hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第30部分

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　〃Are　you　following　this？〃　Floyd　asked。
　〃Not　too　well。　Tell　us；　Dreadnought；　who　gave　the　order　to　fire　if　it　wasn't　the　Watch　mander？〃
　〃We　all　decided　together。〃
　〃Who　is　we？〃
　〃I　can　not　tell　you。〃
　〃Understandable。　Loyalty　to　your　friends。〃　I　clapped　him　on　the　back　in　a　friendly　manner　and　felt　him　shiver。　〃Getting　cold。　I'll　get　you　a　shirt。〃
　I　dug　through　my　pack　and　took　advantage　of　the　opportunity　for　a　muttered　conversation　with　my　jawphone。
　〃Any　ideas？　From　you…or　your　indispensable　strategic　planning　puter？〃
　〃Yes。　If　he　won't　talk　to　you　perhaps　the　associates　he　referred　to　might　be　more　municative。　Try　to　arrange　a　meeting。
　〃Right。〃　I　went　back　with　the　shirt。　〃Here；　Dreadnought；　get　out　of　the　cold。〃　He　stood　up　and　put　it　on。　〃Good。　Now　I've　been　thinking。　I　don't　want　you　to　tell　me　things　that　you　are　not　supposed　to。　But　maybe　your　friends；　the　ones　you　just　told　us　about；　maybe　they　can　let　us　know　what　is　going　down。　Can　we　meet　them？〃
　He　bit　his　lip　and　shook　his　head。
　〃No？　Well　let's　try　something　else。　Can　you　get　back　to　your　friends？　Tell　them　about　us。　Talk　about　it。　Find　out　if　someone　is　prepared　to　tell　us　just　what　is　happening。　Okay？〃
　He　looked　from　me　to　Floyd；　even　down　at　Fido　who　wagged　its　tail；　before　he　made　his　mind　up。
　〃e　with　me。〃
　He　was　young　and　strong　and　trotted　along　at　a　mean　trot。　Floyd　and　the　mechanical　mutt　kept　up　fine　but　my　aches　and　pains　were　ing　back。　I　trailed　behind　and　was　going　to　call　a　halt　when　Dreadnought　stopped　at　the　edge　of　a　grove　of　polpettone　trees。
　〃Wait　this　place；〃　he　said　when　I　had　puffed　and　blown　up　to　them。　He　twisted　away　among　the　trees。　He　didn't　notice　that　Fido；　legs　folded；　tail　and　head　retracted；　had　slipped　silently　after　him　in　the　guise　of　a　black　floormop。　The　cessation　of　physical　activity　was　wele…as　was　the　instant…heating　meal　I　dug　out　of　my　pack。　One　porcuswine　burger　with　gravy。　Floyd　popped　his　mealpak　as　well　and　we　were　licking　the　last　drops　of　yummy　from　our　fingers　when　the　shadowlike　mop　reappeared。　Legs；　tail　and　head　popped　out　and　it　barked。　I　scowled　at　it。
　〃Report　first；　bark　later。〃
　〃Your　new　associate　never　saw　me。　Within　the　wood　is　a　slab　of　rock　that　levers　up　with　an　opening　beneath　it。　He　went　that　way。　Shall　I　show　you　where　it　is？〃
　〃Later…if　we　have　to。　Right　now　let　us　take　ten　and　see　if　he　passes　on　our　message。〃
　Fatigue　sat　on　me。　I　closed　my　eyes　and　took　a　lot　more　than　ten。　The　sun　was　balancing　on　the　horizon　when　I　surfaced　again。　My　puter　obliged　me　by　clicking　the　red　six　to　a　five　when　I　checked　the　elapsed　time。　Don't　worry；　Jim…Admiral　Steengo　is　on　your　side？　This　feeble　reassurance　didn't　help　and　I　was　sure　that　I　could　feel　the　thirty…day　poison　beginning　to　bubble　and　seethe　in　my　bloodstream。
　Floyd　was　snoring　lightly；　sound　asleep。　Yet　his　eyes　were　open　the　instant　Fido　reappeared；　disturbing　some　stones　as　it　slid　down　the　embankment。
　〃And　a　good…morning　bow…wow　to　you　gentlemen。　Your　new　friend　has　emerged　from　under　the　lifting　rock；　along　with　an　associate；　and　is　ing　this　way。　Remember…you　heard　it　from　me　first。〃
　Fido　sat　and　waited；　then　barked　a　wele　when　the　two　men　appeared。　They　were　nattily。；　dressed　in　camouflaged　uniforms　and　steel　helmets；　each　helmet　sporting　a　shiny　spike　on　top。　Bandoliers　of　bullets　were　draped　over　their　shoulders；　while　there　was　a　large　and　impressive　handgun　on　each　hip。　But　the　guns　were　holstered　and　held　in　place　by　a　buttoned　strap。　I　relaxed　knowing　that　with　Floyd　there　the　touch　of　a　hand　to　one　of　those　buttons　would　bring　instant　unconsciousness。
　〃Wele　back；　Dreadnought；〃　I　said。　〃Wele　as　well　your　panion。
　〃He　is　named　Indefatigable　and　is　the　Area　mander。　That　is　Floyd　with　the　beard；　the　other　is　Jim。〃
　Indefatigable　did　not　shake　hands　but　instead　hit　his　closed　right　fist　against　his　chest　with　an　echoing　thud。　We　did　the　same　since　it　never　hurts　to　learn　the　local　customs。
　〃Why　did　you　e　here？〃　Indefatigable　asked　in　a　most　cold　and　quizzical　manner。　I　took　slight　umbrage。
　〃You　might　say　we　came　to　save　your　panion　from　certain　death　by　the　firing　squad…your　thanks　are　appreciated。〃
　〃If　you　had　not　e　he　would　not　have　fired　and　have　been　condemned　to　death。〃
　〃Good　point。　But　I　do　remember　that　he　fired　because　of　a　group　decision。　Are　you　part　of　that　group？〃
　I　saw　now　that　Indefatigable's　brusque　manner　was　a　cover…up　for　the　fact　that　he　was　very　nervous。　He　chewed　his　lower　lip　and　his　eyes　flicked　from　one　to　the　other　of　us。　He　even　looked　down　at　the　fake　dog　which　barked。　Finally；　with　great　reluctance　he　spoke。
　〃I　cannot　answer　that。　But　I　have　been　instructed　to　take　you　to　those　who　may　answer　your　question。　Now…you　must　answer　my　question。　Why　did　you　e　here？〃
　〃No　point　in　keeping　it　a　secret。　We　came　here　to　find　those　who　blew　up　a　certain　building　and　stole　from　it…and　from　us…an　object　of　great　importance。〃
　This　news　seemed　to　relax　him　a　bit。　He　stopped　the　lip　chewing　and　Dreadnought　almost　smiled；　leaned　forward　to　whisper　something　in　his　panion's　ear。　They　both　nodded；　then　remembered　where　they　were　and　snapped　into　a　military　brace。
　〃You　will　e　with　us；〃　Indefatigable　said；　making　it　sound　like　an　order。
　〃Perhaps；〃　I　said。　I　hate　orders。　〃But　you　must　tell　us　first　…will　it　be　dangerous？〃
　〃We　are　born　into　danger；　we　leave　it　only　when　we　die。〃
　It　sounded　like　a　quotation　of　some　kind…particularly　since　Dreadnought's　lips　moved　along　with　his。
　〃Yes；　well；　that　is　a　pretty　general　philosophical　statement。　But　I　was　speaking　specifically　about　like　right　now。〃
　〃You　will　be　protected；〃　he　answered；　trying　to　control　the　sneer　at　our　feeble　physiques　and　his　obvious　superiority。
　〃Oh；　thank　you；〃　Floyd　said　with　eye…popping　sincerity。　〃With　that　kind　of　reassurance　of　course　we　will　go　with　you。　Isn't　that　right；　Jim？〃
　〃Absolutely；　Floyd。　With　their　protection　we　need　not　feel　insecure。〃　He　could　eat　them…and　a　dozen　more…for　breakfast；　but　there　was　no　point　in　bragging。
　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　b