hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Swoopin'　on　the　enemy；　million　miles　an　hour　
Callin'　to　the　engine　room　for　power；　power；　power。　
Power；　Power；　Power　make　the　electrons　whirl；　
Power；　Power；　Power…hear　them　protons　swirl！　
Power；　Power；　Power　will　win　the　day　
Power；　Power；　Power；　that's　the　SPACESHIP　WAY。'
　We　nodded　and　smiled　with　fixed　grins。　Good…quality　picture；　good　sound　as　well。　The　audience　was　looking　at　the　screen　instead　of　at　us　for　the　moment。　Floyd　looked　at　me；　then　raised　his　extended　index　finger　to　the　side　of　his　head　and　rotated　it　in　a　quick　little　circle。　The　universal　hand　signal　for　insanity。　I　nodded　glum　agreement。　I　couldn't　understand　it　either。
　There　we　were　on　the　screen　playing　on　a　familiar　set；　wearing　our　regular　concert　costumes。　Only　one　thing　was　wrong。
　Until　this　moment　none　of　us　had　ever　seen　the　tenor　who　was　right　there　with　us；　singing　the　song。
　Tenor？
　It　had　always　been　sung　in　sensuous　contralto　by　Madonette。
　
　CHAPTER　14
　After　the　TV　intro　we　played　our　number；　pretty　mechanically　I　must　say。　Not　that　our　audience　noticed；　they　were　too　carried　away　simply　by　being　in　the　Presence。　They　swayed　and　waved　their　hands　in　the　air　and　fought　to　keep　silent。　But　when　Iron　John　joined　us　in　the　〃Power〃　chorus　they　cheered　and　howled　and　sang　right　along　with　him。　When　the　last　power　had　been　overpowered　they　broke　into　lusty　shouted　applause　that　went　on　for　a　long；　long　time。　Iron　John　smiled　beneficently　at　this　and　finally　stopped　it　with　a　raised　russet　finger。　There　was　instant　silence。
　〃I　join　you　in　your　enthusiasm　for　our　honored　guests。　But　we　must　give　them　time　to　rest　after　their　strenuous　day。　We　will　surely　hear　them　sing　for　us　again。　You　must　remember　they　are　with　us　now　forever。　It　is　their　rare　privilege　to　be　admitted　to　Paradise　as　full　citizens；　to　live　until　the　end　of　time　in　our　fair　land。〃
　More　cries　of　masculine　joy。　We　concealed　our　overwhelming　pleasure　at　this　life　sentence　and　kept　our　silence　as　we　packed　up　our　instruments　and　handed　them　to　the　waiting　servants。　Our　audience　moved　out；　still　throbbing　slightly　with　musical　passion。
　〃A　moment　please；〃　Iron　John　said；　waiting　for　the　others　to　leave。　When　we　were　alone　he　touched　a　button　at　his　side　and　the　tall　doors　swung　silently　closed。　〃A　fine　song。　We　all　enjoyed　it。〃
　〃The　Stainless　Steel　Rats　aim　only　to　please；〃　I　said。
　〃Wonderful。〃　His　smile　vanished　and　he　stared　at　us　grimly。　〃There　is　one　more　thing　you　must　do　to　please　me。　Your　stay　here　will　be　a　long　one　and　we　want　you　to　be　happy。　You　will　make　us　all　happy；　yourselves　included；　if　you　show　a　certain　selection　in　topics　of　conversation。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　I　asked…although　I　had　a　good　notion　of　what　he　was　leading　up　to。
　〃We　are　very　satisfied　here。　Adjusted　and　secure。　I　do　not　wish　to　see　that　security　threatened。　You　gentlemen　e　to　our　land　from　a　very　troubled　outside　world。　The　galaxy　is　at　peace…or　so　you　say。　While　ignoring　the　eternal　war　without　end。　The　conflict　of　duality　that　we　are　free　of　here。　You　are　the　products　of　a　society　that　is　ego　destroying　instead　of　being　ego　building。　You　suffer　from　the　negativity　that　blights　lives；　weakens　cultures；　sickens　even　the　strongest。　Do　you　know　what　I'm　talking　about？〃
　Neither　Floyd　nor　Steengo　answered　so　it　was　up　to　me。　I　nodded。
　〃We　do。　Although　we　might　quibble　with　some　of　your　conclusions　the　object　of　your　attentions　is　quite　clear。　I　can　promise　you　that　while　we　are　enjoying　your　hospitality；　neither　I　nor　my　associates　will　talk　to　anyone　about　the　other　sex。　That　is　girls；　women；　females。　It　is　a　taboo　topic。　But；　since　you　raised　the　issue　I　assume　that　you　can　discuss　it　。　。　。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Right；　answer　enough。　We　will　therefore　enjoy　your　hospitality　and　not　spoil　it。〃
　〃You　are　wise　beyond　your　years；　young　Jim；〃　he　said；　and　a　trace　of　a　smile　returned。　〃Now　you　must　be　tired。　You　will　be　shown　to　your　quarters。〃
　The　doors　opened；　he　turned　away。　End　of　interview。　We　strolled　out　as　nonchalantly　as　we　could。　Old　Goldy　led　us　out　as　he　had　led　us　in；　to　some　pretty　luxurious；　although　still　red　brick；　quarters。　He　turned　on　the　TV；　checked　that　the　faucets　worked　in　the　bathroom；　raised　and　lowered　the　curtains；　then　bowed　himself　out　and　closed　the　door。　I　touched　my　finger　to　my　lips。　Floyd　and　Steengo　waited　in　twitching　silence　while　I　used　the　detector；　borrowed　from　Tremearne；　to　sweep　the　room　for　bugs。　After　what　we　had　seen　on　TV　I　had　a　great　admiration　for　the　electronics　in　this　place。
　〃Nothing；〃　I　said。
　〃No　women；〃　Steengo　said。　〃And　we　can't　even　talk　about　them。〃
　〃I　can　live　with　that　for　awhile；〃　Floyd　cut　in。　〃But　who　was　that　singing　our　number？〃
　〃That；〃　I　said；　〃was　a　very　nifty　example　of　some　first…class　electronic　dubbing。〃
　〃But　where　did　that　joker　e　from？〃　Floyd　said。　〃There　I　am　playing　right　beside　him…and　I　swear　that　I　have　never　seen　him　before。　Maybe　we　really　did　blow　baksheesh　and　this　whole　planet　is　a　drug…inspired　nightmare！〃
　〃Keep　cool；　keep　calm。　That　guy　was　nothing　but　a　bunch　of　electronic　bytes　and　bits。　Some　really　good　techs　digitalized　that　entire　song；　with　all　of　us　playing　it。　Then　they　animated　a　puter…generated　male　singer　to　follow　all　of　Madonette's　movements。　Wrote　her　image　out；　wrote　his　in…then　re…recorded　the　whole　thing　just　as　if　it　were　going　out　live。　Only　with　a　him　instead　of　a　her。〃
　〃But　why？〃　Steengo　asked；　dropping　wearily　into　one　of　the　deep　lounges。
　〃Now　you　have　asked　the　right　question。　And　the　answer　is　obvious。　This　side　of　Paradise　is　for　men　only。　Not　only　haven't　we　seen　any　women　here…but　pretty　obviously　they　have　been　edited　out　of　TV　and　presumably　everything　else　going。　It's　a　real　man's　world。　And　don't　say　why　again　because　I　don't　know。　You　saw　how　high　that　wall　is　when　we　were　on　our　way　here。　And　we　know　from　views　of　the　thing　from　space　that　the　city　is　on　both　sides　of　the　wall。　So　the　women…if　there　are　any　women…might　very　well　be　on　the　other　side。〃
　No　one　said　why　again　but　that　was　the　only　thing　on　our　minds。　I　stared　at　their　worried　faces　and　tried　to　think　of　something　nice。　I　did。　〃Madonette；'；'　I　said。
　〃What　about　her？〃　Steengo　asked。
　〃We've　got　to　tell　her　what　has　happened。〃　I　stuck　my　thumb　in　my　ear　and　addressed　my　pinkie。　〃Jim　calling　Madonette。　Are　you　on…line？〃
　〃Very　much　so。〃
　〃I　read　you　as　well；〃　Tremearne　said　tinnily　from　my　thumbnail。
　I　outlined　the　events　of　the　day。　Said　over　and　awaited　any　reaction。　Madonette　gasped；　nor　could　I　blame　her；　but　Tremearne　was　all　business　as　usual。
　〃You　are　doing　well　on　your　side　of　the　wall。　Is　it　time　for　Madonette　to　check　out　her　side？〃
　〃Not　yet；　not　until　we　have　a　few　answers　to　an　awful　lot　of　questions。〃
　〃Agreed…but　only　for　now。　What　have　you　discovered　about　the　artifact？〃
　〃Negative　so　far。　Give　us　a　break；　Captain。　Don't　you　think　that　getting　in　here；　pressing　the　flesh　and　doing　a　gig　is　enough　for　one　day？〃　The　silence　lengthened。　〃Yes；　sir；　right　you　are…it's　not　enough。　One　alien　artifact　ing　up。　Over　and　out。〃
　I　pulled　my　finger　out　of　my　ear；　wiped　the　earwax　off　of　it；　stared　gloomily　into　space。
　〃How　do　we　find　it？〃　Floyd　asked。
　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　idea。　I　just　said　that　to　get　Tremearne　off　my　neck。〃
　〃I　know　how　we　start；〃　Steengo　said。　I　launched　a　quizzical　look　in　his　direction。
　〃First　the　Esc　and　now　this。　Our　humble　harp　player　reveals　hidden　depths。〃　He　nodded　and　smiled。
　〃All　those　years　laboring　for　the　League　perhaps。　Didn't　the　ancient　gladhander　at　the　gate　tell　us　that　there　would　be　a　market　at　dawn　tomorrow？〃
　〃His　very　words；〃　Floyd　said。　〃But　so　what？　The　artifact　is　long　gone　from　the　market。〃
　〃Of　course。　But　the　merchants　aren't。　There　is　a　good　chance　that　whoever　bought　the　thing　might　still　be　there。〃
　〃A　genius！〃　I　applauded。　〃Behind　those　gray　hairs　lies　even　grayer　gray　matter　that　knows　how　to　think！〃
　He　nodded　acceptance。　〃I　never　did　enjoy　retirement。　What's　next；　boss　Jim？〃
　〃Grab　Goldy。　Show　strong　interest　in　the　market。　Have　him　lay　on　a　guide　to　take　us　there　when　it　opens　in　the　morning　。　。　。
　As　though　speaking　his　name　had　been　a　summons；　bugles　sounded；　the　door　opened；　our　gilt…garbed　guardian　came　in。
　〃A　summons　for　you；　oh　lucky　ones。　Iron　John　will　see　you　in　the　Veritorium。　e！〃
　We　went…since　we　had　little　choice。　For　a　change　Goldy　was　not　in　a　chatty　mood；　waving　off　our　queries　with　a　flick　of　his　hand。　More　corridors；　more　bricks…and　another　door。　It　opened　into　misty　darkness。　Stumbling　and　barking　our　ankles　we　made　our　way　to　a　row　of　waiting　chairs；　sat　down　as　instructed。　It　was　even　darker　when　Goldy　closed　the　door　behind　him　as　he　left。
　〃I　don't　like　this；〃　Floyd　muttered；　muttering　for　all　of　us。
　〃Patience；〃　I　said　for　lack　of　any　more　intelligent　answer；　then　nervously　squeezed　my　knuckles　until　they　cracked。　There　was　a　movement　of　air　in　the　darkness　and　a　growing　glow。　Iron　John　swam　into　view；　a　blown…up　image　really。　He　pointed　at　us。
　〃The　experience　that　you　are　about　to　have　is　vital　to　your　existence。　Its　memory　will　sustain　you　and　uplift　you　and　will　never　be　forgotten。　I　know　that　you　will　be　ever　grateful　and　I　accept　your　tearful　thanks　in　advance。　This　is　the　experience　that　will　change　you；　develop　you；　enrich　you。　Wele；　wele；　to　the　first　day　of　the　rest　of　your　new　and　fulfilling　lives。〃
　As　his　image　faded　I　coughed　to　cover　the　grunt　of　suspicion　that　this　old　bushwah　evoked。　Never　try　to　con　a　conman。　I　settled　my　rump　more　fortably　in　the　chair　and　prepared　to　be　entertained。
　As　soon　as　it　started　1　could　see　that　the　holofilm　was　very　professionally　made。　I　appreciated　that　the　young；　the　gullible　…or　the　just　plain　stupid…would　be　very　impressed　by　it。　The　mist　churned；　the　russet　light　grew　brighter　and　I　was　suddenly　in　the　midst　of　the　scene。
　The　king　watched　in　silence　as　the　group　of　armed　men　walked　warily　into　the　forest　and　disappeared　from　sight　among　the　trees。　Outwardly　he　was　patient　as　he　waited；　although　he　reached　up　and　touched　his　crown　from　time　to　time　as　though　reassuring　himself　that　it　was　still　there；　that　he　was　still　king。　A　very　long　time　later　he　stiffened；　turned　his　head　and　listened　as　slow　footsteps　shuffled　through　the　thick　leaves　below　the　trees。　But　no　warrior　appeared；　just　the　thick　and　twisted　figure　of　his　fester；　headdress　bobbling；　laps　moist　with　flecked　。saliva。
　〃What　did　you　see？〃　the　king　asked　at　last。
　〃Gone；　Majesty。　All　gone。　Just　lake　all　of　those　who　have　gone　before。　Vanished　among　the　trees　around　the　lake。　None　returned。　〃
　〃None　ever　return；　〃　the　king　said；　sorrow　and　defeat　dragging　him　down。　He　stood　that　way；　unknowing；　unseeing　as　a　young　man　appeared　and　strode　towards　him；　a　silent　gray　dog　walked　at　his　side。　The　jester；　jaw　agape；　spittle　pendulous；　hacked　away　as　the　stranger　approached。
　〃Why　do　you　grieve；　oh　king？〃　he　asked　in　a　light　and　clear　voice。
　〃1　grieve　for　there　is　part　of　the　forest　in　my　kingdom　where　men　do　go…but　none　return。　They　go　in　tens　and　twenties…but　none　is　ever　seen　again。
　〃I　will　go；〃　the　young　man　said；　〃but　I　will　go　alone。〃
　He　snapped　his　fingers　and；　without　another　word　being　spoken；　m