"To everybody else, too, but the tapeworm hasn't got lungs. He breathes
through a million tubes scattered over his body."
It would do no good to explain that Taphetta wasn't a worm, that his
evolution had taken a different course, but that he was in no sense
less complex than Man. It was a paradox that some biologically higher
humans hadn't developed as much as lower races and actually weren't
prepared for the multitude of life-forms they'd meet in space. Firmon's
reaction was quite typical.
"If he asks for cleaner air, it's because his system needs it," said
Halden. "Do anything you can to give it to him."
"Can't. This is as good as I can get it. Taphetta thought you could do
something about it."
"Hydroponics is your job. There's nothing _I_ can do." Halden paused
thoughtfully. "Is there something wrong with the plants?"
"In a way, I guess, and yet not really."
"What is it, some kind of toxic condition?"
"The plants are healthy enough, but something's chewing them down as
fast as they grow."
"Insects? There shouldn't be any, but if there are, we've got sprays.
Use them."
"It's an animal," said Firmon. "We tried poison and got a few, but now
they won't touch the stuff. I had electronics rig up some traps. The
animals seem to know what they are and we've never caught one that
way."