopted. This didn't matter, as
there was nothing on the surface to attract people, although he enjoyed
the magnificent panorama of the planet and the stars. He often visited the
small observation bubble to see it. It was almost 12 noon now. There was
still a long day ahead.

He gave instructions to an orderly to bring sandwiches at 1.15 and
carried on with the surgery. The work was monotonous and
uncomplicated. He didn't allow himself to think about the people whose
limbs he was removing without their permission. What would they feel
when they revived at a hospital behind the lines? That problem would
have to be taken care of when it arose. The patients would have to be kept
under sedation until their limbs were regenerated.

And what of those whose limbs didn't regenerate or failed to regenerate
correctly? Who was going to explain to them? He pushed the thought
away. He had enough to worry about at present. It was times like this that
he wished he had never become a surgeon. Even with the many modern
aids to surgery, his constant gambling with people's lives had a corrosive
effect upon him. After the war, perhapsтАж But he knew, deep within
himself, that he could never give up medicine, even if it killed him, as it
very well might.

At 1.15 sharp, the refreshments came. He was joined by Donlevy and
Laura McDonald. The two surgeons lounged on a couch, exhausted, and
wondered where they would find the reserves of strength they were going
to need.

"How close do you think the Enemy are?" Donlevy's tone was desultory,
betraying his fatigue.

"Brandt was very careful not to say. He probably doesn't know. They're
almost certain to be closer than we think. They could make the trip from
Canopus Four to here in a few hours, if their ships are as fast as ours. It
depends on how long it takes them to mop up the Canopus system. If they
want to make sure of closing the pincers on this system, they'll secure their
rear first. Still, we might not make it."

He glanced at Laura as he said that.

She smiled slightly to indicate that she appreciated his concern.

"We'll just have to wait and see, won't we? Do you think Essenden will
cause trouble?"

"I hope not, for all our sakes. Dissension at this time will do no one any
good. Brandt can handle him, if necessary. I think Essenden's sense of