hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第38章

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　We　reached　for　our　packs　but　Indefatigable　stopped　us。　〃You　bring　nothing。　No　weapons。　You　must　trust　us。〃
　Floyd　shrugged　agreement　since　he　was　always　armed。　〃At　least　some　water　first；〃　I　said。　Picking　up　my　canteen　and　drinking　a　bit。　Palming　a　number　of　small　bombs　as　I　put　it　back。　〃And　of　course　our　panion；　our　pet　dog　goes　with　us。
　Fido　played　its　role　by　barking；　sticking　out　its　tongue　and　panting。　Then　overplayed　its　role　by　lifting　its　hind　leg　on　my　pack。　Though　this　bit　of　canine　ham　acting　may　have　convinced　our　new　militaristic　mates；　because　they　nodded　agreement。
　〃We　must　cover　your　eyes；〃　Dreadnought　said；　pulling　out　two　black　scarves。　〃So　you　do　not　discover　the　secret　of　the　entrance　to　Shelter。〃
　〃If　you　mean　the　slab　of　rock　under　the　polpettone　trees　that　swings　open；　you　can　forget　the　blindfolds。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　this！〃
　〃Just　say　that　we　do。　Now…do　we　go　with　you？〃
　They　looked　stricken　by　my　revelation；　stepped　aside　and　conversed　in　quick　whispers。　Returned　reluctantly；　all　scowls　again。
　〃You　will　e。　Quickly。〃
　We　dogtrotted；　including　the　dog；　to　the　grove；　then　followed　Dreadnought　down　the　ladder　into　the　tunnel　beneath　the　slab。　Fido　barked；　and　when　I　looked　up　launched　itself　down　at　me。　I　caught　it；　then　dropped　it。　Looked　gloomily　into　the　darkness　as　Indefatigable　closed　the　lid。
　I　just　hoped　that　we　had　made　the　right　decision　because　my　days　were　still　running　out。　Going　underground　like　this　was　a　little　too　reminiscent　of　the　grave。　'
　And　it　would　be　my　grave　if　I　didn't　get　the　antidote　in　time。
　
　CHAPTER　24
　Once　my　eyes　had　adjusted　to　the　darkness　I　saw　that　a　thin　line　of　light　ran　along　at　shoulder　height　on　each　side　of　the　tunnel。　The　floor　was　smooth　and　hard；　as　were　the　walls　when　I　brushed　my　fingers　against　them。　We　walked　in　silence　for　some　time　until　we　came　to　a　cross　tunnel。
　〃No　talking　now！　Breathe　silently…do　not　stir；〃　one　of　our　guides　whispered。　〃Back　against　the　wall。〃
　We　stayed　that　way　for　long　minutes。　I　saw　that　there　were　glowing　numerals　on　the　walls　where　the　tunnels　crossed。　I　added　to　my　store　of　useless　knowledge　the　data　that　we　were　in　tunnel　Y…82790　at　the　place　where　it　crossed　NJ28940。　I　leaned　against　the　wall；　and　was　thinking　seriously　about　going　to　sleep；　when　I　heard　the　thud　of　marching　boots　from　NJ…28940。　I　woke　up　and　remained　silent　and　unmoving　as　a　squad　of　about　twenty　men　exited　from　the　tunnel　on　our　right　and　marched　straight　across　and　into　the　same　numbered　tunnel　on　the　left。　When　the　sound　of　their　footsteps　had　almost　died　away　we　moved　out　to　the　whispered　mand。
　〃Turn　left；　after　them。　Quiet　as　you　can。〃
　This　was　apparently　the　only　dangerous　part　of　our　journey；　because　once　we　had　left　this　tunnel　for　another　our　panions　whispered　together　again。　I　wondered　if　Fido　teas　still　with　us。
　〃Don't　bark；〃　I　said　as　softly　as　I　could。　〃But　if　you　are　still　there；　man's　best　friend；　and　hearing　this　with　your　super　hearing；　a　tiny　growl　is　permitted。〃
　A　guttural　grrr　sounded　from　somewhere　around　my　ankles。
　〃Great。　A　double　growl　now　if　you　are　reading　the　tunnel　numbers　and　memorizing　same。〃
　A　quick　grrr…grrr　reassured　me。　So　I　did　not　have　to　keep　track　of　our　many　turnings。　After　this　we　marched　in　silence　for　a　tiresome　period；　my　strength　still　wasn't　what　it　should　be。　I　was　more　than　grateful　when　I　saw　a　glow　of　light　ahead；　almost　ran　into　our　new　panions　when　they　stopped。
　〃Silence！〃　Dreadnought　whispered。　Floyd　and　I　silenced　and　listened…then　heard　the　running　footsteps　as　well。　They　thudded　close；　then　stopped　suddenly。
　〃The　sounds　of　deadly　battle…〃　the　newer　said。
　〃Echo　with　the　cries　of　the　dying；〃　Dreadnought　answered。　Password　and　countersign。　Pretty　depressing　though。　〃Is　that　you；　Irredeemable？〃　Dreadnought　asked。
　〃It　is。　I　was　sent　to　warn　you。　A　message　was　passed　on　from　you…know…who　that　you　were　detected　exiting　and　reentering　the　tunnels。　Search　parties　are　out　and　you　must　avoid　them。〃
　〃How？〃　Indefatigable　asked。　With　just　a　touch　of　hysteria　to　his　voice。
　〃I　do　not　know。　I　was　sent　only　to　warn。　May　the　God　of　Battles　go　with　you。〃　With　this　blessing　the　footsteps　thudded　again　into　silence　as　he　ran　back　the　way　he　had　e。
　〃What　do　we　do？〃　Dreadnought　asked　unhappily。　His　panion　was　just　as　assertive。　〃I　don't　know　。　。　。〃
　I　swear　that　I　could　hear　their　teeth　chattering。　Whatever　else　they　were；　these　two　young　men　were　not　plotters　or　planners。　Time　for　a　pro　to　step　in。
　〃I　will　tell　you　what　we　must　do。〃　Speaking　as　an　unhumble　old　plotter　and　planner。
　〃What？〃　They　spoke　the　word　together。
　〃If　they　are　searching　the　tunnels…then　we　must　leave　the　tunnels。〃
　〃Wonderful；〃　Floyd　muttered。　It　may　have　seemed　pretty　obvious　to　him　but　these　lads　weled　the　idea　as　they　would　have　orders　from　the　God　of　Battles　himself。
　〃Yes！　Leave…before　they　find　us！〃
　〃Out　of　the　tunnels！〃
　Good　so　far；　I　thought。　When　the　silence　lengthened；　and　I　realized　that　was　the　end　of　their　contribution；　I　asked　the　vital　question。
　〃Out　of　the　tunnels；　right。　But　where　do　we　go？　Above　ground　again？〃
　〃No…all　exits　will　be　watched。〃
　〃Only　one　other　way；〃　Dreadnought　said；　with　rising　enthusiasm。　〃Down；　we　must　go　down！〃
　〃To　the　Cultivastings！〃　his　panion　added；　just　as　filled　with　enthusiasm。
　〃Let's　do　it；〃　I　said　wearily；　not　having　the　slightest　idea　of　what　they　were　talking　about。　〃The　God　of　Battles　wants　it　that　way。〃
　They　double…timed　and　we　followed。　Around　the　bend　into　the　next　tunnel　where　a　glowing　outline　revealed　that　there　vas　a　metal　door　inset　into　the　wall。　Neither　of　our　hosts　tugged　at　the　handle　so　there　was　a　good　chance　that　it　was　locked。　Indefatigable　stepped　forward　to　face　the　illuminated　keypad　set　into　the　wall　beside　it。
　〃Avert　your　eyes；〃　he　said。　〃The　access　code　is　top　secret。〃
　〃Get　it；　Fido；〃　I　whispered。　Aida　reacted　instantly；　our　plastic　pet　extruded　sharp　toenails；　leaped　high　then　climbed　up　my　clothes；　scratching　my　ear　painfully　as　it　jumped　onto　the　top　of　my　head。　I　resisted　the　temptation　to　say　ouch　and　stood　steady　so　it　could　read　the　punched…in　numbers。　The　door　creaked　open　and　the　creature　jumped　back　to　the　ground。
　A　gentle　breeze　blew　out　through　the　doorway　as　we　passed　through　it；　smelling　fresh　and　summery。　Here　underground？　We　stumbled　in　the　darkness　until　the　door　clanged　shut　and　the　lights　came　on。　We　were　in　a　small　chamber　facing　a　spiral　staircase。　Our　hosts　instantly　started　down　it　and　we　followed。
　I　was　beginning　to　get　dizzy　from　the　round…and…round　when　we　finally　got　to　the　bottom。　The　open　door　here　glared　with　light。　Blinking　my　tired　eyes；　I　followed　the　others。　Outdoors　into　a　field　of　ripening　corn。　Startled　birds　flapped　away　when　we　emerged；　while　something　small　and　furry　disappeared　among　the　stalks。
　I　knew　that　we　couldn't　possibly　be　outdoors；　not　after　all　the　cave　crawling　that　we　had　been　doing。　So　this　had　to　be　a　really　giant　cavern；　with　some　kind　of　brilliant　light　sources　above。　These　people　really　were　independent　of　the　surface…no　wonder　they　hadn't　been　spotted　before。
　Dreadnought　led　the　way　between　the　rows　of　corn　and　we　followed。　It　was　hot　and　dusty；　my　fatigue　was　still　there…and　some　species　of　tiny　gnat　kept　trying　to　fly　up　my　nose。　I　sneezed　and　rubbed　and　walked　into　Indefatigable's　solid　back　when　he　stopped。
　〃Hail　the　Home　and　Joy　in　Survival！〃　he　called　out。
　〃Hail；　hail　and　wele；　brave　Defender；〃　a　voice　answered。
　A　sweet　and　high…pitched　woman's　voice。
　We　started　forward　again　and　I　stepped　out　from　behind　my　guide's　massive　form；　rubbing　my　nose　and　sniffling。　I　had　a　quick　glimpse　of　a　woman　and　three　or　four　children　working　with　hoes。　It　was　a　very　quick　glimpse…for　the　instant　that　she　saw　me　she　screamed。
　〃Invasion　Day！　〃
　It　all　happened　incredibly　fast。　The　children　dived　to　the　ground　and　she　grabbed　at　the　heavy　pistol　that　hung　from　a　！　lanyard　around　her　neck。　Raised　it　and　began　to　fire　at　us。
　We　all　hit　the　dust　faster　than　the　children　had。　Dreadnought　was　shouting；　the　gun　was　banging；　rounds　screamed　by　and　exploded　among　the　crops。
　〃Stop！　No！　No　Invasion！　En