hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第30章

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uick　smile；　then　his　face　became　calm　again。　〃If　you're　all　right　I'll　look　at　Steengo。〃
　〃I'm　great。　Knocked　about　but　great；〃　I　croaked　as　I　climbed　painfully　to　my　feet。
　〃Pulse　good；〃　he　said；　kneeling　beside　our　friend。　〃He　has　taken　a　lot　of　punishment　but　nothing　seems　to　be　broken　that　I　can　find。　He　will　e　out　of　this　fine。〃
　I　was　groggy；　now　even　weaker　with　relief；　blurted　out　the　words　without　thinking。　
　〃He's　fine。　I'm　fine。　However　we　would　have　been　a　lot　better　if　you　had　waded　into　this　fracas　sooner。〃
　I　saw　him　wince　at　the　words；　wished　I　could　take　them　back。　You　never　can。
　〃I'm　sorry；　I　really　am。　I　had　to　wait；　see　what　he　could　do。　I　know　that　you're　good；　Jim。　I　knew　you　could　at　least　hold　him。　I'm　sorry　but　I　had　to　see　how　fast　he　could　move　before　I　took　him　on。　I　had　to　wear　him　down；　not　get　touched。　I　knew　I　could　do　it…and　I　moved　as　soon　as　I　knew。　Sorry　。　。　。〃
　〃Reporting；〃　our　guard…guy…girl　said。　〃The　Red　One　is　unconscious。〃
　She　lowered　the　small；　coin…sized　municator　as　I　stalked　towards　her；　hands　out　and　ready　to　strike。
　〃Who　were　you　talking　to？　Whose　side　are　you　on？　What's　happening　here？　Speak…or　get　demolished。〃
　The　guard；　spear　lowered　and　pointed　at　me；　stood　her　ground。　〃The　answer　to　your　questions　is　arriving　now。　There。〃　The　point　of　her　spear　moved　to　indicate　a　spot　behind　me。　A　ruse？　Who　knew；　who　cared。　I　turned　and　looked　at　Iron　John's　giant　throne。
　Which　was　slowly　turning　on　some　invisible　axis。　Floyd　and　I　both　faced　that　way；　hands　raised　automatically　on　the　defense。　A　black　opening　was　revealed　and；　as　the　throne　stopped　moving；　there　was　motion　in　the　darkness　beyond。　Two　figures　appeared；　walked　out　into　the　room。
　Both　women。
　One　of　them　was　Madonette。
　〃Hi；　guys；〃　she　said；　smiling　and　waving。　〃I'd　like　to　introduce　a　new　friend；　Mata。〃
　The　woman　was　about　my　height；　regal　of　bearing　in　her　dark　robe　touched　with　gold　embroidery。　Her　expression　was　posed；　peaceful；　small　wrinkles　at　the　corners　of　her　eyes；　a　touch　of　gray　to　her　hair；　were　the　only　signs　of　age。
　〃Wele　to　the　other　side　of　Paradise；　Jim；〃　she　said…and　held　out　her　hand。　Her　handshake　was　firm　and　quick。　I　opened　my　mouth　but　could　not　think　of　anything　relevant　to　say。
　〃I　know　that　you　have　many　questions。〃　Her　words　filled　the　gap。　〃M　of　which　xill　be　answered。　But　it　would　be　wisest　to　postpone　our　little　chat　until　we　are　out　of　this　place。　A　moment；　please。〃
　She　took　a　very　efficient…looking　hypodermic　from　the　reticule　hanging　at　her　waist。　Uncapped　it　and　bent　to　brush　aside　the　thick　hair　on　his　leg　to　give　Iron　John　a　quick　injection。
　〃He　will　sleep　the　better；〃　she　said。　〃Bethuel…will　you　lead　the　way？〃
　The　guard　raised　her　spear　in　a　quick　salute；　then　marched　resolutely　past　the　throne　and　into　the　opening。　Madonette　touched　Steengo's　cheek；　then　waved　Floyd　to　her。　〃Help　me　carry　him。　Jim　will　have　enough　to　do　just　moving　himself。〃
　I　resented　the　remark…a　blotch　on　my　masculine　pride　but　before　I　could　stumble　over　they　had　lifted　him　and　were　following　the　guard；　Bethuel。
　There　were　no　lights　in　the　tunnel　behind　the　throne。　At　least　none　until　Mata　had　entered　behind　us　and　sealed　it　once　again。　Pale　illumination　flickered　into　existence。　More　than　enough　to　see　by。　Nor　was　it　a　long　walk　to　the　open　door　at　the　far　end。　We　emerged　into　a　large；　red　brick　room　that　could　have　been　a　mirror…image　of　the　one　that　we　had　just　left。
　Just　in　physical　size；　though。　Here　the　walls　were　covered　by　pleasant　hangings；　tapestries　of　sunshine　and　floral　landscapes。　Instead　of　the　swords　and　shields　that　adorned　the　other。　The　stained…glass　windows　here　depicted　scenes　of　mountains　and　valleys；　villages　and　forests。　Unlike　Iron　John's　windows　which　featured　the　clash　of　battle；　spackle　of　gore。　This　was　altogether　more　civilized。
　As　was　the　murmur　of　concerned　voices　from　the　women　in　attendance　here。　They　tenderly　carried　Steengo　to　a　couch　where　another　woman；　dressed　in　white；　ministered　to　him。　I　dropped　into　the　nearest　chair　and　scowled　around　at　all　the　female　bustle。　My　voice；　louder　and　more　censorious　than　I　had　intended；　cut　through　the　peaceful　scene。
　〃Now　would　somebody；　anybody；　tell　me　just　what　the　hell　is　going　on。〃
　The　way　I　was　ignored　was　ment　enough　in　itself。　Though　a　smiling　girl　did　bring　me　a　glass　of　cool　…vine…on　the　way　to　serve　the　others。　Madonette　sat　next　to　Mata；　where　they　put　their　heads　together　for　a　moment　before　Madonette　spoke。
　〃First…and　most　important　now　that　you　all　are　safe…is　the　fact　that　the　artifact　is　here　and　is　being　looked　after。　In　addition　there　is…〃
　〃Excuse　if　I　interrupt；〃　I　said。　〃A　matter　of　priority。〃　I　clamped　my　jaw　twice。　〃Did　you　hear　that；　Tremearne？〃　His　answer　buzzed　in　my　jawbone。
　〃I　did；　and　。　。　。〃
　〃Priorities；　Captain。〃　I　spoke　quietly　so　only　he　could　hear。　〃Mission　plete。　Alien　artifact　returned。　Antidote　for　me　on　its　way　down。　Nine　days　is　close　enough　to　e。　Do　you　understand　all　that？〃
　〃Of　course。　But　there　is　a　plication　。　。　。〃
　〃plication！〃　I　could　hear　the　squeak　of　fear　edging　my　voice。　〃What？〃
　〃I　sent　for　the　antidote　to　the　thirty…day　poison　as　soon　as　I　heard　about　it。　I　had　no　intention　of　waiting　until　the　deadline　to　administer　it。　However　there　was　an　accident　in　transit。〃　Sweat　suddenly　beaded　my　forehead　and　my　toes　tapped　anxiously　on　the　floor。　〃These　things　happen。　I've　sent　for　a　second　batch　and　it's　en　route　now。〃
　I　cursed　viciously　under　my　breath；　then　realized　that　I　was　the　object　of　more　than　one　concerned　glance。　Smiled　woodenly　and　snarled　my　answer。
　〃Do　it。　Get　it。　No　excuses。　Now。　Understood。〃
　〃Understood。　〃
　〃Fine。〃　I　stopped　whispering　and　called　out。　〃I'm　most　cheered　to　hear　that　the　artifact　has　been　found。　Now；　if　you　please；　an　explanation　of　what　all　this　is　about。〃
　〃Seems　obvious；〃　Madonette　said　undoubtedly　miffed　by　my　surly　behavior。　〃It　looks　like　the　ladies　have　saved　your　bacon　and　you　should　be　grateful。〃
　Which　did　nothing　to　clear　the　air。　〃As　I　recall；〃　I　recalled。　〃It　was　the　gentlemen…at　some　physical　cost　I　must　add…who　polished　off　that　russet　rottweiler　before　you　all　came　onto　the　scene。　I　also　remember　that　we　were　watched　all　the　time　during　the　life…and…death　struggle　by　one　of　your　lot　who　did　nothing　to　help。〃
　The　tough　answer　sprang　to　her　lips　and　I　snarled　around　at　the　female　pany。　Tempers　flared　on　all　sides　but　Mata　cooled　things　down。
　〃Children…there　has　been　enough　tribulation　and　pain；　so　do　not　cause　yourself　any　more。〃　She　turned　to　me。　〃Jim；　let　me　explain。　The　soldier　who　aided　your　escape；　Bethuel；　is　one　of　our　spies　who　keeps　us　informed　about　all　the　masculine　meanderings　beyond　the　wall。　I　ordered　her　to　help　you　escape　your　guards；　which　she　did。　I　also　ordered　her　not　to　reveal　her　presence　to　Iron　John。　The　men　beyond　the　wall　have　no　idea　that　we　watch　them　closely　and　I　wish　it　to　remain　that　way。　She　aided　your　escape　and　you　should　be　grateful。〃
　I　was；　and　I　should　have　admitted　it；　but　I　was　still　bullheaded　and　angry　and　settled　for　a　surly　mutter　and　growl。　Mata　nodded　blithely　as　though　I　had　municated　something　of　importance。
　〃See　how　well　everything　has　worked　out？　You　are　here　and　safe；　your　friends　safe　as　well；　and　that　for　which　you　seek；　the　strange　artifact；　is　secure　and　close　by。〃
　I　only　half　listened。　Fine　for　the　troops。　But　there　were　other　forces　at　work　that　did　not　bode　well　for　my　future。　Accidents　in　transit　did　not　happen　by　accident。　Someone　in　the　bureaucracy　that　was　manipulating　me…did　not　like　me。　Perhaps　had　never　liked　me　and　never　had　any　intention　of　supplying　the　antidote。　I　would　certainly　be　less　trouble　to　them　if　I　were　safely　dead。　And　there　were　only　nine　days　left　to　sort　the　whole　thing　out。
　I　had　touched　my　puter　controls　automatically　while　these　thoughts　were　whizzing　about　my　tired　brain。　The　number　glowed　before　me。　I　really　had　had　a　longer　sleep　than　I　realized。
　Eight　days　to　go。
　
　CHAPTER　20
　I　looked　around　at　the　peaceful　female　bustle…and　suddenly　felt　very；　very　tired。　My　side　hurt　and　I　felt　sure　that　a　couple　of　ribs　were　broken。　I　sipped　the　wine　but　it　di