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

"Of course not!" said Gurronsevas. "It was the Cromingan-Shesk in Retlin on
Nidia, the largest and most highly-acclaimed multi-species hotel and restaurant in the
Federation. They treated me very well there, and had that not been so there were
several other establishments that vied with each other to obtain my services. I was
quite happy there until about a year ago, when I spoke with the Monitor Corps
ranking officer on Nidia Base, Fleet Commander Roonardth, a Kelgian."
Gurronsevas paused, remembering the ridiculously short and simple conversation
that had brought his former life of contentment and boredom to an end.
"Go on," said O'Mara quietly.
"Roonardth wished to compliment me in person," Gurronsevas went on, "and it
was a personage of sufficient importance for me to be called to its table so that it
could do so. Kelgians are, as you know, very forthright beings who are
psychologically incapable of lying or even of being polite. During the conversation
that ensued it said that it had just consumed the finest meal of Crelletin vine-shoots in
its life, rendered even more enjoyable because of its recent stay in Sector General
where it had been taken after an unspecified but clearly life-threatening accident in
space. Roonardth had no complaints about the medical services, but said that when it
criticized the meals being served, it was told by an Earth-human DBDG nurse of a
conspiracy aimed at poisoning long-stay patients whose convalescence was overlong,
but that it was nevertheless fortunate in that it did not have to eat in the staff dining
hall.
"The Fleet Commander said that no doubt the remark was an example of what
Earth-humans called humor," he went on, "but it also suggested that if someone like
Gurronsevas (if there were anyone else like Gurronsevas) were to take charge of
Sector General's commissariat, then patient recuperation and staff morale would be
greatly enhanced. It was a high compliment that gave me much pleasure. But later I
began thinking about it and feeling dissatisfied with a style of life which, I realized,
had become pointless and boring. When Roonardth next came in to dine, I excelled
myself so as to have the opportunity of speaking to it again, and I asked if the Fleet
Commander's earlier suggestion had been a serious one.
"It was," Gurronsevas ended, "and Roonardth had the rank and sufficient
influence with the department responsible for maintaining the hospital to have me
sent, after a wait of a year, to Sector General."
"Yes," said O'Mara. "Roonardth carried enough clout. I assume that you spent the
waiting time familiarizing yourself with the layout and organization of the hospital?
And, like any eager little newcomer, you are anxious to make a good impression on
everyone as quickly as possible, and have already made plans to that effect?"
Gurronsevas' first thought was to point out to the diminutive Earth-human that,
possessing as he did more than five times the other's body mass, he could scarcely be
described as 'little.' Then he decided that O'Mara must have used the word
deliberately in an attempt to unsettle him, and answered simply, "Yes."
The Major regarded him in silence for a moment, then it nodded and briefly
showed its teeth. "In that case, what are your immediate intentions?"
"As soon as possible," said Gurronsevas, trying to control his enthusiasm, "I shall
call a meeting of all hospital food technicians and associated medical personnel, with
the purpose of introducing myself to those few who may not already know of of me
by reputation..."
O'Mara was holding up one hand. It said, "All food technicians? Even the
chlorine-breathers, and the ultra-low temperature and other exotic life-forms?"
"Of course," Gurronsevas replied. "But I would not make any major changes in