"Theodore Sturgeon - Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" - читать интересную книгу автора (Sturgeon Theodore)

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Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea by Theodore Sturgeon



"Thank you, sir."

The captain herded Dr. Hiller gently over the sick bay sill and glanced back before he let the door
swing shut. Young Smith was looking upward like a chicken-farmer thinking about sparrow-hawks,
and from the little hatch of the mini dangled shoes, shanks, and bony knees, between which leaned
the horse face of the CPO Gleason.

Gleason said, apologetically, "Sorry to break in on your social life, Commodore, but there's an
important matter of operational procedure awaiting your attention." Suddenly he dropped a can of
metal polish like a bomb (Smith caught it) and roared, "Git back to work!"

Young Smith got a foot on the top gudgeon of a torp tube and leapt, catching the rim of the hatch
while Gleason rolled deftly out of the way. Sticking the can of polish in his back pocket, he pulled
himself upward. Gleason's unmusical voice began some sort of chant, the tune of which Crane could
not quite place. He shrugged, smiled, and followed the others into the sick bay. "And now," Nelson
was saying, "see whether or not it's worth-while getting sick aboard."

Seaview had more hospital space than many a liner, and certainly more than any sub afloat. Dr.
Hiller exclaimed in very real delight at the compact dental equipment, complete with X-ray, folded
out of a cabinet the size they used, not long ago, for sterile gauze swabs. From a similar cubbyhole
came an amazingly comprehensive medical reference library on microfilm, along with an efficient
little projection system and a quick-finder index. Urged by the Admiral to go right ahead, she
investigated the autoclave, the pharmacy, the drugs and stores. She was crossing to the inboard
bulkhead, where stood an adjustableтАФvery adjustableтАФexamining table, when an inner door opened
and an officer, tall, thin, in his mid-forties, walked in. "Admiral!... Captain... I'm sorry. I didn't know
you were here."

"Dr. Hiller, this is Dr. Jamieson, our sawbones. You know Admiral Crawford. And this is
Congressman Parker."

Dr. Jamieson barely acknowledged the introductions, barely took his eyes from the woman. "Are
youтАФthat Dr. Hiller? Dr. Susan Hiller?"

"I suppose I am..."

"Gentlemen," said Dr. Jamieson, "we have in our midst a very distinguished person. Dr. Hiller
wroteтАФ"

Nelson laughed. "We know who she is, Doc. That's why she's with us. She's here to do stress
observations."

"We're very fortunate," said the doctor warmly. "Have you any idea how important to us all these
psychological observations have been? Why, the size of these cabins, the color of the wallsтАФthe air
temperature and humidity, the way food is cooked and served, even the layout of dials and