deathworld-第18章

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！


　are　right　to　keep　weapons　from　us…for　sure　as　the　sun　rises　in　the　moi　ing　we　would　kill　them　to　a　man　if　we　were　able；　and　take　over　t　things　they　have　withheld　from　us。〃
　 It　was　a　harsh　condemnation；　but　essentially　a　truthful　one。　At　le　from　the　point　of　view　of　the　outsiders。　Jason　didn't　try　to　explain　to　t　angry　man　that　the　city　Pyrrans　looked　on　their　attitude　as　being　t　only　possible　and　logical　one。　〃How　did　this　battle　between　your　ti　groups　ever　e　about？〃　he　asked。
　 〃I　don't　know；〃　Rhes　said；　〃I've　thought　about　it　many　times；　F　there　are　no　records　of　that　period。　We　do　know　that　we　are　all　scended　from　colonists　who　arrived　at　the　same　time。　Somewhere；　some　time；　the　two　groups　separated。　Perhaps　it　was　a　war；　I've　re　about　them　in　the　books。　I　have　a　partial　theory；　though　I　can't　prove　that　it　was　the　location　of　the　city。〃
　 〃Location…I　don't　understand。〃
　 〃Well；　you　know　the　junkmen；　and　you've　seen　where　their　city　They　managed　to　put　it　right　in　the　middle　of　the　most　savage　spot　this　planet。　You　know　they　don't　care　about　any　living　thing　excc　themselves；　shoot　and　kill　is　their　only　logic。　So　they　wouldn't　consic　where　to　build　their　city；　and　managed　to　build　it　in　the　stupidest　sj　imaginable。　I'm　sure　my　ancestors　saw　how　foolish　this　was　and　tn　to　tell　them　so。　That　would　be　reason　enough　for　a　war；　wouldn't　i
　 〃It　might　have　been…if　that's　really　what　happened；〃　Jason　sa　〃But　I　think　you　have　the　problem　turned　backward。　It's　a　war　betwe　native　Pyrran　life　and　humans；　each　fighting　to　destroy　the　other。　T　life　forms　change　continually；　seeking　that　final　destruction　of　t　invader。〃
　 〃Your　theory　is　even　wilder　than　mine；〃　Rhes　said。　〃That's　not　in　at　all。　I　admit　that　life　isn't　too　easy　on　this　planet…if　what　I　have　re　in　the　books　about　other　planets　is　true…but　it　doesn't　change。　You　hr　to　be　fast　on　your　feet　and　keep　your　eyes　open　for　anything　big~　than　you；　but　you　can　survive。　Anyway；　it　doesn't　really　matter　wi　The　junkmen　always　look　for　trouble　and　I'm　happy　to　see　that　tF　have　enough。〃
　 Jason　didn't　try　to　press　the　point。　The　effort　of　forcing　Rhes　change　his　basic　attitudes　wasn't　worth　it…even　if　possible。　He　had　succeeded　in　convincing　anyone　in　the　city　of　the　lethal　mutations　ev　when　they　could　observe　all　the　facts。　Rhes　could　still　supply　inforri　tion　though。
　 〃I　suppose　it's　not　important　who　started　the　battle；〃　Jason　said　the　other　man's　benefit；　not　meaning　a　word　of　it。　〃But　you'll　have　agree　that　the　city　people　are　permanently　at　war　with　all　the　local　ii
　Your　people；　though；　have　managed　to　befriend　at　least　two　species　that　I　have　seen。　Do　you　have　any　idea　how　this　was　done？〃
　 〃Naxa　will　be　here　in　a　minute；〃　Rhes　said；　pointing　to　the　door；　〃as　soon　as　he's　taken　care　of　the　animals。　Ask　him。　Fle's　the　best　talker　we　have。〃
　 〃Talker？〃　Jason　asked。　〃I　had　the　opposite　idea　about　him。　He　didn't　talk　much；　and　what　he　did　say　was；　well…a　little　hard　to　understand　at　times。〃
　 〃Not　that　kind　of　talking；〃　Rhes　broke　in　impatiently。　〃The　talkers　look　after　the　animals。　They　train　the　dogs　and　doryms；　and　the　better　ones　like　Naxa　are　always　trying　to　work　with　other　beasts。　They　dress　crudely；　but　they　have　to。　I've　heard　them　say　that　the　animals　don't　like　chemicals；　metal　or　tanned　leather；　so　they　wear　untanned　furs　for　the　most　part。　But　don't　let　the　dirt　fool　you；　it　has　nothing　to　do　with　his　intelligence。〃
　 〃Doryms？　Are　those　your　carrying　beasts…the　kind　we　rode　ing　here？〃
　 Rhes　nodded。　〃Doryms　are　more　than　pack　animals；　they're　really　a　little　bit　of　everything。　The　large　males　pull　the　plows　and　other　machines；　while　the　younger　animals　are　used　for　meat。　If　you　want　to　know　more；　ask　Naxa；　you'll　find　him　in　the　barn。〃
　 〃I'd　like　to　do　that；〃　Jason　said；　standing　up。　〃Only　I　feel　undressed　without　my　gun…〃
　 〃Take　it；　by　all　means；　it's　in　that　chest　by　the　door。　Only　watch　out　what　you　shoot　around　here。〃
　 Naxa　was　in　the　rear　of　the　barn；　filing　down　one　of　the　spade…like　toenails　of　a　dorym。　It　was　a　strange　scene。　The　fur…dressed　man　with　the　great　beast…and　the　contrast　of　a　beryllium…copper　file　and　electroluminescent　plates　lighting　the　work。　The　dorym　opened　its　nostrils　and　pulled　away　when　Jason　entered。　Naxa　patted　its　neck　and　talked　softly　until　it　quieted　and　stood　still；　shivering　slightly。
　 Something　stirred　in　Jason's　mind；　with　the　feeling　of　a　long　unused　muscle　being　stressed。　A　hauntingly　familiar　sensation。
　 〃Good　morning；〃　Jason　said。　Naxa　grunted　something　and　went　back　to　his　filing。　Watching　him　for　a　few　minutes；　Jason　tried　to　analyze　this　new　feeling。　It　itched　and　slipped　aside　when　he　reached　for　it；　escaping　him。　Whatever　it　was；　it　had　started　when　Naxa　had　talked　to　the　dorym。
　 〃Could　you　call　one　of　the　dogs　in　here；　Naxa？　I'd　like　to　see　one　closer　up。〃
　 Without　raising　his　head　from　his　work；　Naxa　gave　a　low　whistle。　Jason　was　sure　it　couldn't　have　been　heard　outside　of　the　barn。　Yet
　within　a　minute　one　of　the　Pyrran　dogs　slipped　quietly　in。　The　talk　rubbed　the　beast's　head；　mumbling　to　it；　while　the　animal　looked　i　tently　into　his　eyes。
　 The　dog　became　restless　when　Naxa　turned　back　to　work　on　t＇　dorym。　It　prowled　around　the　barn；　sniffing；　then　moved　quickly　ward　the　open　door。　Jason　called　it　back。
　 At　least　he　meant　to　call　it。　At　the　last　moment　he　said　nothir　Nothing　aloud。　On　sudden　impulse　he　kept　his　mouth　closed…on　he　called　the　dog　with　his　mind。　Thinking　the　words　e　here；　dire　ing　the　impulse　at　the　animal　with　all　the　force　and　direction　he　Is　ever　used　to　manipulate　dice。　As　he　did　it；　he　realized　it　had　been　a　loi　time　since　he　had　even　considered　using　his　psi　powers。
　 The　dog　stopped　and　turned　back　toward　him。
　 It　hesitated；　looking　at　Naxa；　then　walked　over　to　Jason。
　 Seen　this　closely；　the　beast　was　a　nightmare　hound。　The　hairlc　protective　plates；　tiny　red…rimmed　eyes；　and　countless；　saliva…drippii　teeth　did　little　to　inspire　confidence。　Yet　Jason　felt　no　fear。　There　was　rapport　between　man　and　animal　that　was　understood。　Without　cc　scious　thought；　he　reached　out　and　scratched　the　dog　along　the　bac　where　he　knew　it　itched。
　 〃Di'nt　know　y're　a　talker；〃　Naxa　said。　As　he　watched　them；　thc　was　friendship　in　his　voice　for　the　first　time。
　 〃I　didn't　know　either…7'tntil　just　now；〃　Jason　said。　He　looked　into　t　eyes　of　the　animal　before　him；　scratched　the　ridged　and　ugly　back；　a'　began　to　understand。
　 The　talkers　must　have　well…developed　psi　facilities；　that　was　obvio　now。　There　is　no　barrier　of　race　or　alien　form　when　two　creatures　shr　each　other's　emotions。　Empathy　first；　so　there　would　be　no　hatred　fear。　After　that　direct　munication。　The　talkers　might　have　be　the　ones　who　first　broke　through　the　barrier　of　hatred　on　Pyrrus　ai　learned　to　live　with　the　native　life。　Others　could　have　followed　th~　example…this　might　explain　how　the　munity　of　〃grubbers〃　h　been　formed。
　 Now　that　he　was　concentrating　on　it；　Jason　was　aware　of　the　s　flow　of　thoughts　around　him。　The　consciousness　of　the　dorym　w　matched　by　other　like　patterns　from　the　rear　of　the　barn。　He　knew　wil　out　going　outside　that　more　of　the　big　beasts　were　in　the　field　ba　there。
　 〃This　is　all　new　to　me；〃　Jason　said。　〃Have　you　ever　thought　about　Naxa？　What　does　it　feel　like　to　be　a　talker？　I　mean；　do　you　know　w　it　is　you　can　get　the　animals　to　obey　you　while　other　people　have　luck　at　all？〃
　 Thinking　of　this　sort　troubled　Naxa。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　thick　hair　and　scowled　as　he　answered。　〃Nev'r　thought　about　it。　Just　do　it。　Just　get　t'know　the　beast　real　good；　then　y'can　guess　what　they're　going　t'do。　That's　all。〃
　 It　was　obvious　that　Naxa　had　never　thought　about　the　origin　of　his　ability　to　control　the　animals。　And　if　he　hadn't；　probably　no　one　else　had。　They　had　no　reason　to。　They　simply　accepted　the　powers　of　talkers　as　one　of　the　facts　of　life。
　 Ideas　slipped　toward　each　other　in　his　mind；　like　the　pieces　of　a　puzzle　joining　together。　He　had　told　Kerk　that　the　native　life　of　Pyrrus　had　joined　in　battle　against　mankind；　he　didn't　know　why。　Well；　he　still　didn't　know　why；　but　he　was　getting　an　idea　of　the　〃how。〃
　 〃About　how　far　are　we　from　the　city？〃　Jason　asked。　〃Do　you　have　an　idea　how　long　it　would　take　us　to　get　there　by　dorym？〃
　 〃Half　day　there…half　back。　Why？　Y'want　to　go？〃
　 〃I　don't　want　to　get　into　the　city；　not　yet。　But　I　would　like　to　get　close　to　it；〃　Jason　told　him。
　 〃See　what　Rhes　says；〃　was　Naxa's　answer。
　 Rhes　granted　instant　permission　without　asking　any　questions。　They　saddled　up　and　left　at　once；　in　order　to　plete　the　round　trip　before　dark。
　 They　had　been　traveling　less　than　an　hour　before　Jason　knew　they　were　going　in　the　direction　of　the　city。　With　each　minute；　the　feeling　grew　stronger。　Naxa　was　aware　of　it；　too；　stirring　in　the　saddle　with　unvoiced　feelings。　They　had　to　keep　touching　and　reassuring　their　mounts　which　were　growing　skittish　and　restless。　…
　 〃This　is　far　enough；〃　Jason　said。　Naxa　gratefully　pulled　to　a　stop。　The　wordless　thought　beat　through　Jason's　mind；　filling　it。　He　could　feel　it　on　all　sides…only　much　stronger　ahead　of　them　in　the　direction　of　the　unseen　city。　Naxa　and　the　doryms　reacted　in　the　same　way；　restlessly　unfortable；　not　knowing　the　cause。
　 One　thing　was　obvious　now。　The　Pyrran　animals　were　sensitive　to　psi　radiation…probably　the　plants　and　lower　life　fornis　as　well。　Perhaps　they　municated　by　it；　since　they　obeyed　the　men　who　had　a　strong　control　of　it。　And　in　this　area　was　a　wash　of　psi　radiation　such　as　he　had　never　experienced　before。　Though　his　personal　talents　speciaiized　in　psychokinesis…the　mental　control　of　inanimate　matter…he　was　still　sensitive　to　most　mental　phenomena。　Watching　a　sports　event；　he　had　many　times　felt　the　unanimous　accord　of　many　minds　expressing　the　same　thought。　What　he　felt　now　was　like　that。
　 Only　terribly　different。　A　crowd　exulted　at　some　success　on　the　field；　or　groaned　at　a　failure。　The　feeling　fluxed　and　changed　as　the　game
　progressed。　Here　the　wash　of　thought　was　unending；　strong　am　frightening。　It　didn't　translate　into　words　very　well。　It　was　part　hatred　part　fear…and　all　destruction。
　 〃KILL　THE　ENEMY〃　was　as　close　as　Jason　could　express　it。　But　i　was　more　than　that。　An　unending　river　of　mental　outrage　and　death
　 〃Let's　go　back　now；〃　he　said；　suddenly　battered　and　sickened　by　tb　feelings　he　had　let　wash　through　him。　As　they　started　the　return　trip；　Ii　began　to　understand　many　things。
　 His　sudden　unspeakable　fear　when　the　Pyrran　animal　had　attacke　him　that　first　day　on　the　planet。　And　his　recurrent　nightmares　tha　had　never　pletely　ceased；　even　with　drugs。　Both　of　these　were　hi　reaction　to　the　hatred　directed　at　the　city。　Though　for　some　reason　h　hadn't　felt　it　directly　up　until　now；　enough　had　reached　through　to　hit　to　get　a　strong　emotional　reaction。
　 Rhes　was　asleep　when　they　got　back　and　Jason　couldn't　talk　to　hit　until　morning。　In　spite　of　his　fatigue　from　the　trip；　he　stayed　awak　late　into　the　night；　going　over　in　his　mind　the　discoveries　of　the　da3　Could　he　tell　Rhes　what　he　had　found　out？　Not　very　well。　If　he　di　that；　he　would　have　to　explain　the　importance　of　his　discovery　an　what　he　meant　to　use　it　for。　Nothing　that　aided　the　city　dweller