hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第15部分

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　〃By　which　time　we　should　be　ready　for　visitors。　Thanks；　Cap…over　and　out。〃
　My　stomach　snarled　at　me　and　I　realized　that　the　concentrated　rations　had　been　a　little　too　concentrated。　I　drank　some　water　to　wash　the　taste　of　sleep　from　my　mouth；　then　poked　Floyd　with　my　toe。　His　eyes　snapped　open　and　I　smiled　sweetly。
　〃You　have　Just　volunteered　to　go　to　those　bushes　over　there　and　get　some　firewood。　It　is　breakfast　time。〃
　〃Right；　breakfast；　wood；　wonderful。〃　He　climbed　to　his　feet；　yawned　and　stretched；　scratched　at　his　beard　then　went　off　on　his　mission。　I　gathered　up　enough　dry　grass　to　make　a　small　pile；　then　dug　the　atomic　battery　out　of　my　pack。　It　would　power　our　musical　equipment　for　at　least　a　year；　so　it　could　spare　a　few　volts　now。　I　pulled　the　insulation　off　the　ends　of　the　wires　on　a　short　lead；　shorted　them　to　produce　a　fat　snap　of　sparks；　pushed　it　into　the　grass。　In　a　moment　the　grass　was　burning　nicely；　crackling　and　smoking；　and　ready　for　the　chunks　of　dry　branches　that　Floyd　brought　back。　When　it　was　good　and　hot　I　dropped　the　polpettone　into　the　glowing　ashes。
　The　rest　of　the　band　stirred　in　their　sleep　when　the　smoke　blew　their　way；　but　didn't　really　wake　up　until　I　broke　one　of　the　fruits　open。　The　skin　was　black　so　I　hoped　it　was　done。　The　rich　seasoned　fragrance　of　cooked　meat　wafted　out　and　everyone　was　awake　in　an　instant。
　〃Yum；〃　I　said；　chewing　on　a　fragrant　morsel。　〃My　thanks　to　the　genetic　engineers　who　dreamed　this　one　up。　Gourmet　food…and　growing　on　trees。　If　it　weren't　for　the　inhabitants　this　planet　would　be　a　paradise。〃
　After　we　had　dined　and　were　feeling　relatively　human　I　made　my　report　to　them。
　〃I've　been　in　touch　with　the　eye　in　the　sky。　A　band　of　nomads　is　ing　this　way。　I　figured　that　we　should　let　them　do　the　walking　instead　of　us。　Are　we　now　prepared　for　contact？〃
　There　were　quick　nods　and　no　hesitant　looks　I　was　happy　to　see。　Steengo　hefted　his　ax　and　glowered。　〃Ready　as　we'll　ever　be。　I　just　hope　this　lot　is　a　bit　more　friendly　than　the　first　bunch。〃
　〃Only　one　way　to　find　out。〃　I　bit　down　three　times　hard。　〃Where　are　the　Fundamentaloids　now？〃
　〃Crossing　a　bit　north　of　you…beyond　those　shrubs　on　the　slight　rise。〃
　〃Then　here　we　go。　Packs　on；　weapons　ready；　fingers　crossed。　Forward！〃
　We　walked　slowly　up　the　hill　and　through　the　shrubs…and　stopped　in　our　tracks　and　stared　at　the　herd　passing　slowly　by。
　〃Sheots；〃　I　said。　〃The　mutant　cross　between　sheep　and　goats　that　they　told　us　about。〃
　〃Sheots；〃　Madonette　agreed。　〃But　they　didn't　tell　us　they　were　so　huge！　I　don't　even　e　up　to　their　legpits。〃
　〃Indeed；〃　I　agreed。　〃Something　else　about　them。　They're　big　enough　to　ride　upon。　And　if　I　am　not　mistaken　we　have　been　seen　and　those　three　riders　are　galloping　our　way。〃
　〃And　waving　weapons；〃　Steengo　said　grimly。　〃Here　we　go　again。〃
　
　CHAPTER　10
　They　thundered　towards　us；　swords　waving；　sharp　black　hooves　kicking　up　clouds　of　dust。　The　sheots　had　nasty　little　eyes；　wicked；　curved　horns…and　what　looked　very　much　like　tusks。　I　couldn't　recall　ever　seeing　a　sheep　or　a　goat　with　tusks；　but　there　is　always　a　first　time。
　〃Stay　in　line；　weapons　ready；〃　I　called　out；　swinging　my　own　sword　up。　The　nearest　rider；　draped　in　black；　pulled　hard　on　the　reins　and　his　woolly　mount　skidded　to　a　stop。　He　frowned　down　on　me　from　behind　his　great　black　beard；　spoke　in　a　deep　and　impressive　voice。
　〃Those　who　live　by　the　sword　shall　die　by　the　sword。　So　it　is　written。〃
　〃You　talking　about　yourself？〃　I　queried；　blade　still　ready。
　〃We　are　men　of　peace；　infidel；　but　defend　our　flocks　against　numberless　rustlers。〃
　He　could　be　telling　the　truth；　I　had　to　take　the　chance。　I　plunged　my　sword　into　the　dirt　and　stepped　back。　But　was　ready　to　grab　it　in　an　instant。
　〃We　are　men　of　peace　as　well。　But　go　armed　for　our　own　protection　in　this　wicked　world。〃
　He　thought　about　that　for　a　bit；　made　the　decision。　He　slipped　the　sword　into　a　leather　scabbard；　then　swung　down　from　his　mount。　The　beast　instantly　opened　its　mouth…and　those　were　tusks　and　tried　to　bite　him。　He　scarcely　noted　this；　merely　balled　a　fist　and　got　the　thing　under　the　jaw　with　a　swift　uppercut。　Its　mouth　clacked　shut　and　its　eyes　crossed　for　an　instant。　It　wasn't　too　long　on　brains　either；　because　when　its　eyes　uncrossed　it　had　pletely　forgotten　about　him。　It　said　baa　loudly　and　began　to　graze。　The　rider　walked　over　and　stood　before　me。
　〃I　am　Arroz　conPollo　and　these　are　my　followers。　Have　you　been　saved？〃
　〃I　am　Jim　diGriz　and　this　is　my　band。　And　I　don't　believe　in　banks。〃
　〃What　are　banks？〃
　〃Where　you　save　money。　Fedha。〃
　〃You　misunderstand　my　meaning；　Jim　of　diGriz。　It　is　your　soul　that　needs　saving…not　your　fedha。〃
　〃An　interesting　theological　point；　Arroz　of　conPollo。　We　must　discuss　it　in　some　depth。　What　do　you　say　we　all　put　the　weapons　down　and　have　a　good　chinwag。　Put　them　away；〃　I　called　out。
　Arroz　signaled　his　two　panions　and　we　all　felt　a　lot　better　as　the　swords　were　sheathed；　axes　lowered。　For　the　first　time　he　looked　away　from　me　to　my　followers。　And　gasped；　turned　pale　under　his　tan；　and　held　his　arm　before　his　eyes。
　〃Unclean；〃　he　moaned；　〃unclean。〃
　〃Well　it　is　a　little　hard　to　have　a　bath　when　you're　on　the　trail；〃　I　told　him。　I　didn't　add　that　he　wasn't　that　spic　and　span　himself。
　〃Not　of　the　body…of　the　spirit。　Is　that　not　a　vessel　of　corruption　among　you？〃
　〃Could　you　spell　that　out　a　little　more　clearly？〃
　〃Is　that　。　。　。　person　a　。　。　。　woman？〃　He　still　had　his　arm　across　his　face。
　〃The　last　time　I　looked　she　was。〃　I　moved　sideways　a　bit；　closer　to　my　sword。　〃What's　it　to　you？〃
　〃Her　face　must　be　covered　to　conceal　impurity；　her　ankles　covered　lest　they　promote　lust　in　the　hearts　of　men。〃
　〃This　guy　is　a　bit　of　a　weirdo；〃　Madonette　said　disgustedly。　He　yiped。
　〃And　her　voice　silenced　lest　it　lure　the　blessed　into　sin！〃
　Steengo　nodded　to　Floyd　and　took　the　angry　girl　by　the　arm；　but　she　shrugged　him　off。　〃Jim；〃　he　said。　〃The　bunch　of　us　are　going　to　stroll　back　among　the　trees　and　have　a　break。　See　if　you　can　sort　this　out。〃
　〃Right。〃　I　watched　them　leave　and　when　they　were　out　of　sight　looked　back　at　the　three　nomads　who　were　emulating　their　leader；　all　with　their　arms　raised；　as　though　sniffing　their　armpits。　〃It's　safe　now。　Can　we　talk　about　this？〃
　〃Return；〃　Arroz　said　to　his　mates。　〃I　will　explain　the　Law　to　this　stranger。　Let　the　flock　graze。〃
　They　trotted　off　while　his　own　mount　chomped　away　on　the　grass。　He　sat　down　cross…legged　and　motioned　to　me。　〃Sit。　We　must　talk。〃
　I　sat。　But　upwind　of　him　because　it　had　been　a　long　time　since　he　or　his　clothes　had　been　near　soap　and　water。　And　he　talked　about　unclean！　He　rooted　about　under　his　robe；　had　a　good　scratch；　then　withdrew　a　book　and　held　it　up。
　〃This　book　is　the　font　of　all　wisdom；〃　he　intoned；　eyes　gleaming。
　〃That's　nice。　What　is　it　called？〃
　〃The　Book。　There　are　no　other　books。　All　that　men　need　to　know　is　in　here。　The　distillate　of　all　wisdom。〃　I　thought　that　it　looked　pretty　thin　for　that　job；　but　wisely　kept　my　mouth　shut。　〃It　was　the　great　Founder；　whose　name　may　not　be　spoken；　who　had　the　inspiration　to　read　all　of　the　Holy　books　of　all　of　the　ages；　who　saw　in　them　the　work　of　the　god　whose　name　may　not　be　spoken；　saw　which　passages　were　inspired　and　which　were　untrue。　From　all　the　books　He　distilled　the　true　Book…then　burned　all　of　the　others。　He　went　forth　into　the　world　and　His　followers　were　many。　But　others　were　jealous　and　tried　to　destroy　Him　and　His　followers。　That　has　been　told。　And　it　is　told　that　to　avoid　this　senseless　persecution　He　and　His　followers　came　to　this　world　where　they　could　worship　untroubled。　That　is　why　I　asked…are　you　unclean？　Or　do　you　also　follow　the　Way　of　the　Book？〃
　〃Most　interesting。　I　follow　a　slightly　different　way。　But　my　way　believes　in　respecting　your　way；　so　don't　worry　too　much　about　me。〃
　He　frowned　at　this　and　shook　an　admonitory　finger　at　me。　〃There　is　only　one　Way；　only　one　Book。　All　who　think　differently　are　damned。　Now　is　your　chance　to　be　cleansed　for　I　have　shown　you　the　true　Way。〃
　〃Thanks　a　lot…but　no　thanks。〃
　He　stood　up　and　stabbed　an　accusatory　finger　in　my　direction。　〃Unclean！　Profane！　Leave…for　yo