"Morrison, William - Country Doctor - v1.0" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morrison William)

Once I get it outside, he repeated. Provided I get outside myself.
He waded through the pond again. As he reached the shallow part of the blue liquid, a voice came to himЧthis time his wife's voice. "Larry, are you all right?"
"Doing fine. How are the kids?"
"They're with me. They woke up during the excitement, and I brought them along."
"You didn't tell me that before!"
"I didn't want to upset you."
"Oh, it doesn't upset me in the least. Nothing like a nice family picnic. But how do you expect them to go to school in the morning?"
"Oh, Larry, what difference does it make if they miss school for once? A chance to be in on something like this happens once in a lifetime."
"That's a little too often to suit me. Well, now that I know they're here, let me talk to them."
Evidently they had been waiting for the chance, for Jerry's voice came at once. "Hiya, Dad."
"Hiya, Jerry. Having a good time?"
"Swell. You oughtta be out here, Dad. There are a lot of people. They're treatin' us swell."
Martia cut in. "Mom, he isn't letting me talk. I want to talk to Daddy too."
"Let her talk, Jerry. Go ahead, Martia. Say something to Daddy."
A sudden blast almost knocked out his eardrum. "Dad, can you hear me?" Martia screamed. "Can you hear me, Dad?"
"I can hear you, and so can these animals. Not so loud, sweetheart."
"Gee, Dad, you oughtta see all the people. They took pictures of me and Mom. Oh, we're so thrilled!"
"They took pictures of me too, Dad," said Jerry.
"They're sending the pictures all over. To Earth and Venus, and everywhere. We're gonna be on television too, Dad. Isn't it exciting?"
"It's terrific, Martia. You don't know what this does for my morale."
"Aw, all she thinks about is pictures. Mom, make her get away from the microphone, or I'll push her away."
"You've had your chance, Martia. Let Jerry talk again."
"You know what, Dad? Everybody says you're gonna be famous. They say this is the only animal of its kind ever discovered. And you're the only person ever went into it. Can I go down there too, Dad?"
"No!" he yelled.
"Okay, okay. Say, Dad know what? If you bring it back alive, they're gonna take it to Earth, and put it in a special zoo of its own."
"Thank them for me. Look, Jerry, did they get the animal's mouth open yet?"
"Not yet, Dad, but they're bringing in a great big machine."
The Captain's voice again: "We'll have the mouth open soon, Doctor. Where are you now?"
"Approaching the valve again. Having you heard anything that could be useful? Maybe some explorer or hunter might be able to tell you something about space-cowsЧ"
"Sorry, Doctor. Nobody knows anything about space-cows."
"That's what you said before. All right, Captain, stand by for further news. I've got a shoal of these tadpole beasts in attendance. Let's see what happens now."
"They're not attacking, are they?"
"Not yet."
"You feel all right otherwise?"
"Fine. A little short of breath, though. That may be the result of tension. And a little hungry. I wonder how this beast would taste rawЧmy God!"
The Captain asked anxiously, "What is it?"
"That valve I paralyzed. It's working normally once more!"
"You mean it's opening and closing?"
"The same rhythm as before. And every time it closes, it squeezes those oxygen tubes. That's why I sometimes feel short of breath. I have to get out of here!"
"Do you have enough drug to paralyze the valve again?"
"No, I don't. Keep quiet, Captain, let me figure this out."
"That valve I paralyzed. It's working normally once more!" place to take off from.
He might have dived safely through the opening during the near-second when the muscles were far apart. But there was no place for a take-off. He had to approach up a slippery slope, hampered by uniform and lines. And if he misjudged the right moment to go through, he'd be caught when the valve closed again.
He stood there motionless for a moment, sweat pouring down his forehead and into his eyes. Damn it, he thought, I can't even wipe it away. I've got to tackle this thing half blind.
Through one partially fogged eyeplate he noticed the tadpole creatures approaching more closely. Were they vicious after all? Were they coming closer because they sensed that he was in danger? Were they closing in for the kill?
One of them plunged straight at him, and involuntarily he ducked. The thing turned barely aside at the last moment, raced past him, slithered out of the blue liquid, and squirmed up the slope toward the valve.
Unexpectedly, the valve opened to twice its previous width, and the creature plunged through without trouble. "Doctor Meltzer? Are you still all right?"
"I'm alive, if that interests you. Listen, Captain, I'm going to try getting through that valve. One of the tadpole beasts just did it, and the valve opened a lot wider to let it through."
"Just how do you expect to manage?"
"I'll try grabbing one of the beasts and hitch-hike through. I just hope it isn't vicious, and doesn't turn on me."