deathworld-第7章

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own　toward　his　face。
　 Forgetful　of　the　metal　cylinder　wall；　he　flinched　away。　The　creature　struck　the　transparent　metal　and　clung　to　it。　Jason　had　the　perfect　opportunityto　examine　it　in　every　detail。
　 It　was　almost　too　horrible　to　be　believable。　As　though　it　were　a　bearer　of　death　stripped　to　the　very　essentials。　A　mouth　that　split　the　head　in　two；　rows　of　teeth；　serrated　and　pointed。　Leathery；　claw…tipped　wings；　longer　claws　on　the　limbs　that　tore　at　the　metal　wall。
　 Terror　rose　up　in　Jason　as　he　saw　that　the　claws　were　tearing　gouges　in　the　transparent　metal。　Wherever　the　creature's　saliva　touched；　the　metal　clouded　and　chipped　under　the　assault　of　the　teeth。
　 Logic　said　these　were　just　scratches　on　the　thick　tube。　They　couldn't　matter。　But　blind；　unreasoning　fear　sent　Jason　curling　away　as　far　as　he　could。　Shrinking　inside　himself；　seeking　escape。
　 Only　when　the　flying　creature　began　dissolving　did　he　realize　the　nature　of　the　room　outside。　Sprays　of　steaming　liquid　came　from　all　sides；　raining　down　until　the　cylinders　were　covered。　After　one　last　dash　of　its　jaws；　the　Pyrran　animal　was　washed　off　and　carried　away。　The　liquid　drained　away　through　the　floor　and　a　second　and　third　shower　followed。
　 While　the　solutions　were　being　pumped　away；　Jason　fought　to　bring　his　emotions　into　line。　He　was　surprised　at　himself。　No　matter　how　frightful　the　creature　had　been；　he　couldn't　understand　the　fear　it　could　generate　through　the　wall　of　the　sealed　tube。　His　reaction　was　all　out　of　proportion　to　the　cause。　Even　with　the　creature　destroyed　and　washed　out　of　sight；　it　took　all　of　his　will　power　to　steady　his　nerves　and　bring　his　breathing　back　to　normal。
　 Meta　walked　by　outside　and　he　realized　the　sterilization　process　was　finished。　He　opened　his　own　tube　and　climbed　wearily　out。　Mete　and　the　others　had　gone　by　this　time　and　only　a　hawk…faced　stranger　remained；　waiting　for　him。
　 〃I'm　Brucco；　in　charge　of　adaptation　clinic。　Kerk　told　me　who　you　were。　I'm　sorry　you're　here。　Now　e　along；　I　want　some　blood　samples。〃
　LI　J…~　~　~　I　LI　V　V　'。。J　AL　I。~　LI
　
　
　〃Now　I　feel　right　at　home；〃　Jason　said。　〃The　old　Pyrran　hospitality。〃　Brucco　only　grunted　and　stamped　out。　Jason　followed　him　down　a　bare　corridor　into　a　sterile　lab。
　The　double　gravity　was　tiring；　a　constant　drag　on　sore　muscles。　While　Brucco　ran　tests　on　the　blood　sample；　Jason　rested。　He　had　almost　dozed　off　into　a　painful　sleep　when　Brucco　returned　with　a　tray　of　bottles　and　hypodermic　needles。
　 〃Amazing；〃　he　announced。　〃Not　an　antibody　in　your　serum　that　would　be　of　any　use　on　this　planet　I　have　a　batch　of　antigens　here　that　will　make　you　sick　as　a　beast　for　at　least　a　day。　Take　off　your　shirt。〃
　 〃Have　you　done　this　often？〃　Jason　asked。　〃I　mean　juice　up　an　outlander　so　he　can　enjoy　the　pleasures　of　your　world？〃
　 Brucco　jabbed　in　a　needle　that　felt　like　it　grated　on　the　bone。　〃Not　often　at　all。　Last　time　was　years　ago。　A　half…dozen　researchers　from　some　institute；　willing　to　pay　well　for　the　chance　to　study　the　local　life　forms。　We　didn't　say　no。　Always　need　more　galaxy　currency。〃
　 Jason　was　already　beginning　to　feel　lightheaded　from　the　shots。　〃How　many　of　them　lived？〃　he　mumbled　vaguely。
　 〃One。　We　got　him　off　in　time。　Made　them　pay　in　advance；　of　course。〃　At　first　Jason　thought　the　Pyrran　was　joking。　Then　he　remembered　they　had　very　little　interest　in　humor　of　any　kind。　If　one　half　of　what　Meta　and　Kerk　had　told　him　was　true；　six…to…one　odds　weren't　bad　at　all。
　 There　was　a　bed　in　the　next　room　and　Brucco　helped　him　to　it。　Jason　felt　drugged　and　probably　was。　He　fell　into　a　deep　sleep　and　into　the　dream。
　 Fear　and　hatred。　Mixed　in　equal　parts　and　washed　over　him　red　hot　If　this　was　a　dream；　he　never　wanted　to　sleep　again。　If　it　wasn't　a　dream；　he　wanted　to　die。　He　tried　to　fight　up　against　it；　but　only　sank　in　more　deeply。　There　was　no　beginning　and　no　end　to　the　fear　and　no　way　to　escape。
　 When　consciousness　returned；　Jason　could　remember　no　detail　of　the　nightmare。　Just　the　fear　remained。　He　was　soaked　with　sweat　and　ached　in　every　muscle。　It　must　have　been　the　massive　dose　of　shots；　he　finally　decided；　that　and　the　brutal　gravity。　That　didn't　take　the　taste　of　fear　out　of　his　mouth；　though。
　 Brucco　stuck　his　head　in　the　door　then　and　looked　Jason　up　and　down。　〃Thought　you　were　dead；〃　he　said。　〃Slept　the　clock　around。　Don't　move；　I'll　get　something　to　pick　you　up。〃
　 The　pickup　was　in　the　form　of　another　needle　and　a　glassful　of　evillooking　fluid。　It　settled　his　thirst；　but　made　him　painfully　aware　of　a　gnawing　hunger。
　 〃Want　to　eat？〃　Brucco　asked。　〃I'll　bet　you　do。　I've　speeded　up　your　metabolism　so　you'll　build　muscle　faster。　Only　way　you'll　ever　beat　the　gravity。　Give　you　quite　an　appetite　for　awhile　though。〃
　 Brucco　ate　at　the　same　time　and　Jason　had　a　chance　to　ask　some　ques…　tions。　〃When　do　I　get　a　chance　to　look　around　your　fascinating　planet？　So　far　this　trip　has　been　about　as　interesting　as　a　jail　term。〃　…
　 〃Relax　and　enjoy　your　food。　Probably　be　months　before　you're　able　to　go　outside。　If　at　all。〃
　 Jason　felt　his　jaw　hanging　and　closed　it　with　a　snap。　〃Could　you　possibly　tell　me　why？〃
　 〃Of　course。　You　will　have　to　go　through　the　same　training　course　that　our　children　take。　It　takes　them　six　years。　Of　course；　it's　their　first　six　years　of　life。　So　you　might　think　that　you；　as　an　adult；　could　learn　faster。　Then　again；　they　have　the　advantage　of　heredity。　All　I　can　say　is　you'll　go　outside　these　sealed　buildings　when　you're　ready。〃
　 Brucco　had　finished　eating　while　he　talked；　and　sat　staring　at　Jason's　bare　arms　with　growing　disgust。　〃The　first　thing　we　want　to　get　you　is　a　gun；〃　he　said。　〃It　gives　me　a　sick　feeling　to　see　someone　without　one。〃
　 Of　course　Brucco　wore　his　own　gun　continually；　even　within　the　sealed　buildings。
　 〃Every　gun　is　fitted　to　its　owner　and　would　be　useless　on　anyone　else；〃　Brucco　said。　〃I'll　show　you　why。〃　He　led　Jason　to　an　armory　jammed　with　deadly　weapons。　〃Put　your　arm　in　this　while　I　make　the　adjustments。〃
　 It　was　a　box…like　machine　with　a　pistol　grip　on　the　side。　Jason　clutched　the　grip　and　rested　his　elbow　on　a　metal　ioop。　Brucco　fixed　pointers　that　touched　his　arm；　then　copied　the　results　from　the　meters。　Reading　the　figures　from　his　list；　he　selected　various　ponents　from　bins　and　quickly　assembled　a　power　holster　and　gun。　With　the　holster　strapped　to　his　forearm　and　the　gun　in　his　hand；　Jason　noticed　for　the　first　time　they　were　connected　by　a　flexible　cable。　The　gun　fitted　his　hand　perfectly。
　 〃This　is　the　secret　of　the　power　holster；〃　Bnicco　said；　tapping　the　flexible　cable。　〃It　is　perfectly　loose　while　you　are　using　the　weapon。　But　when　you　want　it　returned　to　the　holster…〃　Brucco　made　an　adjustment　and　the　cable　became　a　stiff　rod　that　whipped　the　gun　from　Jason's　hand　and　suspended　it　in　midair。
　 〃Then　the　return。〃　The　rod　cable　whirred　and　snapped　the　gun　back　into　the　holster。　〃The　drawing　action　is　the　opposite　of　this；　of　course。〃
　 〃A　great　gadget；〃　Jason　said。　〃But　how　do　I　draw？　Do　I　whistle　or　something　for　the　gun　to　pop　out？〃
　 〃No；　it　is　not　sonic　control；〃　Brucco　answered　with　a　sober　face。　〃It　is　much　more　precise　than　that。　Here；　take　your　left　hand　and　grasp　an　imaginary　gunbutt。　Tense　your　trigger　finger。　Do　you　notice　the　pattern　of　the　tendons　in　the　wrist？　Sensitive　actuators　touch　the　tendons　in　your　right　wrist。　They　ignore　all　patterns　except　the　one　that　says　hand　ready　to　receive　gun。　After　a　time　the　mechanism　bees　pletely　automatic。　When　you　want　the　gun；　it　is　in　your　hand。　When　you　don't；　it　is　in　the　holster。〃
　 Jason　made　grasping　motions　with　his　right　hand；　crooked　his　index　finger。　There　was　a　sudden；　smashing　pain　against　his　hand　and　a　loud　roar。　The　gun　was　in　his　hand…half　the　fingers　were　numb…and　smoke　curled　up　from　the　barrel。
　 〃Of　course；　there　are　only　blank　charges　in　the　gun　until　you　learn　control。　Guns　are　always　loaded。　There　is　no　safety。　Notice　the　lack　of　a　trigger　guard。　That　enables　you　to　bend　your　trigger　finger　a　slight　bit　more　when　drawing　so　the　gun　will　fire　the　instant　it　touches　your　hand。〃
　 It　was　without　doubt　the　most　murderous　weapon　Jason　had　ever　handled；　as　well　as　being　the　hardest　to　manage。　Working　against　the　muscle　burning　ache　of　high　gravity；　he　fought　to　control　the　devilish　device。　It　had　an　infuriating　way　of　vanishing　into　the　holster　just　as　he　was　about　to　pull　the　trigger。　Even　worse　was　the　tendency　to　leap　out　before　he　was　quite　ready。　The　gun　went　to　the　position　where　his　hand　should　be。　If　the　fingers　weren't　correctly　placed；　they　were　crashed　aside。　Jason　only　stopped　the　practice　when　his　entire　hand　was　one　livid　bruise。
　 plete　mastery　would　e　with　time；　but　he　could　already　understand　why　the　Pyrrans　never　removed　their　guns。　It　would　be　like　removing　a　part　of　your　own　body。　The　movement　of　gun　from　holster　to　hand　was　too　fast　for　him　to　detect。　It　was　certainly　faster　than　the　neural　current　that　shaped　the　hand　into　the　gun…holding　position。　For　all　apparent　purposes　it　was　like　having　a　lightning　bolt　in　your　fingertip。　Point　the　finger　and　blainm；　there's　the　explosion。
　 Brucco　had　left　Jason　to　practice　alone。　When　his　aching　hand　could　take　no　more；　he　stopped　and　headed　back　toward　his　own　quarters。　Turning　a　corner；　he　had　a　quick　glimpse　of　a　familiar　figure　going　away　from　him。
　 〃Meta！　Wait　for　a　second！　I　want　to　talk　to　you。〃
　 She　turned　impatiently　as　he　shuffled　up；　going　as　fast　as　he　could　in　the　doubled　gravity。　Everything　about　her　seemed　different　from　the　girl　he　had　known　on　the　ship。　Heavy　boots　came　as　high　as　her　knees；　her　figure　was　lost　in　bulky　coveralls　of　some　metallic　fabric。　The
　trim　waist　was　bulged　out　by　a　belt　of　cannisters。　Her　very　expression　was　coldly　distant。
　 〃I've　missed　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　hadn't　realized　you~　were　in　this　building。〃　He　reached　for　her　hand　but　she　moved　it　out　of　his　reach。
　 〃What　is　it　you　want？〃　she　asked。
　 〃What　is　it　I　want！〃　he　echoed　with　barely　concealed　anger。　〃This　is　Jason；　remember　me？　We're　friends。　It　is　allowed　for　friends　to　talk　without　'wanting'　anything。〃
　 〃What　happened　on　the　ship　has　nothing　to　do　with　what　happens　on　Pyrrus。〃　She　started　forward　impatiently　as　she　talked。　〃I　have　finished　my　reconditioning　and　must　return　to　work　You'll　be　staying　here　in　the　sealed　buildings　so　I　won't　be　seeing　you。〃
　 〃Why　don't　you　say　with　the　rest　of　the　children…that's　what　your　tone　implies。　And　don't　try　walking　out；　there　are　some　things　we　have　to　settle　first…〃
　 Jason　made　the　mistake　of　putting　out　his　hand　to　stop　her。　He　didn't　really　know　what　happened　next。　One　instant　he　was　standing…the　next　he　sprawled　suddenly　on　the　floor。　His　shoulder　was　badly　bruised；　and　Mete　had　vanished　down　the　corridor。
　 Limping　back　to　his　own　room；　he　muttered　curses　under　his　breath。　Dropping　onto　his　rock…hard　bed；　he　tried　to　remember　the　reasons　that　had　brought　him　here　in　the　first　place。　And　weighed　them　against　the　perpetual　torture　of　the　gravity；　the　fear…filled　dreams　it　inspired；　the　automatic　contempt　of　these　people　for　any　outsider。　He　quickly　checked　the　growing　tendency　to　feel　sorry　for　himself。　By　Pyrran　standards；　he　was　soft　and　helples