deathworld-第21章

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　 〃Going　fine　now；〃　he　said。　〃Just　hold　your　controls　as　they　are　a　keep　the　nose　from　drifting。〃
　 Af~er　making　a　careful　mark　on　the　setting　circle；　Jason　turned　i　receiving　antenna　through　i　8o°　of　arc。　As　the　ship　kept　to　its　circ　he　made　a　slow　collecting　sweep　of　any　signals　beamed　at　the　city。　Ti　were　halfway　around　before　he　got　a　new　signal。
　 It　was　there　all　right；　narrow　but　strong。　Just　to　be　sure；　he　let　I　ship　plete　two　more　sweeps；　and　he　noted　the　direction　on　the　gy　pass　each　time。　They　coincided。　The　third　time　around　he　cal　to　Meta。
　 〃Get　ready　for　a　full　right　turn；　or　whatever　you　call　it。　I　think　I　hr　our　bearing。　Get　ready…now。〃
　 It　was　a　slow　turn　and　Jason　never　lost　the　signal。　A　few　times　it　w　ered；　but　he　brought　it　back　on。　When　the　pass　settled　down；　M　pushed　on　more　power。
　 They　set　their　course　toward　the　native　Pyrrans。
　 An　hour's　flight　at　close　to　top　atmospheric　speed　brought　no　change。　Meta　plained；　but　Jason　kept　her　on　course。　The　signal　never　varied　and　was　slowly　picking　up　strength。　They　crossed　the　chain　of　volcanoes　that　marked　the　continental　limits；　the　ship　bucking　in　the　fierce　thermals。　Once　the　shore　was　behind　and　they　were　over　water；　Skop　joined　Meta　in　grumbling。　He　kept　his　turret　spinning；　but　there　was　very　little　to　shoot　at　this　far　from　land。
　 When　the　islands　came　over　the　horizon；　the　signal　began　to　dip。
　 〃Slow　now；〃　Jason　called。　〃Those　islands　ahead　look　like　our　source！〃
　 A　continent　had　been　here　once；　floating　on　Pyrrus's　liquid　core。　Pressures　changed；　land　masses　shifted；　and　the　continent　had　sunk　beneath　the　ocean。　All　that　was　left　now　of　the　teeming　life　of　that　land　mass　was　confined　to　a　chain　of　islands；　once　the　mountain　peaks　of　the　highest　range　of　mountains。　These　islands；　whose　sheer　sides　rose　straight　from　the　water；　held　the　last　inhabitants　of　the　lost　continent。　The　weeded…out　descendants　of　the　victors　of　uncountable　violent　contests。　Here　lived　the　oldest　native　Pyrrans。
　 〃e　in　lower；〃　Jason　signaled；　〃toward　that　large　peak。　The　signals　seem　to　originata　there。〃
　 They　swooped　low　over　the　mountain；　but　nothing　was　visible　other　than　the　trees　and　sunblasted　rock。
　 The　pain　almost　took　Jason's　head　off。　A　blast　of　hatred　that　drove　through　the　amplifier　and　into　his　skull。　He　tore　off　the　phones　and　clutched　his　skull　between　his　hands。　Through　watering　eyes；　he　saw　the　black　cloud　of　flying　beasts　hurtle　up　from　the　trees　below。　He　had　a　single　glimpse　of　the　hillside　beyond　before　Meta　blasted　power　to　the　engines　and　the　ship　leaped　away。
　 〃We've　found　them！〃　Her　fierce　exultation　faded　as　she　saw　Jason　through　the　municator。　〃Are　you　all　right？　What　happened？〃
　 〃Feel　。　。　。　burned　out。　。　。　。　I've　felt　a　psi　blast　before；　but　nothing　like　thati　I　had　a　glimpse　of　an　opening；　looked　like　a　cave　mouth；　just　before　the　blast　hit。　Seemed　to　e　from　there。〃
　 〃Lie　down；〃　Meta　said。　〃I'll　get　you　back　as　fast　as　I　can。　I'm　calling　ahead　to　Kerk。　He　has　to　know　what　happened。〃
　
　 A　group　of　men　were　waiting　in　the　landing　station　when　they　came　down。　They　stormed　out　as　soon　as　the　ship　touched；　shielding　their　faces　from　the　still…hot　tubes。　Kerk　burst　in　as　soon　as　the　port　was　cracked；　peering　around　until　he　spotted　Jason　stretched　out　on　an　acceleration　couch。
　 〃Is　it　true？〃　he　barked。　〃You've　traced　the　alien　criminals　who　started　this　war？〃
　 〃Slow；　man；　slow；〃　Jason　said。　〃I've　traced　the　source　of　the　psi　message　that　keeps　your　war　going。　I've　found　no　evidence　as　to　who　started　this　war；　and　certainly　wouldn't　go　so　far　as　to　call　them　criminals。　。　。　。〃
　 〃I'm　tired　of　your　word　play；〃　Kerk　broke　in。　〃You've　found　these　creatures　and　their　location　has　been　marked。〃
　 〃On　the　chart；〃　Meta　said；　〃I　could　fly　there　blindfolded。〃
　 'Pine；　fine；〃　Kerk　said；　rubbing　his　hands　together　so　hard　they　could　hear　the　harsh　rasp　of　the　calluses。　〃It　takes　a　real　effort　to　grasp　the　idea　that；　after　all　these　centuries；　the　war　might　be　ing　to　an　end。　But　it's　possible　now。　Instead　of　simply　killing　off　these　self…renewing　legions　of　the　damned　that　attack　us；　we　can　get　to　the　leaders。　Search　them　out；　carry　the　war　to　them　for　a　change…and　blast　their　stain　from　the　face　of　this　planet！〃
　 〃Nothing　of　the　sort！〃　Jason　said；　sitting　up　with　an　effort。　〃Nothing　doing！　Since　I　came　to　this　planet　I　have　been　knocked　around；　and　risked　my　life　ten　times　over。　Do　you　think　I　have　done　this　just　to　satisfy　your　bloodthirsty　ambitions？　It's　peace　I'm　after…not　destruction。　You　promised　to　contact　these　creatures；　attempt　to　negotiate　with　them。　Aren't　you　a　man　of　honor　who　keeps　his　word？〃
　 〃I'll　ignore　the　insult…though　I'd　have　killed　you　for　it　at　any　other　time；〃　Kerk　said。　〃You've　been　of　great　service　to　our　people；　we　are　not　ashamed　to　acknowledge　an　honest　debt。　At　the　same　time；　do　not　accuse　me　of　breaking　promises　that　I　never　made。　I　recall　my　exact　words。　I　promised　to　go　along　with　any　reasonable　plan　that　would　end　this　war。　That　is　just　what　I　intend　to　do。　Your　plan　to　negotiate　a　peace　is　not　reasonable。　Therefore　we　are　going　to　destroy　the　enemy。〃
　 〃Think　first；〃　Jason　called　after　Kerk；　who　had　turned　to　leave。　〃What　is　wrong　with　trying　negotiation　or　an　armistice？　Then；　if　that　fails；　you　can　try　y~ur　way。〃
　 The　partment　was　getting　crowded　as　other　Pyrrans　pushed　in。　Kerk；　almost　to　the　door；　turned　back　to　face　Jason。
　 〃I'll　tell　you　what's　wrong　with　armistice；〃　he　said。　〃It's　a　coward's　way　out；　that's　what　it　is。　It's　all　right　for　you　to　suggest　it；　you're　from　off…world　and　don't　know　any　better。　But　do　you　honestly　think　I　could　entertain　such　a　defeatist　notion　for　one　instant？　When　I　speak；　I　speak　not　only　for　myself；　but　for　all　of　us　here。　We　don't　mind　fighting；　and　we　know　how　to　do　it。　We　know　that　if　this　war　was　over；　we　could　build　a　better　world　here。　At　the　same　time；　if　we　have　the　choice　of　continued　war　or　a　cowardly　peace…we　vote　for　war。　This　war　will　only　be　over　when　the　enemy　is　utterly　destroyed！〃
　 The　listening　Pyrrans　murmured　in　agreement；　and　Jason　had　to
　shout　to　be　heard　above　them。　〃That's　really　wonderful。　I　bet　you　even　think　it's　original。　But　don't　you　hear　all　that　cheering　offstage？　Those　are　the　spirits　of　every　saber…rattling　sonofabitch　that　ever　plugged　for　noble　war。　They　even　recognize　the　old　slogan。　We're　on　the　side　of　light；　and　the　enemy　is　a　creature　of　darkness。　And　it　doesn't　matter　a　damn　if　the　other　side　is　saying　the　same　thing。　You've　still　got　the　same　old　words　that　have　been　killing　people　since　the　birth　of　the　human　race。　A　'cowardly　peace；'　that's　a　good　one。　Peace　means　not　being　at　war；　not　fighting。　How　can　you　have　a　cowardly　not…fighting。　What　are　you　trying　to　hide　with　this　semantic　confusion？　Your　real　reasons？　I　can't　blame　you　for　being　ashamed　of　them…I　would　be。　Why　don't　you　just　e　out　and　say　you　are　keeping　the　war　going　because　you　enjoy　killing？　Seeing　things　die　makes　you　and　your　murderers　happy；　and　you　want　to　make　them　happier　still！〃
　 There　was　a　sensed　but　unvoiced　pressure　in　the　silence。　They　waited　for　Kerk　to　speak。　He　was　white…faced　with　anger；　held　tightly　under　control。
　 〃You're　right；　Jason。　We　like　to　kill。　And　we're　doing　to　kill。　Everything　on　this　planet　that　ever　fought　us　is　going　to　die。　We're　going　to　enjoy　doing　it　very　much。〃
　 He　turned　and　left　while　the　weight　of　his　words　still　hung　in　the　air。　The　rest　followed；　talking　excitedly。　Jason　slumped　back　on　the　couch；　exhausted　and　defeated。
　 When　he　looked　up　they　were　gone…all　except　Mets。　She　had　the　same　look　of　bloodthirsty　elation　as　the　others；　but　it　drained　away　when　she　glanced　at　him。
　 〃What　about　it；　Mets？〃　he　snapped。　〃No　doubts？　Do　you　think　that　destruction　is　the　only　way　to　end　this　war？〃
　 〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said。　〃I　can't　be　sure。　For　the　first　time　in　my　life；　I　find　myself　with　more　than　one　answer　to　the　same　question。〃
　 〃Congratulations；〃　he　said　bitterly。　〃It's　a　sign　of　growing　up。〃
　22
　 Jason　stood　to　one　side　and　watched　the　deadly　cargo　being　loaded　into　the　hold　of　the　ship。　The　Pyrrans　were　in　good　humor　as　they　stowed　away　riot　guns；　grenades　and　gas　bombs。　When　the　back…pack　atom　bomb　was　put　aboard；　one　of　them　broke　into　a　marching　song；　and　the　others　picked　it　up。　Maybe　they　were　happy；　but　the　approaching　carnage　only　filled　Jason　with　an　intense　gloom。　He　felt　that　somehow　he　was　a　traitor　to　life。　Perhaps　the　life　form　he　had　found　needed　destroying…and　perhaps　it　didn't。　Without　making　the　slightest　attempt　at　conciliation；　destruction　would　be　plain　murder。
　 Kerk　came　out　of　the　operations　building　and　the　starter　pumps　could　be　heard　whining　inside　the　ship。　They　would　leave　within　minutes。　Jason　forced　himself　into　a　foot…dragging　rush　and　met　Kerk　halfway　to　the　ship。
　 〃I'm　ing　with　you；　Kerk。　You　owe　me　at　least　that　much　for　finding　them。〃
　 Kerk　hesitated；　not　liking　the　idea。　〃This　is　an　operational　mission；〃　he　said。　〃No　room　for　observers；　and　the　extra　weight。　。　。　And　it's　too　late　to　s~ip　us；　Jason；　you　know　that。〃
　 〃You　Pyrrans　are　the　worst　liars　in　the　universe；〃　Jason　said。　〃We　both　know　that　ship　can　lift　ten　times　the　amount　it's　carrying　today。　Now；　do　you　let　me　e；　or　forbid　me　without　reason　at　all？〃
　 〃Get　aboard；〃　Kerk　said。　〃But　keep　out　of　the　way　or　you'll　get　trampled。〃
　 This　time；　with　a　definite　destination　ahead；　the　ffight　was　much　faster。　Meta　took　the　ship　into　the　stratosphere；　in　a　high　ballistic　arc　that　ended　at　the　islands。　Kerk　was　in　the　copilot's　seat；　Jason　sat　behind　them　where　he　could　watch　the　screens。　The　landing　party；　twenty…five　volunteers；　were　in　the　hold　below　with　the　weapons。　All　the　screens　in　the　ship　were　switched　to　the　forward　viewer。　They　watched　the　green　island　appear　and　swell；　then　vanish　behind　the　flames　of　the　braking　rockets。　Jockeying　the　ship　carefully；　Mets　brought　it　down　on　a　flat　shelf　near　the　cave　mouth。
　 Jason　was　ready　this　time　for　the　blast　of　mental　hatred…but　it　still　hurt。　The　gunners　laughed　and　killed　gleefully　as　every　animal　on　the　island　closed　in　on　the　ship。　They　were　slaughtered　by　the　thousands；　and　still　more　came。
　 〃Do　you　have　to　do　this？〃　Jason　asked。　〃It's　murder；　carnage；　just　butchering　those　beasts　like　that。〃
　 〃Self…defense；〃　Kerk　said。　〃They　attack　us　and　they　get　killed。　What　could　be　simpler。　Now　shut　up　or　I'll　throw　you　out　there　with　them。〃
　 It　was　a　half　an　hour　before　the　gunfire　slackened。　Animals　still　attacked　them；　but　the　mass　assaults　seemed　to　be　over。　Kerk　spoke　into　the　inter。
　 〃Landing　party　away…and　watch　your　step。　They　know　we're　here　and　will　make　it　as　hot　as　they　can。　Take　the　bomb　into　that　cave　and　see　how　far　back　it　runs。　We　can　always　blast　them　from　the　air；　but　it'll　do　no　good　if　they're　dug　into　solid　rock。　Keep　your　screen　open；　leave　the　bomb　and　pull　back　at　once　if　I　tell　you　to。　Now　move。〃
　 The　men　swarmed　down　the　ladders　and　formed　into　open　battle　formation。　They　were　soon　under　attack；　but　the　beasts　were　picked　off　before　they　could　get　close。　It　didn't　take　long　for　the　man　at　point　to　reach　the　cave。　He　had　his　pickup　trained　in　front　of　him；　and　the　watchers　in　the