"James White - Custom Fitting" - читать интересную книгу автора (White James)

More quietly he went on, "Scrennagle wants to make a good first impression, naturally; but we as a
species must also make a good impression on him. So it is probably safer in many respects to let him
wear a blanket, even though it lacks both imagination and dignity. But, Hewlitt, if you want to tailor
something more elaborate for the first ambassador from the stars, it must be exactly right for the
occasion. Do you want to take on such a heavy responsibility?"

Hewlitt's vocal equipment seemed to be completely paralyzed by a combination of extreme anxiety and
sheer joy at what was the ultimate challenge not only to an individual, but to a member of one of the
oldest crafts known to mankind. He nodded.

Fox's relief was obvious. He said, very seriously, "You are assuming a large part of the responsibility
which is properly mine. I'm grateful, and if you have any suggestions which might help..."

"Even if they are none of my business?" Hewlitt asked; then he added, "My tailoring business, that is."
"Go on," Fox said warily.

"We were discussing dressed-up horses just now," Hewlitt went on. "My client resembles a horse much
more than he does a human being. He is too much of a diplomat to complain; but put yourself in his place
for a moment and think of the effect on you of the pomp and pageantry, the transport arrangements
andтАФ"

"Scrennagle has already studied and adapted himself to the more personal aspects of our civilization,"
said Fox. "At meals he lies with legs folded underneath his body, allowing his erect torso to rise to a
comfortable height for eating and conversation. Since he has no lap, the napkin remains folded by his
plate. Where toilet facilities are concernedтАФ"

"I was thinking," said Hewlitt, "of how he might feel about horses pulling him or their being ridden by
human beings. I would suggest that a state limousine rather than a coach be used, and that the escort and
guards be chosen from regiments other than the Household Cavalry or Horse Guards. There are several
physiological similarities between Scrennagle and terrestrial horses. Not as many as those between an
ape and a human being; but it might be better not to have too many animals around which closely
resemble the visiting ambassador, wouldn't you say?"

"I would say," Fox said, and swore quietly. "Somebody should have thought of that."

"Somebody just did," Hewlitt said, opening the door and motioning Fox to precede him over the broken
glass and back to the fitting room, where the most important client an Earth tailor had ever had was
waiting and gently stamping all four of his feet.

"My apologies for the delay, sir," said Hewlitt politely, "but I now have a clearer idea of what is expected
of me and of you, sir. Before I resume measuring, do you have any allergies toward certain materials, or
any particularly sensitive areas, which might cause you discomfort?"

Scrennagle looked at Fox, who said, "We have investigated this matter in great detail; and there is a long
list of items which could cause troubleтАФsome of them serious troubleтАФif they were allowed to remain in
contact with His Excellency's skin for long periods.

"The situation is this," he continued. "Extraterrestrial pathogens cannot live in human bodies, and vice
versa. This means that we cannot possibly contract a disease from Scrennagle and he is likewise
impervious to our germs. However, purely chemical reactions are a different matter. One of the things