Part 1 (2/2)

”_Aesclipus Twenty, repeat your identification!_”

Calhoun went to the control-board.

”Aesclipus Twenty,” he said patiently, ”is a Med s.h.i.+p, sent by the Interstellar Medical Service to make a planetary health inspection on Weald. Check with your public health authorities. This is the first Med s.h.i.+p visit in twelve standard years, I believe, which is inexcusable.

But your health authorities will know all about it. Check with them.”

The voice said truculently;

”_What was your last port?_”

Calhoun named it. This was not his home sector, but Sector Twelve had gotten into a very bad situation. Some of its planets had gone unvisited for as long as twenty years, and twelve between inspections was almost common-place. Other sectors had been called on to help it catch up.

Calhoun was one of the loaned Med s.h.i.+p men, and because of the emergency he'd been given a list of half a dozen planets to be inspected one after another, instead of reporting back to sector headquarters after each visit. He'd had minor troubles before with landing-grid operators in Sector Twelve.

So he was very patient. He named the planet last inspected, the one from which he'd set out for Weald Three. The voice from the communicator said sharply;

”_What port before that?_”

Calhoun named the one before the last.

”_Don't drive any closer,_” said the voice harshly, ”_or you'll be destroyed!_”

Calhoun said coldly;

”Now you listen to me, friend! I'm from the Interstellar Medical Service! You get in touch with planetary health services immediately!

Remind them of the Interstellar Medical Inspection Agreement, signed on Tralee two hundred and forty standard years ago. Remind them that if they do not cooperate in medical inspection that I can put your planet under quarantine and your s.p.a.ce commerce will be cut off like that! No s.h.i.+p will be cleared for Weald from any other planet in the galaxy until there has been a health inspection! Things have pretty well gone to pot so far as the Med Service in this sector is concerned, but we're trying to straighten it out. You have twenty minutes to clear this and then, I'm coming in. If I'm not landed, a quarantine goes on! Tell your health authorities that!”

Silence. Calhoun clicked off and poured himself another cup of coffee.

Murgatroyd held out his cup for a refill. Calhoun gave it to him.

”I hate to put on an official hat, Murgatroyd,” he said annoyedly, ”but there are some people who won't have any other way.”

Murgatroyd said ”_Chee!_” and sipped at his cup.

Calhoun checked the course of the Med s.h.i.+p. It bored on through s.p.a.ce.

There were tiny noises from the communicator. There were whisperings and rustlings and the occasional strange and sometimes beautiful musical notes whose origin is yet obscure, but which, since they are carried by electromagnetic radiation of wildly varying wave-lengths, are not likely to be the fabled music of the spheres. He waited.

In fifteen minutes a different voice came from the speaker.

”_Med s.h.i.+p Aesclipus! Med s.h.i.+p Aesclipus!_”

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