wt.theyearofthequietsun-第38部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　She　reprimanded　him：　〃You　know　so。　If　those　people　were　healthy；　they　were　eating　well　and　living　in　some　degree　of　safety。　If　the　man　carried　no　weapon；　he　thought　none　was　needed。　If　they　had　a　child　and　were　together；　family　life　has　been　re…established。　And　if　that　child　survived　his　birth　and　was　thriving；　it　suggests　a　quiet　normalcy　has　returned　to　the　world；　a　measure　of　sanity。　All　that　gives　me　hope　for　the　future。〃
　　〃A　quiet　normalcy；〃　he　repeated。　〃The　sun　in　that　sky　was　quiet。　It　was　cold　out　there。〃
　　The　dark　eyes　peered　at　him。　〃Have　you　ever　admitted　to　yourself　that　you　could　be　wrong；　Brian？　Have　you　even　thought　of　your　translations　today？　You　were　a　stubborn　man；　you　came　close　to　mocking　Major　Moresby。〃
　　Chaney　failed　to　answer：　it　was　not　easy　to　reassess　the　Eschatos　scroll　in　a　day。　A　piece　of　his　mind　insisted　that　ancient　Hebrew　fiction　was　only　fiction。
　　They　sat　in　the　heavy　silence　of　the　briefing　room；　looking　at　each　other　in　the　lantern　light　and　knowing　this　was　ing　to　an　end。　Chaney　was　uneasy。　There　had　been　a　hundred…a　thousand…questions　he'd　wanted　to　ask　when　he　first　walked　into　the　room；　when　he　first　discovered　her；　but　now　he　could　think　of　little　to　say。　Here　was　Katrina；　the　once　youthful；　radiant　Katrina　of　the　swimming　pool…and　outside　was　Katrina's　family　waiting　for　him　to　leave。
　　He　wanted　desperately　to　ask　one　more　question　but　at　the　same　time　he　was　afraid　to　ask：　what　happened　to　him　after　his　return；　after　the　pletion　of　the　probe？　What　had　happened　to　him？　He　wanted　to　know　where　he　had　gone；　what　he　had　done；　how　he　had　survived　the　perilous　years…he　wanted　to　know　if　he　had　survived　those　years。　Chaney　was　long　convinced　that　he　was　not　on　station　in　1980；　not　there　at　the　time　of　the　field　trials；　but　where　was　he　then？　She　might　have　some　knowledge　of　him　after　he'd　finished　the　mission　and　left；　she　might　have　kept　。in　touch。　He　was　afraid　to　ask。　Pindar's　advice　stopped　his　tongue。
　　He　got　up　suddenly　from　his　chair。　〃Katrina；　will　you　walk　downstairs　with　me？〃
　　She　gave　him　a　strange　look；　an　almost　frightened　look；　but　said：　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　Katrina　left　her　chair　and　came　around　the　table　to　him。　Age　had　slowed　her　graceful　walk　and　he　was　acutely　distressed　to　see　her　move　with　difficulty。　Chaney　picked　up　a　lantern；　and　offered　her　his　free　arm。　He　felt　a　flush　of　excitement　as　she　neared　him；　touched　him。
　　They　descended　the　stairs　without　speaking。　Chaney　slowed　his　pace　to　acmodate　her　and　they　went　down　slowly；　one　cautious　step　at　a　time。　Kathryn　van　Hise　held　on　to　the　rail　and　moved　with　the　hesitant　pace　of　the　aged。
　　They　stopped　at　the　opened　door　to　the　operations　room。　Chaney　held　the　lantern　high　to　inspect　the　vehicle：　the　hatch　was　open　and　the　hull　of　the　craft　covered　by　dust；　the　concrete　cradle　seemed　dirty　with　age。
　　He　asked　suddenly：　〃How　much　did　I　report；　Katrina？　Did　I　tell　them　about　you？　Your　family？　Did　I　tell　them　about　that　family　on　the　railroad　tracks？　What　did　I　say？〃
　　〃Nothing。〃　She　wouldn't　look　up　at　him。
　　〃What？〃
　　〃You　reported　nothing。〃
　　He　thought　her　voice　was　strained。　〃I　had　to　say　something。　Gilbert　Seabrooke　will　demand　something。〃
　　〃Brian…〃　She　stopped；　swallowed　hard；　and　then　began　again。　〃You　reported　nothing；　Mr。　Chaney。　You　did　not　return　from　your　probe。　We　knew　you　were　lost　to　us　when　the　vehicle　failed　to　return　at　sixty…one　seconds：　you　were　wholly　lost　to　us。〃
　　Brian　Chaney　very　carefully　put　the　lantern　down　and　then　turned　her　around　and　pulled　her　head　up。　He　wanted　to　see　her　face；　wanted　to　see　why　she　was　lying。　Her　eyes　were　wet　with　threatened　tears　but　there　was　no　lie　there。
　　Stiffly：　〃Why　not；　Katrina？〃
　　〃We　have　no　power；　Mr。　Chaney。　The　vehicle　is　helpless；　immobile。〃
　　Chaney　swung　his　head　to　stare　at　the　TDV　and　as　quickly　swung　back　to　the　woman。　He　wasn't　aware　that　he　was　holding　her　in　a　painful　grip。
　　〃The　engineers　can　pull　me　back。〃
　　〃No。　They　can　do　nothing　for　you：　they　lost　you　when　that　device　stopped　tracking；　when　the　puter　went　silent；　when　the　power　failed　here　and　you　overshot　the　failure　date。　They　lost　you；　they　lost　the　vehicle。〃　She　pulled　away　from　his　hard　grasp；　and　her　wavering　gaze　fell。　〃You　didn't　e　back　to　the　laboratory；　Mr。　Chaney。　No　one　saw　you　again　after　the　launch；　no　one　saw　you　again　until　you　appeared　here；　today。〃
　　Almost　shouting：　〃Stop　calling　me　Mr。　Chaney！〃
　　〃I　am　。　。　。　I　am　terribly　sorry。　You　were　as　lost　to　us　as　Major　Moresby。　We　thought　。　。　。〃
　　He　turned　his　back　on　the　woman　and　deliberately　walked　into　the　operations　room。　Brian　Chaney　climbed　up　on　the　polywater　tank　and　thrust　a　leg　through　the　open　hatch　of　the　TDV。　He　didn't　bother　to　undress　or　remove　the　heavy　boots。　Wriggling　downward　through　the　hatch；　he　slammed　it　'shut　over　his　head　and　looked　for　the　blinking　green　light。　There　was　none。　Chaney　stretched　out　full　length　on　the　web　sling　and　thrust　his　heels　against　the　kickbar　at　the　bottom。　No　red　light　answered　him。
　　He　knew　panic。
　　He　fought　against　that　and　waited　for　his　nerves　to　rest；　waited　for　a　stolid　placidity　to　return。　The　memory　of　his　first　test　came　back：　he'd　thought　then　the　vehicle　was　like　a　cramped　tomb；　and　he　thought　so　now。　Lying　on　the　webbed　sling　for　the　first　time…and　waiting　for　something　spectacular　to　happen…he　had　felt　an　ache　in　his　legs　and　had　stretched　them　out　to　relieve　the　ache。　His　feet　had　struck　the　kickbar；　sending　him　back　to　the　beginning　before　the　engineers　were　ready；　they　had　been　angry　with　him。　And　an　hour　later；　in　the　lecture　room；　everyone　heard　and　saw　the　results　of　his　act：　the　vehicle　kicked　backward　as　he　thrust　out　his　feet；　the　sound　struck　his　eardrums　and　the　lights　dimmed。　The　astonished　engineers　left　the　room　on　the　run；　and　Gilbert　Seabrooke　proposed　a　new　study　program　to　be　submitted　to　Indic。　The　TDV　sucked　power　from　its　present；　not　its　past。
　　Chaney　reached　up　to　snug　the　hatch。　It　was　snug。　The　light　that　should　have　been　blinking　green　stayed　dark。　Chaney　jut　the　heavy　boots　against　the　bar　and　pushed。　The　red　light　stayed　dark。　He　pushed　again；　then　kicked　at　the　bar。　After　a　moment　he　twisted　around　to　peer　through　the　plastic　bubble　into　the　room。　It　was　dimly　lit　by　the　lantern　resting　on　the　floor。
　　He　shouted：　〃Goddammit；　go！〃　And　kicked　again。
　　The　room　was　dimly　lit　by　lantern　light。
　　
　　
　　He　walked　slowly　along　the　corridor　in　the　feeble　light　of　the　lantern；　walked　woodenly　in　shock　tinged　with　fear。　The　failure　of　the　vehicle　to　move　under　his　prodding　had　stunned　him。　He　wished　desperately　for　Katrina；　wished　she　was　standing　by　with　a　word　or　a　gesture　he　might　seize　for　a　crutch；　but　she　wasn't　visible　in　the　corridor。　She　had　left　him　while　he　struggled　with　the　vehicle；　perhaps　to　return　to　the　briefing　room；　perhaps　to　go　outside；　perhaps　to　retire　to　whatever　sort　of　shelter　she　shared　with　her　son　and　daughter。　He　was　alone；　fighting　panic。　The　door　to　the　engineering　laboratory　was　standing　open；　as　was　the　door　to　the　storeroom；　but　she　wasn't　waiting　for　him　in　either　place。　Chaney　listened　for　her　but　heard　nothing；　and　went　on　after　the　smallest　pause。　The　dusty　corridor　ended　and　a　flight　of　stairs　led　upward　to　the　operations　exit。
　　He　thought　the　sign　on　the　door　was　a　bitter　mockery…one　of　the　many　visited　on　him　since　he'd　sailed　for　Israel　a　century　or　two　ago。　He　regretted　the　day　he　had　read　and　translated　those　scrolls…but　at　the　same　time　he　wished　desperately　he　knew　the　identity　of　that　scribe　who　had　amused　himself　and　his　fellows　by　creating　the　Eschatos　document。　A　single　name　would　be　enough：　an　Amos　or　a　Malachi　or　an　Ibycus。
　　He　would　hoist　a　glass　of　water　from　the　Nabataean　cistern　and　salute　the　unknown　genius　for　his　wit　and　wisdom；　for　his　mockery。　He　would　shout　to　the　freshly　scrubbed　sky：　〃Here；　damn　your　eyes；　Ibycus！　Here；　for　the　lohg…dead　dragons　and　the　ruptured　fence　and　the　ice　on　the　rivers。　Here；　for　my　head　of　gold；　my　breast　of　silver；　my　legs　of　iron　and　my　feet　of　clay。　My　feet　of　clay；　Ibycus！〃　And　he　would　hurl　the　glass　at　the　lifeless　TDV。
　　Chaney　turned　the　keys　in　the　locks　and　pushed　out　into　the　chill　night　air。　The　darkness　surprised　him；　he　hadn't　realized　he'd　spent　so　many　bittersweet　hours　inside　with　Katrina。　The　parking　lot　was　empty　but　for　the　cart　and　his　discarded　rifle。　Katrina's　children　hadn't　waited　for　him；　and　he　was　aware　of　a　small　hurt。
　　He　stepped　away　from　the　building　and　then　turned　back　to　look　at　it：　a　massive　white　concrete　temple　in　the　moonlight。　The　barbaric　legions　had　failed　to　bring　it　down；　despite　the　damage　caused　elsewhere　on　the　station。
　　The　sky　was　the　second　surprise：　he　had　seen　it　by　day　and　marveled；　but　at　night　it　was　shockingly　beautiful。　The　stars　were　bright　and　hard　as　carefully　polished　gems；　and　there　were　a　hundred　or　a　thousand　more　than　he'd　ever　seen　before；　he　had　never　known　a　sky　like　that　in　his　lifetime。　The　entire　eastern　rim　of　the　heavens　was　lighted　by　a　rising　moon　of　remarkable　brilliance。
　　Chaney　stood　alone　in　the　center　of　the　parking　lot　searching　the　face　of　the　moon；　searching　out　the　Sea　of　Vapors　and　the　pit　known　as　Bode's　Crater。　The　pulsating　laser　there　caught　his　eye　and　held　it。　That　one　thing　had　not　changed…that　one　monument　not　destroyed。　The　brilliant　mote　still　flashed　on　the　rim　of　Bode's　Crater；　marking　the　place　where　two　astronauts　had　fallen　in　the　Seventies；　marking　their　grave　and　their　memorial。　One　of　them　had　been　black。　Brian　Chaney　thought　himself　lucky：　he　had　air　to　breathe　but　those　men　had　none。
　　He　said　aloud：　〃You　weren't　so　damned　clever；　Ibycus！　You　missed　that　one…your　prophets　didn't　show　you　the　new　sign　in　the　sky。〃
　　Chaney　sat　down　in　the　tilted　cart　and　stretched　out　his　legs　for　balance。　The　rifle　was　an　unpleasant　lump　under　his　spine　and　he　threw　it　aside　to　be　rid　of　it。　In　a　little　while　he　leaned　backward　and　rested　against　the　bed　of　the　cart。　The　whole　of　the　southeast　sky　was　before　him。　Chaney　thought　he　should　go　looking　for　Katrina；　for　Arthur　and　Kathryn；　and　a　place　to　sleep。　Perhaps　he　would　do　that　after　a　while；　but