9 . back to the nest itself.None

9

. back to the nest itself.None of his thinkings had been in Earth symbols. Simple English he hadfreshly learned to speak, but much less easily than a Hindu uses it to tradewith a Turk. Smith used English as one might use a code book, with tediousand imperfect translation for each symbol. Now his thoughts, pure Martianabstractions from half a million years of wildly alien culture, traveled so farfrom any human experience as to be utterly untranslatable. toms Last Chance
In the adjoining room an intern, Dr. „Tad“ Thaddeus, was playing cribbagewith Tom Meechum, Smith’s special nurse. Thaddeus had one eye on hisdials and meters and both eyes on his cards; nevertheless he noted everyheart beat of his patient. When a flickering light changed from ninetytwopulsations per minute to less than twenty, he pushed the cards aside, jumpedto his feet, and hurried into Smith’s room with Meechum at his heels.The patient floated in the flexible skin of the hydraulic bed. He appeared tobe dead. Cordones toms Thaddeus swore briefly and snapped, „Get Doctor Nelson!“ Meechum said, „Yessir!“ and added, „How about the shock gear, Doc? He’s far gone.“ „Get Doctor Nelson!“The nurse rushed out. The interne examined the patient as closely aspossible but refrained from touching him. He was still doing so when an olderdoctor came in, walking with the labored awkwardness of a man long inspace and not yet adjusted to high gravity. „Well, Doctor?“„Patient’s respiration, temperature, and pulse dropped suddenly, uh, abouttwo minutes ago, sir.“ „What have you done for him, or to him?“ „Nothing, sir. Cords toms
Your instructions„„Good.“ Nelson looked Smith over briefly, then studied the instruments backof the bed, twins of those in the watch room. „Let me know if there is anychange.“ He started to leave. Thaddeus looked startled. „But, Doctor„ He broke off.