hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第27章

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are　erecting　a　metal　post　of　some　kind。　There　is　a　struggle　going　on…apparently　they　are　securing　the　bound　man　to　the　post。〃
　Memories　of　a　thousand　ancient　flicks　flooded　my　forebrain。　〃Stop　them？　It　could　be　an　execution…death　by　firing　squad。　Do　something！〃
　〃Negative。　We　are　in　orbit。　Short　of　launching　an　explosive　torpedo；　which　is　contraindicated　at　this　time；　there　is　nothing　we　can　facilitate　that　will　get　there　inside　fifteen　minutes　at　the　very　quickest。〃
　〃Forget　it！　〃　I　was　digging　into　my　pack　as　I　whistled　to　the　houndbot。　〃Fido？　Catch！〃
　It　jumped　high　and　grabbed　the　gas　bomb　out　of　the　air。　〃Go。　Thataway。　You　heard　the　message…get　to　those　guys　and　bite　hard　on　that　thing。〃
　My　last　words　were　shouted　in　the　direction　of　the　tail　that　was　vanishing　among　the　shrubs。　We　grabbed　up　our　packs　and　followed。　Floyd　easily　outdistanced　me　and　by　the　time　I　got　to　the　scene；　staggering　and　panting；　it　was　all　ancient　history。　Our　faithful　friend　was　barking　and；　foreleg　lifted　and　tail　outstretched；　was　pointing　at　the　sprawled　bodies。
　〃Well　done；　man's　best　friend；〃　I　said；　and　easily　resisted　the　impulse　to　pat　its　plastic　fur。
　〃For　the　record；〃　I　said　for　the　benefit　of　my　radio。　〃All　males；　all　armed　with　shoulder　weapons　of　some　kind。　There　are　twelve　of　them　wearing　camouflage　uniforms。　Thirteenth　man…surely　an　unlucky　number…tied　to　the　post。　No　shirt。〃
　〃Is　he　inured？〃
　〃Negative。〃　I　could　feel　a　steady　pulse　in　his　neck。　〃We　made　it　in　time。　Interesting；　he's　young；　younger　than　the　rest。　What　next？〃
　〃Decision　made　by　the　strategic　planning　puter。　Take　all　weapons。　Take　the　prisoner　and　remove　him　to　a　safe　distance；　then　interrogate。　〃
　I　sniffed　disdainfully　as　I　unknotted　the　cords　on　the　man's　wrists。　〃Don't　need　a　strategic　planning　puter　to　figure　that　one　out。〃
　Floyd　caught　him　as　he　slumped　free；　threw　him　over　his　shoulder。　I　grabbed　up　the　packs　and　pointed。　〃Let's　get　to　that　gully　and　out　of　sight。〃
　The　bomb　that　the　ersatz　hound　had　exploded　was　a　quick　in…and…out　gas。　One　breath　and　you　were　asleep。　For　about　twenty　minutes。　Which　was　all　the　time　that　we　needed　to　hump　our　loads　through　the　mud　of　the　rain…eroded　gully　until　we　found　a　dry　spot　under　an　overhanging　bank。　Our　prisoner　…guest？…began　to　roll　his　head　and　mutter。　Floyd　and　I；　and　our　mascot；　sat　down　to　watch　and　wait。　It　wasn't　long。　He　muttered　something；　opened　his　eyes　and　saw　us。　Sat　half　up　and　looked　very　frightened。
　〃Fremzhduloj！〃　he　said。　〃Amizhko　mizh。〃
　〃Sounds　like　really　bad　Esperanto；〃　Floyd　said。
　〃Just　what　you　would　expect　if　he　and　his　kinfolk　have　been　cut　off　from　any　outside　contact　for　hundreds　of　years。　Talk　slow　and　he'll　understand　us。〃
　I　turned　to　him　and　raised　my　hands　palms　out　in　what　I　hoped　was　a　universal　sign　of　peace。　〃We're　strangers；　like　you　said。　But　what　else　did　you　say？　Sounded　like　‘my　friends'？〃
　〃Friends；　yes；　friends！〃　he　said；　nodding　like　crazy；　then　shied　away　when　Fido　began　barking。
　〃Aida；　please。　Will　you　shut　your　plastic　poodle　up。　He's　frightening　our　guest。〃
　The　thing　stopped　barking　and　spoke。　〃Just　want　to　report　that　I　am　in　contact　with　the　watchers　above。　They　report　that　the　others　who　were　rendered　unconscious　by　the　gas　have　regained　consciousness　and　have　retreated。〃
　〃Great。　Just　file　everything　and　report　later。〃　I　turned　back　to　our　guest…who　looked　very　impressed　by　the　talking…dog　sequence。　〃Well；　friend。　My　name　is　Jim　and　this　is　Floyd。　The　furry　fake　is　Fido。　You　have　a　name。〃
　〃I　am　called　Dreadnought；　son　of　Impervious。〃
　〃A　pleasure　to　meet　you。　Now…can　you　tell　us　why　you　were　about　to　be　wasted　by　that　firing　squad？〃
　〃Disobeyment　of　orders。　I　was　on　Watch。　Saw　your　group　approaching。　I　fired　the　Watchturret　at　you…but　do　not　yourselves　anger！　I　aimed　to　miss。　To　fire　demands　permission　of　Watch　mander。　That　is　why　I　was　to　be　executed。　I　sought　not　his　permission。〃
　〃Accidents　happen。〃
　〃No　accident。　Fired　because　of　orders。〃
　〃Are　you　following　this？〃　Floyd　asked。
　〃Not　too　well。　Tell　us；　Dreadnought；　who　gave　the　order　to　fire　if　it　wasn't　the　Watch　mander？〃
　〃We　all　decided　together。〃
　〃Who　is　we？〃
　〃I　can　not　tell　you。〃
　〃Understandable。　Loyalty　to　your　friends。〃　I　clapped　him　on　the　back　in　a　friendly　manner　and　felt　him　shiver。　〃Getting　cold。　I'll　get　you　a　shirt。〃
　I　dug　through　my　pack　and　took　advantage　of　the　opportunity　for　a　muttered　conversation　with　my　jawphone。
　〃Any　ideas？　From　you…or　your　indispensable　strategic　planning　puter？〃
　〃Yes。　If　he　won't　talk　to　you　perhaps　the　associates　he　referred　to　might　be　more　municative。　Try　to　arrange　a　meeting。
　〃Right。〃　I　went　back　with　the　shirt。　〃Here；　Dreadnought；　get　out　of　the　cold。〃　He　stood　up　and　put　it　on。　〃Good。　Now　I've　been　thinking。　I　don't　want　you　to　tell　me　things　that　you　are　not　supposed　to。　But　maybe　your　friends；　the　ones　you　just　told　us　about；　maybe　they　can　let　us　know　what　is　going　down。　Can　we　meet　them？〃
　He　bit　his　lip　and　shook　his　head。
　〃No？　Well　let's　try　something　else。　Can　you　get　back　to　your　friends？　Tell　them　about　us。　Talk　about　it。　Find　out　if　someone　is　prepared　to　tell　us　just　what　is　happening。　Okay？〃
　He　looked　from　me　to　Floyd；　even　down　at　Fido　who　wagged　its　tail；　before　he　made　his　mind　up。
　〃e　with　me。〃
　He　was　young　and　strong　and　trotted　along　at　a　mean　trot。　Floyd　and　the　mechanical　mutt　kept　up　fine　but　my　aches　and　pains　were　ing　back。　I　trailed　behind　and　was　going　to　call　a　halt　when　Dreadnought　stopped　at　the　edge　of　a　grove　of　polpettone　trees。
　〃Wait　this　place；〃　he　said　when　I　had　puffed　and　blown　up　to　them。　He　twisted　away　among　the　trees。　He　didn't　notice　that　Fido；　legs　folded；　tail　and　head　retracted；　had　slipped　silently　after　him　in　the　guise　of　a　black　floormop。　The　cessation　of　physical　activity　was　wele…as　was　the　instant…heating　meal　I　dug　out　of　my　pack。　One　porcuswine　burger　with　gravy。　Floyd　popped　his　mealpak　as　well　and　we　were　licking　the　last　drops　of　yummy　from　our　fingers　when　the　shadowlike　mop　reappeared。　Legs；　tail　and　head　popped　out　and　it　barked。　I　scowled　at　it。
　〃Report　first；　bark　later。〃
　〃Your　new　associate　never　saw　me。　Within　the　wood　is　a　slab　of　rock　that　levers　up　with　an　opening　beneath　it。　He　went　that　way。　Shall　I　show　you　where　it　is？〃
　〃Later…if　we　have　to。　Right　now　let　us　take　ten　and　see　if　he　passes　on　our　message。〃
　Fatigue　sat　on　me。　I　closed　my　eyes　and　took　a　lot　more　than　ten。　The　sun　was　balancing　on　the　horizon　when　I　surfaced　again。　My　puter　obliged　me　by　clicking　the　red　six　to　a　five　when　I　checked　the　elapsed　time。　Don't　worry；　Jim…Admiral　Steengo　is　on　your　side？　This　feeble　reassurance　didn't　help　and　I　was　sure　that　I　could　feel　the　thirty…day　poison　beginning　to　bubble　and　seethe　in　my　bloodstream。
　Floyd　was　snoring　lightly；　sound　asleep。　Yet　his　eyes　were　open　the　instant　Fido　reappeared；　disturbing　some　stones　as　it　slid　down　the　embankment。
　〃And　a　good…morning　bow…wow　to　you　gentlemen。　Your　new　friend　has　emerged　from　under　the　lifting　rock；　along　with　an　associate；　and　is　ing　this　way。　Remember…you　heard　it　from　me　first。〃
　Fido　sat　and　waited；　then　barked　a　wele　when　the　two　men　appeared。　They　were　nattily。；　dressed　in　camouflaged　uniforms　and　steel　helmets；　each　helmet　sporting　a　shiny　spike　on　top。　Bandoliers　of　bullets　were　draped　over　their　shoulders；　while　there　was　a　large　and　impressive　handgun　on　each　hip。　But　the　guns　were　holstered　and　held　in　place　by　a　buttoned　strap。　I　relaxed　knowing　that　with　Floyd　there　the　touch　of　a　hand　to　one　of　those　buttons　would　bring　instant　unconsciousness。
　〃Wele　back；　Dreadnought；〃　I　said。　〃Wele　as　well　your　panion。
　〃He　is　named　Indefatigable　and　is　the　Area　mander。　That　is　Floyd　with　the　beard；　the　other　is　Jim。〃
　Indefatigable　did　not　shake　hands　but　instead　hit　his　closed　right　fist　against　his　chest　with　an　echoing　thud。　We　did　the　same　since　it　never　hurts　to　learn　the　local　customs。
　〃Why　did　you　e　here？〃　Indefatigable　asked　in　a　most　cold　and　quizzical　manner。　I　took　slight　umbrage。
　〃You　might　say　we　came　to　save　your　panion　from　certain　death　by　the　firing　squad…your　thanks　are　appreciated。〃
　〃If　you　had　not　e　he　would　not　have　fired　and　have　been　condemned　to　death。〃
　〃Good　point。　But　I　do　remember　that　he　fired　because　of　a　group　decision。　Are　you　part　of　that　group？〃
　I　saw　now　that　Indefatigable's　brusque　manner　was　a　cover…up　for　the　fact　that　he　was　very　nervous。　He　chewed　his　lower　lip　and　his　eyes　flicked　from　one　to　the　other　of　us。　He　even　looked　down　at　the　fake　dog　which　barked。　Finally；　with　great　reluctance　he　spoke。
　〃I　cannot　answer　that。　But　I　have　been　instructed　to　take　you　to　those　who　may　answer　your　question。　Now…you　must　answer　my　question。　Why　did　you　e　here？〃
　〃No　point　in　keeping　it　a　secret。　We　came　here　to　find　those　who　blew　up　a　certain　building　and　stole　from　it…and　from　us…an　object　of　great　importance。〃
　This　news　seemed　to　relax　him　a　bit。　He　stopped　the　lip　chewing　and　Dreadnought　almost　smiled；　leaned　forward　to　whisper　something　in　his　panion's　ear。　They　both　nodded；　then　remembered　where　they　were　and　snapped　into　a　military　brace。
　〃You　will　e　with　us；〃　Indefatigable　said；　making　it　sound　like　an　order。
　〃Perhaps；〃　I　said。　I　hate　orders。　〃But　you　must　tell　us　first　…will　it　be　dangerous？〃
　〃We　are　born　into　danger；　we　leave　it　only　when　we　die。〃
　It　sounded　like　a　quotation　of　some　kind…particularly　since　Dreadnought's　lips　moved　along　with　his。
　〃Yes；　well；　that　is　a　pretty　general　philosophical　statement。　But　I　was　speaking　specifically　about　like　right　now。〃
　〃You　will　be　protected；〃　he　answered；　trying　to　control　the　sneer　at　our　feeble　physiques　and　his　obvious　superiority。
　〃Oh；　thank　you；〃　Floyd　said　with　eye…popping　sincerity。　〃With　that　kind　of　reassurance　of　course　we　will　go　with　you。　Isn't　that　right；　Jim？〃
　〃Absolutely；　Floyd。　With　their　protection　we　need　not　feel　insecure。〃　He　could　eat　them…and　a　dozen　more…for　breakfast；　but　there　was　no　point　in　bragging。
　We　reached　for　our　packs　but　Indefatigable　stopped　us。　〃You　bring　nothing。　No　weapons。　You　must　trust　us。〃
　Floyd　shrugged　agreement　since　he　was　always　armed。　〃At　least　some　water　first；〃　I　said。　Picking　up　my　canteen　and　drinking　a　bit。　Palming　a　number　of　small　bombs　as　I　put　it　back。　〃And　of　course　our　panion；　our　pet　dog　goes　with　us。
　Fido　played　its　role　by　barking；　sticking　out　its　tongue　and　panting。　Then　overplayed　its　role　by　lifting　its　hind　leg　on　my　pack。　Though　this　bit　of　canine　ham　acting　may　have　convinced　our　new　militaristic　mates；　because　they　nodded　agreement。
　〃We　must　cover　your　eyes；〃　Dreadnought　said；　pulling　out　two　black　scarves。　〃So　you　do　not　discover　the　secret　of　the　entrance　to　Shelter。〃
　〃If　you　mean　the　slab　of　rock　under　the　polpettone　trees　that　swings　open；　you　can　forget　the　blindfolds。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　this！〃
　〃Just　say　that　we　do。　Now…do　we　go　with　you？〃
　They　looked　stricken　by　my　revelation；　stepped　aside　and　conversed　in　quick　whispers。　Returned　reluctantly；　all　scowls　again。
　〃You　will　e。　Quickly。〃
　We　dogtrotted；　including　the　dog；　to　the　grove；　then　followed　Dreadnought　down　the　ladder　into　the　tunnel　beneath　the　slab。　Fido