一无所有-第79部分

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ossibility。　It　should　be　included　in　a　plan　to　make　a　roundtrip　tour　of　the　scenic　areas　of　Urras。〃

〃Would　it　be　worthwhile　to　you　—　that　risk？〃

He　looked　forward　at　nothing　for　a　time。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃in　a　way。　If　I　could　finish　the　theory　there；　and　give　it　to　them　—　to　us　and　them　and　all　the　worlds；　you　know　—　I'd　like　that。　Here　I'm　walled　in。　I'm　cramped；　it's　hard　to　work；　to　test　the　work；　alent；　without　colleagues　and　students。　And　then　when　I　do　the　work；　they　don't　want　it。　Or；　if　they　do；　like　Sabul；　they　want　me　to　abandon　initiative　in　return　for　receivmg　approval。　They'll　use　the　work　I　do；　after　I'm　dead；　that　always　happens。　But　why　must　I　give　my　lifework　as　a　present　to　Sabul；　all　the　Sabuls；　the　petty；　scheming；　greedy　egos　of　one　single　pla？　I'd　like　to　share　it。　It's　a　big　subject　I　work　on。　It　ought　to　be　given　out；　handed　around。　It　won't　run　out！〃

〃All　right；　then；〃　Takver　said。　〃it　is　worth　it〃

〃Worth　what？〃

〃The　risk。　Perhaps　not　being　able　to　e　back。〃　

〃Not　being　able　to　e　back；〃　he　repeated。　He　looked　at　Takver　with　a　strange；　intense；　yet　abstracted　gaze。

〃I　think　there　are　more　people　on　our　side；　on　the　Syndicate's　side；　than　we　realize。　It's　just　that　we　haven't　actually　done　much　—　done　anything　to　bring　them　together　—　taken　any　risk。　If　you　took　it；　I　think　they'd　e　out　in　support　of　you。　If　you　opened　the　door；　they'd　smell　fresh　air　again；　they'd　smell　freedom。〃

〃And　they　might　all　e　rushing　to　slam　the　door　shut。〃

〃If　they　do；　too　bad　for　them。　The　Syndicate　can　protect　you　when　you　land。　And　then；　if　people　are　still　so　hostile　and　hateful；　we'll　say　the　hell　with　them。　What's　the　good　of　an　anarchist　society　that's　afraid　of　anarchists？　We'll　go　live　in　Lonesome；　in　Upper　Sedep；　in　Uttermost；　we'll　go　live　alone　in　the　mountains　if　we　have　to。　There's　room。　There'd　be　people　who'd　e　with　us。　We'll　make　a　new　munity。　If　our　society　is　settling　down　into　politics　and　power　seeking；　then　well　get　out；　well　go　make　an　Anarres　beyond　Anarrea；　a　new　beginning。　How's　that？〃

〃Beautiful〃　he　said；　〃it's　beautiful；　dear　heart。　But　I'm　not　going　to　go　to　Urras；　you　know。〃

〃Oh；　yes。　And　you　will　e　back；〃　Takver　said。　Her　eyes　were　very　dark；　a　soft　darkness；　like　the　darkness　of　a　forest　at　night。　〃If　you　set　out　to。　You　always　get　to　where　you're　going。　And　you　always　e　back。〃

〃Don't　be　stupid；　Takver。　I'm　not　going　to　Urras！〃

〃I'm　worn　out；〃　Takver　said；　stretching；　and　leaning　over　to　put　her　forehead　against　his　arm。　〃Let's　go　to　bed。〃











Chapter　13







Before　they　broke　orbit；　the　view　ports　were　filled　ense　and　beautiful。　But　the　ship　turned；　and　the　stars　came　into　sight；　and　Anarres　among　them　like　a　round　bright　rock：　moving　yet　not　moving；　thrown　by　what　hand；　tunelessly　circling；　creating　time。

They　showed　Shevek　all　over　the　ship；　the　interstellar　Davenant。　It　was　as　different　as　it　could　be　from　the　freighter　Mindful。　From　the　outside　it　was　as　bizarre　and　fragilelooking　as　a　sculpture　in　glass　and　wire；　it　did　not　have　the　look　of　a　ship；　a　vehicle；　about　it　at　all；　not　even　a　front　and　back　end；　for　it　never　traveled　through　any　atmosphere　thicker　than　that　of　interplaary　space。　Inside；　it　was　as　spacious　and　solid　as　a　house。　The　rooms　were　large　and　private；　the　walls　woodpaneled　or　covered　with　textured　weavings；　the　ceilings　high。　Only　it　was　like　a　house　with　the　blinds　drawn；　for　few　rooms　had　view　ports；　and　it　was　very　quiet。　Even　the　bridge　and　the　engine　rooms　had　this　quietness　about　them；　and　the　machines　and　instruments　had　the　simple　definitiveness　of　design　of　the　fittings　of　a　sailing　ship。　For　recreation；　there　was　a　garden；　where　the　lighting　had　the　quality　of　sunlight；　and　the　air　was　sweet　with　the　smell　of　earth　and　leaves；　during　ship　night　the　garden　was　darkened；　and　its　ports　cleared　to　the　stars。

Though　its　interstellar　journeys　lasted　only　a　few　hours　or　days　shiptime；　a　nearlightspeed　ship　such　as　this　might　spend　months　exploring　a　solar　system；　or　years　in　orbit　around　a　pla　where　its　crew　was　living　or　exploring。　Therefore　it　was　made　spacious；　humane；　livable；　for　those　who　must　live　aboard　it。　Its　style　had　neither　the　opulence　of　Urras　nor　the　austerity　of　Anarres；　but　struck　a　balance；　with　the　effortless　grace　of　long　practice。　One　could　imagine　leading　that　restricted　life　without　fretting　at　its　restrictions；　contentedly；　meditatively。　They　were　a　meditative　people；　the　Hainish　among　the　crew；　civil；　considerate；　rather　somber。　There　was　little　spontaneity　in　them。　The　youngest　of　them　seemed　older　than　any　of　the　Terrans　aboard。

But　Shevek　was　seldom　very　observant　of　them；　Terrans　or　Hainish；　during　the　three　days　that　the　Davenant；　moving　by　chemical　propulsion　at　conventional　speeds；　took　to　go　from　Urras　to　Anarres。　He　replied　when　spoken　to；　he　answered　questions　willingly；　but　he　asked　very　few。　When　he　spoke；　it　was　out　of　an　inward　silence。　The　people　of　the　Davenant；　particularly　the　younger　ones；　were　drawn　to　him；　as　if　he　had　something　they　lacked　or　was　something　they　wished　to　be。　They　discussed　him　a　good　deal　among　themselves；　but　they　were　shy　with　him。　He　did　not　notice　this。　He　was　scarcely　aware　of　them。　He　was　aware　of　Anarres；　ahead　of　him。　He　was　aware　of　hope　deceived　and　of　the　promise　kept；　of　failure；　and　of　the　sources　within　his　spirit；　unsealed　at　last；　of　joy。　He　was　a　man　released　from　jail；　going　home　to　his　family。　Whatever　such　a　man　sees　along　his　way　he　sees　only　as　reflections　of　the　light

On　the　second　day　of　the　voyage　he　was　in　the　munications　room；　talking　with　Anarres　on　the　radio；　first　on　the　PDC　wave　length　and　now　with　the　Syndicate　of　Initiative。　He　sat　leaning　forward；　listening；　or　answering　with　a　spate　of　the　clear；　expressive　language　that　was　his　native　tongue；　sometimes　gesturing　with　his　free　hand　as　if　his　interlocutor　could　see　him；　occasionally　laughing。　The　first　mate　of　the　Davenant；　a　Hainishman　named　Ketho；　controlling　the　radio　contact；　watched　him　thoughtfully。　Ketho　tad　spent　an　hour　after　dinner　the　night　before　with　Shevek；　along　with　the　mander　and　other　crew　members；　he　had　asked　—　in　a　quiet；　undemanding；　Hainish　way　—　a　good　many　questions　about　Anarrea。

Shevek　turned　to　him　at　last　〃All　right；　done。　The　rest　can　wait　till　I'm　home。　Tomorrow　they　will　contact　you　to　arrange　the　entry　procedure。〃

Ketho　nodded。　〃You　got　some　good　news；〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　I　did。　At　least　some；　what　do　you　call　it；　lively　news。〃　They　had　to　speak　lotic　together；　Shevek　was　more　fluent　in　the　language　than　Ketho；　who　spoke　it　very　correctly　and　stiffly。　The　landing　is　going　to　be　exciting；〃　Shevek　went　on。　〃A　lot　of　enemies　and　a　lot　of　friends　will　be　there。　The　good　news　is　the　friends。　。。。　It　seems　there　are　more　of　them　than　when　I　left。〃

〃This　danger　of　attack；　when　you　land；〃　Ketho　said。　〃Surely　the　officers　of　the　Port　of　Anarres　feel　that　they　can　control　the　dissidents？　They　would　not　deliberately　tell　you　to　e　down　and　be　murdered？〃

〃Well；　they　are　going　to　protect　me。　But　I　am　also　a　dissident；　after　all。　I　asked　to　take　the　risk。　That's　my　privilege；　you　see；　as　an　Odonian。〃　He　smiled　at　Ketho。　The　Hainishman　did　not　smile　back；　his　face　was　serious。　He　was　a　handsome　man　of　about　thirty；　tall　and　lightskinned　like　a　Cetian；　but　nearly　hairless　like　a　Terran；　with　very　strong；　fine　features。

〃I　am　glad　to　be　able　to　share　it　with　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　will　be　taking　you　down　in　the　landing　craft〃

〃Good；〃　Shevek　said。　〃It　isn't　everyone　who　would　care　to　accept　our　privileges！〃

〃More　than　you　think；　perhaps；〃　Ketbo　said。　〃If　you　would　allow　them　to。〃

Shevek；　whose　mind　had　not　been　fully　on　the　conversation；　had　been　about　to　leave；　this　stopped　him。　He　looked　at　Ketho；　and　after　a　moment　said；　〃Do　you　mean　that　you　would　like　to　land　with　me？〃

The　Hainishman　answered　with　equal　directness；　〃Yes；　I　would。〃

〃Would　the　mander　permit　it？〃

〃Yes。　As　an　officer　of　a　mission　ship；　in　fact；　it　is　part　of　my　duty　to　explore　and　investigate　a　new　world　when　possible。　The　mander　and　I　have　spoken　of　the　possibility。　We　discussed　it　with　our　ambassadors　before　we　left。　Their　feeling　ade；