hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第26章

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r　the　thud　of　crutches　and　the　dragging　footsteps　approaching。
　〃All　here；〃　Steengo　said。　〃Very　good。　The　tachyometer　is　ready。〃
　The　thing　that　was　following　him　now　trotted　forward。　Walking；　stiff…legged；　was　the　ugliest　fake　dog　that　I　had　ever　seen　in　my　life。　It　was　covered　in　black　artificial　fur　with　handfuls　missing；　had　beady　black　eyes　like　buttons；　stuck　out　a　dry　red　tongue　as　it　barked。
　〃Bow…wow。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　‘bow…wow'？〃　I　gasped　aloud。　〃What　is　this　repulsive　object？〃
　〃The　tachyometer；〃　Admiral　Steengo　said。
　〃Bow…wow；〃　it　barked　again。　〃And　for　convenience　sake　the　tachyometer　is　mounted　within　this　mobile　terminal。〃
　〃Aida？〃　I　said。
　〃None　other。　Do　you　like　this　disguise？〃
　〃I　have　never　seen　a　more　artificial　artificial　dog　in　my　life！　〃
　〃Well　don't　get　too　insulting　about　it。　Fido　is　state　of　the　art…and　that　is　modern　art　if　you　are　thinking　something　nasty。　For　one　thing　the　dear　little　doggy　municates　with　me　by　gravimetric　waves　which；　as　I　am　sure　you　know；　cannot　be　blocked　like　radio　waves。　They　penetrate　the　most　solid　buildings；　cut　through　the　most　gigantic　mountain　ranges。　So　we　are　always　in　munication；　always　in　touch。　Admittedly　Fido　here　has　seen　better　days。　But　you　know　what　they　say　about　beggars？〃
　〃I　do。　But　we're　choosers　without　being　beggars　and　I　choose　a　better　mobile　terminal。〃
　〃Your　choice；　handsome。　Give　me　two　days　and　you　can　have　whatever　you　want。〃
　Two　days？　And　I　had　like　maybe　six　and　a　half　to　live　unless　the　antidote　arrived。　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　whistled。
　〃Here　Fido。　Nice　doggie。　Let's　go　walkies。〃
　〃Bow…wow；〃　it　said　and　began　to　pant　most　artificially。
　〃This　is　the　plan；〃　Admiral　Steengo　said。　〃I　will　monitor　this　operation　from　the　orbiting　spacer　along　with　Captain　Tremearne。　Jim　and　Floyd　will　head　north　in　the　direction　taken　by　the　missing　artifact。　Aida　will　be　in　contact　with　this　terminal；　that　will　also　be　searching　for　a　tachyon　emission　source。〃　He　appeared　to　run　out　of　words　and　rubbed　his　jaw。
　〃A　nice　plan；〃　I　said；　but　I　could　not　keep　a　certain　tone　of　derision　out　of　my　voice。　〃Cooked　down　to　essentials　it　means　that　we　just　trot　north　until　something　happens。〃
　〃A　satisfactory　interpretation。　Good　luck。〃
　〃Thanks。　And　you　will　keep　the　other　and　most　pressing　matter　of　a　certain　injection　on　the　top　of　your　agenda？〃
　〃I　shall　query　the　people　involved　hourly　on　the　hour；〃　he　said　grimly…and　I　think　he　meant　it。
　We　filled　our　packs；　kept　the　good…bys　as　brief　as　possible；　loaded　up　and　followed　Fido　out　without　a　backward　glance。　I　liked　Madonette。　Perhaps　too　much　while　I　was　on　an　assignment　like　this。　Go；　Jim；　go　I　cozened。　Follow　your　wandering　tachyon。
　We　followed　the　flapping　black　nylon　tail　through　the　streets　and　onward　to　the　outlying　farms。　The　women　we　met　waved　happily；　some　even　whistling　bits　of　our　tunes　to　cheer　us　on　the　way。　The　last　farm　fell　behind　us　and　the　open　plains　opened　out　ahead。　I　clacked　my　jaw…radio。
　〃Are　you　there；　Tremearne？〃
　〃Listening　in。〃
　〃Any　tribes　of　nomads　around…or　up　ahead？〃
　〃Negative。〃
　〃Any　buildings；　farms；　people；　sheots　…　anything　visible　on　this　heading？〃
　〃Negative。　We've　done　a　detailed　scan　as　far　north　as　the　polar　ace。　Nothing。〃
　〃Thanks。　Over　and　out。〃　Wonderful。
　〃Empty　on　all　sides；　nothing　at　all　ahead；〃　I　reported　to　Floyd。　〃So　we　just　stay　on　this　heading　until　our　plastic　retriever　detects　any　tachyons…or　we　reach　the　north　pole　and　freeze　to　death。〃
　〃I've　been　meaning　to　ask。　What's　a　tachyon？〃
　〃Good　question。　Up　until　now　I　thought　it　was　just　a　theoretical　unit　that　the　physicists　dreamed　up　in　order　to　explain　how　the　universe　works。　One　of　the　subatomic　entities　that　exist　either　as　waves　or　particles。　Until　they　are　observed　they　have　no　real　existence。　It　has　been　said；　and　who　am　I　to　doubt　it；　that　they　exist　in　a　probabilities　limbo　of　many　possible　superimposed　states。〃　I　noticed　that　Floyd's　jaw　was　beginning　to　drop；　his　eyes　to　glaze。　He　shook　his　head。
　〃You　are　going　to　have　to　try　harder；　Jim…you　lost　me　a　long　time　back。〃
　〃Right；　sorry。　Try　this。　There　are　various　kinds　of　units　in　physics。　A　photon　is　a　unit　of　light　energy　and　an　electron　is　a　unit　of　electric　energy。　Okay？〃
　〃Great。　With　you　so　far。〃
　〃A　graviton　is　a　unit　of　gravity　and　a　tachyon　a　unit　of　time。〃
　〃Lost　me　again。　I　thought　minutes　and　seconds　were　units　of　time？〃
　〃They　are；　Floyd；　but　just　to　simple　people　like　you　and　I。　Physicists　tend　to　look　at　things　in　a　different　manner。〃
　〃I　believe　it。　Sorry　I　asked。　Time　for　a　break；　five　minutes　in　every　hour。〃
　〃You're　on。〃　I　unstuck　my　canteen　and　took　a　swig；　then　whistled　to　our　dogtrotting　terminal　that　was　almost　out　of　sight。　〃e　back　Fido；　breakies。〃
　〃You're　the　boss；〃　Aida　said。　The　dog　scrambled　back；　barked　and　sniffed　my　pack　where　I　had　dropped　it　next　to　me　on　the　ground。
　〃Not　too　much　realism！〃　I　shouted。　〃Don't　have　that　plastic　canine　lift　its　leg　on　my　pack！〃
　The　day　went　on　like　that。　Apparently　forever。　We　crawled　across　the　landscape：　the　sun　crawled　across　the　sky。　When　w　e　had　been　walking　for　over　five　hours　fatigue　began　to　strike。　Floyd　was　striding　ahead　at　a　great　pace。
　〃Tired　yet？〃　I　called　out。
　〃No。　Great　fun。〃
　〃To　those　of　us　who　weren't　bashed　about　by　the　red　peril。〃
　〃Just　a　bit　more。〃
　The　bit　more　went　on　a　bit　more　than　I　appreciated　and　I　was　just　about　to　toss　in　the　towel　when　Fido　spoke。
　〃Bow　and　wow；　gentlemen。　Just　detected　a　couple　of　tachyons　as　they　went　whizzing　by。　Wasn't　sure　of　the　first　one　but…there　it　is；　another…and　another！〃
　〃ing　from　where？〃　I　asked。
　〃Directly　ahead。　Let's　just　stay　on　this　course　and　we'll　track　the　source　down。　With；　perhaps；　yes　I'm　sure；　there　is　the　strong　possibility　of　a　course　deviation　later。〃
　〃Aha！〃　I　aha'ed。　〃I　recognize　equivocation　when　I　hear　it。　Even　from　a　plastic　dog　mouthpiece　for　an　ancient　ship's　puter。〃
　〃The　word　ancient　is　so　hurtful　。　。　。〃
　〃I'll　apologize　when　you　tell　me　about　this　plication。〃
　〃Apology　accepted。　Allowing　for　the　curvature　of　the　planet；　gravitic　anomalies　and　other　factors；　I　am　still　forced　to　believe　that　the　tachyon　source　is　not　on　the　surface　of　this　world。〃
　〃The　thing　is　underground？〃
　〃Underground　is　the　very　word　for　it。〃
　I　bit　hard　on　the　jawphone。　〃Tremearne；　would　you　put　the　admiral　on　the　line。〃
　〃I'm　here；　Jim。　Aida　reported　this　possibility　a　while　back　and　1　have　been　。　monitoring　developments　since　then。　Didn't　want　to　bother　you；　for　all　the　obvious　reasons。〃
　〃Yes；　like　we　forgot　to　bring　a　shovel。　Anything　else　you　haven't　told　me？〃
　〃I　was　waiting　for　data；　Just　ing　in。　I　sent　a　low　flying　probe　to　look　for　the　gravimetric　anomalies　that　Aida　had　found。　Looks　like　there　are　a　number　of　them　and　they　are　being　plotted　now。〃
　〃What　kind　of　anomalies？　Metal　deposits？〃
　〃Quite　the　opposite。　Caverns　below　the　ground。〃
　〃It　figures。　Over　and　out。　At　least　we　now　know　where　the　artifact　is。〃
　〃Where？〃　Floyd　asked；　since　he　had　only　heard　my　side　of　the　conversation。
　〃Underground。　There　are　caves　or　caverns　of　some　kind　up　ahead。　Nothing　visible　on　the　surface…but　they　are　there　all　right。　Our　technical　observers　seem　sure　that　the　artifact　is　down　there　somewhere。　Can　we　take　that　break　now　and　wait　for　the　reports？〃
　〃I　guess　so。〃
　Floyd　guessed　right；　which　was　a　good　thing　since　an　instant　after　we　dropped　to　the　ground　the　stream　of　bullets　was　fired　at　us。　Zipping　through　the　empty　air　where　we　had　just　been　standing。
　Floyd　had　a　large　and　ugly　pistol　in　his　hand　now　which　didn't　slow　him　down　as　he　wriggled　on　hands　and　knees　beside　me　to　the　shelter　of　the　mounded　earth　around　a　polpettone　tree。
　〃We're　under　fire！〃　I　shouted　into　my　jawphone。
　〃Source　not　visible。〃
　Fido　stood　on　its　hind　legs…then　jumped　high　into　the　air　despite　another　burst　of　bullets。
　〃Bow…wow。　Perhaps　not　visible　to　others　but　clear　enough　to　me。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Some　sort　of　apparatus　at　ground　level。　Want　me　to　take　it　out？〃
　〃If　you　can。〃
　〃Grrr！〃　it　growled　and　retracted　its　legs；　then　zipped　off　at　a　great　rate　at　ground　level；　so　fast　it　could　barely　be　seen。　Moments　later　there　was　a　muffled　explosion　and　bits　of　debris　rattled　dorm　into　the　shrub。
　〃'That　was　quick；〃　I　said。
　〃Thank　you；〃　Fido　said　emerging　from　the　undergrowth　with　a　jagged　bit　of　metal　in　its　jaws。　〃Just　follow　me　if　you　want　to　see　the　remains。〃
　We　followed　the　thing　to　a　smoking　pit　with　a　jumble　of　crumpled　apparatus　in　its　center。　Fido　dropped　its　bit　of　debris；　lifted　one　front　leg。　Extended　its　head；　straightened　its　tail　and　pointed。
　〃Remote　controlled　gun　turret。　Note　that　the　top　of　it　is　camouflaged；　concealed　by　dirt　and　sprouting　plants。　Hydraulically　operated…that's　red　oil　not　blood…to　lift　the　apparatus　above　ground　level。　Remains　of　an　optical　finder　there。　Note　the　four　automatic　guns；　Rapellit…binetti　X…nineteens。　Rate　of　fire　twelve　hundred　rounds　a　minute。　Eighty　rounds　a　second；　explosive　and　armor　piercing。〃
　〃Since　when　have　you　been　an　armament　authority；　Aida？〃　I　asked。
　〃Since　a　long　time　back；　…sweetie…pie。　In　my　heyday　I　was　required　to　know　this　sort　of　thing。　I　also　know　that　these　particular　guns　have　not　been　manufactured　for　over　five　hundred　years。〃
　
　CHAPTER　23
　I　took　another　sip　of　water；　wished　that　it　was　a　stronger　liquid。　Was　glad　that　it　wasn't　since　a　clear　head　was　an　important　asset　at　this　time。
　〃How　old　did　you　say　these　guns　are？〃　I　asked。　There　was　no　answer　because　our　fake　dog　was　digging　away　like　a　real　dog　throwing　dirt　behind　it　at　a　great　rate。　Burrowing　down　under　the　gun　turret。
　〃Five　hundred　years　old；〃　Floyd　said。　〃How　can　that　be？　Why　use　something　that　old？〃
　〃You　use　it　if　that　is　all　that　you　have。　There　is　a　mystery　here　that　we　are　about　to　solve。　Remember　the　ancient　explosive　that　blew　up　the　lab？　It　was　also　antique。　So　consider　this。　What　if　this　planet　had　been　settled　before　they　started　dumping　societal　debris　on　it？　What　if　there　were　settlers　here…only　they　were　hidden　away　underground？　It's　a　possibility。　And　if　it　is　true；　then　it　has　been　five　centuries　since　they　arrived。　That's　how　long　these　mysterious　migrants　have　been　hiding　away　up　here。　Or　down　here；　really。　They　must　have　been　settled　well　before　the　League　ever　found　this　planet。　That's　why　there　is　no　record　of　them。〃
　〃Who　are　them？〃
　〃Your　guess　is　as　good　as　mine　。　。　。〃
　〃Yarf！〃　our　dogbot　said；　yarfing　through　a　muzzle　covered　with　dirt。　〃There　is　a　fiber…optic　cable　going　into　the　ground；　obviously　controlling　this　turret。〃
　〃Going　down　to　the　caverns。　So；　the　next　question…how　do　we　get　in　。　。　。〃
　〃Jim；〃　my　jaw　said。　〃There　is　an　interesting　development　taking　place　about　three　clicks　away　from　you；　in　the　same　direction　you　have　been　walking。　We've　got　image　amplifiers　on　the　electronic　telescopes　so　we　can　see　quite　clearly　。　。　。〃
　〃What　can　you　see　quite　clearly？〃
　〃A　group　of　armed　men　has　emerged　from　some　kind　of　opening　in　the　ground。　They　appear　to　be　dragging　along　one　of　their　number　who　is　bound。　Now　they　are　erecting　a　metal　post　of　some　kind。　There　is　a　struggle　going　on…apparently　they　are　securing　th