Damia's Children by Anne McCaffrey Page B

first thing he does on his assignment was to poison a ’Dini with unpotable water!
    â€œWhat’s this about a ’Dini emergency?”
    Auster-Kiely came to a rigid attention stance, his eyes once more protruding. “Yes, sir, there is, sir.”
    With an apologetic look, Thian shoved the lieutenant to one side so he was visible to the hoarse-voiced querant.
    â€œPrime Lyon here,” Thian said. “My ’Dini companion is experiencing difficulties with breathing. I made the mistake of giving it basin water . . .”
    â€œDamned fool . . . weren’t you briefed? Why didn’t that young squirt do what he was told to . . .”
    Thian could have wished any other circumstances had brought him to the captain’s notice so soon but the background noise of Mur’s gasps required immediate action.
    â€œGet some oxygen in here, Kiely,” he said to the lieutenant. “Your pardon, sir, this is an extreme emergency. I need to talk to a ’Dini medic
right now!
”
    â€œI was told, Lyon, that you were fully capable of caring for your . . .”
    â€œI am, Captain Ashiant, which is what I’m doing, if you will kindly put me through to your communications officer. Explanations must wait.” To Thian’s increasing anxiety, Captain Ashiant hesitated. Thian sensed a dislike/distaste/reluctance to communicatewith either of the ’Dini ships. “Now, Captain, before Mur dies!”
    That stern threat prompted action.
    â€œLieutenant Brikowski, sir,” a new voice said and the screen cleared to a new face, a gaunt, hatchet-face topped off by a cap of short dark hair. “I’m opening a channel but I only have basic ’Dini, Mr. Lyon . . .”
    â€œJust open the channel.”
    Auster-Kiely had come racing back with a breathing unit—albeit a Human one—and didn’t know what to do with it. Snatching the unit from the man, Thian turned the cock on the bottle and passed the mask to Dup.
    COVER BREATHING ORIFICE , he explained and turned back to the screen just as the view cleared to the ’Dini bridge.
    MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CAPTAIN PLR, MRG WITH BREATHING DIFFICULTIES, WATER AND AIR IMPURITIES, COLOR POOR, OXYGEN ADMINISTERED, MOISTURE TO BODY PART. OTHER REMEDY ?
    Thian had no time to be pleased that he got all the words out in the proper order and with good accent. He saw Dip’s nod of approval and then Dip plowed over the screen. On seeing who was answering the call, it bowed first, exhibiting full poll eye to the senior ’Dini in a mark of great respect before Dip added a few medical details to Thian’s statement.
    GREAT URGENCY REQUIRES DIRE MEASURES , Dip told Thian after a brief exchange. MRG MUST BE IMMERSED IN WATER, ANY KIND, UNTIL MEDICAL CAN ARRIVE. THN CAN TRANSPORT ? Dip’s tone slowed to one of query and entreaty.
    ANY TIME ANY PLACE, DPL. REQUEST MEDICAL TO ENTERA PERSONAL CAPSULE, INFORM ME WHEN READY AND I WILL TRANSPORT IMMEDIATELY .
    Dip conveyed that message and bowed respectfully again as the screen cleared to the
Vadim
’s bridge.
    â€œWell, did you straighten it all out, Mr. Lyon?” Captain Ashiant replied, a scowl still in place on his prominent brow. He was a big-chested man with a heavy neck, big features, and he was probably even more imposing in the flesh. Concern for Mur made Thian more reckless than diplomatic but too much was at stake.
    â€œWe need to immerse Mur in water, anywhere will do. It’s not a full-grown ’Dini, and it needs continued oxygen. A medical person is coming . . .”
    â€œIt’ll take a day or two . . .” the Captain began.
    â€œIt’ll take a minute, Captain, once I have a pic of the ’Dini hold, permission to use the
Vadim
’s generators for a ’port to the same hold we arrived in . . .”
    â€œIt’s that bad?”
    Thian had been ready to