"And your impression of it? As a pathologist?"
"I fail to see how my impression applies one way or the other--"
"Doctor, sometimes we have to face facts. Remember?"
"All right." Neelsen seemed to curl up into himself still further. "The
specimen was stomach."
"Human stomach?"
"Human stomach."
"But the only human on this ship that doesn't have a stomach is Hrunta,"
said Jenkins.
"So the _hlorg_ ate him."
"_Most_ of him. Not quite all. It threw out the one part of him it
couldn't eat. The part containing a substance that inactivated its
enzyme system. Dilute hydrochloric acid, to be specific. We used the
entire ship's supply, and cut the _hlorg_ down to three-quarters size,
but we need a continuous supply to keep it whittled down until we get
home. And there's only one good, permanent, reliable source of dilute
hydrochloric acid on board this ship--"
The Black Doctor's face was purple. "I said no," he choked. "My answer
stands."
The Red Doctor sighed and turned to Green Doctor Stone. "All right,
Wally," he said.
* * * * *
(_From the files of the Medical Disciplinary Board, Hospital Earth, op.
cit._)
I am certain that you can see from the foregoing that a reasonable
effort was made by Green Doctor Stone and myself to put the plan in
effect peaceably and with full approval of our commander. It was our
conviction, however, that the emergency nature of the circumstances
required that it be done with or without his approval. Our subsequent
success in containing the _hlorg_ to at least reasonable and manageable
proportions should bear out the wisdom of our decision.
Actually, it has not been as bad as one might think. It has been
necessary to confine the crew to their quarters, and to restrain the
Black Doctor forcibly, but with liberal use of Happy-O we can
occasionally convince ourselves that it is rare beefsteak, and the Green
Doctor, our pro-tem cook has concocted several very tasty sauces, such
as mushroom, onion, etc. We reduce the _hlorg_ to half its size each
day, and if thoroughly heated the chunks lie still on the plate for
quite some time.
No physical ill effects have been noted, and the period of quarantine is
recommended solely to allow the men an adequate period for psychological
recovery.
I have only one further recommendation: that the work team from the Grey
Service be recalled at once from their assignment on Mauki IV. The
problem is decidedly not psychiatric, and it would be one of the
tragedies of the ages if our excellent psychiatric service were to
succeed in persuading the Maukivi out of their 'delusion'.