"Harry Harrison - One Step From Earth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

The supporting frame had been set up and they had adapted a routine. Ben, who was in far better shape
for the physical work, was doing most of the construction work, while Otto worked in the shelter
assembling the electronic components. They helped each other when they had to. Ben finally tightened
the last bolt on the steel frame, kicked it affectionately, and cycled through the airlock into the shelter. In
the morning they could start wiring in the screen-face elements.

Otto was slumped over the work bench, his face flattened against a printed circuit module, his skin red
and flushed. His hand was resting on the hot soldering iron and the air stank with the smell of burnt flesh.

Ben dragged him over to his bunk, feeling the burning heat of his flesh all the while. "Otto he said;
shaking him, but the man was limp. His breathing was heavy and slow and he would not regain
consciousness. Ben made a thorough job of bandaging the severely burnt hand and tried to order his
thoughts. He was no doctor, but he had enough field training with medicine to be able to identify most
severe diseases and traumatic injuries. This fitted no categories. His mind sheered away from any
thoughts of what it really might he. He finally gave Otto a heavy shot of penicillin and made notes of the
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man's temperature, respiration, and pulse. Sealing his suit he went to the capsule and called Earth.

"I want this transcribed. I am going to give you some information. Do not answer until I am finished and
when I am done do not radio but type copy and send it through the MT. All right. Otto is hurt, sick,
something, I'm not sure. These are the details."

He sent what he had observed and what he had done, then waited the slow minutes until his message
was received and the answer had arrived. As he finished reading it he crumpled the paper in anger and
grabbed the mike.

"Yes, I have considered the possibility of a Martian disease and no, I will not research and send reports.
Get a doctor through at once. Offer enough and you'll get a volunteer. Start sending his equipment now
while you are finding and dressing him.Then you can send through your microscope and sampling
equipment and I will be glad to look for microorganisms in the dirt or wherever you want. As we
reported, we found some small plantlike growths, but we didn't bother them. The biologists can look into
that. I'll look for your germs for you but only after you have done what I tell you."

His message was understood. Transmatter Ltd. were just as eager as he was to ensure the safety of the
expedition; they had a lot of money tied up in it, and were not at all hesitant to risk some more lives in the
effort. The doctor, a bewildered young staff medic — who had just signed papers that made his wife
financially independent for life — dropped to the ground less than half an hour after the last of his
equipment and supplies had arrived. Ben hurried him into the shelter and peeled off his outer clothing.

"I've set up all your stuff on the bench there. Your patient is waiting."

"My name is Joe Parker," the doctor said, but he lowered his extended hand when he saw the look on
Ben's face. He hurried over to the sick man. Even after a complete examination he was reluctant to admit
the truth.

"It could be an unusual disease — "