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

the exotics' diets..."
"Thank God for that," said O'Mara.
"...Without first making a careful study of the probable effects and obtaining the
medical and technical advice of those with prior experience. But in time I intend to
increase the present range of my culinary expertise, extensive though it already is, to
include the dietary requirements of species other than the warm-blooded oxygen-
breathers. I am now, after all, the hospital's Chief Dietitian."
O'Mara was moving its head from side to side in a gesture, Gurronsevas had
learned, that indicated non-verbal negation. Impatiently he wondered what objection
this unpleasant entity had to him doing his job.
"I'll tell you exactly what you are," said O'Mara, "and what you will do. You are
a potentially dangerous contradiction. As a newcomer to the hospital without prior
technical or medical training you should be classified as a trainee. Instead you have
arrived as the head of a department whose ramifications are completely unknown to
you. Two points in your favor are that you are aware of your ignorance; and, unlike
our trainees, you have wide experience of other-species social contact. Nevertheless,
you will soon be faced with and have to adapt to physiological types not normally
found in the dining rooms of the ultra-exclusive Hotel Cromingan-Shesk. Since you
appear to have a high opinion of your own importance and I, on rare occasions, am
capable of exercising tact, I have avoided using the words will or must do, even
though they are more appropriate in this case. No, don't interrupt.
"While you are learning the ropes," O'Mara continued, "please remember that, in
spite of the influence you may have with the high-ranking gourmets of the Monitor
Corps, you are here on probation, the period of which can be shortened in three ways.
One, you may find the work too much for you and decide to resign. Two, I decide that
the work is too much for you and kick you out. Three, and this is an improbability
that comes within the category of wish-fulfillment, you display such a high level of
aptitude that we are forced to confirm your position and request that you stay.
"Before you do or plan anything," it went on, "familiarize yourself with the
hospital. Take all the time you need—within reason—to settle in. Before making any
dietary changes have them vetted by the Diagnostician-in-Charge of the relevant
department for possibly harmful medical effects. Should you encounter any psy-
chological problems of your own I will, of course, try to assist you—provided you
can satisfy me that you are not able to solve them yourself. If you have any other
problems or questions while settling in, call on Lieutenant Timmins for help. You will
find, if you have not already done so, that he is a polite and helpful person and one of
the few people in this place who, unlike myself, seem able to suffer fools gladly.
"When I have more time to spare," it continued, "we will discuss the boring
administrative details. Your salary, entitlement to paid leave and reduced
transportation charges to your home world or chosen place of vacation, and supplies
of free protective clothing and equipment. With or without the clothing you should
wear a trainee's arm- or leg-band so that—"
"Enough!" said Gurronsevas loudly, making no attempt to hide his feeling of
outrage. "I require no salary. By the exercise of my unique talents I have already
amassed more wealth than I could hope to spend during the rest of my life, no matter
how profligate I should become. And I remind you again that I am a specialist
renowned throughout the Federation and not a trainee, so I shall wear no trainee's
badge or—"
"As you wish," said O'Mara quietly. "Is there anything else you wish to say to
me? No? Then I expect you have other things to do less wasteful of your time and