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

mine."
The Chief Psychologist glanced pointedly at its wrist chronometer, then tapped
briefly on its console. When its communicator lit up it said quietly, "Braithwaite, I
will see Senior Physician Cresk-Sar now."
Gurronsevas returned to the outer office seething with anger and making no
attempt to place his feet quietly on the floor. The Nidian Senior waiting to see O'Mara
took hasty evasive action while all the eyes of the department's staff remained firmly
on their work displays, even though small items of equipment resting on the console
desks were vibrating noisily with every foot-fall. He stopped only when he reached
the waiting Timmins.
"That is a most infuriating entity," he said angrily. "As a Healer of the Mind it is
incredibly lacking in sympathy or sensitivity, and, although I am not in that
profession, I would say that it causes more psychological distress than it cures."
Timmins was shaking its head slowly. It said, "You are quite wrong, sir. The
Major is fond of saying that his job here is to shrink heads, not swell them. If the
meaning of that particular Earth-human phrase is unclear to you I will explain it later.
He is a very good psychologist, the best that any mentally distressed or traumatized
entity could wish for, but he also likes to project the image of a thoroughly nasty and
sarcastic person to those friends and colleagues about whom he has no cause for
professional concern. If he were ever to show you sympathy and concern, and to act
towards you as a patient rather than a colleague, you would be in real trouble."
"I—I'm not sure that I understand," said Gurronsevas.
"In fact, sir," said the Lieutenant, smiling again, "you showed commendable
restraint. The inner office is supposed to be soundproofed and we heard your voice
raised only once. Many of the others try to slam the door on the way out."
"Lieutenant," said Gurronsevas, "it is a sliding door."
"Even so," said Timmins.
Chapter 3

The compartment was much smaller than his former quarters in Retlin, but a beautiful
and almost three-dimensional picture of Tralthan mountain scenery that covered one
wall gave it a feeling of spaciousness, while the colors used to decorate the other
walls and ceiling were identical to those he had left. A small but adequate body-
immersion pit, terraced on one side for ease of entry, was recessed into the floor
under the picture wall. There was a gravity control unit so that he could increase the
compartment's G-level for exercise or relaxation, since the standard gravity pull used
inside the hospital was just over half Tralthan normal. A console with communicator
and large view-screen was set into one corner, and the two containers (one large and
one small) that had come with him on Tennochlan were already waiting inside the
entrance.
"This is unexpected and very pleasant, Lieutenant Timmins," said Gurronsevas.
"My thanks for your efforts in making it so."
Timmins smiled and made a dismissive gesture with one hand, then used it to
point at the communications console.
"The operation is standard," it said, "and there are a large number of medical
training and information channels available, including one covering the detailed
geography of the hospital which you will find helpful, with a recall provision for
study purposes if required. To understand them you will need to use your multi-
channel translator pack; that's it lying on top of your console. Unfortunately, the
entertainment channels are, well...I know the Earth-human material is old and not