hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第31部分

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　〃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！　Enough；　enough？〃
　I　don't　think　she　heard　him　at　all。　I　tried　to　crawl　down　through　the　topsoil　while　I　saw　her　squeezing　and　squeezing　on　the　trigger；　her　eyes　round　and　terrified；　white　teeth　sunk　into　her　lower　lip。　The　only　thing　that　kept　us　alive　was　the　fact　that　the　gun　kicked　hard　and　the　muzzle　rode　up　into　the　sky；　with　the　last　shots　vanishing　into　the　zenith。
　It　ended　just　as　quickly　as　it　had　started。　The　children　had　disappeared。　Indefatigable　had　grabbed　the　gun　away　from　her　and　was　patting　her　on　the　back　as　she　sobbed　hysterically。
　〃Well　trained；〃　Dreadnought　said　approvingly。　〃Irreproachable　is　a　fine　woman；　a　good　mother　。　。　。〃
　〃And　thankfully　a　rotten　shot；〃　I　said。　〃Would　you　like　to　tell　us　what　all　that　was　about？〃
　〃Training。　Survival。　For　to　these　many　generations。　With　the　galaxy　at　war　we　seek　only　peace。　We　survive。　They　will　kill　themselves；　but　we　will　survive！〃
　He　was　winding　himself　up　into　a　rallying　speech　so　I　broke　in　before　he　got　into　full　spate。
　〃Stop！　One　minute…enough。　The　galaxy's　wars　and　the　Breakdown　ended　centuries　ago。　There　is　no　more　war。〃
　He　lowered　his　clenched　fist　and　sighed；　rubbed　his　knuckle　across　his　nose。　〃I　know。　Some　of　us　know。　Most　won't　face　the　knowledge…cannot　face　it。　We　are　too　trained　for　survival　and　nothing　else。　Nothing　in　our　programming　and　our　lives　has　ever　prepared　us　for　a　time　without　war。　Without　the　threat　of　invasion。　Some　of　us　assemble；　we　talk；　make　decisions。　About　the　future。　We　have　a　leader…I　dare　not　tell　you　more！〃
　He　broke　off　as　Indefatigable　came　running　back。
　〃The　message　has　arrived…it　is　time　to　leave。　The　search　has　widened。　If　we　move　now　we　can　stay　behind　the　searchers　and　get　to　the　meeting　place。　Quickly！〃
　We　quicklied…and　I　was　beginning　to　get　very　tired　of　it。　The　circular　staircase　had　been　a　lot　easier　to　e　down　than　it　was　to　climb　up。　Floyd　saw　my　condition　and　if　he　hadn't　half　dragged　me　I　doubt　if　I　would　have　been　able　to　make　it。　Once　more　into　the　black　tunnels。　I　was　only　vaguely　aware　of　our　two　guides；　Floyd　and　the　scuttling　form　of　Fido。　The　next　time　we　stopped　I　sagged　against　the　wall。　Enough　was　enough　yet　already。
　〃You　will　both　stay　here　with　Dreadnought；〃　Indefatigable　manded。　〃You　will　be　sent　for。〃
　Nor　would　our　watcher　answer　any　questions　in　the　few　minutes　that　we　waited。　〃Proceed；〃　a　voice　manded　and　we　did。　Into　a　dimly　lit　chamber　that　appeared　glaringly　bright　to　our　dark…adapted　eyes。　A　half…dozen　young　men；　garbed　like　our　guides；　sat　on　the　other　side　of　a　long　table。
　〃Stand　here；〃　Indefatigable　ordered；　then　joined　Dreadnought　and　sat　down　with　the　others。
　〃No　chairs　for　us？〃　I　asked；　but　was　ignored。　Fido　felt　equally　irked；　jumped　up　onto　the　table　and　barked。　Jumped　back　to　the　floor　to　dodge　the　swing　of　a　fist。
　〃Shut　up；〃　one　of　the　men　suggested。　〃We　are　awaiting　orders。　We　are　here；　Alphamega。〃
　They　all　turned　to　look　at　a　red　box　on　the　table。　It　was　made　of　plastic　and　was　featureless　except　for　louvers　on　one　side。
　〃Are　the　two　Outsiders　you　told　me　of　present　as　well？〃　the　box　asked。　The　voice　was　flat　and　mechanical　and　obviously　cycled　through　a　speech　occulter。
　〃They　are。〃
　〃I　speak　to　you；　Outsiders。　I　have　been　told　that　you　e　here　seeking　an　object　taken　from　you。〃
　〃That　is　correct；　speaking…box。〃
　〃What　is　the　function　of　this　object？〃
　〃You　tell　me…you　stole　it　from　us。〃　I　was　beginning　to　get　teed　off　at　all　this　cloak…and…dagger　stuff。
　〃Your　attitude　is　unacceptable。　Answer　my　question　or　be　punished。〃
　I　took　a　deep　breath…and　reined　in　my　temper。
　〃I'd　like　that；〃　Floyd　said　cheerfully；　as　fed　up　as　I　was　with　all　this　nonsense。
　Where　the　discussion　would　have　gone　from　here　would　never　be　known　because　at　that　moment　running　footsteps　sounded　and　a　wild…eyed　young　man　burst　into　the　room。
　〃Alarm！　Watchpatrol　ing！〃
　The　sound　of　a　number　of　thudding　feet　added　a　note　of　urgency　to　his　warning。　But　at　least　our　captors　were　prepared　for　the　emergency。　A　door　opened　in　the　wall　behind　them　and　there　was　a　rush　to　get　through　it。　The　newer；　who　must　have　known　what　would　happen；　was　the　last　one　in　the　crowd　to　jump　to　safety。
　The　table　was　in　the　way。　I　launched　myself　across　it　just　in　time　to　have　the　concealed　door　slammed　in　my　face。　I　kicked　it　but　it　didn't　budge。　I　looked　at　the　now　silent　box。
　〃Speak　up；　Alphamega。　How　do　we　get　out　of　this？〃
　The　red　box　crackled…then　burst　into　flame。　Melted　into　a　pool　of　plastic。　〃Thanks；〃　I　said。
　〃Any　other　way　out？〃　Floyd　asked。
　〃Not　that　I　can　see。〃
　The　rapid　footsteps　were　just　outside。　Before　I　could　dig　out　a　gas　bomb　the　scrum　of　armed　men　burst　into　the　room。
　Things　got　busy。　Floyd　dropped　the　first　three　who　came　through　the　door　while　I　tackled　the　next　two。　Then　the　going　got　tough　because　more　and　more　kept　pushing　in。　Some　had　body　armor；　all　of　them　had　transparent　riot　masks　attached　to　their　spiked　helmets。　They　didn't　try　to　shoot　us；　but　rather　enjoyed　clubbing　us　with　their　guns。
　Something　hard　got　me　on　the　back　of　the　head　and　I　staggered　and　fell。　Before　they　jumped　me　the　last　thing　I　saw　was　Fido　going　up　the　wall　like　a　spider　and　vanishing　in　the　darkness　there。　Then　I　got　thudded　and　had　a　nice　darkness　of　my　own。
　〃Feeling　any　better；　Jim？〃　a　distant　voice　said　and　I　felt　something　wet　and　cool　on　my　forehead。
　〃Shbsha　。　。　。〃　I　said；　or　something　like　that。　Chomped　my　dry　mouth　and　opened　my　eyes。　Floyd's　face　swam　blurrily　into　view。　I　blinked　and　saw　that　he　was　smiling。　He　put　the　cold　cloth　back　onto　my　forehead；　which　felt　very　nice。
　〃You　got　a　bad　one　on　the　back　of　your　head；〃　he　said。　〃They　didn't　hit　me　quite　as　hard。〃
　I　started　to　say　Where　are　we？　but　figured　that　was　a　pretty　dim　question　with　an　obvious　answer。　I　could　see　a　barred　door　which　was　hint　enough。　It　hurt　when　I　sat　up　on　the　bunk。　Floyd　handed　me　a　plastic　cup　of　water　which　I　gurgled　down　and　passed　back　for　a　refill。　I　patted　my　pockets　and　the　seams　of　my　trousers　hopefully…but　all　my　concealed　weaponry　was　gone。
　〃Seen　any　dogs　around　lately