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With an Earth-human surgeon operating to the verbal instructions of
another Kelgian, and hampered by the lack of a DBLF physiology tape and suit
gauntlets, the procedure promised to be both difficult and dangerous.
I would prefer, the Kelgian Diagnostician announced, its face pressed
against the transparent wall of the pressure litter, to perform this operation
myself, Doctor.
Conway did not reply, because they both knew that if the Diagnostician
left the litter it would be open to the air of the ward and whatever form of
infection it contained, as would the other occupants of the litter. Instead, he
began removing a narrow patch of fur from the Kelgian nurse s neck while Gilvesh
sterilized the area.
Try not to shave off too much fur, Doctor, said the Kelgian
Diagnostician, who had given its name as Towan. It will not grow again on an
adult and the condition of its fur is of great psychological importance to a
Kelgian, particularly in premating approaches to the opposite sex.
I know that, said Conway.
As he worked Conway found that some of the memories he retained from the
Kelgian physiology tapes were trustworthy, while many others were not. He was
very glad of the voice from the litter, which kept him from going disastrously
wrong. During the fifteen minutes it took to perform the operation, Towan fumed
and fretted and poured out a constant stream of instruction, advice and
warnings, which at times were indistinguishable from personal insults- the
fellow-feeling among Kelgians was very strong. Then, finally, the operation and
the abuse ended, and Gilvesh began preparing to connect the nurse to a
ventilator while Conway walked across the ward to have a closer look at
Thornnastor.
Suddenly the ward screen lit again, this time to show the faces of O Mara
and the Monitor Corps officer in charge of hospital supply and maintenance,
Colonel Skempton. It was the Colonel who finally spoke.
We have been calculating the time left to you using the air supply
currently available in your ward, Doctor, he said quietly. The people on
breathing masks, provided the bug doesn t get to them through one of their other
body orifices or they don t fall asleep and dislodge the masks, have about three
days supply of air. The reason for this is that the six ventilator systems in
that ward each carry a ten-hour supply of oxygen as well as other gases which
are of no interest to you in the current situation-nitrogen, CO2 and the like.
The transfer team-members each have a four-hour supply in their lightweight
suits, providing they conserve their oxygen by resting as much as possible-
The Colonel broke off, and Conway knew that he was staring at the four
team-members who were helping the Hudlar give artificial respiration to
Thornnastor; then he cleared his throat and went on: The Kelgian, Nidian and
three Earth-humans sheltering inside the litter have less than an hour s supply
remaining. However, it is possible for the team-members to recharge the litter
and their own suits with air from the ventilator supply as this becomes
necessary. If this is done and everyone rests as much as possible, those of you
who do not succumb to the bug should still be alive in, say, thirty hours, which
gives us time to-
What about Gilvesh and the TLTU? said Conway sharply.
Recharging the TLTU s life-support system is a specialist s job, Colonel
Skempton replied, and any unqualified tinkering could result in a steam
explosion down there to add to your other difficulties. As for Doctor Gilvesh,
you will remember that that is an observation ward for warm-blooded oxygen-
breathers. There is no chlorine available. I m sorry.
Quietly but firmly, Conway said, We need supplies of tanked oxygen and
chlorine, a nutrient paint sprayer for the Hudlar, a recharging unit for the
TLTU s vehicle, and low-residue rations complete with feeding tubes, which will
enable the food to be taken without it being exposed to the air of the ward.
With the exception of the TLTU s recharger-and I m sure the team leader would be
capable of handling that job if he had step-by-step instructions from one of the
maintenance engineers-these items are not bulky. You could move them through the
AUGL section and into our lock chamber with probably less trouble than it took
getting the DBPK casualty here.
Skempton shook his head. Just as quietly and firmly he said, We
considered that method of supplying you, Doctor. But we noticed that your lock
chamber was left open after the casualty was taken in, and as a result the
chamber has been open to contamination for the same period as the rest of the
ward. If the lock was cycled to enable us to load it with the needed supplies,
water would be drawn in from the AUGL section. When your people pumped out the
water to retrieve those supplies, that water, infected with whatever it is that
is loose in there, would be returned to the AUGL section, with results we cannot
even guess at. I have been told by a number of your colleagues, Doctor, that
airborne bacteria can frequently survive and propagate in water.
Your ward must remain in strict quarantine, Doctor, the Colonel added.
A pathogen that attacks the life-forms not only of its own planet but of four
other off-planet species cannot be allowed to get loose. You must realize that
as well as I do.
Conway nodded. There is a possibility that we are overreacting,
frightening ourselves unnecessarily because of-
A Tralthan FGLI, a Kelgian DBLF, a Melfan ELNT and an Earth-human DBDG
became ill to the extent of requiring a mechanical assist with their breathing
within a matter of minutes, the Colonel broke in. His expression as he looked
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