The Project Gutenberg EBook of Contamination Crew, by Alan Edward Nourse

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Title: Contamination Crew

Author: Alan Edward Nourse

Illustrator: Ed Emshwiller

Release Date: April 9, 2010 [EBook #31932]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Illustration: Illustrated by Ed Emsh]

CONTAMINATION CREW

BY ALAN E. NOURSE

_Orders were orders! The creature had to be killed. But just how
does one destroy the indestructible?_

(_The following is taken from the files of the Medical Disciplinary
Board, Hospital Earth, from the preliminary hearings in re: The
Profession vs. Samuel B. Jenkins, Physician; First Court of Medical
Affairs, final action pending._)

COM COD S221VB73 VOROCHISLOV SECTOR; 4th GALACTIC PERIOD 22, 2341
GENERAL SURVEY SHIP MERCY TO HOSPITAL EARTH

VIA: FASTEST POSSIBLE ROUTING, PRIORITY UNASSIGNED

TO: Lucius Darby, Physician Grade I, Black Service Director of Galactic
Periphery Services, Hospital Earth

FROM: Samuel B. Jenkins, Physician Grade VI, Red Service General
Practice Patrol Ship _Lancet_ (Attached GSS _Mercy_ pro tem)

SIR: The following communication is directed to your attention in hopes
that it may anticipate various charges which are certain to be placed
against me as a Physician of the Red Service upon the return of the
General Survey Ship _Mercy_ to Hospital Earth (expected arrival four
months from above date).

These charges will undoubtedly be preferred by one Turvold Neelsen,
Physician Grade II of the Black Service, and Commander of the _Mercy_ on
its current survey mission into the Vorochislov Sector. Exactly what the
charges will be I cannot say, since the Black Doctor in question refuses
either audience or communication with me at the present time; however,
it seems likely that treason, incompetence and mutinous insubordination
will be among the milder complaints registered. It is possible that even
Malpractice might be added, so you can readily understand the reasons
for this s