with fur. The protective coveralls are a uniform color, Monitor Corps green, with the exception of the transparent suits used by Kelgians who need their fur to be visible for non-verbal communication. Before dressing, medical or departmental insignia of rank are transferred to the outside of the garment. Now check your head seal. Is the general fit comfortable?”
“Quite comfortable, thank you,” Gurronsevas replied. “But I have a question prompted by the AUGL water pump that spoke to me. The problem of improving the taste of food used by water-breathers is one I had not considered until now. As soon as I have gained some knowledge of the maintenance levels’ geography and food distribution network, I would like to discuss the problem with the Chalder patients. Can you arrange that?”
“That is a medical matter,” said Timmins slowly. “It would be better if you asked permission and found out the most convenient visiting times from Nurse Hredlichli, who is in charge of the AUGL ward.”
“Then I shall do that,” said Gurronsevas. “But you sound hesitant. Am I likely to encounter some difficulty?”
“Charge Nurse Hredlichli,” the Lieutenant replied, “has the reputation of being only slightly less obnoxious than O’Mara. But now, before I take you to see the main synthesizer unit under the dining hall, attach this trainee’s band to one of your fore-limbs in a position where it will be easily seen.”
This was the second time he had been told to wear the demeaning badge of a trainee, Gurronsevas thought, but the angry response he had given the impolite Chief Psychologist would scarcely do for this friendly and well- mannered Lieutenant. He was still searching his mind for reasons — or were they, perhaps, excuses? — for refusing the band when Timmins spoke again.
It said, “I myself, and soon everyone else in the hospital, will know that you are not a trainee but a specialist with considerable seniority. However, on the maintenance levels people are always in a hurry and accidents happen easily. You have seen how some of us drive, and there are many other situations where you would be at risk. Isn’t it simple good sense to let those with experience know that you have none, so that allowances can be made? After all, the hospital needs a Chief Dietitian more than it needs another patient.”
For a long moment Gurronsevas argued silently with himself, feeling shame because he could not be sure whether he was using his intelligence or giving in to moral cowardice.
“Well, if it is a matter of my continued survival,” he said reluctantly, “all right.”
CHAPTER 5
Gurronsevas was feeling very proud of himself. He had met and spoken with all the members of his staff individually — and, when required, at length. His principal assistant, a Nidian called Sarnyagh-Sa, had required careful handling because it had been expecting to inherit the retiring Chief Dietitian’s position, but it was able, responsible, a little unresponsive to new ideas as yet, but showed long-term promise. Without ingratiation or implied diminution of his own authority or responsibility, Gurronsevas asked for the help of everyone. His intention was to be approachable by all levels of staff, provided the approach was not a waste of his time. He hoped that relations within other-species Catering would be pleasant and professional, but noted that the degree of the former would be strictly dependent upon the quality of the latter. The general response had been good, although a few of them had thought it strange that the Great Gurronsevas had worn maintenance coveralls during their interviews.
And after just five days of exploring the food supply maintenance tunnels with Timmins and just three half- days of anti-gravity sled driving instruction, the Lieutenant had told him that he need no longer travel on foot or with company. On the sixth day he had driven an unloaded sled from the synthesizer complex under Level Eighteen to the short-term storage facility on Thirty-one, using only the service tunnels and without having to request a navigational fix, in just twenty-four standard minutes without hitting anyone or anything — at least, not hard enough for a written report to be necessary.
Timmins had told him that he was doing exceptionally well for a beginner, and now Gurronsevas was trying hard not to allow his feelings of pride and pleasure to be destroyed by the ill-mannered, acid-tongued, chlorine- breathing Illensan he currently faced.
“When we need one of you people quickly,” said Charge Nurse Hredlichli, “it seems that the maintenance sub-species suddenly becomes extinct; and when we don’t want you, you clutter up the place. What is it you want?”
Since the Cromingan-Shesk had not catered for chlorine-breathers, it was the first time he had seen one of the PVSJ classification at close range. The Illensan’s spiny, membranous body resembled a haphazard collection of oily, unhealthy vegetation that was partially obscured by the yellow mist of chlorine inside the entity’s protective envelope, and Gurronsevas found himself wishing that the fog had been denser. Hredlichli was drifting motionless in the water-filled Nurses’ Station in front of a patient-monitor screen. He had not been able to locate its eyes amid the tangle of head-fronds, but presumably the Charge Nurse was looking at him.
“I am Chief Dietitian Gurronsevas, Charge Nurse, not a maintenance technician,” he said, making a great effort to be polite. “With your help I would like to interview one or more of your patients regarding the ward food supply, with a view to making improvements. Could you suggest the name of one that I can talk to without interrupting its medical treatment?”
“I could
A voice from the communicator, faintly distorted by the intervening watery medium, said, “Yes, Charge Nurse.”
“When you finish changing One-Twenty-Two’s dressings,” said Hredlichli, “please ask One-Thirteen to come to the Nurses’ Station. It has a visitor.” To Gurronsevas it went on, “In case you don’t know, a Chalder won’t fit in here without wrecking the place. Wait outside.”
The ward was probably smaller than it looked, Gurronsevas thought as he awaited the arrival of AUGL-113, but size and distance were hard to judge in this dim, green world where the difference between the shadowy inhabitants, their medical equipment, and the decorative vegetation designed to make them feel at home was difficult to define. Timmins had told him that some of the plants were living rather than artificial, a species that gave off a water-borne aromatic which the patients found pleasant, and that it was Maintenance Department’s responsibility to see that the foliage stayed healthy no matter what happened to the patients. Sometimes it was difficult to know when the Lieutenant was being serious. It had also told him that the natives of the ocean world of Chalderescol embarrassed easily and were the most visually fearsome beings that he was ever likely to meet.
That, Gurronsevas thought as he watched the enormous, tentacled, torpedo shape that was speeding silently towards him, he could believe.
The creature was like an enormous armored fish with a heavy, knife-edged tail, a seemingly haphazard arrangement of stubby fins, and, around its waist, a thick ring of tentacles projecting through some of the only openings visible in its organic armor. The tentacles lay flat against its body while it was moving forward, but they were long enough to reach forward past the thick, blunt wedge of its head. As it swam closer and began to circle him, one of its tiny, lidless eyes regarded him. It drifted to a halt and its waist tentacles fanned forward to hang in a great, undulating circle around it. Suddenly the mouth opened to reveal a vast, pink cavern edged with the largest, whitest, sharpest teeth Gurronsevas had ever seen.
“Are, are you my visitor?” it asked shyly.
Gurronsevas hesitated, wondering whether or not he should introduce himself. A member of a culture which did not use names other than among family or loved ones might feel embarrassment if he should use his. He should have remembered to ask the Charge Nurse about that.
“Yes,” he said finally. “If you have nothing more important to do and will allow it, I would like to talk to you about Chalder food.”
“With pleasure,” said AUGL-113. “It is an interesting topic that causes much argument but rarely leads to violence.”
“About hospital food,” said Gurronsevas.
