hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第10章

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　Absolute　silence　now…and　a　sideways　shuffling　by　the　audience。　They　apparently　did　not　like　any　of　Svinjar's　little　surprises。
　They　were　right。
　〃Go！〃　he　shouted　into　the　microphone；　so　loudly　that　his　amplified　voice　rolled　and　echoed　like　thunder。　〃Go…go…GO！〃
　I　staggered　and　almost　fell　as　the　platform　shook　and　vibrated。　There　was　a　roar　of　masculine　voices　as　out　from　under　our　feet；　brushing　aside　the　disguising　leafy　boughs；　burst　a　mass　of　armed　men。　More　and　more　appeared；　waving　cudgels；　howling　as　they　ran；　bearing　down　on　the　fleeing　audience。
　We　looked　on　dumbfounded　as　men　and　women　were　clubbed　to　the　ground；　chained；　tied。　The　attack　was　brief　and　vicious　and　quickly　over　with。　The　fields　were　empty；　the　last　visitor　gone。　Those　that　remained　were　bound　and　silent；　or　groaning　with　pain。　Over　their　moans　of　agony　Svinjar's　laughter　sounded　clearly。　He　was　rocking　in　his　chair；　possessed　by　sadistic　humor；　tears　rolling　down　his　cheeks。
　〃But　where…〃　Madonette　said。　〃Where　did　they　all　e　from？　There　was　no　one　under　here　when　we　started　the　concert。〃
　I　jumped　to　the　ground；　kicked　some　branches　aside；　saw　the　gaping　mouth　of　the　tunnel。　The　opening　had　been　concealed　by　a　dirt…covered　lid；　now　thrown　aside。　There　was　a　heavy　thud　and　Svinjar　landed　beside　me。
　〃Wonderful；　isn't　it？〃　He　gestured　at　the　opening。　〃I　have　had　my　men　digging　that　thing　for　months　now。　Stamping　the　removed　dirt　into　the　mud　whenever　it　rains。　I　had　planned　a　meeting　here；　some　gifts；　all　very　vague。　Until　you　showed　up！　If　I　were　capable　of　gratitude　I　would　be　grateful。　I　am　not。　The　blind　workings　of　chance。　And　victory　to　those…meaning　me…who　have　the　intelligence　to　seize　the　opportunity。　Now　a　small　celebration。　We　will　have　food　and　drink　and　you　will　play　for　me。〃
　He　turned　and　issued　instructions；　kicked　one　of　his　new　slaves　when　she　stumbled　close。
　〃It　would　be　nice　to　kill　him；〃　Madonette　said。　Speaking　for　all　of　us；　if　the　nodding　heads　meant　anything。
　〃Caution；〃　I　cautioned。　〃He　has　all　the　cards　and　the　thugs　right　now。　Let's　play　the　concert　and　figure　out　how　we　can　get　out　of　here　after　that。〃
　It　wasn't　going　to　be　easy。　Svinjar's　oversized　log　cabin　was　filled　with　his　men。　Drinking　but　not　drunk；　boasting　of　their　feats；　drinking　even　more。　We　played　a　number　but　no　one　was　listening。
　Yes；　Svinjar　was。　Listening　and　looking。　Waddling　towards　us；　silencing　the　music　with　a　swipe　of　his　hand。　Dropping　into　his　chair　and　fingering　the　hilt　of　his　large　sword　embedded　in　the　stone　close　by　his　hand。　Smiling　that　humorless　smile　at　me　again。
　〃Life　is　a　bit　different　here；　isn't　it　Jim？〃
　〃You　might　say　that。〃
　If　he　was　looking　for　trouble　I　wasn't　going　to　supply　it。　I　didn't　like　the　odds　at　all。
　〃We　make　our　own　life…and　our　own　rules　here。　Out　there　in　the　androgynous；　settled　worlds　of　the　galaxy；　the　effete　intellectuals　rule。　Men　who　act　like　women。　Here　we　hearken　back　to　the　days　of　the　primitive；　virile；　important　men。　Strength　through　strength。　I　like　that。　And　I　make　the　rules　here。〃　He　looked　at　Madonette　in　a　singularly　repulsive　manner。
　〃A　fine　singer…and　a　lovely　woman；〃　he　said；　then　looked　at　me。　〃Your　wife　you　say？　Can　anything　be　done　about　that？　Let　me　think…yes…something　can　be　done。　Out　there；　in　those　so…called　civilized　planets　nothing　could　be　done。　Here　it　can。　For　I　am　Svinjar　…　and　Svinjar　can　always　do　something。〃
　He　lifted　one　gross　hand　and　tapped　me　on　the　forehead。　〃By　my　law　and　my　custom　I　now　divorce　you。〃　He　heaved　himself　to　his　feet　while　his　henchmen　roared　with　laughter　at　his　subtle　humor。
　〃That　is　not　possible。　It　can't　be　done…〃
　For　his　size　he　was　fast；　whipping　out　the　broadsword　from　the　niche　in　his　throne。
　〃Here　is　my　first　lesson　for　my　new　bride。　Nobody　says　no　to　Svinjar。〃
　The　blade　slashed　out　to　slit　my　throat。
　
　CHAPTER　9
　I　jumped　back　to　avoid　the　slash；　stumbled　over　a　man's　legs；　fell　on　top　of　him。
　〃Hold　him！〃　Svinjar　shouted　and　I　was　grabbed　tightly；　struggled　to　get　free；　couldn't　quite　make　it。
　Svinjar　was　standing　over　me；　pushing　the　point　of　the　sword　into　my　throat
　Then　he　toppled　sideways　and　fell　with　a　great　thud。　Revealing　the　fact　that　Steengo；　despite　age　and　overweight；　had　jumped　to　the　attack　and　was　behind　him；　had　dropped　him　with　a　chop　to　the　neck。
　What　was　happening　had　by　this　time　sunk　into　even　the　tiniest　of　the　birdbrains　present。　Men　struggled　to　draw　weapons　and　roared　crude　oaths。　I　saw　Floyd　laying　about　the　warriors　nearest　him…but　it　wouldn't　be　enough。　In　about　two　seconds　there　was　going　to　be　a　massacre　of　musicians　if　I　didn't　do　something　to　stop　it。
　I　did。　First　by　planting　my　elbow　in　the　solar　plexus　of　my　captor。　Who　gurgled　and　let　go　of　my　arms。　One　second　gone。　I　didn't　waste　any　time　trying　to　stand　up　but　writhed　on　my　side　and　pulled　the　black　sphere　from　my　pocket；　thumbed　the　actuator　and　threw　it　up　towards　the　ceiling。
　Two　seconds。　Weapons　swinging　on　all　sides。　My　best　defense　was　to　jam　the　filter　plugs　into　my　nostrils。　The　gas　bomb　popped　and　I　spent　a　busy　few　seconds　more　dodging　my　attackers。　Who　moved　more　and　more　slowly　until　they　dropped。　When　I　looked　around　I　saw　that　the　gas　had　done　a　great　job。　The　entire　great　room　was　filled　with　prone　and　snoring　forms。　I　shook　my　hands　over　my　head。
　〃Let's　hear　it　for　the　good　guys！〃　I　had　an　audience　of　one；　myself；　which　made　the　victory　no　less　sweet。　The　sleep　gas　had　hit　my　friends　as　well；　though　Floyd　had　been　doing　quite　well　before　he　dropped。　A　number　of　crumpled　bodies　were　collapsed　around　him。　I　opened　my　pack　and　got　the　gas　antidote；　one　by　one　I　shot　up　my　panions　with　the　styrette。　Then　went　to　the　door　and　stared　gloomily　out　at　the　rain　until　they　revived。
　Soft　footsteps　behind　me　and　Madonette　held　me　lightly　by　the　arms。
　〃Thanks；　Jim。〃
　〃Was　nothing。〃
　〃It　was　something。　You　saved　our　lives。〃
　〃We're　still　in　it；〃　Floyd　said。　〃And　like　Madonette　said；　we　owe　you　a　good　bit　of　thanks。〃　Steengo　nodded　agreement。
　〃I　wish　you　didn't。　If　this　operation　had　been　planned　better　all　these　emergencies　wouldn't　be　taking　place。　My　fault。　I'm　under　what　you　might　call　a　certain　kind　of　time　pressure。　For　reasons　I　can't　go　into　right　now　we　have　to　find　the　artifact　and　finish　this　operation　within　twenty　days。〃
　〃That's　not　much　time；〃　Steengo　said。
　〃Right…so　let's　not　waste　any　of　it。　Our　wele　has　worn　out　around　here。　Grab　weapons　because　we　might　have　trouble　getting　out　of　town　empty…handed。　Packs　on；　armed　to　kill；　ruthless　and　deadly　expressions。　Forward！〃
　After　what　had　almost　happened　to　us　with　Svinjar　and　his　macho　swinemen　we　were　in　no　mood　to　be　trifled　with。　It　must　have　shown　in　our　faces…or　more　likely　in　the　metal　of　our　weapons…because　the　few　people　we　met　slipped　away　as　soon　as　they　saw　us。　The　rain　had　almost　stopped　and　the　sun　was　burning　through　and　raising　trails　of　mist　from　the　waterlogged　ground。　The　hovels　were　farther　apart　now；　the　mounds　of　garbage　fewer　and　more　easily　avoided。　Straggly　little　bushes　began　to　appear；　then　trees　and　larger　shrubs　covering　the　easy　slope　of　the　rolling　hills。　Mixed　in　were　low　bushes　from　which　hung　hard…skinned　spheres　the　size　of　a　man's　fist。　Maybe　these　were　the　polpettone　trees　we　had　been　told　about。　This　would　have　to　be　investigated…but　not　now。　I　led　on　at　a　good　pace；　not　calling　a　halt　until　we　had　reached　the　concealment　of　the　first　coppice。　I　looked　back　at　the　crude　buildings；　with　the　great　bulk　of　the　Pentagon　rising　behind　them。
　〃No　one　seems　to　be　following　us…so　let's　keep　it　that　way。　Five…minute　break　every　hour；　keep　walking　until　sunset。〃
　I　touched　the　skull…puter　hanging　from　my　neck　and　the　keyboard　snapped　into　existence。　I　summoned　up　the　holomap；　glanced　up　at　the　sun…then　pointed　ahead。
　〃We　go　thataway。〃
　It　was　tiring　at　first；　struggling　up　one　hill　and　down　the　other　side；　then　up　again。　But　we　soon　left　the　trees　and　the　rolling　countryside　behind　and　marched　out　onto　a　grassy　plain。　We　stopped　for　a　break　at　the　end　of　the　first　hour；　dropped　down　and　drank　some　water。　The　bravest　of　us　chewed　industriously　on　the　concentrated　rations。　Which　had　the　texture　of　cardboard…if　not　the　same　exciting　flavor。　There　was　a　grove　of　the　polpettone　trees　close　by　and　I　went　and　picked　a　few　of　the　spherical　fruits。　Hard　as　rocks　and　looking　just　about　as　appetizing。　I　put　them　into　my　pack　for　later　examination。　Floyd　had　dug　a　small　flute　out　of　his　pack　and　played　a　little　jig　that　lifted　our　spirits。　When　we　stepped　out　again　it　was　to　a　jolly　marching　tune。
　Madonette　walked　beside　me；　humming　in　time　with　the　flute。　A　strong　walker；　she　seemed　to　be　enjoying　the　effort。　And　surely　a　great　singer；　good　voice。　Good　everything…and　that　included　her　bod。　She　turned　and　caught　me　looking　at　her　and　smiled。　I　looked　away；　slowed　a　bit　to　walk　next　to　Steengo　for　a　change。　He　was　keeping　up　with　the　rest　of　us　and　did　not　look　tired　I　was　happy　to　see。　Ahh；　Madonette　。　。　。　Think　of　something　else；　Jim；　keep　your　eye　on　the　job。　Not　the　girl。　Yes；　I　know；　she　looked　a　lot　better　than　anything　else　around。　But　this　was　no　time　to　go　all　smarmy　and　dewy…eyed。
　〃How　long　you　think　until　dark？〃　Steengo　asked。　〃That　pill　you　gave　me　is　wearing　off　with　a　vengeance。〃
　I　projected　a　holo　of　a　watch。　〃I　truly　don't　know…because　I　don't　even　know　the　length　of　the　day　here。　This　watch；　like　the　puter；　is　on　ship's　time。　It's　been　a　good　long　time　since　they　threw　us　out　the　gate。〃　I　squinted　at　the　sky。　〃And　I　don't　think　that　sun　has　moved　very　much　at　all。　Time　to　ask　for　some　advice。〃
　I　bit　down　three　times　hard　on　the　left　side　of　my　jaw；　which　should　have　triggered　a　signal　on　the　jawbone　radio。
　〃Tremearne　here。〃　The　words　bounced　around　clearly　inside　my　skull。
　〃I　read　you。〃
　〃You　read　what？〃　Steengo　asked。
　〃Please…I'm　talking　on　the　radio。〃
　〃Sorry。〃
　〃Reception　clear　at　this　end。　Report。〃
　〃We　were　less　than　charmed　by　the　Machmen。　We　left　town　a　couple　of　hours　ago　and　are　hiking　out　across　the　plain　。　。　。〃
　〃I　have　you　on　the　chart；　satellite　location。〃
　〃Any　of　the　Fundamentaloid　bands　in　sight　as　well？〃
　〃A　number　of　them。〃
　〃Any　of　them　close　to　this　position？〃
　〃Yes；　one　off　to　your　left。　Roughly　the　same　distance　you've　walked　already。〃
　〃Sounds　a　winner。　But　one　important　question　first。　How　long　are　the　days　here？〃
　〃About　one　hundred　standard　hours。〃
　〃No　wonder　we're　beginning　to　feel　tired…and　it's　still　full　daylight。　With　the　total　daylight　at　least　four　times　longer　than　what　we're　used　to。　Can　you　put　your　satellite　to　work　looking　back　the　way　we　came…to　see　if　we　are　being　followed？〃
　〃I've　already　done　that。　No　pursuers　in　sight。〃
　〃That's　great　news。　Over　and　out。〃　I　raised　my　voice。　〃pany…halt。　Fall　out。　I'll　give　you　the　other　side　of　the　conversation　that　you　didn't　hear。　We're　not　being　followed。〃　I　waited　until　the　ragged　cheer　had　died　away。　〃Which　means　we　are　stopping　here　for　food；　drink；　sleep；　the　works。〃
　I　slung　my　pack　to　the　ground；　stretched　largely；　then　dropped　down　and　leaned　against　it；　pointed　to　the　distant　horizon。　〃The　Fundamentaloid　nomads　are　somewhere　out　in　that　d