deathworld-第19节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


le　began。　Unconsciously　Jason　shrank　back　in　his　seat。
　 All　the　plants　and　animals　he　had　seen　only　specimens　of；　existed　here　in　profusion。　Thorn…ringed　branches　and　vines　laced　themselves　into　a　solid　mat；　through　which　the　wildlife　swarmed。　A　fury　of　sound　hurled　at　them；　thuds　and　scratchings　rang　on　the　armor。　Krannon　laughed　and　closed　the　switch　that　electrified　the　outer　grid。　The　scratchings　died　away　as　the　beasts　pleted　the　circuit　to　the　grounded　hull。
　 It　was　slow　speed；　low…gear　work　tearing　through　the　jungle。　Krannon　had　his　face　buried　in　the　periscope　mask　and　silently　fought　the　controls。　With　each　mile；　the　going　seemed　to　get　better；　until　he　finally　swung　up　the　periscope　and　opened　the　window　armor。　The　jungle　was　still　thick　and　deadly；　but　nothing　like　the　area　immediately　around　the　perimeter。　It　appeared　as　if　most　of　the　lethal　powers　of　Pyrrus　were　concentrated　in　the　single　area　around　the　settlement。　Why？　Jason　asked　himself。　Why　this　intense　and　directed　planetary　hatred？
　 The　motors　died　and　Krannon　stood　up；　stretching。　〃We're　here；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　unload。〃
　 There　was　bare　rock　around　the　truck；　a　rounded　hillock　that　projected　from　the　jungle；　too　smooth　and　steep　for　vegetation　to　get　a　hold。　Krannon　opened　the　cargo　hatches　and　they　pushed　out　the　boxes　and　crates。　When　they　fmished　Jason　slumped　down；　exhausted；　onto　the　pile。
　 〃Get　back　in；　we're　leaving；〃　Kxannon　said。
　 〃You　are；　I'm　staying　right　here。〃
　 Krannon　looked　at　him　coldly。　〃Get　in　the　truck　or　I'll　kill　you。　No　one　stays　out　here。　For　one　thing　you　couldn't　live　an　hour　alone。　But　worse　than　that　the　grubbers　would　get　you。　Kill　you　at　once；　of　course；　but　that's　not　important。　But　you　have　equipment　that　we　can't　allow　into　their　hands。　You　want　to　see　a　grubber　with　a　gun？〃
　 While　the　Pyrran　talked；　Jason's　thoughts　had　rushed　ahead。　He　hoped　that　Krannon　was　as　thick　of　head　as　he　was　fast　of　reflex。
　 Jason　looked　at　the　trees；　let　his　gaze　move　up　through　the　thick　branches。　Though　Krannon　was　still　talking；　he　was　automatically　aware　of　Jason's　attention。　When　Jason's　eyes　widened　and　his　gun　jumped　into　his　hand；　Krannon's　own　gun　appeared　and　he　turned　in　the　same　direction。
　 〃There…in　the　top！〃　Jason　shouted　and　fired　into　the　tangle　of　branches。　Krannon　fired　too。　As　soon　as　he　did；　Jason　hurled　himself　backward；　curled　into　a　ball；　roiling　down　the　inclined　rock。　The　shots　had　covered　the　sounds　of　his　movements；　and　before　Krannon　could　turn　back　the　gravity　had　dragged　him　down　the　rock　into　the　thick　foliage。　Crashing　branches　slapped　at　him；　but　slowed　his　fall。　Vhen　he　stopped　moving；　he　was　lost　in　the　tangle。　Krannon's　shots　came　too　late　to　hit　him。
　 Lying　there；　tired　and　bruised；　Jason　heard　the　Pyrran　cursing　him　out。　He　stamped　around　on　the　rock；　fired　a　few　shots；　but　knew　better　than　to　enter　the　trees。　Finally　he　gave　up　and　went　back　to　the　truck。　The　motor　gunned　into　life　and　the　treads　clanked　and　scraped　down　the　rock　and　back　into　the　jungle。　There　were　muted　rumblings　and　crashes　that　slowly　died　away。
　 Then　Jason　was　alone。
　 Up　until　that　instant　he　hadn't　realized　quite　how　alone　he　would　be。　Surrounded　by　nothing　but　death；　the　truck　already　vanished　from　sight。　1…Je　had　to　force　down　an　overwhelming　desire　to　run　after　it。　What　was　done　was　done。
　 This　was　a　long　chance　to　take；　but　it　was　the　only　way　to　contact　the　grubbers。　They　were　savages；　but　still　they　had　e　from　human　stock。　And　they　hadn't　sunk　so　low　as　to　stop　the　barter　with　the　civilized　Pyrrans。　He　had　to　contact　them；　befriend　them。　Find　out　how　they　had　managed　to　live　safely　on　this　madhouse　world。
　 If　there　had　been　another　way　to　lick　the　problem　he　would　have　taken　it；　he　didn't　relish　the　role　of　martyred　hero。　But　Kerk　and　his　deadline　had　forced　his　hand。　The　contact　had　to　be　made　fast　and　this　was　the　only　way。
　 There　was　no　telling　where　the　savages　were；　or　how　soon　the：
　would　arrive。　If　the　woods　weren't　too　lethal；　he　could　hide　there；　pie＇　his　time　to　approach　them。　If　they　found　him　among　the　supplies；　the：
　might　skewer　him　on　the　spot　with　a　typical　Pyrran　reflex。
　 Walking　warily；　he　approached　the　line　of　trees。　Something　move
　on　a　branch；　but　vanished　as　he　came　near。　None　of　the　plants　nea
　a　thick…trunked　tree　looked　poisonous；　so　he　slipped　behind　it。　Ther
　was　nothing　deadly　in　sight　and　it　surprised　him。　He　let　his　body　rela
　a　bit；　leaning　against　the　rough　bark。
　 Something　soft　and　choking　fell　over　his　head；　his　body　was　seizei　in　a　steel　grip。　The　more　he　struggled；　the　tighter　it　held　him　until　th　blood　thundered　in　his　ears　and　his　lungs　screamed　for　air。
　 Only　when　he　grew　limp　did　the　pressure　let　up。　His　first　pani　ebbed　a　little　when　he　realized　that　it　wasn't　an　animal　that　attacke　him。　He　knew　nothing　about　the　grubbers；　but　they　were　human　s　he　still　had　a　chance。
　 His　arms　and　legs　were　tied；　the　power　holster　ripped　from　his　am　He　felt　strangely　naked　without　it。　The　powerful　hands　grabbed　hir　again　and　he　was　hurled　into　the　air；　to　fall　face　down　across　somethin　warm　and　soft。　Fear　pressed　in　again　for　it　was　a　large　animal　of　som　kind。　And　all　Pyrran　animals　were　deadly。
　 When　the　animal　moved　off；　carrying　him；　panic　was　replaced　b
　a　feeling　of　mounting　elation。　The　grubbers　had　managed　to　work　ot
　a　truce　of　some　kind　with　at　least　one　form　of　animal　life。　He　had　t
　find　out　how。　If　he　could　get　that　secret…and　get　it　back　to　the　city…i　would　justify　all　his　work　and　pain。　It　might　even　justify　WeIPs　dea~　if　the　age…old　war　could　be　slowed　or　stopped。
　 Jason's　tightly　bound　limbs　hurt　terribly　at　first；　but　grew　numb　wit　the　circulation　shut　off。　The　jolting　ride　continued　endlessly；　he　ha　no　way　of　measuring　the　time。　A　rainfall　soaked　him；　then　he　felt　hi　clothes　steaming　as　the　sun　came　out。
　 The　ride　was　finally　over。　He　was　pulled　from　the　animal's　back　an　dumped　down。　His　arms　dropped　free　as　someone　loosed　the　binding　The　returning　circulation　soaked　him　in　pain　as　he　lay　there；　strugglin　to　move。　WThen　his　hands　finally　obeyed　him；　he　lifted　them　to　his　fac　and　stripped　away　the　covering；　a　sack　of　thick　fur。　Light　blinded　hij　as　he　sucked　in　breath　after　breath　of　clean　air。
　 Blinking　against　the　glare；　he　looked　around。　He　was　lying　on　a　flo　of　crude　planking；　the　setting　sun　shining　into　his　eyes　through　th　doorless　entrance　of　the　building。　There　was　a　ploughed　field　outsid　stretching　down　the　curve　of　hill　to　the　edge　of　the　jungle。　It　was　tc　dark　to　see　much　inside　the　hut。
　 Something　blocked　the　light　of　the　doorway；　a　tall　animal…like　figure。　On　second　look　Jason　realized　it　was　a　man　with　long　hair　and　thick　beard。　He　was　dressed　in　furs；　even　his　legs　were　i？~rapped　in　fur　leggings。　His　eyes　were　fixed　on　his　captive；　while　one　hand　fondled　an　axe　that　hung　from　his　waist。
　 〃Who're　you？　What　y'want？〃　the　bearded　man　asked　suddenly。
　 Jason　picked　his　words　slowly；　wondering　if　this　savage　had　the　same　hairtrigger　temper　as　the　city　dwellers。
　 〃My　name　is　Jason。　I　e　in　peace。　I　want　to　be　your　friend。　。　。　。〃　〃Lies！〃　the　man　grunted；　and　pulled　the　axe　from　his　belt。　〃Junkman　tricks。　I　saw　y'hide。　Wait　to　kill　me。　Kill　you　first。〃　He　tested　the　edge　of　the　blade　with　a　horny　thumb；　then　raised　it。
　 〃Wait！〃　Jason　said　desperately。　〃You　don't　understand。〃
　 The　axe　swung　down。
　 〃I'm　from　off…world　and…〃
　 A　solid　thunk　shook　him　as　the　axe　buried　itself　in　the　wood　next　to　his　head。　At　the　last　instant；　the　man　had　twitched　it　aside。　He　grabbed　the　front　of　Jason's　clothes　and　pulled　him　up　until　their　faces　touched。
　 〃S'true？〃　he　shouted。　〃Y'from　off…world？〃　His　hand　opened　and　Jason　dropped　back　before　he　could　answer。　The　savage　jumped　over　him；　toward　the　dim　rear　of　the　hut。
　 〃Rhes　must　know　of　this；〃　he　said　as　he　fumbled　with　something　on　the　wall。　Light　sprang　out。
　 All　Jason　could　do　was　stare。　The　hairy；　fur…covered　savage　was　operating　a　municator。　The　calloused；　dirt…encrusted　fingers　deftly　snapped　open　the　circuits；　dialed　a　number。
　16
　 It　made　no　sense。　Jason　tried　to　reconcile　the　modem　machine　wit＇　the　barbarian　and　couldn't。　Who　was　he　calling？　The　existence　of　on　municator　meant　there　was　at　least　another。　Was　Rhes　a　person　o　a　thing？
　 With　a　mental　effort；　he　grabbed　hold　of　his　thoughts　and　brake　them　to　a　stop。　There　was　something　new　here；　factors　he　hadn　counted　on。　He　kept　reassuring　himself　there　was　an　explanation　fc　everything；　once　you　had　your　facts　straight。
　 Jason　closed　his　eyes；　shutting　out　the　glaring　rays　of　the　sun　wher　it　cut　through　the　treetops；　and　reconsidered　his　facts。　They　separate　evenly　into　two　classes：　those　he　had　observed　for　himself；　and　those　h　had　learned　from　the　city　dwellers。　This　last　class　of　〃facts〃　he　woul　hold；　to　see　if　they　fitted　with　what　he　learned。　There　was　a　goo　chance　that　most；　or　all；　of　them　would　prove　false。
　 〃Get　up；〃　the　voice　jane~into　his　thoughts。　〃W're　leaving。〃
　 His　legs　were　still　numb　and　hardly　usable。　The　bearded　ma　snorted　in　disgust　and　hauled　him　to　his　feet；　propping　him　against　di　outer　wall。　Jason　clutched　the　knobby　bark　of　the　logs　when　he　w~