hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第23部分

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　He　snapped　his　fingers　and；　without　another　word　being　spoken；　man　and　dog　walked　off　into　the　forest。　Beneath　the　trees　and　pendant　mosses；　around　the　hedges　and　nodding　cattails　to　the　edge　of　a　dark　pond。　The　young　man　stopped　to　look　at　it　and　a　hand；　sudden　and　dripping；　rose　from　the　water　and　seized　the　dog。　Pulled　it　beneath　the　surface。　The　ripples　died　away　and　the　surface　was　still。
　The　young　man　did　not　cry　or　flee；　just　nodded。
　〃This　must　be　the　place；〃　he　said。
　The　darkness　faded　and　light　returned。　Iron　John　was　gone；　the　chamber　was　empty。　I　looked　at　Floyd　who　seemed　just　as　bewildered　as　I　was。
　〃Did　I　miss　the　point　somehow？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　feel　sorry　for　the　dog；〃　Floyd　said。　We　both　looked　at　Steengo　who　was　nodding　thoughtfully。
　〃That's　only　the　beginning；〃　he　said。　〃You'll　understand　what　is　happening　when　you　see　the　rest。〃
　〃You　wouldn't　like　to；　maybe；　explain　just　what　you　are　talking　about？〃
　Steengo　shook　his　head　in　a　solemn　no。　〃Later；　perhaps。　But　I　don't　think　I　will　have　to。　You　will　see　for　yourselves。〃
　〃You've　seen　this　holoflick　before？〃　Floyd　asked。
　〃No。　But　I　have　read　my　mythology。　It's　better　'that　you　see　the　rest　before　we　talk　about　it。〃
　I　started　to　protest；　shut　my　mouth。　Realized　that　there　was　no　point　in　probing　further。　The　door　opened　and　our　guide　reappeared。
　〃Just　the　man　we　are　looking　for；〃　I　said；　remembering　our　earlier　decision。　〃We　have　heard；　from　reliable　sources；　that　there　is　to　be　an　outdoor　market　at。　dawn　tomorrow。〃
　〃Your　sources　are　correct。　Tomorrow　is　the　tenth　day　and　that　is　market　day。　Always　on　the　tenth　day　because　the　nomads　remember　by　marking　a　finger　each　day　with　soot　until　all　fingers　are　。　。　。〃
　〃Right；　thanks。　I　can　count　to　ten　without　dirty　fingers。　My　fellow　musicians　and　I　would　like　to　visit　this　market…is　this　possible？〃
　〃You　have　but　to　ask；　great　Jim　of　The　Stainless　Steel　Rats。〃
　〃I've　asked。　Can　someone　show　us　the　way　in　the　morning？〃
　〃Tis　more　fit　that　you　use　the　Chariots　of　Fire　。　。　。〃
　〃I　agree；　more　fit。　But　more　fit　that　we　be　fit。　Walking　is　a　wonderful　exercise。〃
　〃Then　walk　you　shall；　if　that　is　your　desire。　An　escort　will　be　provided。　It　is　now　the　hour　of　dining　and　a　banquet　has　been　prepared　in　your　honor。　Will　you　be　so　kind　as　to　follow　me？〃
　〃Lead　on；　my　friend。　As　long　as　it　is　not　polpettone　again　we　are　your　avid　customers。〃
　As　we　followed　him　out　I　discovered　that　my　fingers　had　a　fife　of　their　own。　Or；　more　probably；　were　being　twitched　into　activity　by　my　worried　subconscious。　They　flicked　over　the　puter　controls　and　the　glowing　numbers　appeared　before　me。
　Nineteen　and　a　pulsing　red　eleven。
　Eleven　days　to　go。　The　morning　market　had　better　produce　something。
　
　CHAPTER　15
　〃It　is　going　to　be　such　a　lovely　day；〃　the　voice　said。
　Each　word　shot　through　my　head　like　a　rusty　arrow；　grating　and　scraping　against　the　growing　headache　that　was　throbbing　there。　I　opened　one　eye　blurrily　and　bright　light　added　to　the　pain。　I　had　only　enough　energy　to　twist　my　lips　into　a　surly　snarl　as　our　gold…clad　host　flitted　about　our　quarters。　Opening　curtains；　picking　up　discarded　clothing；　generally　being　as　obnoxious　as　possible　at　this　predawn　hour。　Only　when　I　heard　the　outer　door　slam　did　I　crawl　from　the　bed；　turn　off　the　searing　lights；　stumble　on　all　fours　to　my　pack　where　it　rested　against　the　wall。　On　the　third　fumbling　attempt　I　managed　to　open　it　and　click　out　a　Sobering　Effect　pill。　I　swallowed　it　dry　and　sat　motionlessly　while　I　waited　for　its　beneficent　chemicals　to　seep　through　my　fractured　body。
　〃What　was　in　that　green　beer？〃　Floyd　said　hoarsely；　then　began　to　cough。　Moaning　in　agony　between　coughs　as　his　aching　head　was　kicked　about。　My　headache　was　seeping　away　so　I　clicked　out　a　pill　for　him　and　walked　unsteadily　across　to　his　bed　of　pain。
　〃Swallow。　This。　Will。　Help。〃
　〃Quite　a　party　last　night；〃　Steengo　said　benevolently；　joined　fingers　resting　fortably　on　the　ample　bulge　of　his　stomach。
　〃Die；〃　Floyd　gasped；　unsteady　fingers　groping　for　the　pill。　〃And　burn　painfully　in　hell　forever。　Plus　one　day。〃
　〃A　bit　hungover　are　we？〃　Steengo　asked　cheerfully。　〃I　suppose　there　is　good　reason；　considering　the　length　of　the　nights　here。　Their　parties　must　go　on　forever。　Or　maybe　it　just　seems　that　way。　Eat　a　bit；　sleep　a　bit。　Eat　a　bit；　drink　a　bit。　Or　maybe　more　than　a　bit。　I　thought　that　the　beer　tasted　a　little　on　the　nasty　side。　So　I　only　had　one。　But　the　meat　courses！　Tremendous；　vegetables；　good　gravy；　liked　the　bread　and　red　sauce；　plus　。　。　。〃
　His　voice　died　away　as　Floyd　crawled　out　of　bed　and　staggered；　groaning；　from　the　room。
　〃You　are　cruel；〃　I　said；　smacking　my　dry　lips　together　and　feeling　a　little　better。
　〃Not　cruel。　Just　pointing　out　a　few　truths。　This　mission　first。　Overdrinking；　hangovers　and　Technicolor　yawns　saved　for　our　victory　celebration。〃
　There　was　nothing　I　could　say。　He　was　right。
　〃Message　received；〃　I　said；　reaching　for　my　clothes。　〃The　quiet　life　and　plenty　of　rest　and　raw　vegetables。　Think　positive。〃
　Dawn　brightened　the　window。　A　new　day。　Ten　days　to　deadline。　I　was　thinking　negative　and　I　shook　myself　like　a　wet　dog　and　tried　to　shrug　off　the　mood。　〃Let's　go　to　the　fair。〃
　When　we　emerged　from　the　BOQ；　Sergeant　Ljotur　was　waiting　for　us。　He　snapped　to　attention　and　gave　a　mighty　salute…as　did　the　squad　of　soldiers　from　the　gate　guard　that　he　had　brought　with　him。
　〃We　take　you　to　the　market！〃　he　called　out。　〃These　men　are　all　volunteers；　eagerly　happy　to　carry　any　purchases　finest　musicians　in　galaxy　may　make。〃
　〃Greatly　appreciated。　Lead　on；〃　I　said　as　we　stepped　out　briskly　on　the　red　brick　road。
　The　sun　was　a　glowing　crimson　disk　on　the　horizon　when　me　reached　the　market。　The　Fundamentaloid　nomads　must　lave　been　early　risers　because　everything　was　in　great　swing　already。　I　ready。　And　gory　too；　I　thought　I　heard　a　low　moan　from　Floyd；　but　the　baaing　and　farting　of　the　sheots　tended　to　drown　out　most　other　sounds。　plain　they　might　as　the　butchered　carcasses　of　their　late　panions　were　unloaded　from　their　backs。　But　there　had　to　be　more　than　a　meat　market　here；　eyes　averted　we　hurried　past　the　sanguineous　display。
　Now　bearded　nomads　solicited　our　attention　in　pleading　voices；　pointing　out　the　attractions　of　their　wares。　Which　weren't　that　attractive。　Tired…looking　vegetables；　crude　clay　pots；　piles　of　dried　sheot　chips　for　the　barbecue。
　〃Pretty　grim；〃　Floyd　said。
　〃Not　important；〃　I　told　him；　jerking　my　thumb　towards　the　strolling　customers。　〃They　are　the　ones　that　we　are　interested　in。〃　I　took　out　the　photographs　of　the　artifact　that　we　were　looking　for　and　passed　one　to　each　of　my　panions。　〃Find　out　if　any　of　the　Paradisians　have　seen　this。〃
　〃We　don't　just　spring　it　on　them？〃　Steengo　said　doubtfully。
　〃You're　right。　We　don't。　During　the　sleepless　hours　of　the　night　I　worked　up　a　cover　story。　It　goes　this　way；　something　close　to　the　truth。　The　nomads　found　this　thing　in　a　stream　bed　after　a　flash　flood。　Tried　to　trade　it　to　the　keepers　of　the　Pentagon　who　have　a　strict　policy　of　nonmunication。　However　it　was　photographed　when　presented　and　only　later　was　it　recognized　as　an　archeological　artifact　of　possible　interest。〃
　〃Reasonable；〃　Steengo　said　doubtfully。　〃But　what　are　we　doing　with　the　photos？〃
　〃Given　to　us　when　we　were　booted　out　of　the　place。　Hints　made　of　rewards；　possible　remission　of　sentence；　lots　of　fedha。　With　great　reluctance　we　agreed　to　look　for　the　thing　since；　simply；　what　have　we　got　to　lose？〃
　〃Thin　but　plausible；〃　Floyd　said。　〃Let's　give　it　a　try。〃
　There　was　no　difficulty　talking　to　the　Paradisians；　if　anything　it　was　hard　to　get　rid　of　them　once　approached。　How　they　loved　The　Stainless　Steel　Rats！　Soon　I　had　a　string　of　adoring　fans　trailing　behind　me…along　with　most　of　the　squad　of　guards。　Everyone　wanted　to　help：　none　of　them　knew　a　thing。　But　one　name　kept　cropping　up　during　the　questioning。　Sjonvarp。
　Steengo　pushed　through　the　crowd　and　held　up　the　now　dogeared　photograph。　〃Still　nothing。　But　a　couple　of　them　said　to　ask　Sjonvarp。　Who　seems　to　be　the　top　trader　around　here。〃
　〃I　heard　the　same　thing。　Grab　Floyd；　He　must　be　recovering　because　I　saw　h