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

known, at least two sizes too small. He did not want to lie in bed dressed in this
thing; he wanted to sit in the chair and maintain some feeling of independence by
wearing his own impeccably styled clothing. But then he remembered the nurse's
vast strength and its closing remark that, if he needed help, he should call it. Had
that been a politely worded threat to the effect that if he did not undress himself he
would be undressed by force? He would not give that tentacled monster the
satisfaction, or perhaps the pleasure, of undressing one of its juicy ETs

While he was climbing into bed, Hewlitt heard someone else approaching his bed,
someone who made a soft, slithering noise rather than the sound of walking feet as
it came. There was an unpleasant background sibilance to the translated words
when it spoke

"Nurse," it said sharply, "your paint is flaking. Give me the patient's case notes
and your report, quickly, then go to your dining area without delay.тАЭ

"Yes, Charge Nurse," the other replied. "When Treeven-rfar's medical officer, a
Monitor Corps surgeon-lieutenant called Turragh-Mar, gave me the case notes, it
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said that there had been no observable symptoms or change in Patient Hewlitt's
physical condition, but suggested the presence of a psychological component. The
only evidence of this was its marked xenophobic reaction displayed during the
ride here I assumed from our earlier conversation that the patient has had very
limitedтАФif anyтАФcontact with other-species beings, and was likely to be disturbed
by the sight of the hospital staff using the intervening corridors; and that my
instructions to allow it to see them was intended to prepare it for the closer, in-
ward contacts that it would experience later. By the time we reached the ward, the
patient seemed to have its xenophobia under partial control, except for one species
that it still finds visually distressing. .. .тАЭ

"Thank you, Nurse," the other voice broke in. "Now go at once for a respray
before you collapse from hunger at my feet. I will take over from here.тАЭ

The screens rose and disappeared into the ceiling to reveal the ghastly thing
standing at the foot of his bed. Instinctively he pressed himself against the
backrest in a vain effort to put more space between them

"How are we feeling today, Patient Hewlitt?" it said. "I am Charge Nurse
Leethveeschi and, as you have already noticed, I am an Illensan. . . .тАЭ

CHAPTER 2
Inside its chlorine envelope the thick, fleshy, yellow-green leaves twitched and
slid open to reveal two stubby legs covered by what looked like oily blisters as the
creature moved back from the foot of the bed

"Do not be afraid, Patient Hewlitt," Leethveeschi said. "I I have no intention of
coming closer, much less of touching you, unless some future clinical emergency