hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第14章

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s。　The　gas　bomb　popped　and　I　spent　a　busy　few　seconds　more　dodging　my　attackers。　Who　moved　more　and　more　slowly　until　they　dropped。　When　I　looked　around　I　saw　that　the　gas　had　done　a　great　job。　The　entire　great　room　was　filled　with　prone　and　snoring　forms。　I　shook　my　hands　over　my　head。
　〃Let's　hear　it　for　the　good　guys！〃　I　had　an　audience　of　one；　myself；　which　made　the　victory　no　less　sweet。　The　sleep　gas　had　hit　my　friends　as　well；　though　Floyd　had　been　doing　quite　well　before　he　dropped。　A　number　of　crumpled　bodies　were　collapsed　around　him。　I　opened　my　pack　and　got　the　gas　antidote；　one　by　one　I　shot　up　my　panions　with　the　styrette。　Then　went　to　the　door　and　stared　gloomily　out　at　the　rain　until　they　revived。
　Soft　footsteps　behind　me　and　Madonette　held　me　lightly　by　the　arms。
　〃Thanks；　Jim。〃
　〃Was　nothing。〃
　〃It　was　something。　You　saved　our　lives。〃
　〃We're　still　in　it；〃　Floyd　said。　〃And　like　Madonette　said；　we　owe　you　a　good　bit　of　thanks。〃　Steengo　nodded　agreement。
　〃I　wish　you　didn't。　If　this　operation　had　been　planned　better　all　these　emergencies　wouldn't　be　taking　place。　My　fault。　I'm　under　what　you　might　call　a　certain　kind　of　time　pressure。　For　reasons　I　can't　go　into　right　now　we　have　to　find　the　artifact　and　finish　this　operation　within　twenty　days。〃
　〃That's　not　much　time；〃　Steengo　said。
　〃Right…so　let's　not　waste　any　of　it。　Our　wele　has　worn　out　around　here。　Grab　weapons　because　we　might　have　trouble　getting　out　of　town　empty…handed。　Packs　on；　armed　to　kill；　ruthless　and　deadly　expressions。　Forward！〃
　After　what　had　almost　happened　to　us　with　Svinjar　and　his　macho　swinemen　we　were　in　no　mood　to　be　trifled　with。　It　must　have　shown　in　our　faces…or　more　likely　in　the　metal　of　our　weapons…because　the　few　people　we　met　slipped　away　as　soon　as　they　saw　us。　The　rain　had　almost　stopped　and　the　sun　was　burning　through　and　raising　trails　of　mist　from　the　waterlogged　ground。　The　hovels　were　farther　apart　now；　the　mounds　of　garbage　fewer　and　more　easily　avoided。　Straggly　little　bushes　began　to　appear；　then　trees　and　larger　shrubs　covering　the　easy　slope　of　the　rolling　hills。　Mixed　in　were　low　bushes　from　which　hung　hard…skinned　spheres　the　size　of　a　man's　fist。　Maybe　these　were　the　polpettone　trees　we　had　been　told　about。　This　would　have　to　be　investigated…but　not　now。　I　led　on　at　a　good　pace；　not　calling　a　halt　until　we　had　reached　the　concealment　of　the　first　coppice。　I　looked　back　at　the　crude　buildings；　with　the　great　bulk　of　the　Pentagon　rising　behind　them。
　〃No　one　seems　to　be　following　us…so　let's　keep　it　that　way。　Five…minute　break　every　hour；　keep　walking　until　sunset。〃
　I　touched　the　skull…puter　hanging　from　my　neck　and　the　keyboard　snapped　into　existence。　I　summoned　up　the　holomap；　glanced　up　at　the　sun…then　pointed　ahead。
　〃We　go　thataway。〃
　It　was　tiring　at　first；　struggling　up　one　hill　and　down　the　other　side；　then　up　again。　But　we　soon　left　the　trees　and　the　rolling　countryside　behind　and　marched　out　onto　a　grassy　plain。　We　stopped　for　a　break　at　the　end　of　the　first　hour；　dropped　down　and　drank　some　water。　The　bravest　of　us　chewed　industriously　on　the　concentrated　rations。　Which　had　the　texture　of　cardboard…if　not　the　same　exciting　flavor。　There　was　a　grove　of　the　polpettone　trees　close　by　and　I　went　and　picked　a　few　of　the　spherical　fruits。　Hard　as　rocks　and　looking　just　about　as　appetizing。　I　put　them　into　my　pack　for　later　examination。　Floyd　had　dug　a　small　flute　out　of　his　pack　and　played　a　little　jig　that　lifted　our　spirits。　When　we　stepped　out　again　it　was　to　a　jolly　marching　tune。
　Madonette　walked　beside　me；　humming　in　time　with　the　flute。　A　strong　walker；　she　seemed　to　be　enjoying　the　effort。　And　surely　a　great　singer；　good　voice。　Good　everything…and　that　included　her　bod。　She　turned　and　caught　me　looking　at　her　and　smiled。　I　looked　away；　slowed　a　bit　to　walk　next　to　Steengo　for　a　change。　He　was　keeping　up　with　the　rest　of　us　and　did　not　look　tired　I　was　happy　to　see。　Ahh；　Madonette　。　。　。　Think　of　something　else；　Jim；　keep　your　eye　on　the　job。　Not　the　girl。　Yes；　I　know；　she　looked　a　lot　better　than　anything　else　around。　But　this　was　no　time　to　go　all　smarmy　and　dewy…eyed。
　〃How　long　you　think　until　dark？〃　Steengo　asked。　〃That　pill　you　gave　me　is　wearing　off　with　a　vengeance。〃
　I　projected　a　holo　of　a　watch。　〃I　truly　don't　know…because　I　don't　even　know　the　length　of　the　day　here。　This　watch；　like　the　puter；　is　on　ship's　time。　It's　been　a　good　long　time　since　they　threw　us　out　the　gate。〃　I　squinted　at　the　sky。　〃And　I　don't　think　that　sun　has　moved　very　much　at　all。　Time　to　ask　for　some　advice。〃
　I　bit　down　three　times　hard　on　the　left　side　of　my　jaw；　which　should　have　triggered　a　signal　on　the　jawbone　radio。
　〃Tremearne　here。〃　The　words　bounced　around　clearly　inside　my　skull。
　〃I　read　you。〃
　〃You　read　what？〃　Steengo　asked。
　〃Please…I'm　talking　on　the　radio。〃
　〃Sorry。〃
　〃Reception　clear　at　this　end。　Report。〃
　〃We　were　less　than　charmed　by　the　Machmen。　We　left　town　a　couple　of　hours　ago　and　are　hiking　out　across　the　plain　。　。　。〃
　〃I　have　you　on　the　chart；　satellite　location。〃
　〃Any　of　the　Fundamentaloid　bands　in　sight　as　well？〃
　〃A　number　of　them。〃
　〃Any　of　them　close　to　this　position？〃
　〃Yes；　one　off　to　your　left。　Roughly　the　same　distance　you've　walked　already。〃
　〃Sounds　a　winner。　But　one　important　question　first。　How　long　are　the　days　here？〃
　〃About　one　hundred　standard　hours。〃
　〃No　wonder　we're　beginning　to　feel　tired…and　it's　still　full　daylight。　With　the　total　daylight　at　least　four　times　longer　than　what　we're　used　to。　Can　you　put　your　satellite　to　work　looking　back　the　way　we　came…to　see　if　we　are　being　followed？〃
　〃I've　already　done　that。　No　pursuers　in　sight。〃
　〃That's　great　news。　Over　and　out。〃　I　raised　my　voice。　〃pany…halt。　Fall　out。　I'll　give　you　the　other　side　of　the　conversation　that　you　didn't　hear。　We're　not　being　followed。〃　I　waited　until　the　ragged　cheer　had　died　away。　〃Which　means　we　are　stopping　here　for　food；　drink；　sleep；　the　works。〃
　I　slung　my　pack　to　the　ground；　stretched　largely；　then　dropped　down　and　leaned　against　it；　pointed　to　the　distant　horizon。　〃The　Fundamentaloid　nomads　are　somewhere　out　in　that　direction。　We　are　going　to　have　to　find　them　sooner　or　later…and　I　vote　for　later。〃
　〃Vote　seconded；　motion　passed。〃　They　were　all　horizontal　now。　I　took　a　good　swig　of　water　before　I　went　on。
　〃The　days　here　are　four　times　as　long　as　the　ones　that　we　are　used　to。　I　think　that　we　have　had　enough　of　fighting；　walking；　everything　for　one　day；　or　a　quarter　of　a　day；　or　whatever。　Let's　sleep　on　it　and　go　on　when　we　are　rested。〃
　My　advice　was　unneeded　since　eyelids　were　already　closing。　I　could　do　no　less　myself　and　was　drifting　off　when　I　realized　this　was　not　the　world's　greatest　idea。　I　heaved　myself；　groaning；　to　my　feet　and　walked　away　from　the　others　so　my　voice　would　not　disturb　them。
　〃e　in　Tremearne。　Can　you　read　me。〃
　〃Sergeant　Naenda　here。　The　Captain　is　off　duty　this　watch。　Should　I　send　for　him？〃
　〃Not　if　you　are　sitting　in　for　him…and　you　have　the　satellite　observations　handy　and　up…to…date。〃
　〃Affirmative。〃
　〃Well　keep　looking　at　them。　We're　taking　a　sleep　break　now　and　I　would　like　it　to　be　undisturbed。　If　you　see　anyone　or　anything　creeping　up　on　us…give　a　shout。〃
　〃Will　do。　Nighty…night。〃
　Nighty…night！　What　were　the　armed　forces　ing　to？　I　stumbled　back　to　my　panions　and　emulated　their　fine　example。　I　had　no　trouble　at　all　in　falling　asleep。
　It　was　waking　up　that　was　difficult。　Some　hours　had　slipped　by　because　when　I　blinked　blearily　up　at　the　sky　I　saw　that　the　sun　had　passed　the　meridian　and　was　finally　slipping　down　towards　the　horizon。　What　had　wakened　me？
　〃Attention；　Jim　diGriz；　attention。〃
　I　looked　around　for　the　speaker　and　it　took　long　seconds　before　I　realized　that　it　was　Captain　Tremearne's　voice　I　was　hearing。
　〃Wazza？〃　I　said　incoherently；　still　numbed　with　sleep。
　〃One　of　the　Fundamentaloid　bands　is　on　the　move…roughly　in　your　direction。　They　should　be　close　enough　to　see　you　in　about　an　hour。〃
　〃By　which　time　we　should　be　ready　for　visitors。　Thanks；　Cap…over　and　out。〃
　My　stomach　snarled　at　me　and　I　realized　that　the　concentrated　rations　had　been　a