[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
minutes rather than hours.
Friend Danalta," he said, glancing back at the way they had come, this
casualty is close to termination and the temperature here means that we can't
afford the time or the risk of opening its suit. Please look for a faster way
out of here. Try to find an opening in the hull large enough to allow the
litter through so we can ..."
"Doctor," the voice of the captain broke in, "we can make that opening for
you, as large as you need. I've been monitoring your progress, I'm familiar
with the ship's layout, and I know exactly where you are. Please move clear of
the hull on the land-ward side and hold on to something solid.
file:///F|/rah/James%20White/White,%20James%...or%20General%2012%20-%20Double%
20Contact.txt (37 of 144) [5/21/03 10:31:15 PM]
Page 41
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
file:///F|/rah/James%20White/White,%20James%20-%20Sector%20General%2012%20-%20
Double%20Contact.txt
"Haslam," he continued quickly, "tractor beam, narrow-focus rapid push-pull to
the aft hull plating, just there."
The whole power room began to vibrate in sympathy around them as a sudden,
metallic screeching sound came from a small area of the hull interior. The
existing cracks in the struc-ture opened up as a large section of plating and
internal trim was pulled outwards and pressed inwards at a rate of once a
second. For a moment the plating fluttered like a metal flag in a high wind
before it was whipped out of sight. Sunlight poured into the compartment and
with it, a clear, close view of the beach and medical station.
"Thank you, Captain," he said. "Friend Murchison, to save time I'm sending
friend Danalta with the fourth litter. The can-opy will be sealed and the
cooling system set to maximum in the hope that the reduction in external
temperature will be con-ducted to the occupant. The casualty is still inside
its suit which should be removed as quickly as possible in a less hostile
envi-ronment. I will follow at once to assist you."
"Maybe not at once, Doctor," said Danalta. Its voice was coming from what
seemed to be a small storage compartment farther aft.
He had been aware of a sudden burst of emotion an instant before the
shape-changer had spoken. Its feelings were complex, a mixture composed
predominantly of intense surprise and cu-riosity. Before Prilicla could ask
the natural question, Danalta gave the answer.
"Doctor," it said, "there is another casualty here. The phys-iological
classification is strange to me but, but I think I've found a stowaway."
CHAPTER 7
The creature appeared to be wearing a spacesuit so close-fitting that it
seemed highly probable that its general body configuration was identical in
size and shape to its protective garment. Physically the creature was a
flattened ovoid with six appendages growing at equal intervals from the
perimeter, each terminating in long, flexible digits encased in gauntlets that
fitted like a coat of metallic paint. There was a variety of what looked like
specialized tools on the fingertips of each of the thin, metal gauntlets. The
rounded projection on what was presumably the forebody, was almost certainly
the cranium, but it was covered by sensors rather than a transparent visor so
that he was unable to obtain a direct view of the facial tegument and
features. There was a large area of scorching covering the upper surface, or
pos-sibly the underside, of the body. He couldn't be sure without removing the
suit.'What is it, Doctor?" said Danalta. "Is it alive?" I m not sure," he
replied, and indicated the fourth litter. "Move the Earth-human casualty
ashore, quickly, and assist Murchison and Naydrad with it until I join you or
send for an-other litter. I'll need this area to be clear of all other sources
of emotional radiation if I'm to be absolutely sure whether or not is
present."
The emoting of Danalta and the Earth-human casualty di-minished with distance
to merge with the faint, background feel-ings of the medical team and the rest
of the casualties. Without false modesty Prilicla knew that out of the entire
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]