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

from the ultra-frigid methane life-forms through the more normal oxygen- and
chlorine-breathing types to the more exotic beings who lived by the direct conversion
of hard radiation.
Gurronsevas missed a few of the Lieutenant's words because he was being forced
to concentrate a large proportion of his attention on avoiding injury or embarrassment
by colliding with or walking on entities larger or smaller than himself. He was travel-
ling inside a combination white-walled, three-dimensional maze, and a noisy and
overcrowded extra-terrestrial menagerie, and soon he would be expected to find his
own way through it.
Two crab-like Melfan ELNTs and an Illensan PVSJ chittered and hissed their
displeasure at him as he stopped awkwardly in the middle of an intersection to let
them pass. In so doing he jostled a tiny, red-furred Nidian who barked a reproof at
him. But the simple translator that he had been given on Tennochlan was programmed
only for Earth-human/Tralthan speech, so that he did not know what exactly anyone
within earshot was whistling, cheeping, growling or moaning at him.
"...Theoretically the staff member possessing the greater medical seniority has
right of way," Timmins was saying, "and you will soon learn to identify the different
ranks from the color markings on the arm-bands that everyone wears. As yet you have
no armband, so your rank is uncertain...Quickly, please, move flat against the wall!"
A great hissing and clanking juggernaut that was nearly half the width of the
corridor was bearing down on them. It was the mobile protective armor used by
SNLU medics, who normally breathed superheated steam, and whose pressure and
gravity requirements were many times greater than that of the—to them, lethal—
environment of the oxygen-breathing levels. In a situation like this, Timmins said
with a brief show of teeth, it was better to ignore differences in rank, allow the
instinct for self-preservation to take over, and get out of the way fast.
 "You are adapting to the situation here very well, sir," the Lieutenant went on. "I
have known first-time visitors to the hospital who went into a panic reaction, they ran
and hid themselves or froze into fear paralysis, when confronted with so many differ-
ent life-forms in such a short space of time. I think you will do well."
"Thank you," said Gurronsevas. Normally he would not have volunteered
personal information to another person on first acquaintance, but the Earth-human and
its compliment had pleased him. He went on, "But the experience is not entirely
strange to me, Lieutenant. It is similar to the situation during a multi-species con-
vention, although there the delegates were not usually so well-mannered."
"Really?" said Timmins, and laughed. "But if I were you I would reserve
judgment on their manners, at least until after you are issued with your multi-channel
translator. You don't know what some of them have been calling you. We're within a
few minutes of the Psychology Department now."
On this level, Gurronsevas noted, the corridors were much less crowded but,
strangely, their progress was less rapid. For some reason the Earth-human was
slowing his previously fast walking pace.
"Before you go in," said Timmins suddenly, in the manner of one who has come
to a decision, "it might be a good idea if you knew something about the entity you are
about to meet, Major O'Mara."
"It might prove helpful," Gurronsevas agreed.
"He is the hospital's Chief Psychologist," Timmins went on. "What I believe your
species calls a Healer of the Mind. As such he is responsible for the smooth and
efficient operation of the ten-thousand-odd, sometimes very odd, members of the
medical and maintenance staff..."