hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第4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！


t　I　might　be　informed　of　the　nature　of　this　assignment？〃
　〃Of　course。　I　have　the　requisite　authority　to　provide　augmentive　information　to　you　concerning　the　history　and　tragic　circumstance　of　the　loss。　Another　individual；　who　shall　be　nameless；　will　supply　the　assistance　that　you　will　require。　I　shall　begin　with　the　circumstances　that　occurred　a　little　over　twenty　years　ago　。　。　。〃
　〃A　beer。　I　must　have　refreshment。　Will　you　join　me？〃
　〃I　abstain　from　all　alcoholic　and　caffeine…containing　beverages。〃　He　glared　at　me　glassily　through　his　menacing　monocle　as　I　refilled　my　mug。　I　sipped　and　sat　and　waved　him　into　action。　His　voice　washed　over　me　in　turgid　waves　and　soon　had　me　half…asleep…but　the　content　of　his　talk　woke　me　up　fast　enough。　He　went　on　far　too　long；　with　far　too　many　digressions；　but　despite　this　it　was　fascinating　stuff　to　listen　to。
　A　stripped…down　version　wouldn't　have　been　half　as　much　fun　for　him　and　would　have　taken　only　a　few　minutes　to　tell。　Simply；　Galaksia　Universitato　had　sent　an　expedition　to　a　reported　archeological　site　on　a　distant　world…where　they　had　uncovered　an　artifact　of　non…human　origin。
　〃You　must　be　kidding；〃　I　said。　〃Mankind　has　explored　a　great　part　of　the　galaxy　in　the　last　thirty…two　thousand　years　and　no　trace　of　an　alien　race　has　ever　been　found。〃
　He　sniffed　loudly。　〃I　do　not　‘kid'　as　you　say　in　your　simple　demotic。　I　have　pictorial　proof　here；　photographs　sent　back　by　the　expedition。　The　artifact　was　uncovered　in　a　stratum　at　least　a　million　years　old　and　resembles　nothing　in　any　data　base　existent　in　the　known　universe。〃
　He　took　a　print　from　his　inner　pocket　and　passed　it　over　to　me。　I　took　it　and　looked　at　it；　then　turned　it　around　since　there　was　no　indication　of　which　was　top　or　bottom。　A　twisted　hunk　of　incongruous　angles　and　forms　resembling　nothing　I　had　ever　seen　before。
　〃It　looks　alien　enough　to　be　alien；〃　I　said。　Looking　at　it　was　beginning　to　hurt　my　eyes　so　I　dropped　it　onto　the　table。　〃What　does　it　do；　or　what　is　it　made　of　or　whatever？〃
　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　idea　since　it　was　never　conveyed　to　the　university。　It　was；　I　must　say；　interrupted　in　its　journey　and　it　is　essential　that　it　be　recovered。〃
　〃Pretty　sloppy　way　to　handle　the　only　alien　artifact　in　the　universe。
　〃That　is　beyond　the　scope　of　my　authority　and　not　for　me　to　say。　But　I　am　authorized　to　unperfunctorily　predicate　that　it　must　be　found　and　returned。　At　any　cost　which　sums　I　am　duly　authorized　to　pay。　Officers　of　the　Galactic　League　have　assured　me　that　you；　pseudonymous　Jim；　have　volunteered　to　find　and　return　the　artifact。　They　have　convinced　me　that　you；　ins　young　as　you　are；　are　a　specialist　in　these　matters。　I　can　only　wish　you　best　of　luck…and　look　forward　to　meeting　you　again　when　you　return　with　that　which　we　desire　the　most。〃
　He　exited　then　and　a　bald；　uniformed　naval　officer　entered　m　his　place。　Closed　the　door　and　glared　at　me　with　a　steely　gaze。　I　glared　back。
　〃Are　you　the　one　who　is　finally　going　to　tell　me　what　is　going　on？〃　I　asked。
　〃Damn　right；〃　he　growled。　〃Damn　fool　idea…but　the　only　one　we　have　going。　I　am　Admiral　Benbow；　head　of　League　Navy　Security。　Those　dumbhead　academics　let　the　most　priceless　object　in　the　universe　slip　through　their　fingers…now　we　have　to　pick　up　the　pieces　and　run　with　the　ball。〃
　The　Admiral's　mixed　metaphors　were　as　bad　as　the　professor's　academese。　Was　clear　speaking　being　a　lost　art？
　〃e　on；〃　I　said。　〃Simply　tell　me　what　happened　and　what　I　am　supposed　to　do。〃
　〃Right。〃　He　slammed　down　into　a　chair。　〃If　that　is　a　beer　I'll　have　one　too。　No　I　won't。　A　double；　no　a　treble　high…octane　whisky。　No　ice。　Do　it。〃
　The　robobar　supplied　our　drinks。　He　drained　his　while　I　was　just　lifting　mine。
　〃Now　hear　this。　The　expedition　concerned　was　returning　from　their　planetary　dig　when　their　ship　experienced　munication　difficulties。　Worried　about　navigation　they　landed　on　the　nearest　planet；　which　unhappily　and　tragically　turned　out　to　be　Liokukae。〃
　〃Why　unhappily　and　tragically？〃
　〃Shut　up　and　listen。　We　got　them　and　their　ship　back　relatively　intact；　But　without　the　artifact。　For　certain　reasons　we　could　do　no　more。　That　is　why　your　services　have　been　engaged。〃
　〃So　now　you　are　going　to　tell　me　about　those　certain　reasons。〃
　He　coughed　and　looked　away；　stood　and　refilled　his　glass　before　speaking　again。　If　I　didn't　know　better　I　would　have　said　that　the　seasoned　old　space　dog　was　embarrassed。
　〃You　have　to　understand　that　keeping　the　galactic　peace　is　our　role　and　our　goal。　This　is　not　always　possible。　There　are　sometimes　individuals；　even　groups；　that　are　impervious　to　our　attentions。　Violent　people；　some　apparently　incurably　insane；　obnoxious。　Despite　everything　that　we　can　do　they　remain　immune　to　our　blandishments；　impervious　to　our　help。〃　He　gulped　down　the　dregs　and　I　had　the　feeling　that　we　were　finally　getting　to　the　truth。
　〃Since　we　cannot　kill　them　we…and　you　realize　only　the　highest　authorities　know　what　I　am　about　to　tell　you…we　so　to　speak　arrange；　see　to　it　that　they　are；　well；　transported　to　Liokukae　to　live　the　sort　of　life　they　prefer　to　live。　Without　endangering　the　peaceful　cultures　of　the　union…〃
　〃A　galactic　garbage　dump！〃　I　cried　aloud。　〃Where　you　holier…than…thou　bigots　sweep　your　failures　under　the　carpet！　No　wonder　you　keep　this　a　top…secret　secret。〃
　〃Just　knock　off　the　superior　attitude　cagal；　diGriz。　I　know　your　record…and　in　my　book　it　stinks。　But　we　have　you　by　the　short　and　curlies　since　you　drank　the　seven…hundred…and…twenty…hour　poison；　so　you　will　do　just　as　I　say。　So　now　I'm　going　to　fill　you　in　with　all　the　loathsome　details　re　Liokukae；　let　you　see　what　information　we　have。　Then　you　will　e　up　with　a　plan　for　getting　that　thing　back。　You　have　no　choice。〃
　〃Thanks。　What　resources　do　I　have？〃
　〃Limitless　resources；　unrestricted　funds；　boundless　support。　Every　planet　in　the　galaxy　contributes　to　Galaksia　Universitato。　They　have　so　many　credits　that　they　make　the　super…rich　look　super…poor。　I　want　you　to　take　them　to　the　cleaners。〃
　〃Now　you　are　talking　my　language！　For　the　first　time　I　have　some　interest　in　this　poisonous　project。　Bring　on　the　records…and　some　food…and　I　will　see　what　I　can　do。〃
　Not　very　much　I　thought　to　myself　after　hours　of　reading　and　rereading　the　thin　file；　while　eating　a　number　of　stale　and　tasteless　sandwiches。　The　Admiral　was　slumped　asleep　in　the　armchair　and　snoring　like　a　rocket　exhaust。　There　were　no　answers　here；　so　some　questions　were　very　much　in　order。　Which　gave　me　the　sweet　pleasure　of　waking　him　up。　A　few　good　shakes　did　it　and　those　nasty　little　red　eyes　glared　into　mine。
　〃You　better　have　a　good　reason　for　that。〃
　〃I　do。　How　much　do　you　personally　know　about　Liokukae？〃
　〃Everything；　you　dimwit。　That　is　why　I　am　here。〃
　〃It　seems　to　be　pretty　tightly　sealed　up。〃
　〃Pretty　tightly　is　not　the　way　I　would　describe　it。　Hermetically　sealed；　guarded；　patrolled；　watched；　locked　tight；　quarantined　…　take　your　pick。　Food　and　medicines　are　shipped　in。　Nothing　es　out。〃
　〃Do　they　have　their　own　doctors？〃
　〃No。　Medical　teams　are　stationed　there　in　the　hospital　inside　the　landing　station…which　is　built　like　a　fortress。　And　before　you　even　ask…the　answer　is　no。　What　little　trust　there　is　between　the　Navy　and　the　Liokukaers　involves　the　medical　services。　They　e　to　us　and　we　treat　them。　Let　them　suspect　for　an　instant　that　the　medicos　are　involved　in　hanky…panky　and　the　trust　is　gone。　Disease　and　death　would　be　certain。　We're　not　taking　a　chance　on　that。〃
　〃If　the　rest　of　the　civilized　galaxy　doesn't　know　about　them　…　what　do　they　know　about　us？〃
　〃Everything　I　suppose。　We　do　not　practice　censorship。　We　transmit　all　the　usual　TV　entertainment　channels　as　well　as　educational　and　news　services。　They　are　well　supplied　with　television　receivers　and　can　watch　reruns　of　all　the　most　loathsome　programs　and　series。　The　theory　being　if　we　can　stun　their　minds　with　televised　crap　they　won't　get　up　to　more　trouble。〃
　〃Does　it　work？〃
　〃Possibly。　But　we　do　know　that　they　are　rated　on　top　of　the　galactic　viewing　scale　for　uninterrupted　hours　in　front　of　the　gogglebox。〃
　〃You　go　there　and　take　surveys？〃
　〃Don't　be　stupid。　Recorders　are　sealed　into　the　chassis　of　each　set。　These　can　be　tapped　by　satellite。〃
　〃So　what　we　have　here　is　a　planet　of　murderous；　belligerent；　nutsy　TV　fans？〃
　〃That's　about　the　size　of　it。〃
　I　jumped　to　my　feet；　spilling　dry　crumbs　of　dead　sandwiches　onto　the　carpet。　Raised　my　fists；　and　my　voice；　on　high。
　〃That's　it！〃
　Benbow　blinked　at　me　rapidly　and　scowled。
　〃What's　it？〃
　〃The　answer。　It　is　just　the　glimmering　of　an　idea　now…but　I　know　that　it　will　grow　and　expand　into　something　incredible。　I'm　going　to　sleep　on　it　and　when　I　awake　I　will　polish　it　and　perfect　it　and　describe　it　to　you　in　detail。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Don't　be　greedy。　All　in　good　time。〃
　
　CHAPTER　4
　The　automated　kitchen　produced　another　stale　sandwich；　the　machine　was　half…knackered　and　out　of　adjustment；　along　with　a　lukewarm　cup　of　watery　cocoa。　I　crunched　and　sipped　gloomily；　then　found　the　bedroom　down　the　hall。　Air…conditioned　of　course…but　the　window　wasn't　sealed。　I　opened　it　and　sniffed　the　cool　night　air。　The　moon　was　rising；　to　join　the　other　three　already　up。　Made　for　some　interesting　shadows。　A　leg　over　the　windowsill；　a　drop　into　the　garden…and　I　would　be　long　gone　before　any　alarm　might　go　off。
　And　I　would　be　dead　in　twenty…nine　days。　That　little　drink　I　had　drunk　in　prison　really　concentrated　my　attention　and　guaranteed　my　loyalty。　But　could　I　pull　this　plicated　operation　off　in　that　space　of　time？
　Considering　the　consequences　I　had　no　choice。　I　sighed　tremulously；　closed　the　window　and　went　to　bed。　It　had　been　a　very；　very　long　day。
　In　the　morning　I　had　picked　the　lock　on　the　control　panel　in　the　kitchen　and　was　busy　rewiring　it　when　Admiral　Benbow　came　in。
　〃May　I　inquire　politely　just　what　the　hell　you　are　doing？〃
　〃Obviously　trying　to　get　this　crook　device　to　produce　something　other　than　stale　cheese　sandwiches。　There！〃
　I　slammed　the　panel　shut　and　punched　in　a　mand。　A　cup　of　steaming　coffee　instantly　appeared。　Followed　by　a　porcuswinewich；　steaming　and　juicy。　The　Admiral　nodded。
　〃I'll　take　this　one…