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

walk.тАЭ

The other did not speak, but it leaned backward slightly so that its enormous
weight was balanced on the middle and rear tentacles. The two forelimbs uncurled
suddenly, and before he could react, one had wrapped itself around his waist while
the other pinioned his legs together at knee level while he was swung high into the
air and deposited gently onto the litter. Their grip was firm but not uncomfortable,
and he did not try to break free, because the tentacles felt hard, like warm, flexible
metal, and immensely strong.

During the brief moment that he was airborne, Hewlitt saw that the limbs
encircling him could act as both arms or legs. On the back of each one there was a
roughened knuckle on which the creature walked while the more delicate
extremity that divided into fingers was curled upward and inward away from the
ground. Then the litter's padded body restraints swung inward to immobilize his
upper legs, the vehicle's transparent canopy rose from each side but did not close
at the top, and a hinged backrest unfolded until he was sitting upright. At least he
was being allowed to hear as well as see whatever was going on around him

Remembering the many previous litter rides in Earth hospitals, when there had
been nothing to look at but a boring succession of white corridor ceilings and strip
lighting fixtures, he appreciated that

"Whether they are patients or staff," said the nurse, making no mention of the way
it had just manhandled, or something-handled, him, "newcomers usually find
traveling the corridors of Sector General on foot to be an intimidating experience
at first. You may consider yourself fortunate that as a patient you are not allowed
to walk.тАЭ

"But I am able to walk!" Hewlitt protested as the litter was guided smoothly
toward the corridor exit

"Most of our incoming patients," said the other, "are in no condition to walk, talk,
look around them, or argue with their nurse. It is a general rule that cannot be
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changed because of one exceptional case.тАЭ

The door opened at their approach. Hewlitt immediately closed his eyes, and it
was several seconds before he could force himself to open them again. All at once
he was very glad of the thick, transparent canopy surrounding him

Creatures out of the worst nightmares he had ever experienced, and a few new
ones that he would probably have whenever he next went to sleep, were passing in
both directions along the wide corridor, and the occasional human being among
them only made the others look worse. Some of them were separated by a few
yards, but more often they were clumped together into groups moving at different
speeds who jostled past each other. There were massive, multitentacled beings