hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第30章

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n　the　beginning　maybe；　it　must　have　been　a　challenge　then。　But　after　a　couple　of　centuries　the　pleasures　begin　to　wear　pretty　thin。〃
　〃Was　it　the　restlessness　of　the　younger　ones　that　gave　you　the　idea　to　supply　a　leader　for　them　to　follow？〃　I　asked。
　〃Not　at　first。　But　I　began　to　see　that　the　young　were　losing　respect　for　the　old。　About　the　only　people　they　looked　up　to　were　the　scientists。　From　their　point　of　view　the　scientists　were　the　only　ones　who　at　least　appeared　to　be　doing　new　and　important　things。　That's　when　I　hit　on　the　Alphamega　role。　They　think　that　I　am　one　of　the　younger　scientists。　A　rebel　who　is　unable　to　make　any　progress　against　the　old　ideas；　the　familiar　ways…therefore　I　have　been　forced　to　enlist　others　of　like　age　and　mind。〃
　〃My　arms　are　getting　stiff；〃　Floyd　said；　smiling。　〃You　wouldn't　mind　taking　off　these　clamps　for　a　bit？〃
　〃I　would。　I　want　you　two　just　where　you　are。〃
　Mercurial；　our　friend。　All　warmth　gone　in　an　instant；　he　dragged　so　hard　on　the　cigar　that　it　crackled　and　sparked。　〃We　Survivalists　watch　events　pretty　closely…all　over　this　planet。　With　a　surveillance　network　set　up　before　anyone　else　arrived。　Amplified　and　spread　ever　since。　Not　a　bird　craps；　not　a　polpettone　fruit　falls　that　we　don't　know　about。　That　I　don't　know　about。　Because　I　watch　the　watchers。　I　watched　and　saw　that　a　lot　of　energy　and　plenty　of　high…powered　work　was　going　into　recovering　that　artifact。　There　is　something　very　important　about　it…and　I　want　to　know　just　what。　I　had　a　squad　steal　it　and　destroy　the　building；　hide　their　tracks。　It　was　impossible　to　follow　them。　Yet　you　did。　I　want　to　know　how　you　did　that　too。　So　talk…and　talk　fast。〃
　〃My　pleasure；〃　I　said。　〃My　friend　here　knows　nothing　about　the　artifact。　But　I　do。　I　am　the　one　who　found　it　first；　then　tracked　it　and　followed　it　here。　I　am　the　only　one　who　can　tell　you　how　it　operates…and　what　incredible　things　it　can　do。　If　you　can　take　me　to　it　I　will　be　happy　to　show　you　how　it　works。〃
　〃That　is　more　like　it。　You　will　e　with　me。　Your　associate　remains　here　as　a　guarantee…don't　you　agree？〃　He　stood　and　buckled　on　a　large　and　offensive…looking　sidearm。
　〃Of　course。　Sorry　about　that；　Floyd；〃　I　said　as　I　turned　my　head　to　face　him。　Winking　with　my　left　eye；　the　one　our　captor　couldn't　see。　〃I　know　that　you　would　e　after　me　and　help　me　if　you　could。　But　you　can't。　So　stay　here　and　you　will　be　safe。　You　have　the　word　of　James　Fido　diGriz　on　that。〃
　〃I'll　be　okay；　Jim。　Look　after　yourself。〃
　I　only　hoped　that　this　mixture　of　innuendo；　hints　and　suggestions　had　delivered　my　message　to　him。　I　could　only　cross　mental　fingers　and　hope。　The　door　opened　and　there　was　a　hiss；　rumble　and　clank　behind　me　as　my　bonds　snapped　open。　I　rubbed　my　stiff　arms　and　stood　up　slowly　and　carefully。　The　Killerbot　blinked　baleful　little　orange　eyes　at　me　and　waved　a　smoke…stained　flamethrower　in　the　direction　of　the　door。　I　followed　mander　Alphamega　out；　leaving　Floyd　prisoner　in　the　chair。　Not　for　long；　I　hoped；　if　Fido…Aida　had　understood　my　suggestions。
　We　walked　side　by　side　down　the　wide　hall　with　its　framed　portraits　of　heroes。　My　panion　smiled　warmly　in　my　direction。　Pulling　his　gun　a　bit　out　of　the　holster　at　the　same　time；　then　letting　it　slide　back。
　〃You　do　understand　that　if　you　breathe　one　word　about　our　conversation　you　will　be　no　more　than　a　grease　spot　on　the　floor？〃
　〃pletely　aware；　thank　you。　Absolute　silence　on　that　topic；　yes；　sir。　I　will　look　at　the　artifact　and　explain　its　operation。　Nothing　more。〃
　Maybe　I　was　smiling　on　the　outside…but　I　was　pretty　gloomy　on　the　inside。　Jim；　you　are　getting　yourself　in　deeper　than　a　porcuswine　in　a　mudhole。　A　depressing　thought…and　a　true　one。　But　I　really　had　no　choice。
　It　was　quite　a　long　walk　and　I　was　getting　tired　again。　When　all　this　was　over…of　it　were　ever　over…I　promised　myself　a　nice　long　holiday。　Head…up；　Jim！　Think　positive　and　get　ready　to　improvise。
　A　last　door　opened　and　we　were　in　what　was　obviously　a　laboratory。　plete　with　control　boards；　power　cables；　bubbling　retorts　and　aged　scientists　in　white　smocks。　There　was　a　lot　of　loyal　fist…smacking　on　chests　when　the　leader　appeared。　Salutes　that　he　returned　with　the　merest　tap　of　his　own　loosely　clenched　fist。　They　moved　respectfully　back　to　give　us　access　to　a　lab　bench。　On　it；　now　sprouting　wires　and　connections　to　the　surrounding　test　gear；　was　the　alien　artifact。　I　clapped　my　brow　and　staggered。
　〃What　are　you　cretins　doing　with　the　cagleator！〃　I　shouted。　〃We　are　all　dead　if　you　have　actuated　it！〃
　〃No；　no…not　that！〃　an　；elderly　scientist　cackled。　Then　shut　up　and　looked　fearfully　at　the　mander　who　sneered　in　return。
　〃You　are　all　morons。　Now　tell　this　Outsider　what　you　have　done；〃；　he　ordered。　〃He　is　the　；one　who　knows　what　the'　device　can　do。〃
　〃Thank　you；　thank　you！　Of　course；　as　you　have　ordered。〃；　The　wrinkly　turned　back　to。　me　with　shaking　hands　and　pointed　a　quavering　finger。　〃We　have　only　X…rayed　the　device　and　charted　the　circuitry。　Very　plex；　as　you　know。　There　vas；　however　。　。　。〃　he　began　to　sweat；　looking　about　unhappily；　〃a　reaction　of　some　kind。　when　we　attempted　to　test　the　circuitry。〃
　〃A　reaction？　If　you　have　made　a　mistake　the　world　has　just　ended！　Show　me。〃
　〃No；　not　a　big。　reaction。　Just　that　it　absorbed　electricity　from　our　test　circuit。　We　were：　not　aware　of　this　at　first…and　we　instantly　terminated　the　test　when　we　saw　what　was　happening。〃
　〃And　just　what　did　you　sees　happening？〃　The　mander　asked；　voice　like　a　file　on　rough　steel。
　〃That；　sir；　we　saw　that。　A　cover　of　some　kind　fell　away　disclosing　this　recess。　And　。。　the　lights。　That　is　all。　just　lights　。　。　。〃
　Fascinated；　we　all　leaned　forward　to　look。　Yes；　there　was　the　recess。　And　inside　it　there'　were　four　little　blobs　of　light。　Green；　red；　orange　and　white。
　〃What　is　the　significance　of　this？〃　my　inquisitor　asked；　fingers　strumming　on　the　gunbutt。
　〃Nothing　important；〃　I　sand；　stifling　a　yawn　at　the　unimportance　of　it　all。　〃The　test　circuitry　is　simply　testing　the　circuits　of　your　test　circuitry。〃
　I　poked　out　a　casual　finger…　towards。　the　glowing　lights　and　found　the　barrel　of　his　weapon　grinding　into　my　side。
　〃That　sounds　like　absolute　waffle　to　me。　The　truth；　now；　or　you　are　dead。〃
　There　are　seconds　that　sometimes　；appear　to　stretch　for　a　length　of　time　bordering　on　eternity。　This　was　one　of　those　occasions。　The　mander　glared　at　me。　I　tried　to　look　innocent：　The　scientists；　slack…jawed；　looked　at　him。　The　Killerbot　waited　in　the　doorway　and　clanked　to　itself；　hissing　steam　and　probably　wishing　that　it　was　killing　something。　Time　stood　still　and　eternity　hovered　close　by。
　I　had　very　few　options　open。
　Like　none。
　〃The　truth　is　。　。　。〃　I　said。　And　could　not　go　on。　What　could　I　。possibly　say　that　would　impress　this　maniac　in　any　way？　At　this　moment　there　was　a　great　explosion　and　pieces　of　Killerbot　Banked　and　rattled　in　through　the　door。
　As　you…u　might　imagine　this　really　did　draw　everyone's　attention。　As　did　the　voice　that　rang　out　an　instant　later。
　〃Jim…drop！〃
　And　there　was　Floyd　at　the　open　door；　brandishing　an　impressive　weapon　of　some　kind。　Fido　has　done　its　job　and　freed　him。　He　had　polished　off　the　Killerbot　and　was　now　taking　the　action　from　there。
　The　mander　swung　his　weapon　around；　raised　it；　ready　to　fire。
　I　did　not　drop　as　instructed　because　I　was　possessed　by　a　hallucinatory　moment　of　madness。　I　had　been　pushed　around　too　much　of　late　and　suddenly；　overwhelmingly；　felt　like　doing　a　little　pushing　back。
　The　lights　in　the　artifact　glowed　their　wele　and　my　finger　punched　out　in　their　direction。
　To　do　what？
　To　touch　one　of　the　beckoning　colored　lights；　of　course。
　Which　one？
　What　color　meant　what　to　the　ancient　aliens　who　had　built　this　thing；
　I　had　no　idea。
　But　green　had　always　meant　go　to　me。
　Cackling　hysterically　I　stabbed　down　on　the　green
　
　CHAPTER　26
　Apparently　nothing　happened。　I　pulled　my　finger　back　and　looked　at　the　lights。　Then　at　The　mander　and　his　drawn　gun；　wondering　why　he　hadn't　used　it。
　Then　looked　at　him　again。　And　saw　that　he　wasn't　moving。　I　mean　just　not　moving　in　the　slightest。　I　mean　like　paralyzed。　Petrified。　Glassy…eyed　and　frozen。
　As　was　everyone　else　in　the　room。　Floyd　stood　in　the　doorway；　gun　raised　and　mouth　open　in　an　endless　shout。　Behind　him；　for　the　first　time；　I　noticed　an　unmoving　Fido。
　The　world　was　a　freeze…frame　and　I　was　the　only　one　not　trapped　in　it。　I　was　surrounded　by　people　stopped　in　the　act　of　speaking；　walking；　moving。　Off…balance；　hands　raised；　mouths　gaping。　Now　stilled；　silent…dead？
　I　started　towards　The　mander；　to　relieve　him　of　his　gun…saw　that　his　finger　was　tight　on　the　trigger！　But　with　each　step　I　felt　the　air　resisting　my　movement；　growing　firm；　then　more　solid　until　it　was　like　walking　into　an　unyielding　wall。　Nor　could　I　breathe…the　air　was　a　thick　liquid　that　I　could　not　force　into　my　lungs。
　Panic　grew　and　grabbed　me…then　died　away　just　as　quickly　when　I　stepped　back。　I　felt　normal　again。　Air　was　air　and　I　breathed　in　and　out　quite　nicely。
　〃Put　the　mind　in　gear；　Jim！〃　I　shouted　at　myself；　my　words　loud　in　the　surrounding　silence。　〃Something　is　happening…but　what？　Something　happened　after　you　touched　the　green　light。　Something　to　do　with　the　artifact。〃
　I　stared　at　it。　Tapped　it　with　my　knuckles。　Groped　about　for　inspiration。　Found　it。
　〃Tachyons！　This　thing　emits　them…we　know　that　because　that　is　how　Aida　tracked　it　in　the　first　place。　Tachyons…the　units　of　time　。　。　。〃
　The　device　was　now　functioning…I　had　turned　it　on　when　I　had　pressed　the　light。　Green　for　go。　Go　where？
　Stasis　or　speed。　Either　I　had　been　speeded　up　or　the　world　had　slowed　down。　Or　how　could　I　tell　the　difference？　From　my　point　of　view　everything　seemed　to　have　slowed　and　stopped。　The　artifact　had　done　something；　projected　a　temporal　field　or　stopped　the　motion　of　molecules。　Or　had　created　an　occurrence　that　froze　the　surrounding　world　in　a　single　moment　of　time。　Time　had　e　to　a　stop　everywhere　that　I　could　see…except　in　the　close　vicinity　of　the　device。　I　moved　even　closer　and　patted　it。
　〃Good　little　time　machine。　Time　mover；　slower；　halter；　stopper…whatever　you　are。　Neat　trick。　But　what　do　I　do　next？〃
　It　chose　not　to　answer　me。　Nor　did　I　expect　it　to。　This　was　my　problem　now　and　I　had　to　force　myself　to　take　the　time　to　think　it　out。　For　the　moment　I　had　all　the　time　I　needed。　Though　eventually　I　would　have　to　do　something。　And　that　something　would　probably　mean　touching　another　one　of　the　colored　buttons。　Either　that　or　I　could　stand　looking　dumbly　at　the　device　while　I　quietly　died　of　thirst　or　starvation　or　whatever。
　But　which　light？
　Green　had　been　obvious　enough…even　more　obvious　by　hindsight。　And　the　decision　had　been　made　at　a　moment　of　life　and　death。　Nov；　I　was　not　so　sure。　I　reached　out；　then　dropped　my　hand。　With　plenty　of　time　to　decide　I　had　bee　the　master　of　indecision。　Green　had　meant　go；　turn　on；　get　started。　Did　red　mean　off；　stop？　Maybe。　But　what　about　white　and　orange？
　〃Not　an　easy　one；　Jimmy　boy？〃　I　said　in　what　I　hoped　was　a　jocular　voice…which　came　out　very　mournful　and　doomladen。　I　wrung　my　hands　together　with　indecision。　Then　stopped　and　looked　at　them　as　though　I　might　see　some　answ