hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第18章

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　〃A　pleasure　to　see　you　musical　Rats　enjoying　yourself。　When　you　have　eaten　your　fill　I　have　a　request　for　the　presence　of　Rat　Jim。〃
　〃Who　wants　me？〃　I　asked　suspiciously　through　a　mouthful　of　sweet　pulp。
　〃All　will　be　revealed。〃　He　put　his　index　finger　along　his　nose；　winked　and　rolled　his　eyes。　Which　silent　munication　I　assumed　meant　something　like　you'll　find　out　soon　enough。　I　had　no　choice。　And　I　had　lost　my　appetite。　I　wiped　my　fingers　on　a　damp　cloth　and　followed　him　yet　another　time。
　Iron　John　was　waiting　for　me　at　the　door　of　the　Veritorium　where　we　had　all　seen　the　puzzling　holoflic。
　〃e　with　me；　Jim；〃　he　said　with　a　deep　voice　like　distant　thunder。　〃Today　you　will　see　and　understand　all　of　the　revelation。〃
　〃I'll　get　the　others　。　。　。〃
　〃Not　this　time；　Jim。〃　His　hand　closed　gently　but　firmly　onto　my　shoulder　and　I　had　little　choice　but　to　go　along　with　him。　〃You　are　wise　beyond　your　years。　An　old　head　on　a　young　body。　Therefore　you　are　the　one　who　will　be　helped　the　most　by　your　understanding　of　this　mystery　that　is　no　mystery。　e。〃
　He　sat　me　down　but　did　not　join　me；　yet　I　was　aware　of　his　presence　close　by　me　in　the　darkness。　The　mist　roiled　and　cleared　and　I　was　once　again　by　the　lake。
　There　was　only　silence　in　the　forest　around　the　ducky　pond。　As　the　last　ripple　died　away　the　young　man　turned　crud　left　without　looking　back。　Trod　the　dead　leaves　beneath。　the　trees　until　he　emerged　and　saw　the　king　before　him。
　〃There　is　something　I　must　do；〃　he　told　the　king；　nor　would　he　say　any　more。　The　king　saw　that　the　man's　dog　was　gone　…　the　man　himself　was　unharmed。　He　had　many　questions　but　；　did　not　know　how　to　speak　them。　Instead　he　followed　the　young　man　back　to　the　castle。　In　the　courtyard　the　young　man　looked　around；　then　spotted　a　large　leathern　bucket。
　〃I　need　that；〃　he　said。
　〃Take　it。〃　The　king　dismissed　him　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃Remember　I　have　helped　you。　One　day　you　must　tell　me　what　you　found　in　the　woods。〃
　The　young　man　turned　in　silence　and　made　his　way；　alone；　back　to　the　dark　pond。　There　he　dipped　the　bucket　into　the　water　and　hurled　its　contents　into　the　ditch　nearby。　Another　and　another。　He　did　not　stop　but　worked　steadily　at　bailing　out　the　pond。　It　was　hard；　slow　work。　Yet　the　sun　never　set；　the　light　never　changed；　the　young　man　never　stopped。
　After　a　great　period　of　time　the　water　was　almost　gone　and　something　large　was　revealed　lying　in　the　mud　on　the　bottom　of　the　pond。　The　young　man　kept　emptying　the　water　until　he　revealed　a　tall　man　who　was　covered　with　reddish　hair；　like　rusty　iron；　from　head　to　foot。　The　large　man's　eyes　opened　and　he　looked　at　the　young　man。　Who　beckoned　to　him。　With　a　heaving　shake　the　rusty　man　rose　from　the　pond's　bottom　and　followed　the　young　man　away　from　the　pond　and　through　the　woods。
　To　the　castle　of　the　king。　All　of　the　soldiers　and　retainers　fled　when　they　appeared　and　the　king　alone　stood　before　them。
　〃This　is　Iron　John；〃　the　young　man　said。　〃You　must　imprison　him　in　an　iron　cage　here　in　the　courtyard。　If　you　lock　the　cage　and　give　the　key　to　your　queen　the　forest　will　be　safe　again　for　those　who　walk　through　it。〃
　Mist　rose　and　darkened　the　scene。　It　was　the　end。
　The　red…furred　hand　was　heavy　on　Jim's　shoulder…but　it　did　not　bother　him。
　〃Now　you　understand；〃　Iron　John　said；　newfound　warmth　in　his　voice。　〃Now　you　can　release　Iron　John。　Wele；　Jim；　wele。〃
　I　wanted　to　say　that　I　felt　more　confusion　than　prehension。　That　I　was　experiencing　something；　yet　not　understanding　it。　Instead　of　speaking　my　feelings　aloud　I　suddenly　found　that　my　eyes　were　brimming　with　tears。　I　did　not　know　why　although　I　knew　that　they　were　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of。
　Iron　John　smiled　at　me　and；　with　a　great　finger；　wiped　the　tears　from　my　damp　cheeks。
　
　CHAPTER　16
　〃What　was　all　that　about？〃　Floyd　asked　when　I　returned　to　our　quarters。　He　was　jazzing　with　his　trombonio；　a　plex　and　gleaming　collection　of　golden　tubes　and　slides；　which　made　some　very　interesting　sounds　indeed。　Most　of　them；　regrettably；　of　an　ear…destroying　nature。
　〃More　training　film；〃　I　said；　as　nonchalantly　as　I　could。　I　was　surprised　to　hear　a　certain　quaver　in　my　voice　as　I　spoke。　Floyd　tootled　on；　unaware　of　it；　but　Steengo　who　appeared　to　be　asleep　on　the　couch　opened　one　eye。
　〃Training　film？　You　mean　more　about　the　pool　in　the　forest？〃
　〃You　got　it　in　one。〃
　〃Did　you　find　out　what　was　in　the　pool？　The　thing　that　dragged　the　dog　down？〃
　〃A　stupid　story；〃　Floyd　said；　and　tootled　a　little　fast　riff。　〃Although　I　do　feel　sorry　for　the　dog。〃
　〃It　wasn't　a　real　dog；〃　Steengo　said。　He　looked　at　me；　seemed　to　be　waiting　for　me　to　speak；　but　I　clamped　my　jaw　shut　and　turned　away。　〃Nor　was　it　a　real　pool。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　I　asked；　looking　at　him。
　〃Mythology；　my　dear　Jim。　And　rites　of　passage。　It　was　Iron　John　at　the　bottom　of　the　pool；　wasn't　it？〃
　I　jumped　as　though　I　had　been　zapped　with　an　electric　shock。　〃It　was！　But…how　did　you　know　that？〃
　〃I　told　you　I　read　my　mythology。　But　the　thing　that　really　disturbs　me…not　this　training　film　as　you　call　it…is　the　fact　that　Iron　John　is　here　in　the　flesh；　solid　and　hairy。〃
　〃You've　lost　me；〃　Floyd　said；　looking　from　one　to　the　other　of　us。　〃A　little　explanation　is　very　much　in　order。〃
　〃It　is；〃　Steengo　said；　swinging　his　feet　around　so　he　sat　up　straight　on　the　couch。　〃Mankind　invents　cultures…and　cultures　invent　myths　to　justify　and　explain　their　existence。　Prominent　among　these　are　the　myths　and　ceremonies　of　the　rites　of　passage　for　boys。　The　passage　from　boyhood　to　manhood。　This　is　the　time　when　the　boy　is　separated　from　his　mother　and　the　other　women。　In　some　primitive　cultures　the　boys　go　and　live　with　the　men…and　never　see　their　mothers　again。〃
　〃No　big　loss；〃　Floyd　muttered。　Steengo　nodded。
　〃You　heard　that；　Jim。　In　all　cultures　mothers　try　to　shape　sons　in　their　female　image。　For　their　own　good。　The　boys　resist　…and　the　rite　of　passage　helps　this　resistance。　There　is　always　symbolism　involved；　because　symbols　are　a　way　to　represent　the　myths　that　underlie　every　culture。〃
　I　thought　about　this；　my　head　hurt。　〃Sorry；　Steengo；　but　you　left　me　behind　pletely　with　that　one。　Explanation？〃
　〃Of　course。　Let's　stay　with　Iron　John。　You　have　just　said　that　you　didn't　understand　it…yet　I　think　that　it　affected　you　emotionally。〃
　I　started　to　protest；　to　lie…then　stopped。　Why　lie？　I　tried　not　to　lie　to　myself；　ever。　This　was　a　good　moment　to　apply　that　rule。
　〃You're　right。　It　got　to　me…and　I　don't　know　why　。　。　。〃
　〃Myths　deal　with　emotions；　not　facts。　Let's　look　at　the　symbols。　Did　the　young　man　bail　out　the　pool　and　find　Iron　Hans；　or　Iron　John　at　the　bottom？〃
　〃That's　exactly　what　happened。〃
　〃Who　do　you　think　Iron　John　is？　In　the　story　I　mean；　not　the　one　walking　around　here。　But　before　you　answer　that…who　do　you　think　the　young　man　in　the　story　was？〃
　〃That's　not　too　hard　to　figure　out。　Whoever　the　story　was　aimed　at；　whoever　was　watching　it。　In　this　case；　since　I　was　there　alone；　I　guess　it　must　have　been　me。〃
　〃You　are　correct。　So　in　the　myth　you；　and　every　other　young　man；　are　looking　for　something　in　the　pool；　and　have　to　work　very　very　hard　with　the　bucket　to　find　it。　Now　we　e　to　Iron　John；　the　hairy　man　at　the　bottom　of　the　pool。　Is　it　a　real　man？〃
　〃No；　of　course　it　couldn't　be。　The　man　at　the　bottom　of　the　pool　has　to　be　a　symbol。　Part　of　a　myth。　A　symbol　of　manhood；　maleness。　The　primitive　male　that　lies　beneath　the　surface　in　all　of　us。〃
　〃Bang…on；　Jim；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃The　story　is　trying　to　tell　you　that　when　a　man；　not　a　boy；　looks　deep　inside　himself；　if　he　looks　far　down　and　for　long　enough；　works　hard　enough；　he　will　find　the　ancient　hairy　man　within　himself。〃
　Floyd　stopped　playing　and　his　jaw　gaped。　〃You　guys　been　smoking　something　I　don't　know　about。〃
　〃Not　smoking；〃　Steengo　said。　〃Sipping　at　the　font　of　ancient　wisdom。〃
　〃Do　you　believe　this　myth？〃　I　asked　Steengo。　He　shrugged。
　〃Yes　and　no。　Yes；　the　process　of　growing　up　is　a　difficult　one　and　anything　that　helps　the　process　is　a　good　thing。　Yes；　myths　and　ing…of…age　ceremonies　help　prepare　boys；　giving　them　the　assurances　they　need　in　the　transition　from　boy　to　man。　But　that　is　as　far　as　I　will　go。　I　say　no　resoundingly　to　a　myth　manifest　as　reality。　Iron　John　alive　and　well　and　leading　the　pack。　This　is　a　fractured　society　here；　without　women　and　without　even　the　knowledge　of　women。　Not　good。　Quite　sick。〃
　I　was　uneasy　at　this。　〃I　don't　agree　all　the　way。　I　was　affected　very　strongly　by　watching　that　story。　And　I　am　a　very　hard　guy　to　con。　This　got　to　me。〃
　〃It　should　have…because　it　was　dealing　with　the　very　stuff　of　personality　and　self。　I　have　a　feeling；　Jim；　that　yours　was　not　the　happiest　of　childhoods　。　。　。〃
　〃Happy！〃　I　laughed　at　the　thought。　〃You　try　growing　up　on　a　porcuswine　farm　surrounded　by　bucolic　peasants　who　are　not　much　brighter　than　their　herds。〃
　〃And　that　includes　your　father　and　mother？〃
　I　started　to　answer　warmly；　saw　what　he　was　doing　and　where　this　was　going。　I　shut　up。　Floyd　shook　the　spittle　from　his　so…called　musical　instrument　and　broke　the　silence。
　〃I　still　feel　sorry　for　the　dog；〃　he　said。
　〃Not　a　real　dog；〃　Steengo　said；　turning　away　from　me。　〃A　symbolic　dog　like　everything　else　you　saw。　The　dog　is　your　body；　the　thing　you　order　around；　sit　up；　beg。〃
　Floyd　shook　his　head　in　amazement。　〃Too　deep　for　me。　Like　that　pool。　If　I　could　change　the　subject　from　theory　to　fact　for　just　a　moment…what's　next　on　the　agenda？〃
　〃Finding　Heimskur；　of　course；　so　we　can　find　out　if　he　still　has　the　artifact；〃　I　said；　happily　putting　this　other　matter　aside。　〃Any　suggestions？〃
　〃Brain　empty；〃　Floyd　said。　〃Sorry。　That　hangover　never　really　went　away。〃
　〃I'm　glad　some　of　us　didn't　drink；〃　Steengo　said；　a　sudden　edge　of　irritation　to　his　voice。
　For　personal　reasons　I　was　happy　to　hear　it；　glad　that　he　was　still　human；　he　came　on　pretty　strong　with　the　myth　stuff。　Forget　this　for　awhile。　I　ticked　off　on　my　fingers。　〃We　have　only　two　choices。　Hint　around　about　him　and　gather　what　information　we　can。　Or　blurt　right　out　that　we　want　to　see　him。　Personally；　I'm　all　for　the　blurting　since　there　is　a　kind　of　time　limit　on　this　investigation。〃　Like　ten　days　to　the　grim　reaper。　〃Let's　ask　Goldy；　our　majordomo。　He　seems　to　know　everything　else。〃
　〃Let　me　do　it；〃　Steengo　said；　standing　and　stretching。　〃I'll　talk　to　him　like　an　old　buddy　and　work　the　conversation　around　to　science　and　scientists。　And　Heimskur。　Be　right　back。〃
　Floyd　watched　him　go；　tootling　a　little　march　in　time　with　his　footsteps。　〃This　Iron　John　stuff　sort　of　gets　to　you；〃　he　said　after　the　door　had　closed。
　〃Yes…and　that's　the　worst　part。　I　don't　know　why　I'm　bothered。〃
　〃Women。　I　had　six　sisters　and　there　were　two　aunts　who　lived　with　us。　I　had　no　brothers。　I　never　think　about　women　except　one　at　a　time　in　the　right　situation。〃
　Before　I　had　to　listen　to　one　more　boring　macho　tale　about　the　right　situation　I　excused　myself　and　went　for　a　jog。　Returned　sweating　nicely；　did　some　pushups　and　situps；　then　went　for　a　wash。　Steengo　was　there　when　I　came　out。　Shaking　his　joined　hands　over　his　head　when　I　lifted　a　quizzical　eyebrow。
　〃Success。　Heimskur　is　head　of　the　bunch　who　Labor　in　the　Cause