hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第13章

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　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　tale　of　larceny　and　chicanery。　The　spacer　had　landed…and　been　attacked　as　soon　as　the　door　had　been　opened。　During　the　fracas　the　Fundamentaloids　had　trundled　through　the　ship　and　grabbed　everything　portable；　including　the　container　with　the　alien　artifact。　They　had　carried　the　whole　thing　away　with　them　because　they　had　a　job　opening　it。　When　they　eventually　succeeded　they　could　not　understand　what　it　was。　And　ignorance　meant　fear。　So　they　had　unloaded　it　in　the　market　in　Paradise　where　almost　anything　could　be　sold。　End　of　story。
　We　let　the　shepherd　keep　the　money　when　we　lowered　him；　unconscious；　to　the　ground。　〃This　calls　for　consultation；〃　I　said。
　〃Yes；　but　not　this　close　to　the　flock。　Let's　get　up　to　the　plateau　where　the　air　is　fresher。〃
　The　others　were　awake　when　we　landed　this　time；　listening　closely　to　what　we　had　discovered。
　〃Well　this　narrows　the　field　a　bit；〃　Madonette　said。
　〃Does　it？〃　I　asked。　〃How　big　is　the　population　of　this　paradisaical　nation？〃
　〃Around　one　hundred　thousand；〃　Tremearne　admitted。　〃It　may　not　be　the　best　society　on　this　planet　but　it　appears　to　be　the　most　successful　one。　I　know　very　little　about　it；　just　photographs　and　observation。〃
　〃Doesn't　anyone　in　the　Pentagon　know　more？〃
　〃Probably。　But　the　information　is　classified　and　they　aren't　talking。〃
　I　cracked　my　knuckles；　scowled　and　jabbed　my　finger　at　him。　〃That's　really　not　good　enough…is　it？〃
　Tremearne　looked　as　unhappy　as　I　did。　〃No；　Jim；　it　is　not。　I　don't　know　why　all　that　information　is　classified　while　your　group　is　actually　operating　here　on　the　planet。　I　have　tried　to　get　the　information　and　have　been　not　only　rebuffed　but　warned　off。〃
　〃Who　is　doing　this？　Any　idea？〃
　〃None…other　than　that　it　is　at　the　very　highest　level。　The　people　I　have　been　in　contact　with　understand　your　problems　and　want　to　help。　But　any　requests　that　they　pass　on　are　turned　down　instantly　and　with　prejudice。〃
　〃Am　I　paranoid…or　is　there　someone　in　the　chain　of　mand　who　doesn't　like　this　operation？　Who　wants　it　to　fail？〃
　It　was　Tremearne's　turn　now　to　crack　his　knuckles　and　look　glum。
　〃I've　told　you…I　am　a　career　officer。　But　I'm　not　fond　of　the　situation　here　on　this　planet。　Not　only　the　way　your　group　is　being　treated；　but　the　whole　ugly　business。　Well；　I　feel　that　it　is　getting　away　from　me。　At　first　I　thought　I　could　get　some　reform　here　by　working　through　channels。　It's　not　good　enough。　I　am　being　blocked　just　as　pletely　as　you　are。
　〃Who…and　why？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　But　I　am　doing　my　best　to　find　out。　About　this　city　and　the　Paradisians　I　guess；　basically；　I　know　absolutely　nothing。〃
　〃An　honest　answer；　Captain；　and　I　thank　you　for　it。〃
　〃If　you　don't　know…why　then　we'll　just　have　to　find　out　for　ourselves；〃　Steengo　said。　〃Play　a　gig　or　two　and　keep　our　eyes　open。
　〃May　it　be　so　easy；〃　I　muttered　under　my　breath。　〃Roll　out　the　maps。〃
　It　looked　as　though　the　largest　part　of　the　population　was　located　in　the　single　straggling　city。　Roads　led　from　it　to　not…too…distant　villages　and　there　were　scatterings　of　other　buildings　that　might　be　farms。　The　only　really　puzzling　thing　about　the　3D　map　was　what　looked　like　a　wall　that　appeared　to　cut　the　city　in　two。　There　were　no　walls　around　the　city；　just　this　single　one　in　the　middle。　I　pointed　to　it。
　〃Any　idea　what　this　is…or　what　it　means？〃
　Tremearne　shook　his　head。　〃No　idea。　Looks　like　a　wall；　that's　all。　But　there　is　a　road　alongside　it。　Which　appears　to　be　the　only　road　leading　in　from　the　plain。〃
　I　poked　my　finger　into　the　holomap。
　〃Here。　Where　the　road　fades　and　runs　out　in　the　grass。　That's　where　we　have　to　go。　Unless　anyone　has　a　better　idea？〃
　〃Looks　good　to　me；〃　Tremearne　said。　〃I'll　land　you　on　this　bit　of　plateau；　beyond　this　ridge　where　we　won't　be　seen。　Then　I'll　take　the　launch　out　of　there　and　stay　in　touch　with　you　by　radio。〃
　We　unloaded。　〃Sleep　first；〃　Floyd　yawned。　〃It's　been　a　long　night。〃
　It　was　even　longer　than　that；　what　with　the　longer　days　here。　Tremearne　took　off　and　we　settled　down　to　sleep。　We　slept；　and　woke　up　and　it　was　still　dark。　Slept　some　more。　At　least　the　others　snored　on：　I　had　too　much　on　my　mind　to　drift　off　as　easily　as　they　did。　We　had　a　clue　now　to　the　whereabouts　of　the　alien　artifact。　A　clue　that　was　useless　until　we　started　looking。　And　we　couldn't　look　in　the　darkness。　And　I　had　how　many　days　left　before　the　thirty…day　poison　zonked　me？　I　counted　on　my　fingers。　Just　about　eighteen　gone；　which　left　twelve　to　go。　Wonderful。　Or　had　I　counted　wrong？　I　started　again　with　the　fingers；　then　grew　angry　with　myself。　Enough　with　the　fingers　already。　I　clicked　on　my　puter　and　wrote　a　quick　program。　Then　touched　D　for　deadline…or　death；　whatever…and　a　glowing　eighteen　appeared　before　me　acpanied　by　a　flickering　twelve。　Not　that　I　enjoyed　looking　at　them；　mind　you；　but　this　way　I　could　stop　worrying　about　the　changing　count。　Some　part　of　me　must　have　been　satisfied　with　this　because　I　fell　deeply　asleep。
　Finally；　with　great　reluctance　and　sloth；　the　sky　lightened　and　another　day　began。　Before　it　was　pletely　light　the　Captain　drifted　the　launch　in　low　and　slow　behind　the　hills；　boarded　us；　then　let　us　out　behind　the　final　ridge。
　〃Good　luck；〃　he　said；　with　a　certain　grimness。　The　port　ground　shut　and　the　launch　moved　away　and　vanished　in　the　growing　light。　Scarcely　aware　of　what　I　was　doing　I　punched　D　into　the　puter。　The　numbers　snapped　into　existence；　vanished　just　as　quickly。　But　I　remembered。　Day　nineteen。
　
　CHAPTER　12
　Dawn　crept　on　interminably　as　we　walked；　the　sun　dragging　itself　up　over　the　horizon　only　with　great　reluctance。　It　was　still　not　quite　full　daylight　when　we　came　to　what　had　to　be　the　beginning　of　the　wall。　Just　a　single　row　of　bricks　almost　hidden　in　the　grass。
　〃What　do　you　think？〃　I　asked　of　no　one　in　particular。　Steengo　bent　and　rapped　one　with　his　knuckles。
　〃Brick；〃　he　said。
　〃Red　brick；〃　Madonette　said　brightly。
　〃Thanks；　thanks；〃　I　mumbled　with　plete　lack　of　appreciation。
　There　was　a　barely　visible　path　next　to　the　right…hand　side　of　the　row　of　bricks；　for　want　of　a　better　idea　we　began　walking　along　it。
　〃It's　higher；　see；〃　Floyd　said；　pointing。　〃A　second　course　has　been　added。〃
　〃And　more　still　ahead；〃　Madonette　said。　〃Three　bricks　high　now。〃
　〃What's　this？〃　Steengo　said；　bending　and　pushing　the　grass　aside　to　look　more　closely；　touching　the　brick　with　his　fingertip。　〃There's　some　kind　of　symbol　stamped　into　each　of　the　bricks。〃　We　all　looked　now。
　〃Sort　of　a　circle　with　an　arrow　sticking　out　of　it。〃
　〃Arrow　。　。　。　circle；〃　I　muttered。　A　sudden　intuition　bounced　about　inside　my　skull。　〃I've　seen　that　symbol　before　…yes　indeed！　Would　someone　kindly　step　over　the　wall　and　see　if　there　is　a　circle　with　a　cross　sticking　out　of　it　on　the　other　side。〃
　Madonette　lifted　lovely　eyebrows　with　curiosity；　stepped　daintily　over　the　low　wall；　bent　and　looked。　Eyebrows　even　higher　now。
　〃How　did　you　do　that？　On　this　side　there　is　a　circle…cross　sign　stamped　into　each　brick。〃
　〃Biology；〃　I　said。　〃I　remembered　from　school。〃
　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　she　said；　stepping　back。　〃The　symbols　for　male　and　female。〃
　Floyd　had　strolled　on　ahead；　he　called　out。　〃Right　as　rain。　Here　is　VIROJ　stamped　into　a　brick。　And；〃　he　leaned　over　and　looked；　〃VIRINOJ　on　the　other　side。〃
　Very　gradually　the　wall　became　higher　as　we　walked　beside　it。　In　addition　to　the　symbols　we　came　to　LJUDI　then　MTUWA；　HERRER；　SIGNORI。
　〃Enough；〃　I　said；　stopping。　〃Packs　off。　We　shall　now　take　our　break　while　we　see　what　we　have　here。　The　message　seems　to　be　clear　enough。　Look　at　the　path　we　have　been　following。　Is　there　another　path　on　the　other　side　as　well？〃
　The　brick　wall　was　as　high　as　our　waists　now；　Floyd　put　one　hand　on　it　and　vaulted　over；　bent　and　looked。
　〃Maybe；　but　not　too　clear。　Could　have　been　here　once　but　it　is　so　overgrown　with　grass　that　it　is　hard　to　tell。　Can　I　e　back　now？〃
　〃Yes…because　it's　about　time　for　a　decision。〃　I　pointed　ahead　to　the　slowly　heightening　wall。　〃The　Fundamentaloids　said　they　came　to　the　city　to　trade。　So　they　must　have　e　this　way；　possibly　made　this　track　that　we　are　following。〃
　Madonette　nodded　agreement…and　didn't　like　it。　〃And　they　were　all　men；　I　remember　that　all　too　clearly。　Unclean　indeed！　No　women　allowed。　Or　if　the　women　did　e　this　way　they　would　have　to　have　walked　over　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall。　What　do　you　want　us　to　do；　Jim？〃
　〃What　do　we　want　to　do？　As　I　said…it's　time　for　a　decision。　Do　we　all　stick　together　and　ignore　the　obvious　instructions？　That's　the　first　question　that　we　have　to　answer。〃
　〃Do　that　and　I'll　bet　that　eventually　we　get　into　some　kind　of　trouble；〃　she　said。　〃A　lot　of　serious　work　went　into　this　wall。　So　if　we　don't　read　the　message　something　not　too　nice　is　guaranteed　to　happen。　It　always　does　on　this　world。　The　choice　is　mine。　I'll　cross　over　and　trot　down　the　other　side…〃
　〃No；〃　I　broke　in。　〃As　we　go　along　the　wall　gets　higher　and　we'll　be　separated；　out　of　contact。　That　won't　do。〃
　〃Well　I'm　not　staying　here…and　I　can't　go　back。　So　we　need　contact；　what　you　just　said。　Kindly　clack　your　jaw…a…phone　and　get　onto　Tremearne。　Tell　him　to　get　some　radios　down　here　that　we　can　use　to　keep　in　touch。　If　we　are　going　to　plete　this　assignment　the　right　way；　we　will　have　to　know　what　is　going　on　on　both　sides　of　the　wall。　And　I'm　the　only　one　who　can　find　out　what　happens…here。〃
　She　picked　up　her　pack　and　planted　her　bottom　on　the　wall；　swung　her　legs　up　and　over　and　smiled　at　us　from　the　other　side。　I　didn't　like　it。
　〃It's　not　a　matter　of　liking　or　not　liking　it；〃　she　said　reading　my　doubts　from　my　expression。　〃It　is　just　the　only　way　that　we　can　get　the　job　done。　Get　the　radios。　Don't　forget　that　Tremearne　will　always　be　listening　in　and　can　send　the　marines　if　any　of　us　gets　into　trouble。　Call　him。〃
　〃I　will。　But　let　us　make　sure　they　are　the　right　kind　of　radios　before　we　put　in　the　order。　Line　of　sight　is　going　to　be　out　with　the　wall　standing　in　the　way　and　blocking　the　signal。　Plus…who　knows　hour　thick　the　thing　is　going　to　be？　It　could　soak　up　all　the　radio　frequencies　and　that　would　be　the　end　of　that。　Anyone　know　of　a　kind　of　radio　that　shoots　a　signal　through　rocks？〃
　I　was　speaking　my　thoughts　aloud；　half　in　jest。　So　was　more　than　a　little　surprised　when　a　voice　behind　me　said；　〃Yes。〃
　I　spun　about　and　glared　at　Steengo　who　was　buffing　his　fingernails　on　his　shirt；　then　admiring　his　image　in　their　shining　surfaces。
　〃You　said　that？〃　I　accused。　He　nodded　sagely。　〃Why？〃
　〃Why　is　a　good　question。　The　answer　is　that　although　I　stand　before　you；　an　aging　amateur　musician　drawn　from　retirement　to　risk　his　life　for　the　public　good；　it　should　not　be　forgotten　that　I　worked　for　many　a　decade　in　the　cause　of　that　same　public　good。　League　munications。　Where　I　helped　develop　a　neat　little　device　referred　to　as　MIPSC。〃
　〃Mipsic？〃　I　echoed　inanely。
　〃Close　enough；　my　good　friend　Jim。　MIPSC　is　the　acronym　of　Miniaturized　Personal　Satellite　municator。　I　suggest　that　you　clamp　your　jaw　and　order　up　a　brace　of　them。　Although　four　would　be　better…that　way　we　could　all　keep　in　touch　at　all　time