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they call the Chef du Cuisine to join them so that they can express their appreciation in person. "We were hoping," the Charge Nurse ended, "that you will visit us in the Illensan dining-room during main meal tomorrow so that we can do the same." For a moment Gurronsevas was unable to speak. Finally he said, "I am aware of that Earth custom and I am, indeed, greatly complimented. But..." "You will be in no danger, Gurronsevas," Hredlichli said reassuringly. "Wear whatever type of environmental protection you choose. Only your presence will be required. We do not expect you to eat anything." Chapter 9 When there were over ten thousand members of the medical and maintenance staff plus a few thousand patients that he would ultimately have to please, it was neither sensible, efficient nor even fair that he concentrate all his efforts towards the satisfaction of one being, even though it was probably the most influential entity in the hospital. The O'Mara project, Gurronsevas had decided, must be allowed to progress concurrently with those of others which were likely to present fewer problems. The decision had been influenced by his spies from the Psychology Department who, after five days during which he had engaged in some subtle tinkering with the Chief Psychologist's food intake, had reported no discernable change in Major O'Mara's temper, behavior following meals, or manner towards subordinates or anyone else. During one of their daily meetings in the dining hall, Cha Thrat suggested that the Major might be one of those rare people with the ability to ignore their sensoria while engaged in serious professional mentation during meals, and was therefore unaware of the changes. Braithwaite agreed, saying that it had smelled the difference the Chief Dietitian had made to O'Mara's meals, and that it would gladly offer itself as a more appreciative and responsive Page 35 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html subject. Gurronsevas had replied by saying that data obtained from an objective and even hostile source was more valuable than that from an appreciative volunteer. "However," he ended, "as there was no strong negative response from O'Mara, I have assumed that the changes are acceptable and have already introduced my Earth- human menu changes into the main dining hall's synthesizer. You, Lieutenant, and probably every other Earth-human in the hospital, will let me know what they think." "We will," said Braithwaite, smiling as it called up the menu. "Which meals?" "I need decent food, too," said Cha Thrat, "as much and as often as Earth-human DBDGs." "I am aware of that," Gurronsevas replied, "and the hospital's single Sommaradvan DCNF has not been forgotten. But your species joined the Federation comparatively recently and, during my time at the Cromingan-Shesk, we did not have the opportunity of catering for Sommaradvans. Data on your eating habits and preferences is therefore scarce. If you wish to discuss them with me now I would gladly listen, if only to take my mind off the taste of this unappetizing mush that resembles only visually a truncated creggilon in uxt syrup. But my own favorite other-species dish is the Nallajim strill millipede, a beautifully-marked crawler with black and green hair about so long, and served live, of course, in an edible cage of cruulan pastry." "Please," said Braithwaite, "I am about to eat." "I, too," Cha Thrat said, "am suffering increasing abdominal discomfort. In a moment I shall probably turn myself inside out." "Suffering is good for the soul, Cha Thrat," Padre Lioren joined in, "and if you do that we will find out whether or not you've got one." Gurronsevas was trying to devise a reply that was both culinary and theological when a Hudlar wearing the insignia of a junior intern approached the table and vibrated its speaking membrane. "Chief Dietitian Gurronsevas?" it said shyly, and waited. The Hudlars had the thickest and most impervious skin of any Federation species, Gurronsevas knew from long experience, and the most sensitive feelings. He said, "Doctor, may I help you?" "You may be able to help me, and my FROB colleagues," it said. "But is this an inconvenient time for you? Our problem is serious but non-urgent." Gurronsevas said, "I have a few minutes to spare before leaving for Loading Bay Twelve. If you need more time than that we can talk as we walk. What is the problem, Doctor?" While they had been speaking, all of Gurronsevas' eyes had been on the creature who, although not much greater in size, had a body mass at least four times that of his own. It had six tentacular limbs which served both as locomotor and manipulatory ap- pendages and, like many immensely strong beings forced to live among entities many times weaker than itself, it was careful and gentle in its movements. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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