VI

           Intheinfirmary,theyplacedKanegentlyontheextendedmedicalplatform.Acomplexofinstrumentsandcontrols,differentfromanyothersaboardtheship,decoratedthewallbehindtheunconsciousexec’shead.Thetableprotrudedfromthewall,extendingoutfromanopeningaboutametresquare.

           Dallastouchedcontrols,activatedtheautodoc.Hewalkedtoadrawer,removedatinytubeofgleamingmetalfrominside.Aftercheckingtomakesureitwasfullycharged,hereturnedtostandnexttoKane’sbody.Ashstoodnearby,readytohelp,whileLambert,Parker,andBrettwatchedfromthecorridorbehindathickwindow.

           Atouchonthesideofthetubeproducedashort,intensebeamoflightfromitsfarend.Dallasadjustedthebeamuntilitwasasnarrowandshortashecouldmakeitwithoutreducingpower.Carefully,hetouchedtheendofthebeamtothebaseofKane’shelmet.Metalbegantoseparate.

           Hedrewthecutterslowlyacrossthesideofthehelmet,overthetop,anddowntheotherside.Hereachedthebaseofthehelmetontheotherside,drewthebeamthroughthethickseal.Thehelmetseparatedneatly.HeandAsheachtookasideasDallasshutoffthebeam,removedthehelmet.

           Exceptforaslow,steadypulsing,thecreatureshowednosignoflife,andnoreactiontotheremovalofthehelmetanditssubsequentexposuretotheirfullview.

           Dallashesitated,reachedout,andtouchedthecreature,hurriedlydrewhishandback.Itcontinuedtopulse,didnotreacttothetouchofhisfingers.