Чужак в чужой стране

           "Well,Doctor?"

           "Patient’srespiration,temperature,andpulsedroppedsuddenly,uh,abouttwominutesago,sir."

           "Whathaveyoudoneforhim,ortohim?"

           "Nothing,sir.Yourinstructions-"

           "Good."NelsonlookedSmithoverbriefly,thenstudiedtheinstrumentsbackofthebed,twinsofthoseinthewatchroom."Letmeknowifthereisanychange."Hestartedtoleave.

           Thaddeuslookedstartled."But,Doctor-"Hebrokeoff.

           Nelsonsaidgrimly,"Goahead,Doctor.Whatisyourdiagnosis?"

           "Uh,Idon’twishtosoundoffaboutyourpatient,sir."

           "Nevermind.Iaskedforyourdiagnosis."

           "Verywell,sir.Shock-atypical,perhaps,"hehedged,"butshock,leadingtotermination."

           Nelsonnodded."Reasonableenough.Butthisisn’tareasonablecase.Relax,son.I’veseenthispatientinthisconditionhalfadozentimesduringthetripback.Itdoesn’tmeanathing.Watch."Nelsonliftedthepatient’srightarm,letitgo.Itstayedwherehehadleftit.

           "Catalepsy?"askedThaddeus.

           "Callitthatifyoulike.Callingatailalegdoesn’tmakeitone.Don’tworryaboutit,Doctor.Thereisnothingtypicalaboutthiscase.Justkeephimfrombeingbotheredandcallmeifthereisanychange."HereplacedSmith’sarm.

           WhenNelsonhadleft,Thaddeustookonemorelookatthepatient,shookhisheadandjoinedMeechuminthewatchroom.Meechumpickeduphiscardsandsaid,"Crib?"

           "No."

           Meechumwaited,thenadded,"Doc,ifyouaskme,thatoneinthereisacaseforthebasketbeforemorning."

           "Nooneaskedyou."

           "Mymistake.