"James White - SG 10 - The Final Diagnosis" - читать интересную книгу автора (White James)

The ship's Orligian medical officer did not speak as it escorted him into and along
the boarding tube to the hospital entry point, and that was the way Hewlitt wanted
it. He did not like extraterrestrials and, on the few occasions when it was
necessary, he preferred to discuss his business with them on a long-range
communicator that was not fitted with a viewscreen. He did not like this one
because the brownish-grey spikes of fur projecting through the gaps in its body
covering twitched from time to time, making him itch at the thought of the
parasites that might be infesting the creature. He felt a great relief when they left
the narrow tube and entered the reception area beyond, because he was able to
move farther away from the hairy, unprepossessing entity

Another extraterrestrial of a type he had never seen before was standing beside an
antigravity litter and obviously awaiting their arrival. This one was very large,
heavily built, and supported by six thick tentacles, one of which was encircled by
a band bearing what was presumably the insignia of rank or identity of the wearer.
It wore no other body covering and he was relieved to see that it was hairless,

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although its personal hygiene was suspect since there were several patches of what
looked like dry, flaking paint on the smooth skin of its flanks. He could see two
lidless, recessed eyes covered by a hard, transparent material, but no other features
apart from a fleshy membrane growing like a cock's comb from the top of its head,
and whose purpose was revealed as an organ of speech when the creature moved
closer and vibrated it at him

"I am awaiting the arrival of a DBDG patient," it said. "You are plainly an Earth-
human of the DBDG physiological classification, but you do not appear to be
traumatized or displaying any lesser form of distress. Perhaps I have made a
mistake and you are notтАФтАЭ

"No mistake, Nurse," said the Orligian, breaking in. "I am Surgeon-Lieutenant
Turragh-Mar, of the Monitor Corps supply vessel Treevendar, which was
requested to convey this patient from its home world to Sector General. But now I
must return to my ship without delay. This is Patient Hewlitt, and these are its case
notes.тАЭ

"Thank you, Doctor," said the nurse, accepting the tape and slipping it into a
recess on the litter's control panel. "Is there any more recent clinical information
that the physician-in-charge should know about?тАЭ

Turragh-Mar hesitated, then said, "There has been no change in the patient's
clinical condition since it was transferred from the planetary hospital to
Treevendar six days ago. It remained as you see it now, apparently in good health.
During that time I formed the opinion that, in spite of its long and complicated
case history, there is a psychological component to the patient's problem.тАЭ

"I understand, Doctor," said the nurse. "But Patient Hewlitt can be assured that,