hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第8章

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　〃Do　you　have　a　map？〃　I　asked。　〃I　would　like　to　know　just　what　we　have　to　face　when　we　go　out　there。〃
　Tremearne　reached　to　the　holo　projector　and　switched　it　on。　A　three…dimensional　contour　map　appeared　in　midair　over　the　table。　〃This　is　a　fair…sized　continent　as　you　can　see。　There　are　other　continents　on　this　planet；　some　inhabited；　but　they　have　no　contact　with　this　one。　The　artifact　has　to　be　somewhere　here。〃
　That　really　simplifies　things；　I　thought　to　myself。　Only　one　continent　to　search　and　about　three　weeks　to　do　it　in。　I　shook　off　the　depression　that　was　depressing　my　depression。
　〃Do　you　know　who　and　what　are　out　there？〃
　〃We　have　a　good　idea。　We　plant　bugs　where　we　can；　fly　spyeyes　pretty　often。〃　He　tapped　the　plain　at　the　center　of　the　continent。　〃Here　is　the　Pentagon　with　the　Machmen　close　by　outside　it。　The　Fundamentaloids　could　be　anywhere　here　on　the　plains　depending　on　the　season。　It　is　subtropical　most　of　the　year；　but　rainfall　varies。　They　have　herds　of　sheots；　a　very　hardy　ruminant；　some　kind　of　cross　between　a　sheep　and　a　goat。　Now　over　here　in　the　foothills　is　the　closest　thing　that　passes　for　civilization　in　these　parts。　An　agricultural　society　with　light　industry　that　looks　almost　decent　until　you　get　close。　There　is　a　central　city；　right　here；　surrounded　by　farms。　They　mine　and　smelt　silver　and　produce　a　coin　called　a　fedha。　It　is　the　only　currency　on　the　planet　and　is　used　by　almost　everyone。〃　He　pulled　a　heavy　bag　out　of　a　drawer　and　dropped　it　onto　the　table。　〃As　you　can　well　imagine　they　are　easy　enough　to　forge。　In　fact　ours　have　more　silver　than　the　originals。　Here's　a　supply　for　you。　I　suggest　that　you　share　it　around　and　hide　it　well。　A　lot　of　types　out　there　would　be　happy　to　kill　you　for　just　one　of　these。　The　people　who　mine　the　silver　call　their　city　Paradise…which　is　about　as　far　away　from　a　true　description　as　you　can　get。　Stay　away　from　them…if　you　possibly　can。〃
　〃I'll　try　to　remember　that。　And　I　want　to　copy　this　into　memory　in　my　puter。　Here。〃
　I　took　off　the　small　black　metal　skull　that　hung　on　a　chain　around　my　neck。　When　I　squeezed　it　the　eyes　glowed　greenly　and　a　pressure…sensitive　holoscreen　blinked　into　being；　I　copied　the　map；　thought　about　what　Tremearne　had　said…and　realized　for　the　first　time　what　a　sinkhole　we　were　being　dropped　into。　I　had　another　question。
　〃So　everyone　out　there　is　a　nutcase　or　a　weirdo　of　some　kind？〃
　〃The　ones　that　were　sent　here　for　various　crimes　are。　The　ones　who　were　born　here　grow　up　and　fit　in　just　as　well。〃
　〃And　you　feel　no　passion　for　them？　Doomed　by　an　accident　of　birth　to　existence　in　this　world…wide　spittoon。〃
　〃I　certainly　do…and　I　am　glad　to　hear　you　express　yourself　so　clearly　on　the　subject。　I　never　even　heard　of　this　world　until　the　emergency。　I　got　the　professors　off　safely　then　looked　around。　Which　is　why　I　now　head　the　mittee　that　is　working　to　clean　up　the　operation　here　on　Liokukae。　It　has　been　ignored　for　too　long　by　too　many　stupid　politicians。　I　took　this　assignment　to　see　for　myself。　Your　reports　to　me；　along　with　your　plete　report　when　you　return；　Arifl　be　just　what　we　heed　to　make　this　prison　world　a　thing　of　the　past。〃
　〃If　you　mean　that；　Captain；　I'm　on　your　side。　But　I　hope　you　are　not　feeding　a　line　of　old　cagal　just　to　get　the　job　done。〃
　〃You　have　my　word　on　it。〃
　I　sure　hoped　that　he　was　telling　the　truth。
　〃I　have　a　question；〃　Floyd　said。　〃How　do　we　contact　the　Captain　here　if　we　need　some　help　or　such？〃
　〃You　don't…I　do。〃　I　tapped　my　jaw。　〃I've　got　a　micro　municator　implant　here。　Small　enough　to　be　powered　by　the　oxygen　in　my　blood。　But　powerful　enough　to　be　picked　up　by　the　big　receivers　in　the　Pentagon。　So　even　if　all　of　our　goods　are　stolen…they　can't　get　my　jaw。　So；　I　suggest　strongly；　we　stick　together　at　all　times。　I　can　talk　with　Tremearne　through　this　thing；　get　suggestions　and　advice。　But　no　physical　contact　or　our　cover　is　blown。　If　he　has　to　pull　us　out　the　mission　is　over…whether　we　have　the　artifact　or　not。　So　let　us　be　strong；　guys　and　girl；　and　self　sufficient。　It's　a　human　jungle　out　there。〃
　〃No　truer　words　ever　spoken；〃　Tremearne　said　grimly。　〃If　no　one　else　has　any　questions　put　the　cuffs　back　on　and　you're　out　of　here。〃
　〃Hell　yes；〃　Steengo　said；　climbing　to　his　feet。　〃Let's　get　it　over　with。〃
　Our　packs　were　waiting　for　us　in　front　of　a　massive　and　bolt…studded　door。　There　were　four　shoddy　little　plastic　bags　as　well；　which　probably　contained　our　iron　rations　and　water。　An　orientation　booklet　was　tucked　into　each　one。　A　backup　force　of　guards　with　stunguns　and　porcuswine　prods　stomped　up　and　glared　obnoxiously　while　our　manacles　were　removed。
　〃In　there；〃　the　petty　officer　ordered；　pointing　to　the　anteroom　in　front　of　the　exit　portal。　〃Inner　door　is　closed　and　sealed　before　the　outside　one　opens。　You　got　only　one　way　to　go。　Or　stay　in　the　room　if　you　are　tired　of　living。　After　five　minutes　the　outer　door　closes　and　nerve　gas　is　pumped　in　through　those　vents　up　there。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　you！〃　I　snapped。
　His　smile　was　without　warmth。　〃Then　why　don't　you　just　hang　around　and　find　out？〃
　I　raised　my　fist　and　he　hurriedly　jumped　back。　The　porcuswine　prods　sparkled　in　my　direction。　I　raised　my　finger　to　them　in　the　intergalactic　gesture　that　is　as　old　as　time；　turned　and　walked　away　from　them　following　the　others。　There　was　a　creak　and　a　thud　from　behind　us　as　the　door　swung　shut；　but　I　did　not　turn　to　look。　The　future；　whatever　it　contained；　lay　just　ahead。
　We　helped　each　other　on　with　our　packs；　swaying　dizzily　with　the　effort。　There　was　the　thud　of　withdrawn　bolts　from　inside　the　door；　the　growl　of　straining　motors　as　it　started　to　open。
　Unconsciously　we　drew　together　as　we　turned　to　face　the　unknown。
　
　CHAPTER　7
　A　splatter　of　rain　blew　in　through　the　opening　door。　Wele　to　sunny；　holiday　Liokukae。　Which　opened　wider　to　reveal　the　group　of　very　ugly…looking　individuals　who　were　waiting　outside。　They　were　dressed　in　an　astounding　variety　of　clothing　…　it　looked　like　all　the　donations　to　charity　in　the　entire　galaxy　had　been　sent　here…and　they　all　had　two　things　in　mon。　They　were　heavily　armed　with　a　mixture　of　clubs；　swords；　maces　and　axes。　And　they　all　looked　very　angry。
　Just　about　what　I　had　expected；　I　chomped　down　on　the　Blastoff　capsule　I　had　put　in　my　mouth。　I　had　never　thought　much　of　the　weaklings…recovering…from…treatment　plan　and　had　palmed　this　pill　in　case　it　were　needed。　It　was。
　A　wave　of　energy　and　power　washed　through　me　as　the　mixture　of　powerful　chemicals；　uppers；　stimulants；　adrenalins；　swept　away　all　the　fatigue　and　shakes。　Power！　Power！　Power！　I　swayed　forward　on　tiptoes　as　Tremearne　had　advised；　flaring　my　nostrils　at　the　same　time。
　A　great　bearded　lout　swinging　a　crude　but　serviceable　sword　glared　down　at　me。　I　glared　back；　noting　that　not　only　did　his　eyes　meet　in　the　middle　but　that　his　hairline　also　started　at　his　eyebrows。　When　he　shouted　at　me　his　breath　frightened　me　more　than　he　did。
　〃You　dere；　little　boy。　Gimme　what　you　carrying。　You　all　drop　what　you　got　or　you　get　it。〃
　〃No　one　tell　me　what　to　do　unless　he　can　beat　me；　you　illiterate　cretin；〃　I　shouted　back。　The　macho　showdown　with　these　macho　mothers　would　have　to　take　place　sooner　or　later。　Sooner　was　better。
　He　roared　angrily　at　the　insults；　even　though　he　could　not　understand　them；　and　swung　up　the　sword。　I　sneered。
　〃Big　coward　kill　little　man　with　sword　when　little　man　got　no　ax。〃　I　gave　him　two　fingers　to　doubly　amplify　my　feelings。
　I　hoped　my　simple　syntax　fitted　the　local　linguistic　profile　because　I　wanted　to　make　sure　they　all　understood　me。　They　must　have；　because　Pigbreath　dropped　his　sword　and　jumped　towards　me。　I　swung　off　my　pack　and　stepped　out　into　the　mud。　He　had　his　arms　out；　fingers　snapping；　ready　to　grab　and　crush。
　I　ducked　under　them；　tripped　him　as　he　went　by　to　splat　down　into　a　puddle。　He　rose　up；　angrier　than　ever；　balled　his　fists　and　came　on　more　warily　this　time。
　I　could　have　finished　it　then　and　there　and　made　life　easier。　But　I　had　to　display　a　bit　of　skill　first　so　his　mates　wouldn't　think　that　his　downfall　had　been　an　accident。　I　blocked　his　punch；　grabbed　and　twisted　his　arm；　then　ran　him　into　the　wall　with　a　satisfactory　crunch。
　The　blood　from　his　nose　did　not　improve　his　temper。　Nor　did　my　flying　kick　that　numbed　one　of　his　legs；　a　stab　with　my　knee　that　crumpled　the　other。　Legless；　he　dropped　to　his　knees；　then　crawled　towards　me　on　all　fours。　By　this　time　even　the　dullest　of　the　audience　knew　who　had　won　this　fight。　So　I　grabbed　him　by　the　hair　and　pulled　him　up；　hit　his　throat　with　the　edge　of　my　hand　and　let　him　keep　going　backwards；　splatting　down　unconscious　in　the　mud。　I　picked　up　his　discarded　sword；　tested　the　edge　with　my　thumb…jumped　about　so　suddenly　and　menacingly　that　the　armed　men　stepped　away　without　thinking。　I　kept　the　momentum　going。
　〃I　got　sword　now。　You　want　it；　you　die　for　it。　Or　maybe　lie　smart　bloke　one　of　you　what　takes　me　to　your　boss；　Svinjar。　Guy　what　does　dat　gets　this　sword　for　free。　Any　takers？〃
　The　novelty　of　the　offer　and　their　inherent　greed　warded　off　any　attack　for　the　moment。
　〃Get　out　of　there　and　get　behind　me；〃　I　called　over　my　shoulder。　〃And　do　your　best　to　radiate　obnoxious　intolerance。〃　Growling　and　gnashing　their　teeth　my　merry　band　emerged　and　lined　up　at　my　back。
　〃You　give　me　sword　I　take　you　Svinjar；〃　an　exceedingly　hairy　and　musclebound　specimen　said。　He　was　armed　only　with　a　wooden　club　so　his　greed　was　understandable。
　〃You　take　me　Svinjar　then　you　get　sword。　Move　it。〃
　There　was　hesitation；　dark　looks；　muttering。　I　swished　the　sword　under　their　noses　so　they　had　to　step　back　again。　〃I　got　something　real　nice　in　my　pack　for　Svinjar。　You　betcha　he　kill　any　bloke　stop　him　grabbing　it　soonest。〃
　Threats　penetrated　where　blandishments　hadn't　and　we　all　moved　off　into　the　rainstorm。　Along　muddy　tracks　between　collapsing　hovels；　to　a　small　hill　with　a　largish　building　made　of　logs；　their　bark　still　on；　gracing　the　summit。　I　swung　the　sword　so　no　one　came　too　close；　followed　my　guide　up　a　stony　path　to　the　entrance　with　my　weary　musicians　stumbling　after。　I　was　feeling　a　bit　guilty　about　taking　the　Blastoff　capsule。　But　things　had　developed　too　quickly　to　get　some　to　the　others。　I　stopped　at　the　entrance　and　waved　them　through。
　〃In　we　go；　safe　haven　at　last。　Take　one　of　these　as　you　pass　and　chomp　it　instantly。　It　is　a　super…upper　that　will　restore　you　to　the　world　of　the　living。〃
　My　club…bearing　guide　pushed　inside　and　hurried　past　the　groups　of　men　who　lolled　about　the　large　room；　to　the　man　in　the　great　stone　chair　next　to　the　fireplace。　〃You　my　boss；　boss　Svinjar。　We　bring　them　like　you　say。〃　He　swung　about　and　stamped　over　to　me。　〃Now　you　give　sword。〃
　〃Sure。　Fetch。〃
　I　threw　it　out　the　door　into　the　rain；　heard　a　yipe　of　pain　as　it　bounced　off　one　of　his　gang。　He　ran　after　it　as　I　walked　over　and　stood　before　the　stone　throne。
　〃You　my　boss；　boss　Svinjar。　These　guys　my　band。　Make　good　music　you　betcha。〃
　He　looked　me　up　and　down　coldly；　a　big　man　with　big　muscles…as　well　as　a　big　belly　that　hung　over　his　belt。　Tiny　piggy　eyes　peered　out　through　the　thicket　of　bristly　gray　hair　and　beard。　The　pommel　of　a　sword　projected　from　a　niche　i