Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction August 1963. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
THE HATE DISEASE
The Med Service people hit strange problems as routine: ifthey weren't weirdos, they weren't tough enough to merit MedService attention. Now the essence of a weird problem isthat it involves a factor nobody ever thought of before ...or the absence of one nobody ever missed ...
by MURRAY LEINSTER
ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN SCHOENHERR
I
The Med Ship Esclipus Twenty rode in overdrive while her ship'scompany drank coffee. Calhoun sipped at a full cup of strong brew,while Murgatroyd the tormal drank from the tiny mug suited to hissmall, furry paws. The astrogation unit showed the percentage of thisoverdrive hop covered up to now, and the needle was almost around tothe stop pin.
There'd been a warning gong an hour ago, notifying that the end ofoverdrive journeying approached. Hence the coffee. When breakout came,the overdrive field must collapse and the Duhanne cells down near thesmall ship's keel absorb the energy which maintained it. ThenEsclipus Twenty would appear in the normal universe of suns andstars with the abruptness of an explosion. She should be somewherenear the sun Tallien. She should then swim toward that sol-type sunand approach Tallien's third planet out at the less-than-light-speedrate necessary for solar-system travel. And presently she shouldsignal down to ground and Calhoun set about the purpose of histhree-week journey in overdrive.
His purpose was a routine checkup on public health on Tallien Three.Calhoun had lately completed five such planetary visits, with from oneto three weeks of overdrive travel between each pair. When he leftTallien Three he'd head back to Sector Headquarters for more ordersabout the work of the Interstellar Medical Service.
Murgatroyd zestfully licked his empty cup to get the last least dropof coffee. He said hopefully:
"Chee?" He wanted more.
"I'm afraid," said Calhoun, "that you're a sybarite, Murgatroyd. Thisimpassioned desire of yours for coffee disturbs me."
"Chee!" said Murgatroyd, with decision.
"It's become a habit," Calhoun told him severely. "You should taperoff. Remember, when anything in your environment becomes a normal partof your environment, it becomes a necessity. Coffee should be aluxury, to be savored as such, instead of something you expect andresent being deprived of."
Murgatroyd said impatiently:
"Chee-chee!"
"All right, then," said Calhoun, "if you're going to be emotionalabout it! Pass your cup."
He reached out and Murgatroyd put the tiny object in his hand. Herefilled it and passed it back.
"But watch yourself," he advised. "We're landing on Tallien Three.It's just been transferred to us from another sector. It's beenneglected. There's been no Med Service inspection for years. Therecould be misunderstandings."
Murgatroyd said, "Chee!" and squatted down to drink.
Calhoun looked at a clock and opened his mouth to speak again, when ataped voice said