一无所有-第28部分
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ess with contempt； and without interest。 He did not admit； he could not admit； that in fact it frightened him。
Saio Pae had taken him 〃shopping〃 during his second week in AIo。 Though he did not consider cutting his hair — his hair； after all； was part of him — he wanted an Urrastistyle suit of clothes and pair of shoes。 He had no desire to look any more foreign than he could help looking。 The simplicity of his old suit made it positively； ostentatious； and his soft； crude desert boots appeared very odd indeed among the lotis' fanciful footgear。 So at his request Pae had taken him to Saemtenevia Prospect； the elegant retail street of Nio Esseia； to be fitted by a tailor and a shoemaker。
The whole experience had been so bewildering to him that he put it out of mind as soon as possible； but he had dreams about it for months afterwards； nightmares。 Saemtenevia Prospect was two miles long； and it was a solid mass of people； traffic； and things： things to buy； things for sale。 Coats； dresses； gowns； robes； trousers； breeches； shuts； blouses； hats； shoes； stockings； scarves； shawls； vests； capes； umbrellas； clothes to wear while sleeping； while swimming； while playing games； while at an afternoon party； while at an evening party； while at a party in the country； while traveling； while at the theater； while riding horses； gardening； receiving guests； boating； dining； hunting—all different； all in hundreds of different cuts； styles； colors； textures； materials。 Perfumes； clocks。 lamps； statues； cosmetics； candles； pictures； cameras； games； vases； sofas； kettles； puzzles； pillows； dolls； colanders； hassocks； jewels； carpets； toothpicks； calendars； a baby's teething rattle of platinum with a handle of rock crystal； an electrical machine to sharpen pencils； a wristwatch with diamond numerals； figurines and souvenira and kickshaws and mementos and gewgaws and bricabrac； everything either useless to begin with or ornamented so as to disguise its use； acres of luxuries； acres of excrement。 In the first block Shevek had stopped to look at a shaggy； spotted coat； the central display in a glittering window of clothes and jewelry。 〃The coat costs 8；400 units？〃 he asked in disbelief； for he had recently read in a newspaper that a 〃living wage〃 was about 2；000 units a year。 〃Oh； yes； that's real fur； quite rare now that the animals are protected；〃 Pae had said。 〃Pretty thing； isn't it？ Women love furs。〃 And they went on。 After one more block Shevek had felt utterly exhausted。 He could not look any more。 He wanted to hide his eyes。
And the strangest thing about the nightmare street was that none of the millions of things for sale were made there。 They were only sold there。 Where were the workshops； the factories； where were the farmers； the craftsmen； the miners； the weavers； the chemists； the carvers； the dyers； the designers； the machinists； where were the hands； the people who made？ Out of sight； somewhere else。 Behind walls。 All the people in all the shops were either buyers or sellers。 They had no relation to the things but that of possession。
He found that once they had his measure he could order anything else he might need by telephone； and he determined never to go back to the nightmare street
The suit of clothes and the shoes were delivered in a week。 He put them on and stood before the fulllength mirror in his bedroom。 The fitted grey coatgown； white shirt； black breeches； and stockings and polished shoes were being to his long； thin figure and narrow feet。 He touched the surface of one shoe gingerly。 It was made of the same stuff that covered the chairs in the other room； the material that felt like skin； he had asked someone recently what it was； and had been told that it was skin — animal hide； leather； they called it。 He scowled at the touch； straightened up； and turned away from the mirror； but not before he had been forced to see that； thus clothed； his resemblance to his mother Rulag was stronger than ever。
There was a long break between terms in midautumn。 Most students went home for the holiday。 Shevek went mountainhiking in the Meiteis for a few days with a group of students and researchers from the Light Research Laboratory； then returned to claim some hours on the big puter； which was kept very busy during term。 But； sick of work that got nowhere； he did not work hard。 He slept more than usual； walked； read； and told himself that the trouble was he had simply been in too much of a hurry； you couldn't get hold of a whole new world in a few months。 The lawns and groves of the University were beautiful and disheveled； gold leaves flaring and blowing on the rainy wind under a soft grey sky。 Shevek looked up the works of the great loti poets and read them； he understood them now when they spoke of flowers； and birds flying； and the colors of forests in autumn。 That understanding came as a great pleasure to him。 It was pleasant to return at dusk to his room； whose calm beauty of proportion never failed to satisfy him。 He was used to that grace and fort now； it had bee familiar to him。 So had the faces at Evening mons； the colleagues； some liked more and some less but all； by now； familiar。 So had the food； in all its variety and quantity； which at first had staggered him。 The men who waited tables knew his wants and served him as he would have served himself。 He still did not eat meat； he had tried it； out of politeness and to prove to himself that he had no irrational prejudices； but his stomach had its reasons which reason does not know； and rebelled。 After a couple of near disasters he had given up the attempt and remained a vegetarian； though a hearty one。 He enjoyed dinner very much。 He had gained three or four kilos since ing to Urras； he looked very well now； sunburnt from his mountain expedition； rested by the holiday。 He was striking figure as he got up from table in the great dining hall； with its beamed ceiling far overhead in shadow； and its paneled； portraithung walls； and its tables bright with candle flames and porcelain and silver。 He greeted someone at another table and moved on； with an expression of peaceable detachment。 From across the room Chifoilisk saw him； and followed him； catching up at the door。
〃Have you got a few minutes to spare； Shevek？〃
〃Yes。 My rooms？〃 He was accustomed to the constant use of the possessive pronoun by now； and spoke it without selfconsciousness。
Chifoilisk seemed to hesitate。 〃What about the library？ It's on your way； and I want to pick up a book there。〃
They set off across the quadrangle to the Library of the Noble Science — the old term of physics； which even on Anarres was preserved in certain usages — walking side by side in the pattering dark。 Chifoilisk put up an umbrella； but Shevek walked in rain as the loti walked in sunshine； with enjoyment。
〃You're getting soaked；〃 Chifoilisk grumbled。 〃Got a bad chest； haven't you？ Ought to take care。〃
〃I'm very well；〃 Shevek said； and smiled as he strode through the fresh； fine rain。 〃That doctor from the Government； you know； he gave me some treatments； inhalations。 It works； I don't cough。 I asked the doctor to describe the process and the drugs； on the radio to the Syndicate of Initiative in Abbenay。 He did so。 He was glad to do so。 It is simple enough； it may relieve much suffering from the dust cough。 Why； why not earlier？ Why do we not work together； Chifoilisk？〃
The Thuvian gave a little sardonic grunt。 They came into the reading room of the library。 Aisles of old books； under delicate double arches of marble； stood in dim serenity； the lamps on the long reading tables were plain spheres of alabaster。 No one else was there； but an attendant hastened in behind them to light the fire laid on the marble hearth and to make sure they wanted nothing before he withdrew again。 Chifoilisk stood before the hearth； watching the kindling catch。 His brows bristled over his small eyes； his coarse； swarthy； intellectual face looked older than usual。
〃I want to be disagreeable； Shevek；〃 he said in his hoarse voice。 He added； 〃Nothing unusual in that； I suppose〃 — a humility Shevek had not looked for in him。
〃What's the mattery
〃I want to know whether you know what you're doing here。〃
After a pause
