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small and easily carried. But when the children grew too large for their parents
to protect and were as yet too inexperienced to protect themselves, they had
evolved a means of defense that was effective against everything that lived and
breathed.
When threatened by natural enemies, the young DBPKs released a gas-which
resembled in its effects the old Earth-snake venom curare, with the rapidity of
action of some of the later nerve gases- so that the enemy s breathing stopped
and it was no longer a threat. But it was a two-edged weapon in that it was
capable of knocking out everything that breathed oxygen, including the DBPKs
themselves. However, the event that triggered the release of the gas also caused
the being concerned to hold its breath, which indicated that the toxic material
had a complex and unstable molecular structure that broke down and became
harmless within a few moments of release, although by that time the natural
enemy was no longer a threat.
 With the rise of civilization and the coming of cities, leading to large
numbers of the beings of all age groups living closely together, the defense
mechanism of the DBPK children became a dangerous embarrassment. A suddenly
frightened child, reacting instinctively, could inadvertently kill members of
its own family, passers-by in the street or classmates in school. So the organ
that released the gas was painted over and sealed until the child reached
maturity and the organ became inactive. There were probably psychological or
sociological reasons, Conway thought, why the active organs were painted to
resemble those of a  safe adult.
 But the patient is a preadolescent of a race that has star travel, and it
would expect to see alien life forms, Conway continued, turning away from the
screen as the recording flicked off.  It reacted instinctively because of
weakness and physical injury, and almost immediately realized what it had done.
Judging by Prilicla s emotion readings, it felt guilty; was desperately sorry
for what it had done to some of the friends who had rescued it, and was helpless
because it could not warn us of the continuing danger. Now it has been rendered
safe again and it is relieved, and judging by its emotional reaction to this
situation, I would say that these are nice people-
Conway broke off as the screen lit again to show the faces of both Colonel
Skempton and Major O Mara. The Colonel looked flustered and embarrassed and he
kept his eyes on something he was holding off-screen as he spoke.
 We have received a signal from the Descartes within the past few minutes.
It reads: I am disregarding your recent signal. DBPK home planet located and
first-contact procedure well advanced. Content of your signal suggests that
survivor is a preadolescent DBPK and you are having problems. Warning, do not
treat this being without using face masks or light protective suits, or move
into the vicinity of the being without similar protection. If precautions have
not been taken and hospital personnel are affected, they must be given immediate
mechanical assistance with breathing for a period of two-plus hours, after which
breathing will resume normally with no aftereffects. This is a natural weapon of
defense possessed only by young DBPKs, and the mechanism will be explained to
you when the two DBPK medics arrive. They should arrive within four hours in the
scoutship Torrance to check on the survivor and bring it home. They are also
very interested in the multienvironmental hospital idea and have asked
permission to return to Sector General for a while to study and..
All at once it became impossible to hear the Colonel s voice or the
Descartes message because Doctor Gilvesh was shouting at Conway and pointing at
the Kelgian nurse, whose fur was rippling in frustration because its tracheotomy
tube was keeping it from vocalizing. A transfer team-member was also calling to
him because Thornnastor was trying to climb to its six elephantine feet while
complaining loudly at the indignity of it all. The affected Melfan was also up
off the floor and loudly demanding to know what had happened; the Hudlar was
shouting that it was hungry; and everyone who had been in the pressure litter
began crawling out. The people who had been using masks had discarded them, and
they were all trying to make themselves heard to Conway or each other. Conway
swung around to look at the DBPK, suddenly afraid of
what the mounting bedlam might be doing to it. There was no longer any danger of
their being knocked out by its panic reaction because of the painting exercise
he had carried out a few minutes earlier, but the poor thing might be frightened
out of its wits.
The DBPK was looking around the ward with its large, soft eyes, but it was
impossible to read any expression on its furry, triangular face. Then Prilicla
dropped from the ceiling to hover a few inches from Conway s ear.
 Do not feel concern, friend Conway, said the little empath.  Its
predominant feeling is curiosity..
Very faintly above the hubbub Conway could hear the series of long blasts
on a siren signaling the Contamination All Clear.
PART 4
RECOVERY
The two Dwerlan DBPK medics arrived to collect their casualty, but after a brief
consultation, decided that the patient was receiving optimum treatment and that
they would be grateful if it was allowed to remain there until it could be
discharged as fully recovered in two or three weeks time. Meanwhile, the two
visiting medics, whose language had been programed into the translation
computer, wandered all over the engineering and medical miracle that was Sector
Twelve General Hospital, carrying their tails erect in furry question marks of [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]