hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第12章

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　〃Are　we　going　to　have　to　talk　to　all　of　them？〃
　〃Unless　you　have　any　better　ideas。　And　nineteen　days　to　go。〃
　〃I　don't　trust　him；〃　Madonette　said。　〃And　don't　sneer　and　say　female　intuition。　Aren't　these　the　same　kind　as　the　bunch　that　attacked　the　archeologists'　ship？〃
　〃You're　right…and　isn't　that　the　clatter　of　hundreds　of　hooves　ing　this　way？〃
　〃It　is！〃　Floyd　shouted；　pointing。　〃What　do　we　do…run？〃
　〃No！　Out　of　the　trees　and　onto　the　plain。　Instruments　at　the　ready。　We　are　going　to　give　these　guys　a　concert　that　they　will　never　forget！〃
　Arroz　had　gone　back　to　rally　the　troops　and　at　least　thirty　of　them；　with　plenty　of　sword　waving　and　maniac　baaing；　came　charging　down。　I　turned　the　amplification　on　the　sound　up　until　it　would　not　go　any　higher。
　〃Earplugs　in；　get　ready；　on　the　count　of　three　we　give　them　old　number　thirteen；　‘The　Rockets　Go　Rumbling　On。'　One；　two　。　。　。　On　the　count　of　three　the　explosion　of　unbearable　sound　blasted　out。　The　lead　riders　were　tossed　to　the　ground　as　the　sheots　recoiled　in　fear。　I　flipped　some　smoke　bombs　among　them；　just　to　keep　the　action　going；　and　hit　them　with　holographed　lightning　bolts。
　It　was　pretty　good。　Before　we　got　to　the　second　chorus　the　stampede　was　over；　the　last　terrorized　sheots　galloped　away　out　of　sight。　The　last　black…robed　Fundamentaloid　crawled　over　the　horizon；　the　trampled　grass　dotted　with　discarded　swords；　gobbets　of　fleece　and　myriad　eightballs　of　dung。
　〃Victory　is　ours！〃　I　whooped　happily。
　And　only　nineteen　days　to　go　I　thought　depressedly。　This　just　would　not　do。　I　had　the　awful　feeling　that　we　could　spend　nineteen　days　or　nineteen　weeks　stumbling　about　this　planet　and　be　no　wiser　about　the　alien　artifact　we　were　seeking。
　There　had　to　be　a　change　of　plan…and　now？　I　walked　away　from　the　others；　then　bit　down　three　times；　so　hard　that　I　almost　cracked　a　tooth。
　〃Captain　Tremearne　here。〃
　〃And　dismal　Jim　diGriz　on　this　end。　Have　you　been　following　all　this？〃
　〃Yes；　and　watching。　I　heard　you　ask　him　to　identify　the　photograph。　I　assume　that　he　did　not。〃
　〃You　assume　right；　distant　and　disembodied　voice。　Now　listen；　there　has　got　to　be　a　change　of　plan。　When　I　came　up　with　the　idea　for　this　present　operation　I　assumed　that　there　was　some　kind　of　imitation　of　civilization　on　this　dismal　world。　Where　we　could　stroll　from　gig　to　gig　and　do　our　snooping　at　the　same　time。　I　was　wrong。〃
　〃I　regret　that　all　the　facts　were　not　supplied　to　you　at　the　time。　But　as　you　are　now　aware　there　is　a　plete　ban　on　information　being　circulated　about　this　particular　planet。〃
　〃I　know　that　now…and　it　won't　wash。　We　would　have　been　a　lot　better　if　we　came　here　disguised　as　a　squad　of　bat　marines。　So　far　every　bunch　we　have　met　has　tried　to　kill　us。　The　whole　thing　is　that　hard…nosed　Admiral　Benbow's　fault。　He　lied　to　me　about　what　we　would　find　here。　Right？〃
　〃As　a　serving　military　officer　I　cannot　discuss　the　conduct　of　my　superiors。　But　I　can　agree　that　whoever　briefed　you　was；　I　must　say；　economical　with　the　truth。〃
　〃Do　you　also　know　that　he　was　economical　with　my　health？　And　that　in　nineteen　days　I　am　going　to　keel　over　from　time　released　poison。〃
　〃Regrettably；　I　have　been　informed　that　that　is　the　case。　And　you　have　eighteen　days　left　now；　You　appear　to　have　lost　track　of　one　day　during　the　past　period。〃
　〃Eighteen？　Thanks　much。　That　only　makes　what　I　have　to　say　even　more　imperative。　I　need　some　help；　some　transportation。〃
　〃All　contact　with　the　planet　is　forbidden。〃
　〃I　just　changed　the　rules。　You　yourself　told　me　that　you　are　heading　a　mittee　to　bring　about　major　improvements　here。　The　first　change　will　be　to　get　one　of　the　ship's　launches　down　here。　With　that　I　can　get　around　to　the　various　bands　of　sheot　shaggers　before　my　personal　deadline　runs　out。〃
　〃If　1　do　that　I　will　be　disobeying　orders　and　it　could　end　my　career。
　〃Well？〃
　The　silence　inside　my　head　went　on　and　on。　I　waited。　Until　I　heard　what　could　only　have　been　a　sigh。
　〃I　suppose　there　are　plenty　of　job　opportunities　for　skilled　civilians　these　days。　The　launch　will　land　after　dark。　If　it　is　not　seen　by　anyone　on　the　ground　there　is　just　a　chance　that　my　career　change　can　be　postponed。〃
　〃You're　a　good　guy；　Tremearne。　My　heartiest　thanks。〃
　I　hummed　a　bar　or　two　from　〃The　Swedish　Monster〃　as　I　walked　back　to　inform　my　panions。
　〃Jim；　you're　wonderful！〃　Madonette　said；　grabbed　and　kissed　me。　〃I　much　prefer　flying　to　walking。〃
　Floyd　nodded　happy　agreement　and　reached　for　me。
　〃Away！〃　I　shouted。　〃Girls；　okay；　but　I　don't　kiss　guys　with　beards。　What　we　do　now　is　put　a　little　distance　between　us　and　those　religious　nuts　in　case　they　want　to　e　back　for　seconds。　Then　rest　up　until　dark。　I　have　a　feeling　that　it　is　going　to　be　a　very　busy　night。〃
　
　CHAPTER　11
　〃Wake　up；　Jim…it's　almost　dark。〃
　Madonette's　gentle　hand　was　most　wele；　since　it　drew　me　up　out　of　a　really　repulsive　nightmare。　Tentacles；　bulging　eyeballs；　yukk。　The　eighteen…day　dead　deadline　must　be　getting　to　my　subconscious。　I　sat　up；　yawned　and　stretched。　With　great　reluctance　the　sun　had　finally　dropped　behind　the　horizon　leaving　behind　a　slowly　fading　band　of　light。　The　stars　were　ing　out　revealing　some　pretty　boring　constellations　and　very　few　of　them　at　that。　This　prison　planet　must　be　far　out　on　the　galactic　rim。
　Then　something　blotted　out　the　stars　in　the　zenith　as　a　dark　form　drifted　down　to　the　ground；　silently　on　null…gray　drive。　The　door　opened　as　we　approached…and　the　cabin　lights　came　on。
　〃Turn　them　off；　lunkhead　！　〃　I　shouted。　〃You　want　to　ruin　my　night　vision。〃　The　pilot　turned　about　in　his　seat　and　I　grinned　insincerely。　〃Sorry　Captain；　sir…that　lunkhead；　just　a　figure　of　speech。〃
　〃My　fault　pletely；〃　he　said；　and　tapped　one　of　his　electronic　eyeballs。　〃With　these　I　forget。　I'm　piloting　this　thing　because　I　have　the　best　night　vision　in　the　fleet。〃
　He　flipped　the　lights　off　and　we　groped　our　way　aboard　with　just　the　dim　red　emergency　lights　to　show　us　the　way。　I　sat　in　the　copilot's　seat　and　strapped　in。
　〃What　is　your　plan？〃　he　asked。
　〃A　simple　one。　You　know　the　position　of　all　the　sheot　hocks　don't　you？〃
　〃Observed　and　logged　into　the　launch's　memory。〃
　〃Great。　Have　the　puter　do　a　topological　survey　to　plot　a　course　that　will　let　us　visit　them　all　in　the　shortest　amount　of　time。　We　drift　over　to　the　first　flock；　find　one　of　the　shepherds　who　is　maybe　out　of　sight　of　the　others…and　talk　to　him。　Show　him　the　photograph　and　find　out　if　he　has　seen　the　thing。　If　he　hasn't…on　to　the　next　bunch。〃
　〃Seems　a　simple　and　practical　plan。　Belts　fastened？　Right；　first　flock　ing　up。〃
　We　were　slammed　back　into　our　seats　and　were　on　our　way。　High　and　fast　on　the　plotted　track。　Then　slow　and　drifting　in　low　while　Tremearne　peered　out　into　the　darkness。
　〃There's　one；〃　he　said。　〃On　the　far　side　of　the　flock…all　by　himself。　Either　to　guard　the　beasts　or　keep　them　from　wandering。　I　have　a　suggestion。　I　approach　him　from　behind　and　immobilize　him。　Then　you　question　him。〃
　〃Creep　up　in　the　dark？　Immobilize　an　armed　and　watchful　guard？　That's　a　job　for　a　bat　trooper。〃
　〃Well　how　do　you　think　I　got　these　electronic　eyeballs？　It　will　be　entertaining　to　do　a　bit　of　work　again。〃
　I　had　no　choice　but　to　agree。　The　Captain　was　proving　to　be　an　excellent　ally。　Working　this　way　would　be　certainly　a　lot　faster　than　me　crawling　around　on　my　own。　If　he　could　do　as　he　said。　I　had　my　doubts　but　kept　them　to　myself。　He　was　a　gray…haired　desk　jockey　with　electric　eyesight　who　might　very　well　be　past　his　sell…by　date。
　He　wasn't。　After　we　landed　he　stepped　out　the　door　and　vanished　silently　in　the　darkness。　Not　thirty　seconds　later　he　called　to　me　quietly。
　〃Over　here。　You　can　use　your　light　now。〃
　I　turned　on　the　handlight；　it　was　really　black　under　the　almost　starless　sky；　and　saw　two　forms　standing　close　together。
　The　light　revealed　a　bulging…eyed　shepherd　seized　in　an　unbreakable　grip；　a　hand　on　his　throat　keeping　him　silent。　I　waggled　the　light　under　his　nose。
　〃Listen；　oh　shepherd　who　failed　his　duty。　The　hand　that　holds　you　could　just　as　easily　have　killed　you。　Then　we　could　rustle　all　your　woolly　flock　and　eat　sheot　shashlik　until　the　end　of　time。　But　I　will　be　merciful。　The　hand　will　be　removed　from　your　filthy　throat　and　you　will　not　shout　or　you　really　will　be　dead。　You　will　speak　to　me　softly　and　answer　my　questions。　You　may　now　speak。〃
　He　coughed　and　groaned　when　the　pressure　was　released。　〃Demons　in　the　darkness！　Release　me；　do　not　kill　me；　tell　me　what　you　wish　of　me　then　go　back　to　the　pit　from　which　you　have　escaped　。　。　。〃
　I　reached　out　and　tweaked　his　nose　sharply。　〃Shut　up。　Open　your　eyes。　Look　at　this　photograph。　Let　me　know　if　you　have　ever　seen　it　before。〃
　I　held　the　photo　close；　shone　the　light　on　it。　Tremearne　gave　a　twitch　of　emphasis　to　his　arm　and　the　captive　moaned　his　answer。　〃Never；　no；　such　a　thing　I　would　remember；　no…〃　His　voice　gurgled　into　silence　and　he　dropped　unconscious　to　the　ground。
　〃Don't　these　sheot　shepherds　ever　wash？〃　Tremearne　asked。
　〃Only　on　alternate　years。　Let's　get　to　the　next　one。〃
　We　quickly　worked　out　a　routine。　We　would　land　and　he　would　be　away。　Usually；　by　the　time　I　had　exited　the　launch；　he　would　be　calling　me。　Many　a　terrified　shepherd　slept　soundly　this　night。　But　only　after　looking　at　the　picture　of　the　artifact。　I　dozed　between　visits　and　the　back　of　the　launch　echoed　with　snores　and　heavy　breathing。　Only　the　Captain　was　unsleeping　and　tireless；　seemingly　as　fit　on　the　eleventh　visit　as　he　had　been　on　the　first。　It　was　a　long；　long　night。
　I　was　getting　groggy　by　the　time　we　hit　thirteen。　Unlucky　thirteen；　get　it　over　with　and　on　to　fourteen。　Another　set　of　bulging　eyes　peeking　over　the　top　of　another　matted　beard。
　〃Look！〃　I　snarled。　〃Speak！　And　moaning　does　not　count　as　speaking。　Ever　seen　this　thing？〃
　This　one　gurgled　instead　of　moaning；　then　yiped　as　his　arm　got　twisted　a　bit　further。　It　looked　as　though　even　the　stolid　Captain　was　beginning　to　lose　his　patience。
　〃Imp　of　Satan　。　。　。　work　of　the　devil　。　。　。　I　warned　them；　but　they　wouldn't　listen　。　。　。　the　grave；　the　grave！〃
　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　of　what　he　is　babbling　about？〃　Tremearne　asked。
　〃There　may　be　hope；　Captain。　If　he　is　not　bonkers　he　might　have　seen　it。　Look…see！　Ever　see　before？〃
　〃I　told　him　not　touch　it…death　and　damnation　were　sure　to　follow。〃
　〃You　have　seen　it。　All　right；　Cap；　you　can　let　up　on　the　arm…but　stand　ready。〃　I　rooted　in　my　pocket　and　took　out　a　handful　of　silver　cylinders；　the　local　money；　let　the　light　shine　on　them。　〃Hey　you；　Smelly；　look…fedha…and　all　for　you。　All　yours。〃
　This　got　his　attention　all　right　and　I　closed　my　fist　tight　as　he　groped　for　them。　〃Yours　if　you　answer　some　simple　questions。　You　will　not　be　hurt…but　only　if　you　answer　truthfully。　You　have　seen　this　thing？〃
　〃They　fled。　We　found　it　in　their　skyship。　I　touched　it；　unclean；　unclean。〃
　〃You're　doing　fine。〃　I　shook　half　of　the　coins　into　his　waiting　hand。　〃Now　the　ten…thousand…fedha　question。　Where　is　it　now？〃
　〃Sold；　sold　to　them。　The　Paradisians。　May　they　be　cursed　by　it；　cursed　forever　。　。　。〃
　It　wasn't　easy；　but　we　finally　worked　all　the　details　out　of　him。　Stripped　of　all　the　curses　and　blasphemy　it　was　a　simple