"Gordon R. Dickson - Danger-Human" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

twisted them around and made them into perfectly understandable
English.
Nor was that all. For, as he sat listening to the creatures talk, he began
to get the same double image in another way. That is, he still saw the
bearlike creature behind the desk as the weird sort of animal he was, out
of the sound of his voice, or from something else, there gradually built up
in Eldridge's mind a picture of a thin, rather harassed-looking gray-haired
man in something resembling a uniform, but at the same time not I quite
a uniform. It was the sort of effect an army general might get if he wore
his stars and a Sam Browne belt over a civilian double-breasted suit.
Similarly, the other creature sitting facing the one behind the desk, at the
desk's side, was a young and black-haired man with something of the
laboratory about him, and the creature further back, seated almost
against the wall, was neither soldier nor scientist, but a heavy older man
with a sort of book-won wisdom in him.
"You see, commander," the young one with the black-haired image was
saying, "perfectly restored. At least on the physical and mental levels."
"Good, doctor, good," the outlandish syllables from the one behind the
desk translated themselves in Eldridge's head. "And you say it ... he, I
should say ... will be able to understand?"
"Certainly, sir," said the doctor-psychologist-whatever-he-was.
"Identification is absolute--"
"But I mean comprehend-encompass--" The creature behind the desk
moved one paw slightly. "Follow what we tell him-"
The doctor turned his ursinoid head toward the third member of the
group. This one spoke slowly, in a deeper voice.
"The culture allows. Certainly."
 The one behind the desk bowed slightly to the oldest one.
"Certainly, Academician, certainly."


They then fell silent, all looking back at Eldridge, who returned their
gaze with equivalent interest. There was something unnatural about the
whole proceeding. Both sides were regarding the other with the completely
blunt and unshielded curiosity given to freaks.
The silence stretched out. It became tinged with a certain
embarrassment. Gradually a mutual recognition arose that no one really
wanted to be the first to address an alien being directly.
"It ... he is comfortable?" asked the commander, turning once more to
the doctor.
"I should say so," replied the doctor, slowly. "As far as we know. . . ."
Turning back to Eldridge, the commander said,
"Eldridge-timothyparker, I suppose you wonder where you are?"
Caution and habit put a clamp on Eldridge's tongue. He hesitated about
answering so long that the commander turned in distress to the doctor,
who reassured him with a slight movement of the head.
"Well, speak up," said the commander, "we'll be able to understand you,
just as you're able to understand us. Nothing's going to hurt you; and
anything you say won't have the slightest effect on your ... er ... situation."
He paused again, looking at Eldridge for a comment. Eldridge still held