deathworld-第26节

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　a　peace　is　not　reasonable。　Therefore　we　are　going　to　destroy　the　enemy。〃
　 〃Think　first；〃　Jason　called　after　Kerk；　who　had　turned　to　leave。　〃What　is　wrong　with　trying　negotiation　or　an　armistice？　Then；　if　that　fails；　you　can　try　y~ur　way。〃
　 The　partment　was　getting　crowded　as　other　Pyrrans　pushed　in。　Kerk；　almost　to　the　door；　turned　back　to　face　Jason。
　 〃I'll　tell　you　what's　wrong　with　armistice；〃　he　said。　〃It's　a　coward's　way　out；　that's　what　it　is。　It's　all　right　for　you　to　suggest　it；　you're　from　off…world　and　don't　know　any　better。　But　do　you　honestly　think　I　could　entertain　such　a　defeatist　notion　for　one　instant？　When　I　speak；　I　speak　not　only　for　myself；　but　for　all　of　us　here。　We　don't　mind　fighting；　and　we　know　how　to　do　it。　We　know　that　if　this　war　was　over；　we　could　build　a　better　world　here。　At　the　same　time；　if　we　have　the　choice　of　continued　war　or　a　cowardly　peace…we　vote　for　war。　This　war　will　only　be　over　when　the　enemy　is　utterly　destroyed！〃
　 The　listening　Pyrrans　murmured　in　agreement；　and　Jason　had　to
　shout　to　be　heard　above　them。　〃That's　really　wonderful。　I　bet　you　even　think　it's　original。　But　don't　you　hear　all　that　cheering　offstage？　Those　are　the　spirits　of　every　saber…rattling　sonofabitch　that　ever　plugged　for　noble　war。　They　even　recognize　the　old　slogan。　We're　on　the　side　of　light；　and　the　enemy　is　a　creature　of　darkness。　And　it　doesn't　matter　a　damn　if　the　other　side　is　saying　the　same　thing。　You've　still　got　the　same　old　words　that　have　been　killing　people　since　the　birth　of　the　human　race。　A　'cowardly　peace；'　that's　a　good　one。　Peace　means　not　being　at　war；　not　fighting。　How　can　you　have　a　cowardly　not…fighting。　What　are　you　trying　to　hide　with　this　semantic　confusion？　Your　real　reasons？　I　can't　blame　you　for　being　ashamed　of　them…I　would　be。　Why　don't　you　just　e　out　and　say　you　are　keeping　the　war　going　because　you　enjoy　killing？　Seeing　things　die　makes　you　and　your　murderers　happy；　and　you　want　to　make　them　happier　still！〃
　 There　was　a　sensed　but　unvoiced　pressure　in　the　silence。　They　waited　for　Kerk　to　speak。　He　was　white…faced　with　anger；　held　tightly　under　control。
　 〃You're　right；　Jason。　We　like　to　kill。　And　we're　doing　to　kill。　Everything　on　this　planet　that　ever　fought　us　is　going　to　die。　We're　going　to　enjoy　doing　it　very　much。〃
　 He　turned　and　left　while　the　weight　of　his　words　still　hung　in　the　air。　The　rest　followed；　talking　excitedly。　Jason　slumped　back　on　the　couch；　exhausted　and　defeated。
　 When　he　looked　up　they　were　gone…all　except　Mets。　She　had　the　same　look　of　bloodthirsty　elation　as　the　others；　but　it　drained　away　when　she　glanced　at　him。
　 〃What　about　it；　Mets？〃　he　snapped。　〃No　doubts？　Do　you　think　that　destruction　is　the　only　way　to　end　this　war？〃
　 〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said。　〃I　can't　be　sure。　For　the　first　time　in　my　life；　I　find　myself　with　more　than　one　answer　to　the　same　question。〃
　 〃Congratulations；〃　he　said　bitterly。　〃It's　a　sign　of　growing　up。〃
　22
　 Jason　stood　to　one　side　and　watched　the　deadly　cargo　being　loaded　into　the　hold　of　the　ship。　The　Pyrrans　were　in　good　humor　as　they　stowed　away　riot　guns；　grenades　and　gas　bombs。　When　the　back…pack　atom　bomb　was　put　aboard；　one　of　them　broke　into　a　marching　song；　and　the　others　picked　it　up。　Maybe　they　were　happy；　but　the　approaching　carnage　only　filled　Jason　with　an　intense　gloom。　He　felt　that　somehow　he　was　a　traitor　to　life。　Perhaps　the　life　form　he　had　found　needed　destroying…and　perhaps　it　didn't。　Without　making　the　slightest　attempt　at　conciliation；　destruction　would　be　plain　murder。
　 Kerk　came　out　of　the　operations　building　and　the　starter　pumps　could　be　heard　whining　inside　the　ship。　They　would　leave　within　minutes。　Jason　forced　himself　into　a　foot…dragging　rush　and　met　Kerk　halfway　to　the　ship。
　 〃I'm　ing　with　you；　Kerk。　You　owe　me　at　least　that　much　for　finding　them。〃
　 Kerk　hesitated；　not　liking　the　idea。　〃This　is　an　operational　mission；〃　he　said。　〃No　room　for　observers；　and　the　extra　weight。　。　。　And　it's　too　late　to　s~ip　us；　Jason；　you　know　that。〃
　 〃You　Pyrrans　are　the　worst　liars　in　the　universe；〃　Jason　said。　〃We　both　know　that　ship　can　lift　ten　times　the　amount　it's　carrying　today。　Now；　do　you　let　me　e；　or　forbid　me　without　reason　at　all？〃
　 〃Get　aboard；〃　Kerk　said。　〃But　keep　out　of　the　way　or　you'll　get　trampled。〃
　 This　time；　with　a　definite　destination　ahead；　the　ffight　was　much　faster。　Meta　took　the　ship　into　the　stratosphere；　in　a　high　ballistic　arc　that　ended　at　the　islands。　Kerk　was　in　the　copilot's　seat；　Jason　sat　behind　them　where　he　could　watch　the　screens。　The　landing　party；　twenty…five　volunteers；　were　in　the　hold　below　with　the　weapons。　All　the　screens　in　the　ship　were　switched　to　the　forward　viewer。　They　watched　the　green　island　appear　and　swell；　then　vanish　behind　the　flames　of　the　braking　rockets。　Jockeying　the　ship　carefully；　Mets　brought　it　down　on　a　flat　shelf　near　the　cave　mouth。
　 Jason　was　ready　this　time　for　the　blast　of　mental　hatred…but　it　still　hurt。　The　gunners　laughed　and　killed　gleefully　as　every　animal　on　the　island　closed　in　on　the　ship。　They　were　slaughtered　by　the　thousands；　and　still　more　came。
　 〃Do　you　have　to　do　this？〃　Jason　asked。　〃It's　murder；　carnage；　just　butchering　those　beasts　like　that。〃
　 〃Self…defense；〃　Kerk　said。　〃They　attack　us　and　they　get　killed。　What　could　be　simpler。　Now　shut　up　or　I'll　throw　you　out　there　with　them。〃
　 It　was　a　half　an　hour　before　the　gunfire　slackened。　Animals　still　attacked　them；　but　the　mass　assaults　seemed　to　be　over。　Kerk　spoke　into　the　inter。
　 〃Landing　party　away…and　watch　your　step。　They　know　we're　here　and　will　make　it　as　hot　as　they　can。　Take　the　bomb　into　that　cave　and　see　how　far　back　it　runs。　We　can　always　blast　them　from　the　air；　but　it'll　do　no　good　if　they're　dug　into　solid　rock。　Keep　your　screen　open；　leave　the　bomb　and　pull　back　at　once　if　I　tell　you　to。　Now　move。〃
　 The　men　swarmed　down　the　ladders　and　formed　into　open　battle　formation。　They　were　soon　under　attack；　but　the　beasts　were　picked　off　before　they　could　get　close。　It　didn't　take　long　for　the　man　at　point　to　reach　the　cave。　He　had　his　pickup　trained　in　front　of　him；　and　the　watchers　in　the　ship　followed　the　advance。
　 〃Big　cave；〃　Kerk　grunted。　〃Slants　back　and　down。　What　I　was　afraid　of。　Bomb　dropped　on　that　would　just　close　it　up。　With　no　guarantee　that　anything　sealed　in　it　couldn't　eventually　get　out。　We'll　have　to　see　how　far　down　it　goes。〃
　 There　was　enough　heat　in　the　cave　now　to　use　the　infrared　filters。　The　rock　walls　stood　out　harshly　black　and　white　as　the　advance　continued。
　 〃No　signs　of　life　since　entering　the　cave；〃　the　officer　reported。　〃Gnawed　bones　at　the　entrance　and　some　bat　droppings。　It　looks　like　a　natural　cave…so　far。〃
　 Step　by　step　the　advance　continued；　slowing　as　it　went。　Insensitive　as　the　Pyrrans　were　to　psi　pressure；　even　they　were　aware　of　the　blast　of　hatred　being　continuously　leveled　at　them。　Jason；　back　in　the　ship；　had　a　headache　that　slowly　grew　worse　instead　of　better。
　 〃Watch　out！〃　Kerk　shouted；　staring　at　the　screen　with　horror。
　 The　cave　was　filled　from　wall　to　wall　with　pallid；　eyeless　animals。　They　poured　from　tiny　side　passages　and　seemed　to　literally　emerge　from　the　ground。　Their　front　ranks　dissolved　in　flame；　but　more　kept　pressing　in。　On　the　screen　the　watchers　in　the　ship　saw　the　cave　spin　dizzily　as　the　operator　fell。　Pale　bodies　washed　up　and　concealed　the　lens。
　 〃Close　ranks…flamethrowers　and　gas！〃　Kerk　bellowed　into　the　mike。　Less　than　half　of　the　men　were　alive　after　that　first　attack。　The　survivors；　protected　by　the　flamethrowers；　set　off　the　gas　grenades。　Their　sealed　battle　armor　protected　them　while　the　section　of　cave　filled　with　gas。　Someone　dug　through　the　bodies　of　their　attackers　and　found　the　pickup。
　 〃Leave　the　bomb　there　and　withdraw；〃　Kerk　ordered。　〃We've　had　enough　losses　already。〃
　 A　different　man　stared　out　of　the　screen。　The　officer　was　dead。　〃Sorry；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　will　be　just　as　easy　to　push　ahead　as　back　as　long　as　the　gas　grenades　hold　out。　We're　too　close　now　to　pull　back。〃
　 〃That's　an　order；〃　Kerk　shouted；　but　the　man　was　gone　from　the　screen　and　the　advance　continued。
　 Jason's　fingers　hurt　where　he　had　them　clamped　to　the　chair　arm。　He　pulled　them　loose　and　massaged　them。　On　the　screen　the　black…andwhite　cave　flowed　steadily　toward　them。　Minute　after　minute　went　by　this　way。　Each　time　the　animals　attacked　again；　a　few　more　gas　grenades　were　used　up。
　 〃Something　ahead…looks　different；〃　the　panting　voice　cracked　from　the　speaker。　The　narrow　cave　slowly　opened　out　into　a　gigantic　chamber；　so　large　the　roof　and　far　walls　were　lost　in　the　distance。
　 〃What　are　those？〃　Kerk　asked。　〃Get　a　searchlight　over　to　the　right　there。〃
　 The　picture　on　the　screen　was　fuzzy　and　hard　to　see　now；　dimmed　by　the　layers　of　rock　in　between。　Details　couldn't　be　made　out　clearly；　but　it　was　obvious　this　was　something　unusual。
　 〃Never　saw…anything　quite　like　them　before；〃　the　speaker　said。　〃Look　like　big　plartts~　of　some　kind；　ten　meters　tall　at　least…yet　they're　moving。　Those　branches；　tentacles　or　whatever　they　are；　keep　pointing　toward　us　and　I　get　the　darkest　feeling　in　my　head。　。　。　。〃
　 〃Blast　one；　see　what　happ