"James White - SG 09 - Galactic Gourmet" - читать интересную книгу автора (White James)

Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 1

Gurronsevas had long been accustomed to being accorded the outward forms of
respect by persons nominally his superior, and usually it was because of his enormous
physical strength and body mass, rather than his less obvious attributes of high intelli-
gence and unrivalled professional experience. Being invited to view the final
approach from the courier vessel's tiny control deck was a courtesy rarely extended to
a ship's passenger even when, as in his own case, he was the only one. But he wished
heartily that the Captain had shown less politeness and more consideration by al-
lowing him to complete the voyage in Tennochlan's uncluttered and much roomier
cargo hold.
He watched in polite silence and mounting awe, his physical discomfort
forgotten, as the gigantic, complex structure that was Sector Twelve General Hospital
grew larger until the forward view-screen was entirely filled by the breathtaking sight
of dazzling, regimented lines of approach beacons, dock floodlighting, and the ex-
ternal ports and ward-viewing galleries that were ablaze with every color and
intensity of light that the occupants considered normal.
Beside him Captain Mallan showed its teeth briefly and made the untranslatable,
barking sound which among Earth-humans signified humor. It said, "Enjoy the view
while you can. The people who work here rarely get the chance to see the outside of
their world."
The other officers on the flight deck maintained the silence of subordinates and,
there being nothing of importance that he wished to say, Gurronsevas joined them.
Suddenly the image disappeared to be replaced by a picture of a pale-green
Illensan chlorine-breather whose outlines were partially concealed by the yellow fog
inside its protective envelope. It was seated at a communications console, and the flat,
translated voice still retained some of the hissing and moaning quality of the original
word-sounds as it spoke.
"Reception," it said quickly. "Identify yourselves, please. State whether patient,
visitor, or staff, and give species. If there is an emergency condition please give
patient clinical details first, then the physiological classifications of the others so we
can arrange suitable accommodation, life-support, and proper type and periodicity of
meals."
"Meals," said the Captain, looking at Gurronsevas and showing its teeth again. It
pressed the transmit stud and said briskly, "No medical emergency on board. I am
Major Mallan, commanding Monitor Corps scoutship Tennochlan, courier flight from
Retlin on Nidia. Crew of four, all Earth-human DBDG classification plus one