hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第13节

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　know；　she　looked　a　lot　better　than　anything　else　around。　But　this　was　no　time　to　go　all　smarmy　and　dewy…eyed。
　〃How　long　you　think　until　dark？〃　Steengo　asked。　〃That　pill　you　gave　me　is　wearing　off　with　a　vengeance。〃
　I　projected　a　holo　of　a　watch。　〃I　truly　don't　know…because　I　don't　even　know　the　length　of　the　day　here。　This　watch；　like　the　puter；　is　on　ship's　time。　It's　been　a　good　long　time　since　they　threw　us　out　the　gate。〃　I　squinted　at　the　sky。　〃And　I　don't　think　that　sun　has　moved　very　much　at　all。　Time　to　ask　for　some　advice。〃
　I　bit　down　three　times　hard　on　the　left　side　of　my　jaw；　which　should　have　triggered　a　signal　on　the　jawbone　radio。
　〃Tremearne　here。〃　The　words　bounced　around　clearly　inside　my　skull。
　〃I　read　you。〃
　〃You　read　what？〃　Steengo　asked。
　〃Please…I'm　talking　on　the　radio。〃
　〃Sorry。〃
　〃Reception　clear　at　this　end。　Report。〃
　〃We　were　less　than　charmed　by　the　Machmen。　We　left　town　a　couple　of　hours　ago　and　are　hiking　out　across　the　plain　。　。　。〃
　〃I　have　you　on　the　chart；　satellite　location。〃
　〃Any　of　the　Fundamentaloid　bands　in　sight　as　well？〃
　〃A　number　of　them。〃
　〃Any　of　them　close　to　this　position？〃
　〃Yes；　one　off　to　your　left。　Roughly　the　same　distance　you've　walked　already。〃
　〃Sounds　a　winner。　But　one　important　question　first。　How　long　are　the　days　here？〃
　〃About　one　hundred　standard　hours。〃
　〃No　wonder　we're　beginning　to　feel　tired…and　it's　still　full　daylight。　With　the　total　daylight　at　least　four　times　longer　than　what　we're　used　to。　Can　you　put　your　satellite　to　work　looking　back　the　way　we　came…to　see　if　we　are　being　followed？〃
　〃I've　already　done　that。　No　pursuers　in　sight。〃
　〃That's　great　news。　Over　and　out。〃　I　raised　my　voice。　〃pany…halt。　Fall　out。　I'll　give　you　the　other　side　of　the　conversation　that　you　didn't　hear。　We're　not　being　followed。〃　I　waited　until　the　ragged　cheer　had　died　away。　〃Which　means　we　are　stopping　here　for　food；　drink；　sleep；　the　works。〃
　I　slung　my　pack　to　the　ground；　stretched　largely；　then　dropped　down　and　leaned　against　it；　pointed　to　the　distant　horizon。　〃The　Fundamentaloid　nomads　are　somewhere　out　in　that　direction。　We　are　going　to　have　to　find　them　sooner　or　later…and　I　vote　for　later。〃
　〃Vote　seconded；　motion　passed。〃　They　were　all　horizontal　now。　I　took　a　good　swig　of　water　before　I　went　on。
　〃The　days　here　are　four　times　as　long　as　the　ones　that　we　are　used　to。　I　think　that　we　have　had　enough　of　fighting；　walking；　everything　for　one　day；　or　a　quarter　of　a　day；　or　whatever。　Let's　sleep　on　it　and　go　on　when　we　are　rested。〃
　My　advice　was　unneeded　since　eyelids　were　already　closing。　I　could　do　no　less　myself　and　was　drifting　off　when　I　realized　this　was　not　the　world's　greatest　idea。　I　heaved　myself；　groaning；　to　my　feet　and　walked　away　from　the　others　so　my　voice　would　not　disturb　them。
　〃e　in　Tremearne。　Can　you　read　me。〃
　〃Sergeant　Naenda　here。　The　Captain　is　off　duty　this　watch。　Should　I　send　for　him？〃
　〃Not　if　you　are　sitting　in　for　him…and　you　have　the　satellite　observations　handy　and　up…to…date。〃
　〃Affirmative。〃
　〃Well　keep　looking　at　them。　We're　taking　a　sleep　break　now　and　I　would　like　it　to　be　undisturbed。　If　you　see　anyone　or　anything　creeping　up　on　us…give　a　shout。〃
　〃Will　do。　Nighty…night。〃
　Nighty…night！　What　were　the　armed　forces　ing　to？　I　stumbled　back　to　my　panions　and　emulated　their　fine　example。　I　had　no　trouble　at　all　in　falling　asleep。
　It　was　waking　up　that　was　difficult。　Some　hours　had　slipped　by　because　when　I　blinked　blearily　up　at　the　sky　I　saw　that　the　sun　had　passed　the　meridian　and　was　finally　slipping　down　towards　the　horizon。　What　had　wakened　me？
　〃Attention；　Jim　diGriz；　attention。〃
　I　looked　around　for　the　speaker　and　it　took　long　seconds　before　I　realized　that　it　was　Captain　Tremearne's　voice　I　was　hearing。
　〃Wazza？〃　I　said　incoherently；　still　numbed　with　sleep。
　〃One　of　the　Fundamentaloid　bands　is　on　the　move…roughly　in　your　direction。　They　should　be　close　enough　to　see　you　in　about　an　hour。〃
　〃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　tra