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corroboration.
"Yes, dammit," said Hewlitt. "To both questions.
O'Mara nodded and said, "Which means that you could act as some kind of virus
witch-finder with the ability to track down our quarry through its previous
and, presumably, its present hosts. Naturally, we are grateful for any help
you can give us but, well, apart from the instant recognition and the vague
feelings you say you shared with the cat who, regrettably, is unable to offer
corroboration, have you any other evidence, observations, or vague,
indescribable feelings to support your contention?
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He looked away from O'Mara, feeling that the heat of his embarrassment must be
warming the whole room
"Friend O'Mara," said Prilicla. "At the time the incident occurred I was aware
of the feelings of the cat and friend Hewlitt. They were as described.
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"And as I suggested, little friend," said O'Mara, "they were vague,
indescribable, subjective, and probably useless." He turned to his
communicator, which, was already live, and went on, "Has the Padre returned?
Good, send it in." To Hewlitt he said, "We have medical matters to discuss
which do not require your presence.
I feel sure that I have embarrassed you more than enough for one day. Thank
you for your assistance. Padre Lioren will escort you to the dining hall.
In the instant that the Tarlan entered the room it stopped dead, all four of
its eyes directed at Hewlitt's reddening face. He stared back at it, wanting
to speak but knowing that he was going to be ridiculed again
"Mr. Hewlitt," said O'Mara in a voice whose sarcastic tone had been replaced
by one of sympathy and concern. "You have many years' experience of having
your words disbelieved by the medical and psychiatric fraternity, so I hoped
that your feelings would not be seriously wounded by my own incredulity. In
the circumstances your reaction seems abnormal. Please, what is it that you
are not wanting to tell me?
"The vague feeling of recognition I was trying to describe," said Hewlitt,
raising a hand to point at Lioren, "is coming from the Padre.
"I can confirm that," said Prilicla
For the first time since he had entered the office, Hewlitt saw the chief
psychologist blink
CHAPTER 25
Padre," said O'Mara, swiveling his chair to look up at the Tarlan standing in
the doorway, "have you been hiding something from us?
Lioren bent one eye in the psychologist's direction and kept the other three
trained on Hewlitt as it said, "Not intentionally. This is as much of a
surprise to me as it is you. Your instructions were that the psychology staff
in the outer office listen in to
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Final Diagnosis.htm this meeting for later discussion. I returned early from
the AUGL ward and overheard Patient Hewlitt's description of his feelings
about the cat. I I need a moment to think.
"Take it," said O'Mara. "But Padre, organize your thoughts, try not to edit
them.
"Very well," said Lioren. It did not appear to be offended by the other's
remark unless turning one of its eyes toward the ceiling was a derogatory
gesture on Tarla.
After a short pause it went on. "In the course of my duties I am aware of many
subtle and often indescribable feelings! that I have for my charges, both
patients and staff, and of! similar feelings they have toward me. Even though
we Tar-; lans find physical contact between strangers distasteful, very often
I find it necessary when the laying on of hands; or a simple handclasp is
required to convey feelings that are too difficult for either of the persons
concerned to articulate. Until Hewlitt described the bond that it felt existed
between its pet and itself, and I realized that a similar feeling existed
between the two of us and another former patient, Morredeth, I had not
considered the matter of-any importance. Now it has become very important
because it seems that I became a host to the virus creature. I also know how
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and when the transfer must have taken place
"At the time I was not aware of anything unusual about the incident," the
Padre went on. "The damage to a young Kelgian's fur is a particular tragedy,
since it is both an unsightly deformity which precludes mating and a severe
impairment of its primary channel of communication. From the time Patient
Morredeth learned that the condition was permanent it was in urgent need of
nonmaterial support. In common with the majority of civilized worlds, Kelgia
has several religious beliefs the precepts of which are familiar to me, but
Morredeth subscribed to none of them. All that I could offer it during my
daily visits was sympathy and conversation and, well, gossip about other
patients and staff members in an attempt to take its mind off its own
troubles. The attempt was unsuccessful and the patient remained in a condition
of deep, emotional distress until, on the visit following its physical
encounter with Patient Hewlitt, there was a total remission of symptoms.
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Lioren paused and for a moment the tall, angular body concealed by the narrow
cone of its cloak trembled, apparently at the recollection, then grew still
I "In spite of being the hospital padre," it said, "I have difficulty
accepting an event, no matter how inexplicable it may seem, as miraculous. But
not knowing then of the existence of this intelligent virus creature, I was
almost convinced otherwise. Morredeth's behavior following its cure was
abnormal in that it was almost insane with delight and relief. I had .already
touched, or rather stroked, the area of damaged fur in an attempt at giving
nonverbal reassurance. But it insisted that I share its joy by feeling for
myself the mobility of the regenerated fur with one of my medial hands. That
was when it must have happened
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