[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Page 54
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
elongated rib cage. On the back just above the root of the thick, furry tail
was a bright pink area, which Conway thought at first was a patch where the
fur was missing. But closer examination showed that it was a natural feature,
and there were large flakes of what appeared to be some kind of pigment
adhering to it. The being s head, which was tucked against its underside and
partially covered by the tail, was conical, rodentlike and thickly furred. The
skull itself appeared intact, but there was evidence of subcutaneous bleeding
in several areas, which in a being without facial fur would have shown as
massive bruising. There was some bleeding from the mouth, but Conway could not
be sure
whether it was due to an external blow or was the effect of lung damage caused
by decompression.
Help me straighten the poor thing out, he said to Naydrad. It looks as if
it tried to roll itself into a ball. Probably an instinctive defense posture
it adopts when threatened by natural enemies.
That is one of the things that puzzles me about this patient, said
Murchison, looking up from her examination of one of the cadavers. These
creatures do not possess natural weapons of offense or defense as far as I can
tell, or any signs of having had any in the past. Considering the fact that it
is a planet s dominant life-form that develops intelligence, I don t see how
these creatures came to dominate. Even their limbs are not built for speed, so
they could not run from danger. The set used for walking are too short and are
padded, while the forward set are more slender, less wellmuscled and end in
four highly flexible digits that don t possess so much as a fingernail among
them.
There are the fur markings, of course, but it is rare that a life-form rises
to the top of its evolutionary tree by camouflage alone, or by being nice and
cuddly. This is strange.
It sounds like it comes from a nice world, said Prilicla, who had returned
briefly from its airlock duty, for Cinrusskins.
Conway did not join in the conversation, because he was reexamining the
patient s lungs. The slight oral bleeding had worried him, and now that the
survivor was properly presented for examination there was unmistakable
evidence of decompression damage in the lungs. But moving the patient into the
supine position had caused some of the deeper lacerations to start bleeding
again. He could do very little about the lung damage with the facilities
available on the ambulance ship, but considering the weakened state of the
patient, the bleeding would have to be stopped quickly.
Do you know enough about the composition of this beastie s blood at present,
Conway asked Murchison, to suggest a safe coagulant and anesthetic?
Coagulant, yes. Anesthetic, doubtful, Murchison replied. I d prefer to wait
until we get back to the hospital for that. Thornnastor would be able to
suggest, or synthesize, a completely safe one. Is it an emergency?
Before Conway could reply, Prilicla chimed in: An anesthetic is unnecessary,
friend Conway. The patient is deeply unconscious and will remain so. It is in
a slowly deteriorating condition, probably caused by impaired oxygen
absorption in the damaged lungs, and the loss of blood would be a contributing
factor. Those cabinet-shelf supports were like blunt knives.
I agree, said Conway. And if you re trying to suggest that the patient
should be hospitalized as soon as possible, I agree with that too. But this
one is in no immediate danger, and I would like to be sure that there are no
other survivors before we leave. However, if you continue to monitor its
emotional radiation and report any sudden change in-
More wreckage coming up, Haslam s voice broke in from the wall speaker.
Doctor Prilicla to the airlock, please.
Yes, friend Conway, said the empath as it scuttled rapidly across the
ceiling on its way to the lock.
Before he could begin treating the survivor s surface injuries, he had to
Page 55
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
quell a minor revolt by Naydrad, who, in common with all of its beautiful
silver-furred race, had an intense aversion towards any surgical procedure
that would damage or disfigure a being s most treasured possession, its fur.
To a
Kelgian the removal of a strip or patch of fur, which in their species
represented a means of communication equal to the spoken word, was a personal
tragedy that all too often resulted in permanent psychological damage. A
Kelgian s fur did not grow again, and one whose pelt was damaged could rarely
find a mate willing to accept a Kelgian who was unable to display fully its
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plcs-sysunia.htw.pl
|
