James P. Hogan Giants 2 The Gentle Giants of Ganymede
James Clavell Asian Saga 03 King Rat
James Patterson Alex Cross 05 Pop Goes the Weasel
James Alan Gardner [League Of Peoples 03] Vigilant
James Axler Deathlands 044 Crucible of Time
27 Skandal
Burroughs, Edgar Rice Tarzan 05 The Jewels of Opar
Balogh Mary Niebezpieczny krok
MacLean Alistair (1970) Tabor do Vaccares
S J Willing [Piact Undercover Agents 03] Dante I (pdf)
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
mechanism of the DBPK children became a dangerous embarrassment. A suddenly
frightened child, reacting instinctively, could inadvertently kill members of
its own family, passers-by in the street or classmates in school. So the organ
that released the gas was painted over and sealed until the child reached
maturity and the organ became inactive. There were probably psychological or
sociological reasons, Conway thought, why the active organs were painted to
resemble those of a safe adult.
But the patient is a preadolescent of a race that has star travel, and it
would expect to see alien life forms, Conway continued, turning away from the
screen as the recording flicked off. It reacted instinctively because of
weakness and physical injury, and almost immediately realized what it had
done.
Judging by Prilicla s emotion readings, it felt guilty; was desperately sorry
for what it had done to some of the friends who had rescued it, and was
helpless because it could not warn us of the continuing danger. Now it has
been rendered safe again and it is relieved, and judging by its emotional
reaction to this situation, I would say that these are nice people-
Conway broke off as the screen lit again to show the faces of both Colonel
Skempton and Major O Mara. The Colonel looked flustered and embarrassed and he
kept his eyes on something he was holding off-screen as he spoke.
We have received a signal from the Descartes within the past few minutes.
It reads: I am disregarding your recent signal. DBPK home planet located and
first-contact procedure well advanced. Content of your signal suggests that
survivor is a preadolescent DBPK and you are having problems. Warning, do not
treat this being without using face masks or light protective suits, or move
into the vicinity of the being without similar protection. If precautions have
not been taken and hospital personnel are affected, they must be given
immediate mechanical assistance with breathing for a period of two-plus hours,
after which breathing will resume normally with no aftereffects. This is a
natural weapon of defense possessed only by young DBPKs, and the mechanism
will be explained to you when the two DBPK medics arrive. They should arrive
within four hours in the scoutship Torrance to check on the survivor and bring
it home. They are also very interested in the multienvironmental hospital idea
and have asked permission to return to Sector General for a while to study
and..
All at once it became impossible to hear the Colonel s voice or the
Descartes message because Doctor Gilvesh was shouting at Conway and pointing
at the Kelgian nurse, whose fur was rippling in frustration because its
tracheotomy tube was keeping it from vocalizing. A transfer team-member was
also calling to him because Thornnastor was trying to climb to its six
elephantine feet while complaining loudly at the indignity of it all. The
affected Melfan was also up off the floor and loudly demanding to know what
had happened; the Hudlar was shouting that it was hungry; and everyone who had
Page 74
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
been in the pressure litter began crawling out. The people who had been using
masks had discarded them, and they were all trying to make themselves heard to
Conway or each other. Conway swung around to look at the DBPK, suddenly afraid
of what the mounting bedlam might be doing to it. There was no longer any
danger of their being knocked out by its panic reaction because of the
painting exercise he had carried out a few minutes earlier, but the poor thing
might be frightened out of its wits.
The DBPK was looking around the ward with its large, soft eyes, but it was
impossible to read any expression on its furry, triangular face. Then Prilicla
dropped from the ceiling to hover a few inches from Conway s ear.
Do not feel concern, friend Conway, said the little empath. Its predominant
feeling is curiosity..
Very faintly above the hubbub Conway could hear the series of long blasts on a
siren signaling the Contamination All Clear.
PART 4
RECOVERY
The two Dwerlan DBPK medics arrived to collect their casualty, but after a
brief consultation, decided that the patient was receiving optimum treatment
and that they would be grateful if it was allowed to remain there until it
could be discharged as fully recovered in two or three weeks time. Meanwhile,
the two visiting medics, whose language had been programed into the
translation computer, wandered all over the engineering and medical miracle
that was Sector
Twelve General Hospital, carrying their tails erect in furry question marks of
excitement and pleasure-except, of course, when those large and expressive [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
